Islands are the most exciting and mysterious geographical objects. Imagine: a piece of land surrounded on all sides by water. You can sail or fly to it and live all alone, not depending on civilization. Perhaps this is what attracted and beckoned people at all times.
Suffice it to recall how many times they were mentioned in art: the Mysterious Island, the island of Dr. Moreau, treasure island, Avalon, the uninhabited island of Robinson Crusoe, Neverland ... But few of them can contain as many secrets and mysteries as real ones. And the larger the island, the more secrets and mysteries it contains. And just imagine how much the largest islands can accommodate ... That's what we'll talk about today.
Greenland, 2,130,800 km²
This largest island surpasses most modern states in area. It is only three times smaller than Australia, albeit the smallest, but still a continent.
This geographical miracle belongs to Denmark, which is several times smaller than its island, it covers an area of just over 43 thousand square kilometers. Such an island could significantly increase the area of the state, if not for its climate and topography: more than 80% of its area is covered by an ice sheet. Which is not surprising, given that it is located in close proximity to the North Pole and is washed by the waters of the Arctic and partially the Atlantic Oceans.
And it's not photoshop
This makes it one of the most beautiful, majestic, vibrant - and uninhabited places in the world, with only 15,000 people living there. The landscapes of Greenland are breathtaking, they are so beautiful. But few people can live there, because even in summer the temperature rises a little above zero. And there is nothing to say about winter, -40-50 degrees is a normal phenomenon.
Nevertheless, tourists from all over the world come here to admire the landscapes, see the majestic ice with their own eyes, observe the living worlds of this harsh, inhospitable, but such a beautiful island. The summer months are especially good for this, when you can admire the white nights.
New Guinea, 786,000 km²
New Guinea is a completely different matter, because this large island is located entirely in the western part of the Pacific Ocean. Tropical climate, bright diverse and rich nature, warm sea, exotic tribes - this island can offer everyone entertainment to their taste.
Interestingly, New Guinea is one of the few islands divided between states. Part of this beauty went to Papua New Guinea, part to Indonesia. Each of these states would like to get everything, but even half is not bad either.
Even has its own volcano
New Guinea can be called one of the last unexplored corners of the world on Earth. Only recently, scientists discovered an area on the island that they called New Eden. Here they were waiting for dozens of unknown or previously considered extinct species of animals and plants. Interestingly, the inhabitants of this Garden of Eden were not at all afraid of people.
Kalimantan, 743,330 km²
Another champion island, taking an honorable third place thanks to its 743,330 square kilometers of area. In terms of area, it is slightly behind New Guinea, but not in terms of the beauty of landscapes and the richness of nature.
Its area is divided between three states: Indonesia got more than 70%, Malaysia took almost the entire remainder, and Brunei received only a small area.
If there is heaven on Earth, then it must be here
The equator passes through Kalimantan, and its climate is appropriate - humid and hot. Therefore, more than 80% of its area is occupied by wild tropical forests, which are inhabited by the same wild tribes of headhunters. True, now they have become more civilized, they do not rush at tourists, but they are happy to show them martial dances and sell souvenirs.
Madagascar, 587,041 km²
What modern person has not heard of Madagascar? After the release of the animated film of the same name, this largest island in the Indian Ocean has become the dream of many travelers.
The main attraction and wealth of Madagascar is its inhabitants. Flora and fauna are 80% endemic - species that are found only here and nowhere else. Numerous lemurs (and their Majesty King Julian!), giant fosses, bats and common mice, geckos, chameleons and turtles - botanists and zoologists are thrilled, publishing study after study. But still, there are regular reports of the discovery of another new species.
But even if you are not too interested in the animal and plant world, the beaches with crystal clear water will give you a truly heavenly vacation.
Baffin Island, 476,000 km²
This cold and inhospitable island closes the top five largest islands in terms of area. But in terms of climate, it is more like the first one - just as frosty and windy, but bewitching and attractive with its harsh beauty.
Cold, windy, frosty, uncomfortable. But how beautiful!
