Greenland, the world's
largest island, 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 European Community (now
the EU) with Denmark in 1973, but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute
centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was granted
self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law went into
effect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control of
Greenland's foreign affairs in consultation with Greenland's Home Rule
Government. Its languages are: Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, and
English