Statue of Hans Egede Overlooking Nuuk
Statue of Hand Egede, “the Apostle of Greenland”, overlooking Nuuk. Hans Egede (1686-1758) was a Danish-Norwegian Lutheran minister. In the Lofoten Islands, he heard of the Norse settlements in Greenland that had not be contacted for 200 years. In 1721, he was sent by Denmark to attempt to reach them and serve as a missionary. He discovered the ruins of the settlements and by 1723 has established a Danish settlement in Greenland. The settlement eventually became Godthåb (Good Hope), modern Nuuk. DSC_0412
The world's largest island, Greenland is about 81% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century and Greenland was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the Europe... ... read more 
