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Greenland

Page last updated: August 27, 2025

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Hans Island, an uninhabited island located between Canada’s Ellesmere Island and Greenland (an autonomous territory of Denmark), was the center of a “whiskey war” between Canada and Denmark from 1984 to 2022. The island was named for Greenlandic Inuk explorer Hans Hendrik, who was part of the 1853 expedition that established Denmark’s claim to the barren 130 h (320 acre) island. Canada operated a scientific station there during World War II, and a Canadian oil company later operated nearby. In 1984, the Danish prime minister planted a flag on the island, prompting the Canadians to plant their flag – and leave a bottle of whiskey for the Danes. The Danes reciprocated with a flag-raising and a bottle of schnapps for the Canadians. This “war” lasted until an agreement in 2022 that split the island in half was sealed with a final exchange of spirits.

Hans Island, an uninhabited island located between Canada’s Ellesmere Island and Greenland (an autonomous territory of Denmark), was the center of a “whiskey war” between Canada and Denmark from 1984 to 2022. The island was named for Greenlandic Inuk explorer Hans Hendrik, who was part of the 1853 expedition that established Denmark’s claim to the barren 130 h (320 acre) island. Canada operated a scientific station there during World War II, and a Canadian oil company later operated nearby. In 1984, the Danish prime minister planted a flag on the island, prompting the Canadians to plant their flag – and leave a bottle of whiskey for the Danes. The Danes reciprocated with a flag-raising and a bottle of schnapps for the Canadians. This “war” lasted until an agreement in 2022 that split the island in half was sealed with a final exchange of spirits.

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