Aminet 6/Aminet 6 - June 1995.iso/Aminet/docs/misc/wfbook93_texi.lha/texi/94.data

Text File | 1995-03-27 | 8.4 KB | 335 lines

@node Header (Greenland)
@section Header (Greenland)

@display

Affiliation:
  (part of the Danish realm)



@end display

@node Geography (Greenland)
@section Geography (Greenland)

@display

Location:
  in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Canada and Norway
Map references:
  Arctic Region, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  2,175,600 km2
 land area:
  341,700 km2 (ice free)
 comparative area:
  slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  44,087 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims between Greenland and Jan
  Mayen
Climate:
  arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain:
  flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous,
  barren, rocky coast
Natural resources:
  zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, cryolite, uranium, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:   0%
 meadows and pastures:
  1%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  99%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; continuous
  permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Note:
  dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe



@end display

@node People (Greenland)
@section People (Greenland)

@display

Population:
  56,533 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.84% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  19.62 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.66 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -3.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  66.19 years
 male:
  61.79 years
 female:
  70.6 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.33 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Greenlander(s)
 adjective:
  Greenlandic
Ethnic divisions:
  Greenlander 86% (Eskimos and Greenland-born Caucasians), Danish 14%
Religions:
  Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:
  Eskimo dialects, Danish
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%  female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  22,800
 by occupation:
  largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding



@end display

@node Government (Greenland)
@section Government (Greenland)

@display

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Greenland
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Kalaallit Nunaat
Digraph:
  GL
Type:
  part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division
Capital:
  Nuuk (Godthab)
Administrative divisions:
  3 municipalities (kommuner, singular - kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland,
  Vestgronland
Independence:
  none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative
  division)
Constitution:
  Danish
Legal system:
  Danish
National holiday:
  Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Political parties and leaders:
  two-party ruling coalition; Siumut (a moderate socialist party that
  advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from
  Denmark), Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman; Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA; a
  Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather
  than home rule), Arqaluk LYNGE; Atassut Party (a more conservative party
  that favors continuing close relations with Denmark), leader NA; Polar Party
  (conservative-Greenland nationalist), Lars CHEMNITZ; Center Party (a new
  nonsocialist protest party), leader NA
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Danish Folketing:
  last held on 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994); Greenland
  elects two representatives to the Folketing; results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (2 total) Siumut 1, Atassut 1
 Landsting:
  last held on 5 March 1991 (next to be held 5 March 1995); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (27 total) Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit
  Ataqatigiit 5, Center Party 2, Polar Party 1
Executive branch:
  Danish monarch, high commissioner, home rule chairman, prime minister,
  Cabinet (Landsstyre)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament (Landsting)
Judicial branch:
  High Court (Landsret)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner
  Torben Hede PEDERSEN (since NA)



@end display

@node Government (Greenland 2. usage)
@section Government (Greenland 2. usage)

@display

 Head of Government:
  Home Rule Chairman Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15 March 1991)
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly
  to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom
  half is white



@end display

@node Economy (Greenland)
@section Economy (Greenland)

@display

Overview:
  Greenland's economic situation at present is difficult and unemployment
  increases. Prospects for economic growth in the immediate future are not
  bright. The Home Rule Government's economic restraint measures introduced in
  the late 1980s have assisted in shifting red figures into a balance in the
  public budget. Foreign trade produced a surplus in 1989 and 1990, but has
  now returned to a deficit. Following the closing of the Black Angel lead and
  zinc mine in 1989, Greenland today is fully dependent on fishing and fish
  processing, this sector accounting for 95% of exports. Prospects for
  fisheries are not bright, as the important shrimp catches will at best
  stabilize and cod catches have dropped. Resumption of mining and hydrocarbon
  activities is not around the corner, thus leaving only tourism with some
  potential for the near future. The public sector in Greenland, i.e. the HRG
  and its commercial entities and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in
  Greenland accounting for about two thirds of total employment. About half
  the government's revenues come from grants from the Danish Government.
National product:
  GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $500 million (1988)
National product real growth rate:
  -10% (1990)
National product per capita:
  $9,000 (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):   1.6% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  9% (1990 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $381 million; expenditures $381 million, including capital
  expenditures of $36 million (1989)
Exports:
  $340.6 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  fish and fish products 95%
 partners:
  Denmark 79%, Benelux 9%, Germany 5%
Imports:
  $403 million (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods 28%, machinery and transport equipment 24%, food and live
  animals 12.4%, petroleum products 12%
 partners:
  Denmark 65%, Norway 8.8%, US 4.6%, Germany 3.8%, Japan 3.8%, Sweden 2.4%
External debt:
  $480 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  84,000 kW capacity; 176 million kWh produced, 3,060 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  fish processing (mainly shrimp), lead and zinc mining, handicrafts, some
  small shipyards, potential for platinum and gold mining
Agriculture:
  sector dominated by fishing and sheep raising; crops limited to forage and
  small garden vegetables; 1988 fish catch of 133,500 metric tons
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 re



@end display

@node Economy (Greenland 2. usage)
@section Economy (Greenland 2. usage)

@display

Exchange rates:
  Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.236 (January 1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396
  (1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year



@end display

@node Communications (Greenland)
@section Communications (Greenland)

@display

Highways:
  80 km
Ports:
  Kangerluarsoruseq (Faeringehavn), Paamiut (Frederikshaab), Nuuk (Godthaab),
  Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Julianehaab, Maarmorilik, North Star Bay
Airports:  total:
  11
 usable:
  8
 with permanent-surface runways:
  5
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave
  radio relay; 17,900 telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 7 (35 repeaters)
  FM, 4 (9 repeaters) TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean
  INTELSAT earth station



@end display

@node Defense Forces (Greenland)
@section Defense Forces (Greenland)

@display

Note:
  defense is responsibility of Denmark



@end display