In Europe, there is a country whose area is second only to Russia, with over 2 million square kilometers.
This country is Denmark.
According to official data from Denmark, its land area is only 43,000 square kilometers, making it a very small country.
They are also very low-key internationally and rarely make appearances.
So what exactly is the reason behind Denmark's land area having such a large discrepancy?
What is the extra 1.9 million square kilometers of Denmark's territory?
And why does Denmark refuse to acknowledge it?
Throughout history, wars have been fought for the sake of land, to expand one's influence, to gain access to more resources. So, whether in ancient times or today, regions rich in resources or strategically important have always been full of contention and conflict.
Faced with such a vast and resource-rich territory, they actually disguised it, refusing to acknowledge it as their country's territory, and even erasing it from their country's official data.
This incomprehensible country is Denmark.
So why does Denmark do this? What secrets lie in this "hidden" territory of Denmark?
When Denmark is mentioned, many people think of its "fairy tale kingdom" reputation, as well as the renowned figure of the civilized world, Hans Christian Andersen.
Denmark is a developed country, with a population of over five million.
Though the population is small, it possesses a territory in Europe second only to Russia, over 2 million square kilometers, truly vast and sparsely populated.
However, this territory is not recognized by Denmark itself. Denmark only acknowledges its 45,000 square kilometers, with the vast areas excluded being Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
The Faroe Islands consist of 18 islands, situated between Iceland and Norway. Seventeen of these islands are inhabited, with only one being uninhabited.
Most of the inhabitants here are descendants of Scandinavians, with a total population of just over 10,000 and a very small area, only a little over 1,000 square kilometers, which is insignificant compared to the 2 million square kilometers of Denmark's total area.
The island that truly occupies the majority of the territory is Greenland.
Greenland is the world's largest island, with a total area of 2.16 million square kilometers, a figure that neither Northern nor Central Europe combined can surpass, hence it's also called the Greenland Subcontinent.
Situated at the junction of North America and Europe, with the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean at its ends, the island's climate is extremely extreme, with temperatures dropping to over minus 70 degrees Celsius, and over 80% of its land covered in ice and snow.
From a climate perspective, Greenland is not suitable for human habitation, so many people believe that this is the reason Denmark refuses to include it in its territory. However, the reality is not so.
Despite its extreme climate, Greenland is extremely rich in resources.
Greenland has extremely rich natural resources, including economically valuable minerals such as lead, zinc, and cryolite, as well as untapped petroleum and natural gas reserves.
At the same time, its oil and gas reserves are also considerable. According to estimates by the U.S. Geological Survey, Greenland will be one of the largest untapped oil fields, with just the Northeast region alone estimated to contain 31 billion barrels of oil.
This quantity is over 80 times more than Denmark's own North Sea region.
Many may wonder why there hasn't been any war over such rich mineral resources. Why doesn't Denmark even acknowledge it as its own territory when Greenland harbors such immense benefits?
The reason Denmark doesn't acknowledge it as its territory is due to internal political issues within the country.
Greenland has its own autonomous government internally. Although it is part of Denmark, its relationship with Denmark is one of equality, a sort of "nation within a nation."
Greenland is classified as an autonomous territory within Denmark, similar to the aforementioned Faroe Islands, so strictly speaking, Denmark's territorial area data is not incorrect.
However, Greenland does indeed belong to Denmark. Despite being autonomous internally, Denmark provides Greenland with billions of dollars in funding each year as support, which accounts for a quarter of Greenland's income.
So even though in many aspects Greenland is very close to being an independent country, many people there do not wish for independence, and so far, independence has not been pursued.
Additionally, some speculate that Greenland not being recognized by Denmark as its own territory is also to lower attention.
Throughout history, numerous wars have been fought over resource disputes, and Greenland, being an island with oil and gas reserves, is naturally desired by many as a valuable asset.
Now, Greenland's peace is because most of its resources have not yet been exploited, but extraction efforts are ongoing.
Once these resources are discovered, there's the possibility of both ecological pollution from oil spills and the potential for war.
Given Denmark's current strength, although it's a developed country, it's not enough to resist.
However, as time passes, Denmark's small territorial limitations are gradually becoming apparent. Both in terms of population and resources, there's a huge gap compared to other European powers, and its national strength is gradually being overtaken by other countries.
Today, Denmark not only boasts picturesque scenery and a fairy-tale environment, but its people also enjoy wealth and happiness akin to characters from fairy tales.
Denmark's GDP ranks around 11th globally, where the fewest people create the most wealth. The average salary here can reach 40,000 yuan, and after taxes, it's still over 30,000 yuan.
People living here have little pressure, substantial income, free healthcare, free education, work six to seven hours a day, and various social security benefits provided by the state place their happiness index as the second highest in the world.
Denmark's prosperity comes from various sources, with agriculture taking the lead.
In Denmark, becoming a farmer is a guarantee of wealth because their pork exports account for 25% of the world's total. However, this profession is not easy; it requires three years of study and exams.
Next is the fishing industry, as they are located by the sea, making transportation very convenient, and thus a primary source of income for the Danish people.
Then there's the biopharmaceutical industry, which is the medical industry. Denmark's medical industry leads globally, with insulin and enzyme preparations reaching world-leading levels. In terms of cancer treatment, Denmark also boasts a high level of proficiency.
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