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Australia and Greenland have long been compared in terms of size, with Australia being nearly four times larger than Greenland. However, the two landmasses differ in their classification, with Australia considered the smallest continent and Greenland deemed the largest island. This classification is based on various factors, including their location on tectonic plates, biological distinctions, anthropological differences, and cultural uniqueness. While Australia rests on its own tectonic plate and boasts unique flora and fauna, as well as indigenous culture, Greenland shares a tectonic plate with North America and has fewer unique plant and animal species. These criteria collectively shape the understanding of what qualifies as a continent or an island, contributing to the distinct categorizations of Australia and Greenland.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Area | Greenland is approximately 2,166,086 square miles (5,609,374 square km), while Australia is roughly 2,967,893 square miles (7,686,850 square km). Australia is the world's smallest continent, whereas Greenland is the world's largest island. |
| Population | As of 2023, Australia's population is estimated to be around 26.2 million people. In contrast, Greenland has a much smaller population, with an estimated 56,000 people as of 2020. |
| Geography | Greenland is located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is considered part of North America geographically. Australia is a continent surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean in the Southern Hemisphere. |
| Climate | Greenland has a polar climate with very low temperatures and frequent snow and ice. Australia has a diverse climate ranging from tropical in the north to temperate in the south, with some desert regions in the interior. |
| Terrain | Greenland's terrain is mostly flat with about 80% of its land area covered by ice sheet. Australia's landscape varies from mountainous regions to vast deserts and tropical rainforests. |
| Sovereignty | Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, whereas Australia is a sovereign country and a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. |
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What You'll Learn
Greenland is the world's largest island
Secondly, there is a biological distinction. Australia has a large number of plant and animal species that are unique to the continent, whereas Greenland has fewer unique species, with many of its fauna, such as reindeer, polar bears, and arctic foxes, also found in countries like Canada.
Thirdly, there is an anthropological distinction. Aboriginal people are limited to Australia, while indigenous Greenlanders are part of a larger group of peoples (the Inuit) found throughout the Arctic, including parts of Canada, the United States, and Russia.
Finally, there is a cultural distinction. Australia has a unique culture in its region, whereas Greenland is considered part of the larger North American Arctic culture, with historical and cultural ties to Europe, specifically Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.
While the definition of a continent is somewhat vague and subject to different interpretations, these combined factors generally support the understanding of Greenland as the world's largest island, rather than a continent.
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Australia is a continent, not an island
Australia is a continent and not an island. Although Australia is sometimes referred to as an "island continent", most geographers consider islands and continents to be separate things. According to Britannica, an island is a land mass that is "entirely surrounded by water" and "smaller than a continent". By this definition, Australia cannot be an island because it is already a continent.
Australia is the smallest continent on Earth, with a total land area of about 3 million square miles (7.7 million square km). It is nearly four times as large as Greenland, which is approximately 836,000 square miles (2,165,230 square km) in size.
There are several other distinctions between Australia and Greenland that support their classification as separate entities. Firstly, Australia and Greenland are situated on different tectonic plates. Australia sits on its own tectonic plate, while Greenland shares a plate with North America. Secondly, there is a biological distinction. A large percentage of Australia's plant and animal species are unique to the continent, whereas fewer of Greenland's species are exclusive to the region. Thirdly, there is an anthropological distinction. Aboriginal people are specific to Australia, whereas indigenous Greenlanders belong to a broader group of peoples (the Inuit) found throughout the Arctic, including parts of Canada, the United States, and Russia.
While there is no strict scientific definition of a continent, the combination of these factors contributes to the general understanding of what qualifies as a continent. Thus, despite Australia's occasional designation as an "island continent", it is more accurately characterised as the smallest continent, distinct from Greenland, the world's largest island.
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Australia is nearly four times the size of Greenland
Greenland is often referred to as the world's largest island, but Australia is nearly four times its size. While Australia is sometimes called an "island continent", most geographers consider islands and continents to be separate. According to Britannica, an island is a mass of land that is "entirely surrounded by water" and "smaller than a continent".
