Northeast Greenland National Park is the world's largest national park and the 9th largest protected area (the only larger protected areas all consist mostly of sea). Established in 1974 and expanded to its present size in 1988, it protects 972,000 km2 of the interior and northeastern coast of Greenland and is bigger than all but 29 of the world's 195 countries.
It was the first national park to be created in the Kingdom of Denmark and remains Greenland's only national park. It is the northernmost national park in the world. It is the second largest by area of any second level subdivision of any country in the world trailing only the Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada.
Geography
The park shares borders, largely laid out as straight lines, with the Sermersooq municipality in the south and with the Avannaata municipality in the west, partly along the 45° West meridian on the ice cap. The large interior of the park is part of the Greenland Ice Sheet, but there are also large ice-free areas along the coast and on Peary Land in the north. The park includes the King Frederick VIII Land and King Christian X Land geographical areas.
Sermersooq
History
Originally created on 22 May 1974 from the northern, practically uninhabited part of the former Ittoqqortoormiit Municipality in Tunu (East Greenland), in 1988 the park was expanded by another 272,000 km2 to its present size, adding the northeastern part of the former county of Avannaa (North Greenland).
In January 1977 it was designated an international biosphere reserve. The park is overseen by the Greenland Department of Environment and Nature. The historical research camps on the ice sheet - Eismitte and North Ice - fall within the boundaries of the present-day park.
Eismitte
Population
The park has no permanent human population, although 400 sites see occasional summertime use. In 1986, the population of the park was 40, living at Mestersvig. These 40 were involved in cleanup and closeout operations at mining exploration sites and soon left. Since then censuses have recorded zero permanent human population. In 2008, only 31 people and about 110 dogs were present over winter in North East Greenland, distributed among the following stations (all on the coast, except Summit Camp) :
Summit Camp
Daneborg headquarters of the Sirius Patrol, the park policing agency
Danmarkshavn civilian weather station
Station Nord military base
Mestersvig military outpost with 1,800 m gravel runway
Zackenberg summer-only research station
Summit Camp research station on the Greenland Ice Sheet
During summer scientists add to these numbers. The research station Zackenberg Ecological Research Operations (ZERO) 74°28′11″N 20°34′15″W can cater for over 20 scientists and station personnel.
Greenland Ice Sheet
Fauna
An estimated 5,000 to 15,000 musk oxen, as well as numerous polar bears and walrus, can be found near the coastal regions of the park. In 1993, this was estimated to be 40% of the world population of musk ox.
Other mammals include Arctic fox, stoat, collared lemming, Arctic hare and a small but important population of Greenland wolf. Other marine mammals include ringed seal, bearded seal, harp seal and hooded seal as well as narwhal and beluga whale.
Species of birds which breed in the park include great northern diver, barnacle goose, pink-footed goose, common eider, king eider, gyrfalcon, snowy owl, sanderling, ptarmigan and raven.
The world’s largest national park
Greenland’s National Park houses almost all species of wildlife or plants that live in Greenland, which makes the area incredibly interesting. It is also the largest national park in the world with its approximately 972,000 square kilometers, most of which is covered by the Ice Sheet. Only the coastal areas are ice-free during the summer months. The size of the park and the fact that it is not open to everyone makes it a very special kind of national park.
Greenland’s National Park is uninhabited by humankind, except the crew at four weather stations and the Sirius Patrol. In the summer, there may be visits from scientists and researchers in connection with biological or geological expeditions. Also, some cruise ships find their way to the National Park, but not many.
The huge unspoiled natural areas that you find in the National Park are essential for a large part of Greenland’s wildlife. The long coastal zone is an important breeding ground for the polar bear and walrus. In this stunning natural area, you can also find populations of musk oxen, polar fox, wolf, snow hares, and a host of seabirds.
The National Park was founded in 1974. Today, the National Park is managed by the Greenlandic Government, which approves access for visitors based on purpose, itinerary, and safety equipment.