Like many other large islands, it is extremely sparsely populated. Only about 15 thousand people live on it, who could call it home.
This island belongs to Canada, but besides the Canadians, other "inhabitants" live here - the Scandinavian gods. Mount Tora is one of the highest cliffs in the world. It is unlikely that the thunder god really lives on this peak, but who forbids thinking so? And there is nothing to say about the table mountain Asgard.
Of course, these are not all the largest islands. They are scattered around the world, some belong to Indonesia, others to Japan. Smaller ones are scattered all over the world. But each of them has its own special nature, its own character and its own soul.
It would be even more interesting to visit the largest peninsula, but this is the goal for the next trip. And it will definitely be, but a little later.
There are about 500 thousand islands in the seas and oceans of the planet, of which no more than two percent are inhabited. In terms of area, such land formations can accommodate entire states, and can hardly accommodate even one person. Tectonic processes cause the appearance of new islands and the flooding of old ones, and land areas surrounded by sea water are also formed due to the activities of a person who creates artificial territories.
1. Greenland
The largest island on the planet is Greenland, its area exceeds 2.130 million km 2. The territory is washed by the waters of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. The island belongs to Denmark and is an autonomous administrative unit with a population of 57.7 thousand people, most of whom are Greenlandic Eskimos. The capital of Greenland is Nuuk with a population of 16,583 and an area of 6.9 km2. The island is located in the northeastern part of North America. The climate of the territory is heterogeneous and changeable, the mildest weather conditions are noted on the southwestern coast.
2. New Guinea
The second largest island on the planet - New Guinea, has an area of 786 thousand square meters. The territory is located in the Pacific Ocean, north of Australia. The southern part of the island is washed by the waters of the Coral and Arafura Seas. The main land area belongs to the state of Papua New Guinea, its western part belongs to Indonesia. The island is 2000 km long and over 700 km wide. Being a piece of land with an equatorial and subequatorial climate, the island has a rich flora and fauna, as well as excellent conditions for beach tourism.
3. Kalimantan
The island of Kalimantan, which has the third indicator in the world and an area of 734 thousand km 2, is slightly inferior in the area of \u200b\u200bNew Guinea. The most common name is Borneo, on planet Earth it is the only island whose territory is divided between three states. Kalimantan is under the jurisdiction of such countries as Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia. In total, 19.8 million people live on the island. The territory is washed by the waters of the Java and South China Seas, as well as the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas, and others.
4. Madagascar
The fourth island in the world is Madagascar, whose territory exceeds 584 km2. It is located off the eastern coast of Africa, washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean, separated from the mainland by the Mozambique Channel. It is 1600 km long and 600 km wide. On the island is the state of the same name, the capital of which is Antananarivo. The climate of Madagascar is predominantly tropical. In the central part of the island, there is the Anjafi high plateau; five mountain ranges pass through the land. The world-famous lemurs live only in Madagascar.
5 Baffin Island
Baffin Island ranks fifth in the world in terms of area, with an indicator of 507.4 thousand km 2. Belongs to Canada and is part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is located to the north of the mainland and is washed by the waters of the Arctic Ocean. The territory of the island has numerous freshwater lakes, the largest of which Nettilling covers an area of 5542 km2. A little over 11,000 people live on Baffin Island. More significant resettlement is hindered by harsh climatic conditions.
6. Sumatra
Located in the western part of the Malay Archipelago, Sumatra is the sixth largest island in the world. Its territories occupy 473 thousand km 2 with a length of 1.8 thousand km and a width of 435 km. The island is located in both hemispheres of the planet, divided by the equator almost in half. Sumatra is part of Indonesia, 50.6 million people live on the island territory. On land there is Lake Toby, located in a huge caldera, it covers an area of 1103 km 2, and a 120-meter waterfall Sipiso-piso, the source of which is an underground river.
