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This paper summarizes the physical and human geography of the southwestern part of Greenland, stretching from Upernavik at the southern end of Melville Bay in approximately 73° N latitude, southward to Cape Farewell in approximately 60° N latitude. It is along this southwestern coast of Greenland that modernization has token place, and it is here that development is proceeding rapidly. Since about six-sevenths of Greenland is buried under ice, only a narrow strip of land is exposed along the coastline, never exceeding one hundred miles. Most of the 22,000 people live along this coastal fringe. Of mixed Eskimo and European origin, these "Greenlanders" have increased rapidly in numbers in the last half-century, and are now straining the restricted natural resources of the country. Denmark, which has governed the country for almost two centuries, has traditionally maintained a strict policy of isolating Greenland from outside contacts. This has protected the natives and given them a high standard of education, reasonably good health, and a carefully planned economy insulating them from the vagaries of world prices. Today this traditional policy is being questioned. Intensive efforts are now being made to modernize West Greenland through building efficient harbors, power stations, fish processing plants, by raising still higher educational standards, and by speeding up Greenland's self-government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THE subject of this paper and that of President Russell's address of last Year reveal in striking fashion the wide scope of the field in which geographers work. Comparison of the treatment in the two papers wilt, I hope, demonstrate the justification for assuming that the same body of readers may find common interest in the two extremes. This is possible in all our work only if each of us, in developing our special area of interest, will follow Russell's example in striving to maintain its geographic quality. We can do this if we keep in the forefront of our thinking, that the core of geography is "the study of places," that is, the analysis of the significant differences that distinguish the various areas of the world from each other. Among the differences that are significant to this areal differentiation, one of the more obvious are differences in landforms; one of the least obvious to the eye, but nonetheless important in molding the character of areas, are the differences in their political organization. In pursuing these and other separate topics, geographers "radiate out in diverse directions" "and for various distances, toward the cores of other disciplines." As long as they remain "ever conscious of where they are" in reference to the central core, they may hope to understand each other's purposes. "Questions of boundaries always seem pedantic in comparison with questions concerning the cores of disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]