A message about one of the largest islands of the earth. The largest island on earth

As you know, an island is considered to be any piece of land completely surrounded by water. However, not all land areas that are in water can be classified as islands. In addition to the latter, there are also continents and continents, the most famous of which is certainly Australia. The total area of ​​this continent (not to be confused with the island) is approximately 7,600,000 square meters. km.

The TOP 5 largest islands in the world presented below include islands whose area is noticeably smaller than Australia, but no less impressive.

The largest islands in the world: Greenland

So, the largest island of our planet, whose name literally translates as “green country,” is Greenland. Located in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, 80% covered by permanent ice, the autonomous Danish territory has a temperate climate and a total area of ​​2,131,500 km². Known for its white nights, northern lights and local Eskimos, Greenland is also famous for its large reserves of natural resources (oil, gas). The main occupation of the island's 57 thousand population is fishing.

The largest islands in the world: New Guinea

The second largest island in the world by area is New Guinea. The island, washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, located between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, was discovered by the Portuguese in 1526. They also gave it its original name “Papua”, which means “curly” in Malay. The island owed its name to the dark-skinned aborigines with curly, thick hair who inhabited it at that time. Today, New Guinea is a tropical island with a total area of ​​786,000 km2 and a true paradise for tourists. Despite the large number of different species of plants, birds, mammals and amphibians living on the island, scientists are still discovering new species of various representatives of the animal and plant world in New Guinea. It is worth noting that most New Guinea animals are not at all afraid of people, so they can be easily picked up.

The largest islands in the world: Kalimantan

It is not for nothing that Kalimantan takes an honorable third place in the TOP 5 largest islands in the world. This island, also known as Borneo, has an area of ​​737,000 km². Kalimantan is washed simultaneously by four seas and two straits. Unlike Greenland, 80% of Kalimantan's entire territory is covered by tropical forests. In this connection, the island’s timber industry is extremely developed and brings considerable income to the three states located on its territory. In addition to the forest, Kalimantan is also known for its large reserves of oil, gas and diamonds, the extraction of which has been actively carried out here for centuries, as clearly evidenced by the name of the island (translated from Malay, Kalimantan means “diamond river”).

The largest islands in the world: Madagascar

The fourth place in our ranking is the island of Madagascar, recently known from the cartoon of the same name. The entire territory of the island (587,040 km2) is occupied by the sovereign state of the Republic of Madagascar. The island is rich in minerals, including gold and iron rocks; more than 80% of all animals living in Madagascar are exclusively representatives of the local fauna. Due to the fact that for a long time the island was inhabited by a large number of wild boars, the local natives called it “Madagascar” (“Boar Island”).

The largest islands in the world: Baffin Island

Canada's largest island, Baffin Island, located west of Greenland, rounds out the TOP 5 largest islands in the world. And at the same time, the most interesting places where a wedding photographer is needed for your personal event! Due to the harsh climatic conditions, despite its vast territory - 508,000 km², the population of Baffin Island is just over 11 thousand people. The island got its name from the famous English traveler and explorer William Baffin, who was the first to describe the island in the 17th century. An interesting fact is that, despite the ubiquitous human presence on the remaining islands, the central part of Baffin Island has not yet been fully explored, which means that there are places on the island where no human has ever set foot.

Islands are the most exciting and mysterious geographical features. Imagine: a piece of land surrounded on all sides by water. You can sail or fly to it and live completely alone, without depending on civilization. Perhaps this is what attracted and attracted people to itself at all times.

Suffice it to remember how many times they were mentioned in art: Mysterious Island, the island of Doctor Moreau, Treasure Island, Avalon, the uninhabited island of Robinson Crusoe, Neverland... But few of them can contain as many secrets and mysteries as the 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 is larger in area than most modern states. 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, occupying 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 Atlantic oceans.

And this is not photoshop

This makes it one of the most beautiful, majestic, vibrant - and uninhabited places in the world, with only 15 thousand people living there. The landscapes of Greenland take your breath away, they are so beautiful. But few people will be able to live there, because even in summer the temperature rises slightly above zero. And there’s nothing to say about winter; -40-50 degrees is normal.

Nevertheless, tourists from all over the world come here to admire the landscapes, see the majestic ice with their own eyes, and observe the living world of this harsh, inhospitable, but so 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 Pacific Ocean. Tropical climate, bright, varied and rich nature, warm sea, exotic tribes - this island can offer entertainment to everyone’s taste.