7. UK
Great Britain is recognized as the seventh largest island in the world, the territory of which is occupied by the state of the same name, including England, Wales and Scotland, with its capital in London. The area of the island occupies 229.9 thousand km 2, with a length of 1440 km and a width of up to 660 km. The territory is home to 63 million people, which makes the island the third largest in the world in terms of the number of inhabitants. Great Britain is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The island is home to Loch Lomond, which has an area of 71 km2. The island state is located in the northwest direction from the continental part of Europe.
8. Honshu
The second most populous island in the world, Honshu is the eighth largest island on the planet. The territory of 227.9 thousand km 2 is slightly inferior to Great Britain. More than 100 million people live on the island, it is the largest in the Japanese archipelago. Honshu is 1,300 km long and 230 km wide. The area of the island is 60 percent of all the territories of Japan. It is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the length of the coastline is 5450 km. Honshu is home to Mount Fuji, the symbol and active stratovolcano of Japan.
9. Victoria
Victoria Island, which is part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, has an area of 217.2 thousand km 2, occupying the ninth position in the ranking. The island territory is washed by the waters of the Arctic Ocean and belongs to Canada. The harsh climate does not allow to populate this piece of land, which is home to 1,700 people. The maximum length is 500 km, with the largest width being 600 km. There are numerous lakes on the island, the largest of which, Ferguson, occupies 588 km 2. Victoria is part of the North American Polar Tundra Ecological Region.
10 Ellesmere
Another island, which is part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, ranks tenth in the ranking. The area of the territories is 196.2 thousand km 2, in its eastern part there is the border of Canada and Greenland, 146 people live on the island, the climate is polar arctic. Here is the northernmost settlement in the world Alert, in which only five people live. In total, there are three settlements on Ellesmere.
About a third of the area is covered by glaciers. The polar night can last up to five months. Winter temperatures reach -50 °С. The highest point of the island is the peak of Barbo with a height of 2616 meters.
There are countless islands in the world. Among themselves, they differ in geographical position relative to, methods of formation and size. Island territories account for 6% of the Earth's land area. No matter how large the islands are, they are significantly smaller than the smallest mainland. This article provides a list and a brief description of the ten largest islands in the world in ascending order of area.
10 Ellesmere
Area 196,235 km². The island is located in northern Canada. The length is 830 km, the width is 645 km. The origin of Ellesmere is continental, it lies on the Canadian Geological Shield. Most of the island is covered by glaciers, with Hazen located in the northern part. The vegetation is dominated by mosses and lichens, trees and shrubs are absent. The animal world is represented by polar hares, deer Caribou Piri. In summer, many birds nest on the island. The population does not exceed two hundred people. The island belongs to Canada.
9. UK
Area 209,331 km². The island is located in the northeast Atlantic, it has a continental origin. Forests occupy a tenth of the territories. Most often there are pine and birch forests. Now 56 species of mammals live on the island. The territory belongs to the state of Great Britain, and is inhabited mainly by the British, Scots, Irish and Welsh.
8. Victoria
Area 217,291 km². Like Ellesmere, Victoria is in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The length of the island is 700 km, and the width varies from 564 to 623 km. By origin, Victoria is a mainland island. The flora is scarce due to harsh climatic conditions. You can find mosses, lichens, non-flowering plants. Victoria is home to polar bears, arctic foxes, musk oxen. Seabirds nest on the coast. The population is represented by the Eskimos; Anglo-Canadians and French-Canadians serve at the border outpost. The island belongs to Canada.
7. Honshu
Area 225,800 km². Honshu is one of the four major islands of Japan. The length is 1300 km, the width varies from 50 to 230 km. The island was formed due to the activity of underwater volcanoes. The flora of subtropical forests grows on Honshu: pine, cypress, arborvitae, oak. In the northern part you can see maple, linden, elm, ash. The small composition of the animal world is explained by the isolation of the island from the continent. Honshu is inhabited by brown bears, raccoon dogs, wild boars, badgers, and foxes. The population is over one hundred million people. The island belongs to Japan.