There are strict conservation regulations in the National Park. All mammals and birds are completely protected, and fishing can only be done with rod and jig.
Traces of the Inuit
Along the coast of the National Park, many traces of former Inuit settlements have been found. The oldest settlements are considered to be about 4,500 years old. Inuit immigrated from today’s Canada in several waves, and even though most people went south along the west coast, some groups headed north and down south along the east coast of Greenland.
The Sirius Patrol
In the 1930s, Denmark and Norway were at odds of who had the right to Northeast Greenland. The International Court of Justice in The Hague gave Denmark the right to the area but, in return, Denmark had to prove that they could maintain a patrol in the area. In 1941, the Sirius Patrol was established, a Danish military unit that is subject to the Arctic Command. Each winter, the soldiers in the Sirius Patrol patrol the 16,000-kilometer stretch of coastline with dog sleds, and in the summer they patrol the area by boat.
The Sirius Sledge Patrol
After the end of World War II, the escalation of the "Cold War" soon led to a desire for improved, systematized surveillance of North and North-East Greenland. The Navy, which is responsible for monitoring Greenland, recommended the creation of a military sledge patrol. The Danish government endorsed the proposal, and in 1950, in the greatest secret - in the direction of the Navy - one created a sledge patrol under the name Operation Resolut. The patrol was born on August 18, 1950. It was the day that the crew was first assembled at Ella Island Patrol's base the first year.
In the summer of 1951, the patrol moved to Daneborg, where a new headquarters, "Sirius Daneborg", was established. At the same time, you changed the name to the Sledge Patrol Resolut. In 1953, the patrol changed its name again. The reason was that in North Canada there is a weather station called "Resolute Bay" and to prevent misunderstandings, one therefore took the name after Sirius - the clearest star in the constellation Alfa Canis Majoris (Large Dog). It became under this name that the sledge patrol eventually became known to the public.
The sledge patrol Sirius is tasked with monitoring the uninhabited coast between Liverpool Land on the east coast and the Nares Strait on the north coast, a coastline of approx. 2,100 km - directly measured. The patrol takes place with dog sledge in the winter months, ie. from approx. November 1 to June 1, and in the summer by sailing the ice-free fjords. In addition to military surveillance and sovereignty, the patrol has also had the civilian police authority in the area since 1950. In the framework of the national park, the patrol people also function as game servants and supervise the many research and sports expeditions of the summer and cruise ships.
Sirius, who was previously coordinated operationally directly from Denmark through the Patrol Service North and North East Greenland during the Defense Command in Vedbæk, was in 2006 subject to Greenland's Command (GLK), and since this in 2012 was merged with the Faroe Command to Arctic Command (AKO), Sirius moved with . AKO, which is headquartered in Nuuk, is responsible for the operational management of the patrol, while the education and supply part is handled by the Station and Patrol Service Greenland (SPG) located at Aalborg Air Station.
The crew, who increased to 10 and later to 12 men from 1951, previously consisted solely of officers and commanders of the three guards who had volunteered for the service. Today, the service remains voluntary; but instead, the requirement is that you have completed a basic education in the Armed Forces or in the Emergency Management Agency. In addition to the Armed Forces basic health requirements, one must also be able to honor the special health requirements of the program. In addition, one must have a clean criminal record and be able to be approved for safety and - not least - have a clarified hinterland for the purpose of completing the full posting; i.e. 26 months in Northeast Greenland.
Prior to joining Sirius, the aspirants must prove suitable through a seven-month training course at Sirius Forskole during SPG, including one month's winter training at the Norwegian Defense Forces Mestersvig. Then comes the final selection and departure to Northeast Greenland.
A sledge team, ie. Two men and 12 dogs can be on a continuous sledge trip for up to 4-5 months, during which they meet other people just a few times. Remembering the criticism that came with the decision of The Hague Judgment in Denmark's favor that Denmark might have shown will, but not results, it is worth mentioning that Sirius has drawn over 1,000,000 km of sledging tracks along the North and Northeast Greenland's uninhabited coasts.
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