<P> This gave Greenland limited autonomy with its own legislature taking control of some internal policies, while the Parliament of Denmark maintained full control of external policies, security, and natural resources . The law came into effect on 1 May 1979 . The Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II, remains Greenland's Head of state . In 1985, Greenland left the European Economic Community (EEC) upon achieving self - rule, as it did not agree with the EEC's commercial fishing regulations and an EEC ban on seal skin products . Greenland voters approved a referendum on greater autonomy on 25 November 2008 . According to one study, the 2008 vote created what "can be seen as a system between home rule and full independence ." </P> <P> On 21 June 2009, Greenland gained self - rule with provisions for assuming responsibility for self - government of judicial affairs, policing, and natural resources . Also, Greenlanders were recognized as a separate people under international law . (One country, two systems) Denmark maintains control of foreign affairs and defence matters . Denmark upholds the annual block grant of 3.2 billion Danish kroner, but as Greenland begins to collect revenues of its natural resources, the grant will gradually be diminished . This is generally considered to be a step toward eventual full independence from Denmark . Greenlandic was declared the sole official language of Greenland at the historic ceremony . </P> <P> Greenland is the world's largest non-continental island and the third largest country in North America . It is between latitudes 59 ° and 83 ° N, and longitudes 11 ° and 74 ° W . The Atlantic Ocean borders Greenland's southeast; the Greenland Sea is to the east; the Arctic Ocean is to the north; and Baffin Bay is to the west . The nearest countries are Canada, to the west and southwest across Baffin Bay, and Iceland, east of Greenland in the Atlantic Ocean . Greenland also contains the world's largest national park, and it is the largest dependent territory by area in the world, as well as the fourth largest country subdivision in the world, after Sakha Republic in Russia, Australia's state of Western Australia, and Russia's Krasnoyarsk Krai, and the largest in North America . </P> <P> The average daily temperature of Nuuk, Greenland varies over the seasons from − 8 to 7 ° C (18 to 45 ° F). The total area of Greenland is 2,166,086 km (836,330 sq mi) (including other offshore minor islands), of which the Greenland ice sheet covers 1,755,637 km (677,855 sq mi) (81%) and has a volume of approximately 2,850,000 km (680,000 cu mi). The highest point on Greenland is Gunnbjørn Fjeld at 3,700 m (12,139 ft) of the Watkins Range (East Greenland mountain range). The majority of Greenland, however, is less than 1,500 m (4,921 ft) in elevation . </P>

What is the small country east of greenland