Australia, at about 3 million square miles (7.7 million square km), is the smallest continent on Earth. Greenland, on the other hand, covers an area of 836,000 square miles (2,165,230 square km). If they were closer in size, Greenland might have a stronger case for continent status, and Australia for island status.
There are several other distinctions between the two. Australia rests on its own tectonic plate, the Australian Plate, whereas Greenland shares a tectonic plate with North America. Australia also has a large percentage of unique plant and animal species, whereas fewer of Greenland's species are unique. Additionally, Aboriginal people are limited to Australia, while indigenous Greenlanders belong to a group of peoples (the Inuit) found throughout the Arctic, including parts of Canada, the United States, and Russia.
While there is no strict scientific definition of a continent, these criteria collectively form a general understanding of what qualifies as one.
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Greenland shares a tectonic plate with North America
Greenland is indeed the world's largest island. However, it shares a tectonic plate with North America. The Greenland plate is a tectonic microplate bounded to the west by the Nares Strait, a probable transform fault, and to the southwest by the Ungava Transform underlying Davis Strait. The Greenland Craton is made up of some of the oldest rocks on Earth, dating back 3.7–3.8 billion years.
The Precambrian basement of Greenland was once an integral part of the Laurentian Shield, which forms the core of the North American continent. Greenland was formed in two rifting stages from the main body of North America. The first stage, during the Cretaceous period, formed Baffin Bay, the northwestern extension of the North Atlantic-Labrador Sea rift system, which began forming 140 million years ago. The second stage of rifting occurred during the Maastrichtian age 69 million years ago, when the Labrador Sea started opening. Seafloor spreading appears to have ceased by the Oligocene epoch, 30-35 million years ago.
Since the closure of the North Atlantic-Labrador Sea rift, Greenland has moved in conjunction with North America. This has led to questions about whether the Greenland plate should be considered a separate plate. The area between Greenland and Baffin Island is seismically very active, and it has been the location of many earthquakes, including a 7.3-magnitude earthquake in 1933.
Despite Greenland's geological connection to North America, its identity is complex and shaped by a blend of internal and external influences. It has ancient historical and cultural links to North America through Indigenous populations who share a common lineage with Native Americans. However, modern connections to North America are more limited. Politically, Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, with cultural ties to Europe.
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Australia has a unique flora and fauna
Australia is about 3 million square miles (7 million square kilometres) in size, while Greenland is 836,000 square miles (2,165,230 square kilometres) or 1 million square kilometres. Therefore, Australia is nearly four times bigger than Greenland. However, Greenland is the world's largest island, and Australia is the smallest continent on Earth.
Australia's Unique Flora and Fauna
Australia has a diverse range of flora and fauna, with a high proportion of species found nowhere else in the world. About 85% of Australia's plant species are endemic, and the country is home to half of the world's marsupial species. Australia's long geographic isolation, tectonic stability, and unique patterns of climate change have contributed to this high level of endemism.
The country is home to a large variety of animals, including birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Notably, Australia has a higher number of venomous snake species than non-venomous ones, with the inland taipan, tiger snake, and common death adder being the most dangerous. Saltwater crocodiles, the largest living reptiles, can be found along Australia's northern coast, while freshwater crocodiles inhabit the inland waterways.
The relative scarcity of native placental mammals has allowed marsupials to thrive and occupy ecological niches that placental animals fill elsewhere. Australia is home to two of the five known extant monotreme species, including the platypus, the animal emblem of New South Wales.
Australia's waters are also rich in biodiversity, with about 25% of the world's fish species found in its marine environments. The Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, supports 1700 species of corals, making it a popular destination for divers and snorkelers.
To protect its unique flora and fauna, the Australian government has established over 500 national parks and passed several laws, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, which safeguards native fauna and threatened species.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Greenland is smaller than Australia. Australia is about 7 million square km, while Greenland is about 2 million square km.
Greenland is considered an island as it is entirely surrounded by water and is smaller than a continent. It is the world's largest island.
No, Australia is considered a continent. It is the smallest continent at about 3 million square miles (7.7 million square km).
