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Nuuk, the capital and largest city of Greenland, is a modernized hub in the Kingdom of Denmark. With a population of around 19,872, it's one of the smallest capital cities in the world. Founded in 1728 by Hans Egede, Nuuk sits at the end of the Nuup Kangerlua fjord, making it the northernmost capital on the globe. The city has a rich history of habitation dating back to ancient Paleo-Eskimo cultures and Norse settlers. Today, Nuuk is a vibrant center of culture, government, and economy in Greenland.
Nuuk is the capital and largest city of Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark. It serves as the administrative and economic hub of Greenland, playing a central role in the political and cultural life of the island.
As of the most recent estimates, Nuuk has a population of about 19,000 people, making up approximately one-third of Greenland's total population (around 56,000 people in total).
Nuuk is located on the west coast of Greenland, nestled at the mouth of the Nuup Kangerlua fjord, which is one of the longest fjords in Greenland. It is situated about 240 km (150 miles) south of the Arctic Circle.
The settlement of Nuuk dates back over 4,500 years to when the first Inuit arrived in the area. The city itself was founded in 1728 by the Danish missionary Hans Egede, who sought to establish a Christian mission among the indigenous Greenlandic Inuit population.
Nuuk experiences a subarctic climate, with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. Temperatures in winter can drop to around -10°C (14°F), while summer temperatures average around 5–10°C (41–50°F). The city also experiences the phenomenon of polar night in winter and the midnight sun in summer.
The majority of Nuuk's population speaks Kalaallisut, the Greenlandic language, which is an Inuit language. Danish is also widely spoken, and English is increasingly common, especially in business and tourism.
Greenlandic culture is heavily influenced by its indigenous Inuit heritage, as well as by Danish colonial history. Nuuk is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, galleries, and theaters.
Nuuk is the center of Greenland's government, which operates under the authority of the Home Rule (since 1979) and later Self-Government (since 2009). Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with its own government responsible for most domestic matters, while Denmark handles foreign affairs and defense.
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