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Greenland Flag

by Aakash Singha

The Greenland flag is also known as Aappalaartoq - "the red". The term Aappalaartoq is also used to refer to the flag of Denmark.


Greenland Flag

 

Designed by a local artist of Greenland, Thue Christiansen, the national flag of Greenland features two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red.

Towards the hoist side of the center is a large disk. The top half of the disc is red and the bottom half is white. The white in the flag represents the heavy snowfall experienced by the island and the red color symbolizes the sun shining over the land.

In the local language, Greenlandic, the flag is referred to as  Erfalasorput, meaning “our flag”. The Greenland flag is also known as Aappalaartoq – “the red”. The term Aappalaartoq is also used to refer to the flag of Denmark. Unlike the flags of the other Nordic countries, the flag of Greenland does not feature a Nordic Cross.

The idea of the national flag first came up in 1973 when some proposed a green, white, and blue flag. The next year in 1974 a newspaper published eleven other designs out of which ten featured a Nordic Cross. No flag was chosen at the time and the plan of selecting an official flag took a backseat.

In 1978, when Greenland was granted home rule by Denmark, a design contest was held across the country. Of the many entries received, a red and white flag with a circle was chosen as the official flag of the country.

Official Name: Greenland
Flag Proportion: 2:3
Adopted on: June 21, 1985
Location of Greenland: Located between the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans
Capital City of Greenland: Nuuk
Cities of Greenland: Cape Farewell, Qeqqata, Sermersooq, and others
Area: 836,109 square miles
Population: 56,980 estimate
Currency: Danish Krone (DKK)
Official Language: Greenlandic
National Anthem: You, Our Ancient Land
National symbol(s): polar bear
National colors: red, white
National anthem:
Name: “Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit” (“Our Country, Who’s Become So Old” also translated as “You, Our Ancient Land”)
Lyrics/Music: Henrik LUND/Jonathan PETERSEN

Fact about the Greenland flag

Country Greenland
Designed by Thue Christiansen
Adopted June 21, 1985
Revision NA
Design and Colors A horizontal bicolor of white and red (PMS 186C), with a counterchanged disk slightly off-center towards the hoist.
Size Ratio 2:3

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