Claimed by Denmark in
1380, Greenland is geographically considered part
of the North American continent, and is the world's largest
(non-continent) island, approximately 85% of it covered with ice. Greenland was granted self-government in 1978 by the Danish parliament, but Denmark still controls Greenland's foreign affairs, and the island officially remains a territory of Denmark. The flag of Greenland was officially adopted in 1985. It was designed by a local artist and features the Danish colors. The white is a symbol of the ice and snow that covers most of the island, and the red symbolic of the sun. |