Why is Greenland called “The Green Land” when it’s mostly covered in ice?

Why is Greenland called “The Green Land” when it’s mostly covered in ice?

Greenland is the world’s largest island and is administratively part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Despite its harsh, icy nature, its name carries a seemingly paradoxical meaning: the Green Land. So how did this name come about?

Let’s find out the story.

The story dates back to the 10th century AD.

1. Around 982 AD, the Norwegian Viking explorer Erik the Red was exiled from Iceland after being implicated in a murder. He decided to sail west in search of a new land.

2. Discovery of a Giant Island

During his voyage, Erik the Red arrived at a vast island with a harsh climate. Ice covered most of its land, but it had more temperate coastal areas during the summer.

3. A Clever Name for a Clever Goal

To encourage people to migrate and settle with him, Erik named the island “Greenland” (the Green Land), a clever and early marketing move.

4. Icelandic sagas recall his famous saying:

 “People will flock there if the land has a beautiful name.”

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