6. Sumatra
Area 473,481 km². The island is located in Western Indonesia, it is part of the Malay Archipelago. It is 1790 km long and 435 km wide. Sumatra is an oceanic island in origin. Due to the humid climate, tropical forests predominate. They grow oak, laurel, chestnut, ficus and palm. The animal world is very diverse. There are 196 species of mammals, 250 species of reptiles. The territory is densely populated, Indonesians, Thais, Chinese, Vietnamese live here. Sumatra belongs to Indonesia.
5. Baffin land
Area 507,451 km². The territory is located in northern Canada. Like other islands in the Canadian Archipelago, Baffin Island is of continental origin. Due to the cold climate, the flora is quite scarce. The animal world is represented by seals, walruses, arctic foxes, lemmings, reindeer and polar bears. The territory belongs to Canada. Most of the population are Eskimos. Anglo-Canadians and French-Canadians come to watch.
4. Madagascar
Area 587,041 km². The territory is located off the southeast coast of Africa. The length exceeds 1500 km, the width is 400 km. The island is of continental origin. Millions of years ago, Madagascar separated from the continent of Gondwana. A tropical climate prevails here. The island has preserved unique representatives of flora and fauna. The symbols of Madagascar are baobabs, fire trees, pandanuses. Lemurs are considered the most recognizable animals of the island. The entire territory of the island is under the control of the Republic of Madagascar. Most of the population is Malagasy.
3. Kalimantan
Area 743,330 km². The island is located in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean. The length is approximately 1100 km. Kalimantan was formed as a result of the movement of the continents, and has a continental origin. The average annual temperature is +26°C. The island has high humidity, it often rains. These conditions made it possible for numerous plants to develop. There are 2000 species of trees and palms here. Rhinos, elephants, tapirs live on the island. Unique animals are flying dogs, dwarf anoa bulls, Malay bears. The world of birds and reptiles is diverse. Kalimantan is divided between Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. More than three hundred ethnic groups live on the island.
2. New Guinea
Area 785,753 km². The island is located in the western part of the Pacific Ocean. The length exceeds 1600 km, and the maximum width is about 700 km. New Guinea is of continental origin. The island is dominated by evergreen savannas. They grow ficus, bamboo, mango, breadfruit. New Guinea has a lot of reptiles, crocodiles, chameleons, alligators. The world of mammals has 180 species, most of them are. The island is divided between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Most of the population are Papuans.
1. Greenland
Area 2,130,800 km². Greenland is located in the northeast of, and is the largest island on Earth. The island is 2600 km long and 1200 km wide. The island is of continental origin. The subarctic climate passes on the coasts to the sea. In the south you can see dwarf birch, mountain ash and willow. Closer to the north, the surface is covered with mosses and lichens. Musk musk ox, polar bear, polar wolf, arctic fox are isolated from animals. On the coasts, walruses and harp seals haul out. Bird markets are arranged by eiders and gulls. The island belongs to Denmark. The population, represented by the Greenlandic Eskimos, lives on the western coast.
There are a lot of islands on the world map. Namely, about 500 thousand. They are all completely different sizes. There are small ones that, literally, can fit a couple of people.
But there are also those that are comparable in area to entire countries. What are the largest islands in the world?
Ellesmere
Canada's Ellesmere Island is the third largest in the country (after Baffin Island and Victoria). And it is one of the ten largest islands on the planet. The area of Ellesmere is 196 thousand square kilometers. Very few people live in this territory - only 170.But on it, traces of prehistoric inhabitants were often found. Ellesmere itself is located in the north of the country, farther than the rest of the Canadian islands. However, it belongs to the province of Nanavut. Moreover, it is part of the Queen Elizabeth Islands. Ellesmere is washed on all sides by the Arctic Ocean.
Victoria
Victoria occupies the ninth position in the list of the largest islands. The island is located in Canada and, of course, occupies a larger area than Ellesmere. Namely, a little more than 217 thousand square kilometers. For a more visual representation, Victoria is about 500 kilometers wide and long. Exactly 1707 people live on the island. That is, each has a fairly impressive piece of land. There are very few hills on the island, and all of them are no more than one kilometer above sea level. 