Interestingly, New Guinea is one of the few islands divided between states. Some of this beauty went to Papua New Guinea, and some to Indonesia. Each of these states would like to get everything, but even half is not bad either.

It 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 dozens of unknown or previously considered extinct species of animals and plants were waiting for them. It is interesting that the inhabitants of this Garden of Eden were not at all afraid of people.

Kalimantan, 743,330 km²

Another champion island, occupying 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 the landscapes and the richness of nature.

Its area is divided between three states: Indonesia got more than 70%, Malaysia took almost the entire rest, and Brunei received only a small area.

If there is heaven on Earth, then it is probably 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, inhabited by equally wild tribes of headhunters. True, now they have become more civilized, they don’t rush at tourists, but they are happy to show them war dances and sell souvenirs.

Madagascar, 587,041 km²

What modern person has not heard about Madagascar? After the release of the animated film of the same name, this largest island of the Indian Ocean became the dream of many travelers.

The main attraction and wealth of Madagascar are 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 fossas, bats and ordinary mice, geckos, chameleons and turtles - botanists and zoologists are thrilled with delight, publishing study after study. But still, reports regularly appear about the discovery of another new species.

But even if the flora and fauna are not of much interest to you, the beaches with crystal clear water will give you a truly heavenly holiday.

Baffin Island, 476,000 km²

This cold and inhospitable island rounds out the top five largest islands by area. But in terms of climate, it rather resembles the first one - just as frosty and windy, but at the same time bewitching and attractive with its harsh beauty.

Cold, windy, frosty, uncomfortable. But how beautiful!

Like many other large islands, it is extremely sparsely populated. It is home to only about 15 thousand people who were able to call it home.

This island belongs to Canada, but besides Canadians, other “inhabitants” live here - Scandinavian gods. Mount Thor is one of the highest cliffs in the world. It is unlikely that the god of thunder actually lives on this peak, but who forbids thinking so? And there’s nothing to say about the Asgard table mountain.

Of course, these are not all the largest islands. They are scattered around the world, some belong to Indonesia, others belong to Japan. Smaller ones are scattered around 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 a goal for the next trip. And it will definitely happen, but a little later.

December 28, 2013

Big Islands

There are quite a lot of different islands on our huge planet. The islands, as everyone knows, are surrounded by water on all sides. In fact, there are a lot of islands on Earth, even more than several tens of thousands.

The largest island is a planetary landform or so-called continents, continents.

They can also be located individually, as Sri Lanka is located. If the islands are located very close to each other, then they are called archipelagos. If a piece of land is small, then it is called an island.

Here are some of the largest islands:

Greenland – 2176 thousand kilometers

New Guinea – 829 thousand kilometers

Kalimantan – 734 thousand kilometers

Madagascar – 590 thousand kilometers

Baffin Island – 507 thousand kilometers

Sumatra – 435 thousand kilometers

Honshu – 230 thousand kilometers

Great Britain - 244 thousand kilometers

Victoria - 221 thousand kilometers

Ellesmere - 203 thousand kilometers

Greenland, New Guinea, Kalimantan

Greenland is the largest island on this list. It is located in the northeast of North America. This is already a territory that is independently governed and is part of Denmark. The length of the island is quite large - 2690 kilometers from north to south, width 1300 kilometers. The area of ​​the entire island is 5.6 thousand square kilometers. In Greenland, the fauna is not at all rich. Animals such as reindeer, polar bear, ermine, hare, and lemming live here. It happens that very rarely even wolves can be found. The following animals are found in the water near the island of Greenland: black halibut, striped catfish, cod, flounder and several other species of fish. Shrimp can often be seen. It also happens that you can see some of the species of beluga whale, narwhal and walrus.

New Guinea is an island that is the second largest after Greenland. It is the most unique and beautiful island on Earth, with more than 1000 indigenous languages.

This island is located in the Pacific Ocean, slightly north of Australia and connects Asia and Australia. New Guinea is very large in size, which is divided between countries. This island is inhabited by 5.6 million people. All residents speak English and it is the official language. The vegetation there is very good, there are 11 thousand species, including 2,500 species of unique orchids and 1,200 trees. About 500 species of different birds, 400 amphibians, 180 mammals and 450 butterflies live here, so the animal world is quite diverse.

