© 2007 Institute of Current World Affairs
The Institute awards long-term fellowships to develop a deep understanding of an issue, country, or region outside the US and to share that understanding with a wider public.
Institute of Current World Affairs - Home Page

Below is a hobbled text version of a PDF document.
In order to read the actual document please click the link below and register if necessary.
(One-time registration is free and very quick.)
Read article

5/27/1965 - Greenland by William G. Mattox

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Akandevej Greenland Lille Vaerlse Denmark Mr lichard I Nolte May Executive Director Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue New York New York Dear Dicky In gathering information various aspects Greenland which reported shortly series newslettersy I physical environment Greenland exerted influence development For reason necessary recognize special physical characteristics Greenland order understand fully happening northern Denmark It unusual events other parts world through accustomed familiar surroundings We either little appreciation differences physical surroundings withy timesy distorted ideas about nature faraway areas world Because Greenland about limit might called suitable human habitation I think logical first remarks about physical nature Greenland topics discussed later apprecia fully their proper perspective One school geographic thought vogue vironmentalismy which attempted explain mants activities earth being determined place extent physical environment Nowadays choice something matter where modified environmentalistic ideas With change thinkingy howevery increased technical economic opportunity Given greater financial meansy exert influence formerly considered insuperable barriers It perhaps sensible acknowledge himself factor environment range actions choices within possibilities suggested physical environment Mans influence perhaps expanded temperate climates world As farther these temperate areas North America Western Europe arctic Greenland physical environment becomes responsible patterns activity In facty I would Greenland offers fertile field environmentalists Certainly Greenland hindered harsh climatey rugged topographyy rocky surface It cultural economic centers North America Europe Although biggest island Australia being sidered continent covered What small fringe exist around central barreny rocleyy fjords presents harsh 1965y space It important Green remote Europe North America By location actually longs North America geologically recent tlement Eu In small right Greenland Denmark Green actually county Denmark resentatives Parliament olketing Its relation Denmark proper could compared Alaska United States In location northern Kap Morris Jesup N closer North Pole GREENLAND S LOCATION other lands about miles The distance Kap Morris Jesup Greenland southern Kap Farvel No about miles Kap Farvel south northern Labrador Ungavas Shetland Islands Stockholms Sweden The maximum extent approximately miles So Greenland large placer world largest island Antarctica Australia continents According ficial Danish sources S Greenland total approximately 8d0s000 miles 2s175600 thereby dwarf Denmark which 16s580 miles 42s942 The shows Greenland compared Europe North Africa Denmark small black A parison could between arctic parts Denmark United States In possible comparison GREENLAND EUROPE rieon latitudinal position The below shows Greenland Alaska scale placed degree latitude Both Greenland Alaska areas deeply indented coastline fjords bounded rugged mountain ranges Coastal shipping therefore important transport gaining steadily importance Alaska inhabited interior parts mountain ranges north Greenland population found coast because large central covering total There approximat 131900 miles 341700 Sqo Greenland total 840000 miles P175 Unofficial planimetry slightly different total ratio remains roughly between covered It difficult appreciate significance Greenland unless remembered towns villages coastal 35000 inhabitants along coastline equivalent length distance London Gibraltar A small settlements found coast These completely separated inhabited Greenland massive A though population lives coast contact between villages hampered rugged topography GREENLAND AND ALASKA A Comp arison latitude There roads railroads between towns rivers which sailed The American student recently requested proposed hitch hiking Kap Farvel Thule disappointed indeed The dominating Greenland precarious fringe liveable around illustrated opposite White areas indicate central outlet glaciers black showin general extent This central Greenland known Denmark indlandsis inland which gaining wider recognition today This central thickness miles 10800 meters other scientific interest concern about covers total Greenland preventing This which largest orthern Hemisphere earth volume second Antarctica amount modifying effect borderin Its influence large scale climatic picture Europe North Atlantic probably great thought years Hobbs theory glacial anticyclones forth The indlandsis places dis_gorg_es great amounts icebergs These bergs definite menace shipping especially larger withstand melting enough float North Atlantic shipping lanes The great disasters collisions icebergs Imown latest being tHans Hed aboard A watch continues US Coast Guard vessels aircraft exact locations larger icebergs North Atlantic can__be_p_lotted Dramatic icebergs beauty their danger shipping small compared another which plagues Greenland coasts The outlet waters North Polar Basin between northeast Greenland Svalbard This outflow brings great amount along coast Greenland Some years width extent sufficient coast completely periods occasionally preventi shippin reaching This called storis Greenland during winter showed unusual erity For first years reached Iceland blocked parts northeast coasts Iceland Usually however storis drifts East Greenland Current joining Irminger Current branch Gulf Stream North Atlantic Drift before rounding Kap Farvel proceeding Greenland coast In recent years penetrated farther Frederikshb although occasionally observed Godthb It south western districts storis exerts strongest influence other cutting shipping It blocks ships trying reach uthern population centers prevents fishing cutters reaching their fishing grounds This usually occurrs early spring summery causing trawls times sparse enough allow cutters through WGl The diagram shippin seasons Greenland adapted permission Royal Greenland Trading Company their display exhibition Gentofte Town Hall April shows dramatic affects normal shipping Greenland bottom southwest coasts storis