It’s probably just as well that US President Donald Trump isn’t a tour guide after confusing Greenland with Iceland during a speech in Davos.
Consider this: If travellers on Trump Tours landed in Austria instead of Australia, how would the guide explain that the Hofburg Palace in Vienna was actually the Sydney Opera House. Or the blue Danube was the Yarra River in Melbourne, which has a bit of a grey look about it.
Other Trump Tours might end up in Naples, Florida, rather than Naples, Italy.
Or Paris, Texas, instead of Paris, France.
Granted, there may be some excuse for confusing Paris, Texas with Paris, France. After all, Paris in Texas has its own mini version of the Eiffel Tower (except with a red cowboy hat, which is a bit of a giveaway).
Also true, there is a movie link between the two cities – the 1984 neo-Western road trip, Paris, Texas, which one film critic said “had wonderful things in it, but was deeply flawed”.
So anyway, back to Donald Trump.
How to tell Iceland and Greenland apart
Greenland, not Iceland, is a nation under threat, but the president and others confused should know there are difference between the two, such as:
Only a small portion of Greenland is suitable for human life. Iceland is also an independent country, whereas Greenland is a self-governing entity overseen by Denmark.
While both have hot springs, incredible wildlife, icebergs and glaciers, they are 1,400km apart.
Greenland has a population of around 56,000 people, covering around 2.166 million sqkm. Iceland has 365,000 residents occupying around 103,000 sqkm.
Many parts of Iceland are really green, compared to Greenland, which is 80% covered in ice. Only about 11% of Iceland is actually covered in ice.
Most people who live in Greenland are not considered Danish but Inuit (Eskimo).
Many Icelanders still believe in elves, trolls and other figures in the mythical landscape of the Norse past.
Many Greenlanders do not believe in Donald Trump.