(ORDO NEWS) — Can human footprints be seen on Earth from space? Sometimes yes, even in a sparsely populated place like Greenland. The pictures were taken by a satellite in March 2023, but the public learned about them only now. This is reported by SciTechDaily.
Greenland is not completely uninhabited, with about 57,000 people living on the island (as of 2021). Most of the population lives in the south of the island, in cities and towns on the coast. However, most of the territory of the island remains uninhabited due to extremely harsh conditions and lack of infrastructure.
Some areas of Greenland, such as national parks and nature reserves, remain virtually uninhabited. It is also worth considering the climatic conditions in this part of the globe: cold and ice. A similar climate in the tundra.
All the same, it would seem like “footprints of people”, if it could be seen from space, then in a more populated and comfortable place.
As it turned out, on March 13, the device on the Landsad 9 satellite took pictures of one Greenland fjord, which is called Tunulliarfik. Even later, when examining these images, the researchers noticed something unusual about them, namely, several long straight lines along the entire length of the bay. These turned out to be cracks that can appear on the ice only after people.
And this means that people must have walked along the fjord. Although the living conditions are so harsh there that it is absolutely incomprehensible who would want to take a trip there on snowmobiles or other means of transport. Most likely, the traces were left behind by hunters or local residents.
Some of the lines in the pictures are the result of heavy rains. Precipitation can also create cracks in the fjord. In any case, watching such images is very interesting and unusual.
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Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. It is located in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada and northwest of Iceland. With an area of approximately 2.16 million square kilometers (836,300 square miles), Greenland is the world‘s largest island.
Despite its name, Greenland is predominantly covered by ice and has a polar climate. The majority of the island is located within the Arctic Circle, resulting in long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The coastal regions, however, experience relatively milder conditions.
Greenland has a population of around 56,000 people, primarily consisting of Greenlandic Inuit, who are the indigenous population. The official languages are Greenlandic and Danish, with Greenlandic being the most widely spoken.
The economy of Greenland is largely dependent on fishing, hunting, and mining. The island has rich natural resources, including minerals such as zinc, lead, gold, and rare earth elements. Tourism and government-related activities also contribute to the economy.
In terms of governance, Greenland has self-rule in most areas, but Denmark retains control over certain aspects of governance, such as foreign affairs and defense. The Greenlandic government has been pursuing increased autonomy and has expressed aspirations for full independence in the future.
Greenland is known for its stunning natural landscapes, including vast ice sheets, glaciers, fjords, and rugged mountains. It attracts tourists interested in Arctic adventures, wildlife observation, and exploring unique Inuit culture.
The impacts of climate change are particularly significant in Greenland, as the melting ice and rising temperatures have profound effects on the environment, ecosystems, and local communities. The region’s changing conditions also have implications for global sea level rise.
In summary, Greenland is a large Arctic island and an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. It is primarily inhabited by Greenlandic Inuit, known for its icy landscapes, rich natural resources, and distinct cultural heritage.
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