It’s a common geographical puzzle: Iceland, seemingly green and fertile, versus Greenland, a vast expanse of ice. This contrast often leads to the popular, albeit incorrect, theory that Vikings intentionally swapped the names to deter settlement in Iceland and lure people to Greenland. While the complete truth is more nuanced and intriguing, there’s a kernel of historical strategy embedded in the real explanation of why Greenland bears its verdant name.
To truly understand why Greenland is called Greenland, we need to journey back to the age of Vikings and explore the motivations and perceptions of these Norse explorers. It’s important to note from the outset that the name “Greenland” is not what the indigenous Inuit people call their homeland. In Greenlandic Inuit, the land is known as Kalaallit Nunaat, meaning “Land of the People.” The name “Greenland,” and indeed “Iceland,” are legacies from our Norse ancestors.
Geographically, Greenland sits further north, south, east, and west than Iceland. Paradoxically, the southern reaches of Greenland, the very areas where Erik the Red and his Viking settlers first landed, were indeed relatively hospitable. Around a thousand years ago, when Erik the Red made his historic discovery, this southern region experienced a warmer climate than it does today. This milder climate would have presented a landscape that appeared, at least in comparison to the harsher interior, to be relatively green, particularly during the summer months. Iceland benefits significantly from the Gulf Stream, resulting in a warmer climate and a longer growing season, making it greener in the summer. However, it’s crucial to remember that even today, Iceland is not entirely green, with glaciers covering approximately 10-14% of its surface, while Greenland is significantly more icy, with about 80% glacial coverage.
The Viking approach to naming places was often descriptive and practical. Consider Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital, meaning “Smoky Bay,” a name derived from the steam rising from geothermal vents. Similarly, “Greenland” likely stemmed from the Vikings’ initial impressions of the southern coastal areas they encountered. These areas, during the Viking Age, would have been green enough to warrant such a name, especially to seafarers accustomed to the starker landscapes of Scandinavia. The Vikings likely landed in Greenland primarily to hunt walruses for their valuable ivory, a resource that had become scarce in Iceland due to overhunting.
Beyond simple description, there was a strategic element to the name “Greenland.” Erik the Red, the Norse explorer credited with naming Greenland, was not merely an explorer but also a savvy promoter. Exiled from Iceland for murder, Erik sought to establish a new settlement in this newly discovered land. To attract potential settlers to what might otherwise seem like a remote and icy territory, a positive and appealing name was crucial. “Greenland” was undoubtedly chosen to entice people to migrate, painting a more inviting picture than the reality of much of the island might suggest. Erik the Red’s past, being exiled for murder, adds a layer of intrigue to his motivations for wanting to populate Greenland – he needed followers and a positive spin to his new venture.
Vatnajökull glacier, Iceland, showcasing icy landscapes.
While Erik’s strategy initially worked, establishing Viking settlements in Greenland, these settlements eventually faced numerous challenges. A cooling climate in the 14th century, possibly triggered by volcanic eruptions far away, combined with the Black Death in Europe diminishing demand for walrus ivory, and the rise of African elephant ivory in trade routes, contributed to the decline and eventual disappearance of the Viking colonies in Greenland.
In contrast to Greenland’s strategic naming, Iceland’s name emerged from a less optimistic perspective. Iceland was initially known as Garðarshólmur (Garðar’s Isle) and Snæland (Snowland). The name “Iceland” is attributed to Flóki Vilgerðarson, an early Norse settler who experienced a particularly harsh winter there. After a disastrous season where his livestock perished, a disheartened Flóki climbed a mountain and saw only ice-filled fjords. Returning to Norway, he grimly dubbed the land “Iceland.” Despite Flóki’s negativity, another crew member presented a much more positive account, describing the land’s richness. Ultimately, settlement in Iceland grew, and the name “Iceland,” born from hardship and a bleak outlook, stuck.
In conclusion, Greenland is called Greenland not due to a deceptive name swap, but because Viking explorer Erik the Red strategically chose an appealing name to encourage settlement in a land that, while icy overall, had pockets of green coastal areas, especially during the warmer climate of the Viking Age. The name was as much a marketing tactic as it was a reflection of the environment as perceived by the first Norse explorers. The stories behind the naming of Greenland and Iceland offer a fascinating glimpse into Viking history, exploration, and the interplay between environment, perception, and strategic naming.