Kalimantan is the largest of the Sunda Islands. Its area occupies approximately 734 thousand square kilometers. Kalimantan is the oldest island of the Malay archipelago. There are absolutely no volcanoes on this island, and little of it is a fold of the earth's crust.

Madagascar, Baffin Island, Sumatra, Honshu

Madagascar is another island that ranks among the largest islands. The length from north to south is approximately 1600 kilometers, and from west to east 580 kilometers.

Judging by its size, it will be larger than France, Belgium, Holland and even Luxembourg. There are several other small islands near the northern part of the island.

Baffin Island - got its name in honor of the ship's navigator. The currency on this island is the Canadian dollar.

Sumatra is one of the largest islands in Indonesia, which is famous for its dark sand and the ruins of ancient temple complexes. The climate on this island is quite hot and humid. It has many attractions: a crocodile farm, the picturesque canals of Palembang, green mountain valleys.

Honshu is the largest island of the Japanese archipelago. The climate on this island is monsoonal, temperate in the north and subtropical in the south.

80 percent of Japan's population lives here. There are many different attractions here. This island has many natural parks that amaze with their beauty.

Greenland Population: 58 thousand | Area: 2,130,800 km²

Greenland is the largest island on Earth. Its area is 2,130,800 km2. The island is washed by two oceans: the Arctic and the Atlantic. It is part of the autonomous unit of Denmark - Greenland. The largest settlement is called Nuuk, located in the western part of the island. The highest point in Greenland (Mount Gunbjorn) with an altitude of 3,383 thousand meters. Until 1921, Cape Morris-Jesup was considered the closest landmass to the North Pole.

Population: 7.5 million | Area: 786,000 km²

New Guinea is the 2nd largest island, with an area of ​​785,753 km2, located in the Pacific Ocean. New Guinea links Australia with Asia. In turn, the island is separated from Australia by the Torres Strait. New Guinea is divided almost equally between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The Indonesian part belongs to Asia. This island is the largest of all the islands divided between countries.

Population: 16 million | Area: 743,330 km²

The third largest island, Kalimantan (or Malay Borneo), has an area of ​​748,168 km2. This sea island is divided between 3 states: Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia. Kalimantan is located in southeast Asia in the center of the Malay Archipelago. Most of the island belongs to Indonesia and is divided into 4 provinces. The part that belongs to Malaysia, in turn, is divided into 2 states.

Madagascar Population: 20 million | Area: 587,041 km²

Next on the list of the largest islands in the world is Madagascar. This island has a tropical climate and is located close to the east of Africa. The Mozambique Channel flows between the mainland and the island. Its dimensions are approximately 1600 km in length and 600 km in width, with a total area of ​​587,713 km2. The island is occupied by the state of Madagascar, whose capital is Antananarivo. And local residents call their corner of space the island of wild boars.

Population: 11 thousand | Area: 507,451 km²

We are transported to the Arctic Ocean and find the fifth largest island there, called Baffin Island. The island belongs to Canada and is the largest of the country's islands. The area of ​​the island is 507,451 km2. Most of it remains uninhabited due to bad weather conditions. The island's population lives in the Canadian province of Nunavut with its capital Iqaluit. It is noteworthy that the island has many freshwater lakes, the two largest of which are Nettilling, with an area of ​​5,542 km2, of which only 5,050 km2 is occupied by water, and Amajuaq - 3,115 km2 with a water surface of 3,058 km2.

Population: 51 million | Area: 473,000 km²

The sixth largest island, Sumatra, is divided by the equator into almost equal parts, as it is located in both hemispheres of the Earth. The island is located in the west of the Malay Archipelago. Belongs to the group of large Sunda Islands, to which small islands are adjacent. Sumatra has an area of ​​443,066 km2 and belongs to Indonesia. Its coastline is slightly indented, and there are coral reefs near the coast.

o.Great Britain Population: 60 million | Area: 229,848 km²

The largest island of the British Isles is Great Britain. Its area is 229,848 km2. Wales, Scotland and England - Great Britain contains most of the entire United Kingdom. The area of ​​the entire kingdom is 244,100 km2. The length of the island's coastline from south to north is 966 km and its width is 483 km. The highest point on the island is 1,344 meters.