Victoria, like Ellesmere, belongs to the province of Nunavut, as well as the Northwest Territory of the Arctic Archipelago of Canada. The island boasts only two settlements - these are Holmen and Cambridge Bay. Numerous lakes are located on land, including Taha, Tahiryuak and Ferguson.
Honshu
It is the largest island in the Japanese archipelago. And it is also the eighth largest on the planet. The area of the island of Honshu is almost 228 thousand square kilometers. And in this territory (which, by the way, is not too strikingly different from Victoria Island), 103 million people settled. However, this is not surprising for Japan. By the way, Honshu occupies a little more than half of the entire country. The island has a mountainous terrain. In addition, there are quite a few volcanoes on it. The mountains dictate their weather conditions, so in the southeast and northwest the difference in climate is obvious. It is worth noting that the largest mountain and the permanent symbol of Japan is located on Honshu - this is Fuji. Its height is 3 kilometers and 776 meters.Island of Great Britain
Great Britain is the largest island of the British Isles. The land area is about 230 thousand square kilometers. And 60 million people live here. 
England, Scotland, Wales - Great Britain contained most of the entire United Kingdom (its area is 244 thousand square kilometers). The highest point on the island rushed into the sky at 1344 meters.
Sumatra
The sixth largest island is called Sumatra. The equator divided it into two almost identical parts. Therefore, it turns out that the island is located in both hemispheres of the earth. Sumatra is located in the west of the Malay Archipelago, and belongs to Indonesia. Its area is 473 thousand square kilometers. Lives on the territory of 50 million people. The coastline of Sumatra is almost not dotted; near the coast you can see beautiful coral reefs.baffin land
From the equator we will be transported again to the Arctic Ocean. Here is the fifth largest island in the world. Its name is Baffin Island. This island is Canadian territory. And it is the largest of the country's islands. The area of Baffin Island is 507 thousand square kilometers. And most of the land now remains uninhabited. This happened due to unfavorable weather conditions. In total, 11 thousand people live on the island. Most people settled in the province of Nanavut. By the way, there are many freshwater lakes on Baffin Island. Two of them are impressive. These are Nettilling and Amajuak.Madagascar
The island of Madagascar is located to the east of Africa. Its area is 587 thousand square kilometers. And this allows the island to take fourth place in the list of the largest islands in the world. Lives in a paradise of 20 million people. 
They are at ease in tropical climates. The Mozambique Channel separates Madagascar from the mainland. By the way, the locals called their homeland the island of wild boars.
kalimantan
Malay Borneo or Kalimantan. It is the third largest island in the world. It is located in southeast Asia in the very center of the Malay Archipelago. The area of the island is about 743 thousand square kilometers (about 16 million people settled on it). Three states divided the land among themselves: Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. Most of Kalimantan is in the possession of Indonesia (which is divided into four provinces). But the part that belongs to Malaysia is divided into two states.New Guinea
So, the second largest island on Earth. This is New Guinea with an area of 786 thousand square kilometers. 7.5 million people found their home here. The island is located in the Pacific Ocean and is a link between Asia and Australia. New Guinea is separated from Australia only by the Torres Strait. 
The island was equally divided between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It is worth noting that the Indonesian part belongs to Asia.
Greenland
Well, the largest island in the world. Greenland has a record size - 2 million 131 thousand square kilometers, but not a record population - more than 57 thousand people. And not surprisingly, most of the land is occupied by glaciers, which make it difficult for people to live on the territory.Greenland. The largest island in the world
The shores of the island are washed by two oceans: the Atlantic and the Arctic. Greenland belongs to Denmark and is an autonomous entity. The largest settlement on the island is Nuuk. It is located in the western part. Well, the highest point of Greenland, this is Mount Gunbjorn, rises to 3,383 meters. By the way, until 1921, it was believed that a cape called Morris Jesup on the island is the part of land closest to the pole.
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