Do You Know Which is the Largest National Park in the World?

Did you know there are places on Earth where winter never truly ends? In some countries, snow covers the land for most of the year and temperatures fall far below freezing. Life there looks very different from what many of us experience every day.

People living in extremely cold regions have learned to adapt in smart ways. They wear special clothing, build insulated homes and rely on unique food habits to stay warm and healthy. Even daily travel often happens on ice, snow or frozen rivers.

Some of these countries experience sunlight for only a few hours in winter. In contrast, summers can bring long days where the sun barely sets at all. This unusual cycle changes how people sleep, work and celebrate festivals.

Cold climates also shape nature. You will find frozen lakes, giant glaciers, polar animals and forests covered in white for months. The beauty of these landscapes attracts scientists and travelers from all around the world.

In this article, we will explore the ten coldest countries on Earth and learn what makes their weather so extreme and fascinating.

Largest National Park in the World

Northeast Greenland National Park is the biggest national park in the world and one of the most remote places on the planet. Located in the far north of Greenland, it covers a vast frozen wilderness of glaciers, mountains, fjords and icy coastlines. The park is so large that it is bigger than many countries. Despite its massive size, almost no one lives here permanently, making it one of Earth’s last untouched natural regions.

Location and Size of Northeast Greenland National Park

This national park lies in northeastern Greenland, inside the Kingdom of Denmark. It stretches across both the inland ice sheet and the Arctic coastline.

• Total area: about 972,000 square kilometres
• Larger than Tanzania
• Bigger than 160+ countries
• Northernmost national park in the world

Most of the interior area is covered by the Greenland Ice Sheet, while the coastal zones contain ice-free valleys, rocky mountains and tundra land.

Formation and Establishment

The park was created on 22 May 1974 to protect Greenland’s wild Arctic environment. Later, in 1988, its boundaries were expanded, making it the largest national park on Earth.

Important milestones:

• 1974 – Officially declared a national park
• 1977 – Recognized as an international biosphere reserve
• 1988 – Expanded to present size

It remains the only national park in Greenland today.

Geography and Location

The park has an extremely varied Arctic landscape despite being covered largely by ice.

Ice Sheet Interior

The central region is part of the massive Greenland Ice Sheet. This area is permanently frozen and experiences extremely low temperatures.

Ice-Free Coastal Areas

Along the coast, there are:

• Fjords and cliffs
• Rocky peninsulas
• Arctic desert plains
• Peary Land (one of the northernmost lands on Earth)

Important Regions Inside the Park

• King Frederick VIII Land
• King Christian X Land
• Peary Land

The borders of the park meet Greenland’s municipalities in the south and west.

Wildlife of Northeast Greenland National Park

The park protects one of the richest Arctic ecosystems in the world.

Land Animals

Large mammals roam freely across the tundra and coast:

• Musk oxen (about 5,000–15,000 animals)
• Polar bears
• Arctic fox
• Arctic hare
• Collared lemming
• Stoat
• Greenland wolf (rare)

Nearly 40% of the world’s musk ox population once lived in this region.

Marine Animals

The surrounding Arctic Ocean is full of marine life:

• Walrus
• Ringed seal
• Bearded seal
• Harp seal
• Hooded seal
• Narwhal
• Beluga whale

These species depend on sea ice and cold waters to survive.

Bird Species

Many Arctic birds breed here during the short summer:

• Snowy owl
• Gyrfalcon
• Pink-footed goose
• Barnacle goose
• King eider
• Common eider
• Ptarmigan
• Raven
• Sanderling

Because humans rarely disturb the region, birds nest safely in large numbers.

Why the Park is Unique?

• Largest national park on Earth
• One of the least inhabited places in the world
• Home to rare Arctic wildlife
• Important climate research area
• Protected biosphere reserve

No roads, cities or tourism infrastructure exist here — nature rules completely.