The glaciers move down the fiords to discharge at the sea-edge as icebergs. Many of them, how ever, never reach the sea, their rate of movement being so slow that the summer melting keeps their fronts miles inland. The glacial movement seaward varies greatly along different parts of the coasts. It has been observed chiefly in South west Greenland, where the rate of movement, as measured among a considerable number of gla ciers, ranges from 2 feet an hour to 99 feet a day at the large glacier near Upernivik. The east coast glaciers are' usually much smaller than those of the southwest coast, but Peary has ob served in Inglefleld Gulf, Northwest Greenland, glaciers that compare in volume with the mighty ice rivers of the southwest, which is the birth place of most of the icebergs that cross the track of Atlantic steamers during the summer months.
The climate is very cold, the mean annual isotherm of freezing temperature crossing the island near its southern end. This fact does not prevent the prevalence of warmth suitable for vegetation during the long summer day, in the interior of the fiords and in sheltered places ex posed to the sun, nearly or quite to the northern end of the island. Thus the summer temperature in favored localities often reaches an important height. The mean temperature of the three sum mer months at Julianehaab, in South Greenland, is 48° F.; at Upernivik, farther north, it is 38° F. The long, dark winters are bitterly cold, the average temperature in South Greenland ranging from --7° to —20° F., while in the north tem peratures of —60° to —70° F. have been re corded. January is the coldest month in the southern part of Greenland, and February in the north. The differences between the summer tem peratures of the north and south are less than those between the winter temperatures. The east coast has a somewhat higher temperature than the west coast. April and August bring the' larg est precipitation, and the climate of the northern part of the island is drier than that of the south.
From the rock exposures along the coastal belts, it is inferred that the most of Greenland is composed of Archasan formations, chiefly gneiss and other crystalline rocks. Along the middle parts of both the west and east coasts it is found also that the surface is covered with a thick flow of basalt overlying Tertiary, and also some Cretaceous deposits. Fossil plants of the Tertiary epoch are found on Disco Island and the adjoin ing mainland. Coal—lignite—is mined on Disco Island. Although Greenland does not appear to be rich in valuable minerals, it is the only coun try yielding cryolite in commercial quantities, the mines being situated at Ivigtut on the south west coast. Iron ore is found, and the largest
known meteorites were brought by Peary from near Cape York to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Graphite is also found, but not in quantity nor quality suitable for commercial purposes.
Under the influence of the sun, or of the warm east wind, large tracts in the south coast lands and considerable areas in the north are clad in a. mantle of mosses, grasses, shrubs, and flowering plants. Most of the shrubs are trailing plants, and few trees grow to a height of over five or six feet. The flora, which includes about four hundred flowering plants and some hundreds of lichens, greatly resembles that of Scandinavia. Numerous edible berries (juniper, alder-berries, and others) form a small part of the food re sources of the southern natives; and the white agents of the Danish Government have garden patches in which turnips, cabbage, lettuce, and very small potatoes are grown, mainly, however, under glass. The currents bring to the southerly coasts considerable driftwood, which is used by the natives in making harpoon-shafts, etc.
The fauna resembles that of Iceland, Spitz bergen, Lapland, and Nova Zembla. Among the mammals the musk-ox (found only to the ncrth of the permanent ice cap) is alone of American origin, the white bear, Arctic fox and hare, ermine, and lemming being European. Peary killed wolves, foxes, and hares at the most northern point of his travels on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. Flies, mosquitoes, beetles, butterflies, and mollusks abound •everywhere along the coast, and in fact no part of the ice-free areas is devoid of animal life. Reindeer are much less numerous than formerly, because of excessive hunting. The little auk, eider-duck, and swan have also been greatly depleted. There are about one hundred and twenty-five varieties of birds, many of which swarm in enormous num bers on the precipitous mountain sides. The Eskimo dog is regarded as the best sledge animal in the world; and in the Southern Inspectorate the Danes have introduced a few of their do mestic animals. The neighboring waters are rich in food for many varieties of sea animal life. Greenland waters were great hunting grounds for the right whale until it was practically exter minated. The seal is the largest food resource of the natives, the walrus being next in impor tance. NVit 1 rus ivory and hides are important articles of export.