Leslie Massey
Australia is approximately 7,741,220 sq km, while Greenland is approximately 2,166,086 sq km, making Australia around four times bigger than Greenland. Australia has a population of over 23 million people, while Greenland's population is approximately 57,792. Australia has its own tectonic plate, while Greenland sits on the North American Tectonic Plate. Due to these differences in size, population, and geography, Australia is considered a continent, while Greenland is not.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Land Area | Greenland: 2,166,086 sq km, Australia: 7,741,220 sq km |
| Relative Size | Australia is 257% larger than Greenland, or almost four times bigger |
| Population | Greenland: ~57,792 people, Australia: ~23,000,000 people |
| Tectonic Plates | Greenland: North American Plate, Australia: Australian Plate |
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What You'll Learn
Australia is larger than Greenland (257%)
Australia is approximately 7,741,220 sq km, while Greenland's land area is roughly 2,166,086 sq km. This makes Australia 257% larger than Greenland. In other words, Australia is almost four times bigger than Greenland.
The population of Greenland is around 57,792 people, while Australia is home to over 23 million people, with 26.1 million more people living there than in Greenland.
The difference in size is also evident when considering the tectonic plates on which the two regions lie. Australia has its own tectonic plate, known as the Australian Plate. Greenland, on the other hand, does not have a distinct plate and sits on the North American Tectonic Plate. As a result, some argue that Greenland should be considered part of North America, while Australia stands alone as a continent.
The representation of Greenland and Australia on maps has often been debated. Mercator's projection, for example, presents the Earth on a flat surface, causing lands near the North Pole, like Greenland, to appear much bigger than those near the equator. This has led to confusion, as regions may appear equal in size on a map despite having varying sizes in reality.
Despite the map projections, Australia's sheer size and unique characteristics, such as its diverse culture, flora, and fauna, solidify its status as a continent, distinct from Greenland.
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Greenland is part of the North American Tectonic Plate
Greenland, covering an area of about 2,166,086 sq km, is approximately 257% smaller than Australia, which spans roughly 7,741,220 sq km. Despite its relatively modest size, Greenland boasts a unique geological history, being part of the North American Tectonic Plate.
The Greenland Plate, a tectonic microplate, is bounded by several significant geological features. To its west lies the Nares Strait, a probable transform fault, while the Ungava transform underlying the Davis Strait defines its southwest boundary. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge marks its southeast border, and the Gakkel Ridge lies to the northeast, with the northwest border still a subject of exploration.
The Greenland craton is ancient, comprising some of the oldest rocks on Earth. The Isua greenstone belt in southwestern Greenland is particularly notable, dating back an astonishing 3.7–3.8 billion years. This ancient bedrock, known as the Precambrian basement, formed an integral component of the Laurentian Shield, which lies at the heart of the North American continent.
Greenland's formation occurred in two distinct rifting stages as it separated from the main body of North America. The first stage, during the Cretaceous period, resulted in the formation of Baffin Bay, an extension of the North Atlantic-Labrador Sea rift system that began approximately 140 million years ago. Since the closure of this rift system, Greenland has moved in conjunction with North America, leading to questions about whether the Greenland Plate should be considered a separate plate.
The region between Greenland and Baffin Island is seismically active, having experienced numerous earthquakes, including a significant 7.3-magnitude event in 1933. Despite this, scientists have yet to establish definitive correlations between the seismic activity and specific geological structures or anomalies. Greenland's geological past is a subject of ongoing exploration, with researchers employing innovative techniques to study its crust and gain insights into the tectonic forces that have shaped this fascinating landmass.
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Australia has its own tectonic plate
Australia is approximately 7,741,220 sq km, making it about 257% larger than Greenland, which is approximately 2,166,086 sq km.
Australia is situated on the Australian tectonic plate, which is widely considered to be separate from the Indian Plate. Together, these two plates form the Indo-Australian Plate, one of Earth's seven major plate tectonic boundaries. The Indo-Australian Plate is the second smallest, being only slightly larger than the South American Plate. It includes the majority of the Indian Ocean and parts of India and Australia. The Australian plate also includes portions of New Guinea, New Zealand, and the Indian Ocean basin.
