Greenland Sea facts for kids

The Greenland Sea is a cold body of water.

The Greenland Sea is a large area of water. It is located between Greenland to the west and the Svalbard islands to the east. To the north, it touches the Arctic Ocean and the Fram Strait. To the south, it meets the Norwegian Sea and Iceland.

People sometimes consider the Greenland Sea as part of the Arctic Ocean. Other times, they see it as part of the Atlantic Ocean.

A Cold Climate and Important Ice

The Greenland Sea has a very cold, Arctic climate. Strong northern winds blow often. Temperatures here rarely go above 0 °C (32 °F).

In winter, a special type of ice forms in this sea. It is called the West Ice. This ice forms north of Iceland, between Greenland and Jan Mayen island. The West Ice is very important for seals. It is a major place where harp seals and hooded seals have their babies. People have hunted seals in this area for over 200 years.

Islands of the Greenland Sea

Many islands are found in the Greenland Sea. The main ones include the Svalbard group of islands, Edvards, Eila, Godfred Hansens, Île-de-France, Jan Mayen, Lynns, Norske, and Schnauders.

Out of all these islands, only the Svalbard islands have people living there all the time. Jan Mayen island only has military staff who stay there for certain times of the year.

Amazing Animals of the Greenland Sea

The Greenland Sea is full of life! It has many tiny living things that are the start of the ocean's food chain.

• Small creatures: Many large invertebrates (animals without backbones) live here.
• Fish: You can find different kinds of fish, such as cod, herring, redfish, halibut, and plaice. These fish eat the smaller invertebrates and tiny organisms.
• Birds and Mammals: Many birds and large mammals also live in this sea. These include different types of seals, whales, and dolphins. They all feed on the smaller animals.
• Land animals: Around the coasts, you can find mosses, lichens, and small bushes. These plants are food for animals like deer and musk oxen. Polar bears then hunt these larger animals.

Images for kids

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  A map showing the sea's shape and depth.

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  Eyjafjörður, a long fjord in Northern Iceland, is part of the Greenland Sea.

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  A beach on Jan Mayen island.

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  Thin, new ice forming on the sea, called frazil ice.

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  Round pieces of ice floating on the water, known as pancake ice.

See also

In Spanish: Mar de Groenlandia para niños