5 ms·

I’m sorry to be the classic HN “but wait” guy, but wait: technically isn’t Greenland in America? The tectonic plate separating North America from Europe goes r

I’m sorry to be the classic HN “but wait” guy, but wait: technically isn’t Greenland in America? The tectonic plate separating North America from Europe goes right through Iceland (the only place the Mid-Atlantic ridge is above water), making Iceland a “country on two continents”. If a European country can count off-continent lands in its “biggest country” argument, don’t all overseas territories get that consideration? Are the Danes really the last large “empire” in Europe, if only by land area? If Britain could count Commonwealth countries (they are technically all under the same sovereign), then Canada + Australia would keep GB in the top seat, I’d think.

marcolussetti 7y ago
The Commonwealth is an association of countries, some of which happen to have the same individual as head of state (not all). However for instance Canada has a Queen of Canada who happens to have lots of othe "jobs" too. I think comparing that link to the Greenland situation is not viable. I think some of the largely self-governing territories are more comparable (Channel islands, Virgin Island etc).
stormbrew 7y ago
Commonwealth countries that have a monarch (which is not all of them) are under different crowns held by the same person. It's a somewhat technical distinction, but it does legally matter. She is the queen of Canada and the queen of the UK, not the queen of Canada and the UK.
- User23 7y ago
  Interestingly, and somewhat germane to the article, Denmark was once in a similar situation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalmar_Union https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalmar_Union
mrweasel 7y ago
>technically isn’t Greenland in America? Yes it is, and to add to that, Greenland also isn't in the EU. French Guiana is France, and it is in the EU, it just happens to be in South America. Greenland/Denmark is more like Scotland/United Kingdom. Also it would be more appropriate to ask: Should Greenland be independent? There's a whole list of problems with that, and until those issues are worked out, Denmark is Greenlands least worst option.
- arendtio 7y ago
  > French Guiana is France, and it is in the EU Wow, I didn't know that and never noticed the small green part at the edge of the map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union#/media/File:Global_European_Union.svg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union#/media/File:Glo...
EdwardDiego 7y ago
Geologically speaking, Iceland is a country on two plates, not continents, as the plate boundary runs right through it. Likewise Iceland is formed from oceanic crust, not continental. However if you're talking geopolitically, not geological, then Iceland is usually included in Europe, and Greenland in north America, yep.

marcolussetti 7y ago

The Commonwealth is an association of countries, some of which happen to have the same individual as head of state (not all). However for instance Canada has a Queen of Canada who happens to have lots of othe "jobs" too. I think comparing that link to the Greenland situation is not viable. I think some of the largely self-governing territories are more comparable (Channel islands, Virgin Island etc).

stormbrew 7y ago

Commonwealth countries that have a monarch (which is not all of them) are under different crowns held by the same person. It's a somewhat technical distinction, but it does legally matter. She is the queen of Canada and the queen of the UK, not the queen of Canada and the UK.

User23 7y ago
Interestingly, and somewhat germane to the article, Denmark was once in a similar situation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalmar_Union https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalmar_Union

mrweasel 7y ago

>technically isn’t Greenland in America? Yes it is, and to add to that, Greenland also isn't in the EU. French Guiana is France, and it is in the EU, it just happens to be in South America. Greenland/Denmark is more like Scotland/United Kingdom. Also it would be more appropriate to ask: Should Greenland be independent? There's a whole list of problems with that, and until those issues are worked out, Denmark is Greenlands least worst option.

arendtio 7y ago
> French Guiana is France, and it is in the EU Wow, I didn't know that and never noticed the small green part at the edge of the map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union#/media/File:Global_European_Union.svg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union#/media/File:Glo...

EdwardDiego 7y ago

Geologically speaking, Iceland is a country on two plates, not continents, as the plate boundary runs right through it. Likewise Iceland is formed from oceanic crust, not continental. However if you're talking geopolitically, not geological, then Iceland is usually included in Europe, and Greenland in north America, yep.