effect All other blockage results third Greenland winter whlch naturally influence proceeds northwards There Canadian arctic archipelago vstis which extends Greenland northwest coast usually freezes annual formation winter Vinter important south Hol steinsborg district Even south inner parts fjords usually freeze winter It because winter drive sledge found allowed south Holsteinsborg district coast The showing Green covered together diagram indicating blocked seaward seasonal seems indicate important features Greenland physical environment When Eric Red first settled Greenland century island became first estate moter world Knowing their valleys Ice___land could resist temptation sailing promise veritable paradise Greenland Eric called successful promotion attempts ships followed Greenland It admitted green valleys small plains exist limit areas southwest Greenland probable various forms factors mysterious disappearance large Viking colonies Greenland Between areas storis hindrance southwest winter cover Holsteinsborg northwards middle stretch coast including Sukkertoppen Godthb Frederiksh districts generally round It coincidence Greenland coast houses newest modern processing plants budding Greenlandic industry The administrative capal Godthb reached during every month mention still heard Godthb favorable location trans shipment mineral centrates eastern Canadian Arctic Because terrain difficulties large airfields found Greenland Narssarssuaq infjord Narssaq extreme southwest Sndre Strmfjord Sukkertoppen Hol steinsborg North reenland boasts great Thule baser course Thule locked supply thick cover On June pioneering chapter arctic transport opened inlthe establishment northts first regularly scheduled helicopter netorko This copter operation along Greenland coast north Egedesminde obvious adaptation difficult terrain conditions which hindered establishment landing fields along coast Since there regular network along coast using Otter Catalina aircraft shippi dangerous feature hampering round scheduling In replacing these conventional aircraft Inish authorities taken forard weather ditions along coast treacherous orldo It possible newsletter detail about features weather Greenland Climate Greenland exerts strong influence human activity factors considered before being understand fully relationmhip Day weather Greenlandic iisherman Or hunter vital farmer American important difference hunting fishing because weather forever A succession stormy results directly reduced landings unless Greenland fishing fleet increase vessels weather conditions continue important economic factor island economy Greenland climate which produces individual weather characteristics arctic except small extreme southwest This means average temperature armest month July under growth impossible Climate features Greenland considered being margin ossible human habitation Agriculture virtually existnt although there limited sheep raising Human habitation possible consider extraordinarygovernmental expenditures Camp Century beneath general present pattern settlement striking agreement climatic oceanographic factors The coastal areas heavily settled those which longest This reference general population pattern Greenland details which always agree extent cover In general climate becomes colder drier farther north Greenland Northern Greenland winter usually under influence polar masses timer thereby enjoying clear In south Greenland where masses Atlantic dominant tIcelandic Low betweet southeast Greenland Iceland holds result storm itions In summer south Greenland still affected regular passage storms across North Alantic although pressure Iceland greatly diminished In south Greenland familiar conditions mention increasing winter darkness north The outer coasts wettest foggieSt conditions becoming continental farther inland Little wonder early Vikings picked these sheltered locations winding fords their early farms Many these locations today growing numbers Greenlandic sheep farmers One known feature climate Greenland which observed throughout northern regions recent climatic warming It climatically marginal areas change noticed indeed Greenland profited strikingly result these warmer conditions It probable climate change short lived fluctuation within variation toward cooler onditions progress since about years Recognizing ephemeral nature recent clitoric warming academic interest should importance governmental policy planners For recent warming Greenland practical consequences making sible fishing other southerly specieso In years 6reenlanders become largely fisher Eskimo economy disappeared excelt portions northern eastern W6M districts It possible anything other point climate change Its effects complex socio economic field sometimes meets detailed discussion other newsletters A corresponding change marine environment taken place since probably represented increased influence saline Atlantic Wes Greenland Current This resulted gradual appearance southerly species mentioned earlier apparent decline number seals least noticeable movement northward important species Cod other southern species visited Greenland earlier periods recent conditions allowed establishment maintenance independent stock which spawning Greenland The presence large fishing banks coast Disko Bay Kap Farvel allows large scale fishing almost exclusively foreign fishermen A final Greenland climate mention presence anently frozen ground which factor construction mining operations Although exact limits known continuous permafrost found north general Frederikshb Sukkertoppen north Angmagssalik coast Not great known permafrost Greenland although earth tempera measurements taken Cdthb The US Army carried extensive permafrost obser vations Greenland those regions Green needing practical knowledge about extent properties permafrost today Because buildings Greenland built solid bedrock permafrost research minimal With larger buildings unsuitable ground coming obvious found Out about arctic phenomenon Northern building techniques utilized during present trend towards urbanization Greenland This tendency toward population concentration demands water supply sewage disposal systems unknom Greenland Climate frozen ground considered designing building these systems In presenting highlights Greenland physical environ points which might local nificance It suffice underline I believe import facts No mention minerals natural power sources harbors strategic location These topics important fuller treatment subsequently It hoped subjects touched lightly background better appreciation problems development Greenland Yours sincerely W G Mattox Received New York June