Administrative divisions of Greenland

Greenland

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Greenland

Prime Minister Kuupik Kleist Parliament Political parties Elections: 2005, 2009 Administrative divisions Greenland and the EU See also Politics of Denmark

Other countries · Atlas Politics portal view talk edit

Greenland is presently divided into four municipalities – Kujalleq, Qaasuitsup, Qeqqata, and Sermersooq^[1] – as well as the large Northeast Greenland National Park which is unincorporated. The Thule Air Base is administered by the United States Air Force and operates as an unincorporated enclave within but separate from Qaasuitsup.

Municipalities

Administrative divisions of Greenland since 1 January 2009, with municipal centers marked with numbers.

Qaasuitsup (Kalaallisut: Qaasuitsup Kommunia) is a new municipality in northwestern Greenland, operational from 1 January 2009. The administrative center of the municipality is in Ilulissat.

Qeqqata (Kalaallisut: Qeqqata Kommunia) is a new municipality in western Greenland, operational from 1 January 2009. Its administrative center is in Sisimiut.

Sermersooq (Kalaallisut: Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq) is a new municipality in southwestern Greenland, operational from 1 January 2009. Its administrative center is in Nuuk, the capital.

Kujalleq (Kalaallisut: Kommuneqarfik Kujalleq) is a new municipality in southern Greenland, operational from 1 January 2009. Its administrative center is in Qaqortoq.

History

Greenland was originally divided between the two colonies of North Greenland with its capital at Godhavn (modern Qeqertarsuaq) and South Greenland with its capital at Godthaab (modern Nuuk). These were directed by inspectors until 1924, when the officials were promoted to governors. The colonies were united in 1940^{[verification needed]} and the administration centralized at Godthaab.

Greenland was subsequently promoted to full membership in the Danish state with all of its inhabitants given Danish citizenship. The island was then administered as three counties (Danish: amt): West Greenland (Vestgrønland), East Greenland (Østgrønland), and North Greenland (Nordgrønland). The large Northeast Greenland National Park was part of both East and North Greenland, but not unincorporated.

With the advent of Home Rule in 1979, these names were Greenlandicized to Kitaa, Tunu, and Avannaa respectively. By 2008, Kitaa had 15 municipalities, Tunu 2, and Avannaa 1.

The reforms in 2009 replaced the counties with 4 enlarged municipalities.

Kitaa (West Greenland)

The three former counties of Greenland, including the boundaries of the former municipalities and the Northeast National Park area.

Southern part:

• Nanortalik Municipality
• Qaqortoq Municipality
• Narsaq Municipality
• Ivittuut Municipality
• Paamiut Municipality

Central part:

• Nuuk Municipality
• Maniitsoq Municipality
• Sisimiut Municipality
• Kangaatsiaq Municipality
• Aasiaat Municipality
• Qasigiannguit Municipality
• Ilulissat Municipality
• Qeqertarsuaq Municipality

Northern part:

• Uummannaq Municipality
• Upernavik Municipality
• Northeast Greenland National Park (small part) (unincorporated)

Tunu (East Greenland)

• Ammassalik Municipality
• Ittoqqortoormiit Municipality
• Northeast Greenland National Park (southern part) (unincorporated)

Avannaa (North Greenland)

• Qaanaaq Municipality
• Thule Air Base (Pituffik) (unincorporated)
• Northeast Greenland National Park (northern part) (unincorporated)

References

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Divisions of Greenland

• KANUKOKA, the municipalities' leadership council
• Subdivisions of the Nordic countries
• ISO 3166-2:GL

v t e Administrative divisions of Greenland (since 2009) Municipalities Kujalleq Qaasuitsup Qeqqata Sermersooq Unincorporated Areas Pituffik (Thule Air Base) Northeast Greenland National Park

v t e Former administrative divisions of Greenland (until 31 December 2008) Counties Avannaa (North Greenland) Kitaa (West Greenland) Tunu (East Greenland) Municipalities Aasiaat Ammassalik Ilulissat Ittoqqortoormiit Ivittuut Kangaatsiaq Maniitsoq Nanortalik Narsaq Nuuk Paamiut Qaanaaq Qaqortoq Qasigiannguit Qeqertarsuaq Sisimiut Upernavik Uummannaq Unincorporated Areas Kangerlussuaq Pituffik Northeast Greenland National Park See also (New) Municipalities