Greenland is a huge island, almost like a bowl filled with ice that is overflowing along the sides. 84% of the region is ice covered all year. Mostly a high plateau of between 9,000 and 10,000 feet and the average thickness of the ice is 1,000 feet. In 1953, Denmark made the colony an integral part of the Kingdom, with representatives in the Folketing (The Danish Parliament). In 1978, Denmark approved home rule for Greenland, and on May 1, 1979 independence was declared. The islanders elected a socialist dominated assembly and Greenlandic names came into official use. Today, the technically correct name for Greenland is Kalaallit Nunaat and its capital is Nuuk. @
