It’s not quite true. There are trees in Greenland, but when you see them, you’ll probably think they are shrubs. Hardy little buggers, but little more than knee high. There are trees in the south of Greenland. There’s an experimental plantation of about 100 trees. One day it might be a small wood.
One day.
It’s going to take a while!
But photos like these show how dependent Greenlanders are (more specifically were) on the sea.
The sea gives meat, vegetables (if you eat the seaweed) and water – lumps of ice for melting.
Chris
I’ve read a lot about driftwood in your books – being used for making and repairing things, carved into artwork, and simple fire fuel. Where does all that driftwood come from without trees in Greenland? I don’t know what currents impact Greenland – does the driftwood arrive from Canada, or farther away?
Ooh, currents… now you’ve got me. I discovered a lot of wooden pallets in Uummannaq Fjord. They are lethal to boats, quite literally as they lie flat on the surface and you can’t see them until you hit them. Lots of lives lost because of pallets. I’ll have to look into the currents to answer that. I’m guessing the Gulf Stream will deliver plenty of driftwood of all kinds to the east coast of Greenland. But… got to look into it! 🙂
Erik the Red must have been sloshed when he named the place “Greenland”. 🙂 Very scenic.
In fairness to Erik (first name terms, eh!) I don’t think he ever sailed this far north. This is the so-called “desert” in Uummannaq Fjord. But yes, sloshed! 🙂
I read a collection of Icelandic Sagas. I’m sure it was Erik the Red and he named the island “Greenland” to entice colonists to settle there. I can’t remember what his potential settlers thought when they actually got to Greenland – land of snow, ice and pretty rocks. 😀 Not sure how well they would have managed in terms of cattle/sheep and crops. The weather there in the 10th Century (I think) was warmer than it is now, but it doesn’t look like there is much soil in Greenland either? They would have had to resort to fishing or starve. And as you say, no big trees – so good luck making more ships if your old ships start disintegrating and your trade partners don’t bother visiting.