Honshu Population: 103 million | Area: 227,962.59 km²

The largest island of the Japanese archipelago and the eighth largest in the world is the island of Honshu. Its area is 227,970 km2, which in turn is equal to 60% of the area of ​​all of Japan. It is slightly smaller than the British Isles. Honshu has a mountainous terrain, and among the mountains there are many volcanoes. The mountains are responsible for the climatic difference in the southeast and northwest of the island. The largest mountain, which is the permanent symbol of Japan, is Fuji with a height of 3,776 meters.

Ellesmere is also an island in Canada, it is the third largest after Baffin Island and Victoria, and is also included in the list of the largest islands in the world and is located in tenth place. The island is located in the north, further than all the other islands of Canada, but still belongs to the province of Nunavut and is also part of the Queen Elizabeth Islands. The area of ​​the island is 196,236 km2, the highest point is 2,616 m. The population of Ellesmere is extremely small, but traces of prehistoric animals have often been found there.

The largest island on Earth is Greenland. The population of Greenland consists of Greenlandic Eskimos and emigrated Norwegians and Danes. The indigenous inhabitants of the island are called Inuit. Their main language is Greenlandic, and Danish is popular among expats. The Inuit living in the north of the island still maintain a long tradition of building igloos.

Islands of the world

Which island is the largest on Earth? There are a lot of islands on our planet, but only four of them are truly amazing in size:

1. Greenland. Greenland is the largest island in Europe and the world. It is located in the northeast of North America and is washed by two oceans. Greenland is an autonomous unit subordinate to Denmark.
2. New Guinea. The main advantage of Guinea is not the nature and rich fauna, but the culture of the various tribes living on the island.
3. Kalimantan. The island is divided between three states.
4. Madagascar. Madagascar is an island country known throughout the world for its unique animals and rich flora. A third of the entire territory is occupied by highlands. There are many extinct volcanoes on the island, and earthquakes sometimes occur.

The largest island on Earth and the first settler

Erik the Red is a simple Norwegian Viking. Despite the severity that is attributed to the Scandinavians, he was an easy-going and peaceful person. As the legend goes, Eric saw that his friend had ruined the path running near his house. For this, the Viking killed his neighbor with a shovel. The act did not go unpunished. Eric was exiled from Norway to a strange and deserted island in the Arctic Circle.

Eric didn’t want to live alone on a huge island, so he decided to attract more people here. For this he named the island Greenland, or Greenland. As soon as Eric's exile came to an end, he returned to Norway and began actively inviting people to the island with him. He described Greenland to everyone as the most beautiful place on the planet.

Independent republic

Until the end of the 13th century, the island of Greenland was an independent territory, but soon the population recognized the king of Norway as their overlord. In return, the crown promised to supply the island with products and materials that the inhabitants could not obtain or produce on their own. Despite the vassalage, the island had its own customs and laws, different from European ones.

After some time, Denmark began to lay claim to the largest island. The territorial claims were quite justified, since not all Norwegians were able to adapt to the difficult climate, so many Danes came to the island. In 1536, Norway and Denmark united into one country, and Greenland was legally assigned to Denmark.

Greenland is the largest island on Earth

The area of ​​Greenland is 2,130,800 km². Due to the large extent of the island, the climate of one part is radically different from the climate of the other. Not everywhere in Greenland is cold: in some places in the summer the temperature rises above +20 °C, although on average it rarely exceeds 0 °C. In winter, the temperature drops below –20 °C. Very cold winds blow near the coast, and in summer it is covered with fog.

Despite the fact that the island is called Green Land, there is no place to develop agriculture here. People mainly engage in fishing or hunting animals, and here live: polar bear, arctic fox, and reindeer. The island exports:

1. Cod.
2. Shrimp.
3. Salmon.

Greenland is the largest island on Earth, rich in minerals. The following is mined on the island:

1. Lead.
2. Tin.
3. Coal.
4. Copper.

The colorful expanses of Greenland attract tourists from all over the world. You can enjoy the amazing landscapes and beauties of the island at any time of the day. One of the most famous natural phenomena is the northern lights. It is best observed from early autumn to mid-spring.

Flora and fauna of the island

The largest island on Earth by area has a fairly sparse variety of vegetation. But the fauna is impressive: it is rich and unique. The area of ​​Greenland is huge, but there is no railway on it, and the length of all highways is 150 km. The most convenient way for the local population is to use dog sleds.

The largest island on Earth can hardly be called a favorable land for living, traveling or exploring, but the beauty of the Arctic nature will not leave anyone indifferent. This helps to survive all the hardships of harsh life on the island and not entirely suitable conditions for relaxation.