The Arctic territory of Greenland has begun a new era of self-rule after 300 years under Danish authority, moving closer to independence with a potential oil bonanza below its icecap.

The new status took effect as Greenland celebrated its national day, six months after 75 per cent of voters approved a referendum to hand more power to the local government and take control of the island's vast natural resources.

Festivities began with a flag-raising ceremony, while Denmark's Queen Margrethe and its prime minister, Lars Loekke Rasmussen, attended the event.

The potentially resource-rich island of Greenland marked its national day, and the beginning of a new era of self-rule, after 300 years under Danish control. 75 percent of voters approved the change in a referendum vote last November.

AFP - The Arctic territory of Greenland started a new era of self-rule Sunday after 300 years under Danish authority, moving closer to independence with a potential oil bonanza below its icecap.
  
The new status took effect as Greenland celebrated its national day, six months after 75 percent of voters approved a referendum to hand more power to the local government and take control of the island's vast natural resources.
  
Festivities were to begin with a flag-raising ceremony, while Denmark's Queen Margrethe and Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen were to mark the event with local leaders.
  
Denmark granted Greenland limited sovereignty when its parliament approved home rule in 1979.

NUUK, Greenland -- The thing about being from Greenland, said Susan Gudmundsdottir Johnsen, is that many outsiders seem to have no clue where it actually is.

"They say, `Oh, my God, Greenland?' It's like they've never heard of it," said Ms. Johnsen, 36, who was born in Iceland but has lived on this huge, largely frozen northern island for 25 years. "I have to explain: `Here you have a map. Here's Europe. The big white thing is Greenland.' "

But Greenland, with 58,000 people and only two traffic lights, both of them here in the capital, is now securing its place in the world. On Sunday, amid solemn ceremony and giddy celebration, it ushered in a new era of self-governance that sets the stage for eventual independence from Denmark, its ruler since 1721.