Why do Greenland and Iceland have names that are completely opposite to their reality?

The origin of any place name is steeped in its history, culture, and even geography. However, Iceland and Greenland seem to bear names that contradict these associations.

Iceland and Greenland , despite their seemingly simple names, have very interesting stories that delve into the history of both regions. According to the oldest existing source, the Íslendingabók (Book of Icelanders) written in 1103, Iceland was first settled by Norsemen between 870 and 930 AD. On the other hand, the Inuit are believed to have settled Greenland first, migrating from North America around 2,500 BC.

The other major source on early Icelandic settlement, the Landnámabók (Book of Settlements), tells of Flóki Vilgerðarson, the first Norseman to spend the winter in Iceland. Legend has it that the harsh winter killed their livestock. Frustrated, Flóki climbed a mountain in the spring and found a fjord filled with ice. This is what led him to name the area 'Iceland' , almost as a warning to other explorers.

Names are usually based on the characteristics of a land. Except in the case of Iceland - the land of ice, and Greenland - the land of green. These two lands have two names that are completely opposite in nature, while Iceland has no ice at all, and Greenland is covered with snow all year round.

However, the name 'Greenland' is recorded when the Norse explorer Erik the Red reached the southern part of the island in 982 AD. This name seems completely inappropriate for Greenland's current climate.

Ice core and mollusk shell data show that southern Greenland was much warmer between 800 AD and 1300 AD. Seeing a much greener landscape, Erik the Red called the area 'Greenland' to attract more settlers.

Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Iceland's seas are around 6 degrees warmer than Greenland's. The warmer climate means Iceland's summers are green, even though 11% of its surface is still ice.

What makes Iceland and Greenland so different?

Ice now covers more than 80% of Greenland, but it wasn't always that way. Scientists conducting a study on the Greenland Ice Sheet have found a hidden landscape beneath the ice. The team discovered organic soil that had been frozen beneath the ice for 2.7 million years!

Even today, sheep and potato farms still thrive in the southwest of the island. However, due to natural climate change, the area has gotten colder over time. Now, Eismitte, Greenland, is known as the second coldest place on Earth, with a lowest recorded temperature of -85°F (-65°C).

Iceland , though it may have been frozen when Flóki first saw it, has gradually become warmer. The warming is likely due to the Gulf Stream , which makes the seas around Iceland about 10°F (6°C) warmer than Greenland. Even with 11% of the country covered in permafrost, Iceland now has a verdant summer every year.

According to data from ice cores and mollusk shells in Greenland, southern Greenland was much greener between 800 and 1300 AD. But by the 14th century, Greenland's average temperature had dropped dramatically. The drop in temperature meant fewer crops and brutally cold winters.

So why don't Iceland and Greenland change their names?

The solution may seem simple, but it is not as simple as swapping names. First, changing the name would be a long process for both regions. Leaders and politicians would need to hold meetings to gain majority approval. Climate change also plays a role in whether a name change is necessary.

The melting of the Greenland ice sheet has cooled the waters of the North Atlantic, slowing the Gulf Stream significantly. If this continues, Iceland will see colder temperatures while Greenland will get warmer and its ice will melt at an alarming rate. The names Iceland and Greenland may not be appropriate today, but climate change may ensure they are appropriate in the future.

Global warming is melting the ice in Greenland, which, according to National Geographic, has led to a cold climate in the North Atlantic, directly slowing the warm water current. If this continues, Iceland will experience cold weather, or even ice. Greenland will continue to get warmer and melt. Then the names Iceland and Greenland will be completely correct.

Legend has it that Naddador was the first explorer to set foot on Iceland, and he named the place Snæland (Snowland) because of the snowfall at the time. Later, Garðar Svavarosson, a Swedish Viking, followed in Naddador's footsteps, leading to the island being named Garðarshólmur (Garðar's Island).

Sadly, the island of Garðar was not so hospitable to the next person who arrived – a Viking named Flóki Vilgerðarson. Flóki's daughter drowned on the way there, and his livestock perished in the long winter. The story goes that, depressed and despondent, he climbed a mountain, only to find a small bay filled with icebergs. Thus, the name Iceland was born.