The Australian plate was originally part of the ancient continent of Gondwana, which included Antarctica and India. Around 100 million years ago, India broke away from this landmass and began moving north. Australia and Antarctica began rifting around 96 million years ago, with complete separation occurring much later, possibly as recently as 45 million years ago, but most sources agree this happened around 60 million years ago.
The Australian plate is moving faster than other plates, at a rate of about 6.9 cm (2.7 inches) per year in a northward direction with a small clockwise rotation. This movement has been observed through earthquake data and global satellite navigation systems, which indicate that India and Australia are no longer moving along the same vectors.
The Pilbara Craton in Western Australia contains some of the oldest surface rocks on Earth, with pristine crust dating back 3.8 billion years. These ancient rocks provide valuable insights into the early movement of tectonic plates. Magnetic signatures preserved in the rock suggest that the region was shifting across the planet 3.2 billion years ago at similar speeds to modern tectonic plates.
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Greenland has a smaller population
Australia is approximately 7,741,220 sq km, while Greenland's land area is roughly 2,166,086 sq km. This makes Australia almost four times bigger than Greenland, covering 257% more land.
Despite the significant difference in size, the population of Greenland is only ~57,792 people, while over 26 million more people live in Australia, with a population of approximately 23 million people. This vast discrepancy in population size between the two regions can be attributed to various factors, including each region's unique characteristics, such as geography, climate, and opportunities for human habitation and development.
Greenland's smaller population may be influenced by its northern location, with a significant portion of the island lying within the Arctic Circle. This results in a colder climate and more challenging conditions for human settlement. In contrast, Australia, located entirely within the southern temperate zone, enjoys a more diverse and generally milder climate, making it more conducive to human habitation and supporting a larger population.
Additionally, Australia possesses a unique continental status, further distinguishing it from Greenland. Australia has its tectonic plate, known as the Australian Plate, while Greenland sits on the North American Tectonic Plate. This distinction suggests that Australia should be considered independently, while Greenland could be viewed as an extension of North America geologically.
The cultural, floral, and faunal differences between the two regions may also play a role in their population disparity. Australia's diverse characteristics and continental status indicate a unique standing comparable to other continents. In contrast, Greenland shares similar features with Canada and the North American region, which may impact its population size and density.
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Maps distort the size of polar regions
Maps are a common tool used to help us visualise the world around us. However, they are not perfect representations of the world. Maps, by their very nature, distort reality to some extent. This is especially true for regions near the Earth's poles, such as Greenland.
The distortion occurs because of the inherent challenge of projecting a three-dimensional sphere (the Earth) onto a two-dimensional plane (a map). This process, known as map projection, requires cartographers to make compromises, resulting in some aspects of the Earth's surface being misrepresented. Different map projections prioritise different properties, leading to varying distortion patterns. For example, conformal maps preserve the shapes of small areas but can distort the sizes of landmasses, especially those near the poles.
The Mercator projection, one of the most well-known world maps, is famous for its straight lines that represent true directions. This made it essential for maritime navigation. However, the Mercator projection greatly distorts the size of landmasses near the poles. For instance, Greenland appears far larger on a Mercator map than it actually is in comparison to countries closer to the equator, such as Africa. This distortion is a characteristic of the projection, where the linear scale increases with latitude from the equator to the poles.
Other map projections, such as the equirectangular projection, also distort the polar regions. In fact, it is extremely difficult to create an accurate representation of the polar regions on a two-dimensional map due to the significant distortion that occurs. Cartographers have developed various tools and methods to minimise these distortions, but they are still present in many commonly used maps.
In summary, maps can provide valuable information and help us navigate our world, but it is important to remember that they are not entirely accurate. The polar regions, in particular, are often distorted in size, shape, and distance on maps due to the inherent challenges of projecting a three-dimensional sphere onto a two-dimensional plane.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is approximately 7,741,220 sq km, while Greenland is approximately 2,166,086 sq km. This makes Australia around four times bigger than Greenland.
No, as regions such as Antarctica have near-zero population, so this would not be a helpful measure of size.
Yes, one source suggests that the different tectonic plates that Australia and Greenland lie on could be used to distinguish the two. Australia has its own tectonic plate, whereas Greenland sits on the North American Tectonic Plate.
