Flag of Greenland

The flag of Greenland was adopted on June 21, 1985, and consists of two identical horizontal stripes: white on top and red on the bottom. In this form, the flag is identical to the flag of Poland. However, the Greenlandic flag has an additional red and white circle, also divided in half, like the flag itself, which is located to the left of the center. Since Greenland is a territory controlled by Denmark, the flags of the two countries have identical colors.

Meaning of the flag of Greenland

The flag consists of two colors: red and white, which are the traditional colors of the country:

• The red circle symbolizes the sun, which plays a key role in Greenland's culture;
• The white color symbolizes the ice and snow typical of the region.

A brief historical note about the flag of Greenland

The flag of Greenland has a long history. From 1814 until 1983, the red and white cross Danish flag was used. Even after gaining autonomy, the Danish flag remained popular.

In 1973, a proposal was put forward to create a separate flag, a green field with a white cross, but it was not adopted. In 1984, Sven Tito Aachen proposed a flag design with a Scandinavian cross. However, after independence in 1985, the modern flag was created, which has a red and white horizontal bicolor with a red and white disk offset to the left of the center. It is still in use in Greenland.

Interesting facts about the flag of Greenland

• The flag of Greenland, known as the Erfalasorput, has a simple design with two horizontal stripes - white and red. “Erfalasorput” means “our flag” in Greenlandic, which emphasizes a sense of ownership and pride in the national symbol. This design differs from the flags of other Scandinavian countries, such as Denmark, Sweden and Norway, which use the Scandinavian cross on their flags. The Greenlandic flag has a circle symbolizing the Arctic on a two-striped background. This design reflects Greenland's geographical isolation and Arctic identity, and emphasizes its cultural and political autonomy within Denmark;
• The flag was designed by Thue Christiansen, a native Greenlander, in 1985. It was officially adopted on June 21, 1985. It is on this day that Ullortuneq - Greenland's National Day (Flag Day) is celebrated;
• The flag of Greenland has a great responsibility, as it represents the largest island in the world and an autonomous territory within Denmark. Greenland covers an area of about 2,166,086 square kilometers. The island is located between the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. This vast territory is covered by a massive ice sheet, which makes up approximately 80% of the island's area. This makes Greenland not only the largest island, but also one of the largest natural ice massifs in the world. For comparison, the next largest island, New Guinea, has an area of about 785,753 square kilometers. The third largest island is Borneo, with an area of 748,168 square kilometers. This island is divided between three countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Madagascar, with an area of 587,041 square kilometers, is the fourth largest island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa.