Greenland, an integral part of the Danish realm, is a huge island situated between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Polar Sea, almost entirely within the Artic Circle. It has an area of 840,000 sq. mi. (2,175,600 sq. km.) and a population of 56,087. Capital: Godthab. Greenland is the world?s only source of natural cryolite, a fluoride of sodium and aluminum. Fish products and minerals are exported. ,Eric the Red discovered Greenland in 982 and established the first settlement in 986. Greenland was a republic until 1261, when the sovereignty of Norway was extended to the island. The original colony was abandoned about 1400 when increasing cold interfered with the breeding of cattle. Successful recolonization was undertaken by Denmark in 1721. In 1921, Denmark extended its claim to include the entire land, and made it a colony of the crown in 1924. The island?s colonial status was abolished by amendment to the Danish constitution on June 5, 1953, and Greenland became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It has been an autonomous state since May 1, 1979.,, Rulers:,,, ,Danish,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Rigsbankdaler = 96 Skilling to 1874,, ,1 Krone = 48 Skilling,, ,1 Krone = 100 Ore, 1874-,,