Although Greenland geographically belongs to North America, the majority of plant species originate from Europe. Greenland’s national flower, Niviarsiaq, which means ‘young woman’, is, however, most common in
North America.
The flower is also known as broad-leaf fireweed, and is found all over the country. It is particularly common in stony soils and sandy riverbeds.
The Greenlandic bluebell can be seen as far north as Upernavik in North Greenland and on the east coast up to Daneborg.
The bog blueberry has sweet blueberries, whilst the more common mountain crowberry produces tasty blackberries that are popular ingredients in many Greenlandic desserts and as an accompaniment to boiled cod liver.
Greenland’s most popular animals:
- birdlife
- seals
- artic fox
- musk ox
- reindeer
- polar bear
- walruses
- whales