Tract of land surrounded by water and smaller than a continent. An island or isle is any piece of sub continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. In a river or a lake island may be called an eyot or ait, and a small island off the coast may be called a holm. Something resembling an island, especially in being isolated or having little or no direct communication with others. This particular place is peaceful, calm, etc., when other surrounding places are the opposite. Here are 10 largest Islands in the world based on Land mass.
1.Greenland Island
Greenland, the world’s largest island, lying in the North Atlantic Ocean. One of the major players is in the outdoor tourism sector in the Azores, particularly in the Sao Miguel Island, Azores Greenmark will show you the beauty of the island. The total area of Greenland is 2.16 million square kilometres (836,330 square miles), including other offshore islands. In fact, many people still have misconceptions about the beautiful Arctic nation. its name from Erik The Red, an Icelandic murderer who was exiled to the island. He called it “Greenland” in hopes that the name would attract settlers. Azores Greenmark is one of the few companies in the Portuguese islands of the Azores that combines conservation and environmental protection with an offer of touristic activities. Azores Greenmark’s mission is developing touristic activities that highlight the beauty of the natural landscapes of the Azores, its history, and traditions of the Azorean people while protecting the environment. “Humans have inhabited Greenland for more than 4,500 years.” Despite having a land size of 2.16 million square kilometres, there are no roads or railway system that connect settlements to one another. Although Greenland remains a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, the island’s home-rule government is responsible for most domestic affairs. The Greenlandic people are primarily Inuit (Eskimo).
The capital of Greenland is Nuuk. Greenland extends about 1,660 miles (2,670 km) from north to south and more than 650 miles (1,050 km) from east to west at its widest point. Greenland is separated from Canada’s Ellesmere Island to the north by only 16 miles (26 km). Greenland’s deeply indented coastline is 24,430 miles (39,330 km) long, a distance roughly equivalent to Earth’s circumference at the Equator. Structurally, Greenland is an extension of the Canadian Shield, the rough plateau of the Canadian north that is made up of hard Precambrian rocks. Greenland’s major physical feature is its massive ice sheet, which is second only to Antarctica’s in size. The Greenland Ice Sheet has an average thickness of 5,000 feet (1,500 metres), reaches a maximum thickness of about 10,000 feet. These highlands notwithstanding, most parts of the rock floor underlying the Greenland Ice Sheet are in fact at or slightly beneath current sea levels. Greenland experiences about two months of midnight sun during the summer. Several species of land mammals—including polar bears, musk oxen, reindeer, Arctic foxes, snow hares, ermines, and lemmings—can be found on the island. Seals and whales are found in the surrounding water. Nearly nine-tenths of Greenlander people are principally of Inuit, or Eskimo, extraction. Evangelical Lutheranism is the official religion. Greenland’s economy has long been based on fishing. Global warming has not only melted sea ice and made oil and natural gas exploration more accessible but also opened tracts of land for mineral exploitation. The midnight sun, as it is called, is a pretty cool natural phenomenon that everyone needs to experience at least once in their lifetime. June 21, the longest day of the year.
- New Guinea Island
New Guinea, island of the eastern Malay Archipelago, in the western Pacific Ocean, north of Australia. It is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the north, the Bismarck and Solomon seas to the east, the Coral Sea and Torres Strait to the south, and the Arafura Sea to the southwest with an area of 317,150 sq miles/821,400 sq km. New Guinea is administratively divided into two parts: its western half comprises the Indonesian propinsi (or provinsi; provinces) of Papua and West Papua (collectively, formerly called Irian Jaya); and its eastern half comprises the major part of Papua New Guinea, an independent country since 1975. To the north of the mountain chain is a deep structural trench occupied by the valleys of the Mamberamo, Sepik, Ramu, and Markham rivers. The climate of New Guinea is basically tropical, with mean annual maximum temperatures ranging between 86 and 90 °F (30 and 32 °C) in the lowlands. The Fly-Digul shelf and bordering highlands are one of the world’s wettest places and also one of the least-inhabited.
New Guinea has a rich variety of plant life, including orchids, figs, and species of false beech. Mangrove swamps are found along the coastline almost everywhere. Notable birds are the cassowary, the spectacular birds of paradise, and parrots etc. Almost the whole of New Guinea is occupied by speakers of Papuan languages, the original settlers of the island. Swidden cultivation is practiced in the forested foothills. Copper and gold are the main mineral resources of the island. One of the largest concentrations of copper in the world is at Tembagapura. Large amounts of gold also are produced at Ok Tedi. Petroleum is extracted in the Doberai Peninsula area of Papua. Natural gas has been discovered in the Fly-Kikori area in Papua New Guinea. Yams, taro, sago, and bananas are the lowland staple foods, and the sweet potato is the main highland food. Cash crops in Papua New Guinea include coffee, cacao, copra, palm oil, tea, and rubber; skyjack tuna, prawns, and timber are also exported. New Guinea was possibly occupied as early as 50,000 years ago. Linguistically, it is the world’s most diverse country, with more than 700 native tongues. Some 80% of Papua New Guinea’s people live in rural areas with few or no facilities of modern life. Radio is important in Papua New Guinea, which has scattered, isolated settlements and low levels of literacy.
3.Borneo Island
Borneo is the world’s third-largest island and the largest island of Asia with an area of 288,869 square miles (748,168 square kilometers). : Indonesia (73%), Malaysia (26%), and Brunei (1%). The island is politically divided among three countries: Malaysia and Brunei in the north, and Indonesia to the south. Brunei is a sovereign state located almost entirely on Borneo. Borneo is the third-largest island in the world. It is divided into four political regions: Kalimantan belongs to Indonesia; Sabah and Sarawak are part of Malaysia; a small remaining region comprises the sultanate of Brunei. It is the only island in the world to be politically administered by three countries at a time. A little more than half of the island is in the Northern Hemisphere including Brunei and the Malaysian portion, while the Indonesian portion spans both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Borneo is home to one of the oldest rainforests in the world. The name Brunei possibly derives from the Sanskrit word váruṇa , meaning either “water” or Varuna, the Hindu god of rain. From neighboring islands, Borneo is north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and east of Sumatra. The island is bisected by the equator, with approximately half of its land area in the northern hemisphere and half in the southern hemisphere. The Indonesian provinces of North Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan make up the southeastern part of the island. The island of Borneo is rich in natural resources. Known metal deposits include: gold, silver, copper, tin, aluminum (as bauxite), and iron ore of the island is covered by tropical forests that produce tropical timber and other forest products.
Borneo has nearly 11,000 species of flowering plants. In one 16 acre area of Borneo’s lowland forest, over 700 species of trees have been recorded. Borneo is comprised of a variety of different native tribes, each distinguishable from others by distinct language and culture. Borneo has some of the world’s most wildlife-rich equatorial rainforests, incredible landscapes (above and below the waves) and rich indigenous culture. Borneo is over three times bigger than the UK. Over 100 of the animals are endemic to Borneo, Endemic means you can only find the animal in that particular place. Examples of these animals include Proboscis monkeys, Bornean clouded leopards and Bornean rhinos. It is home to some of the world’s biggest caves. The Sarawak Chamber in Gunung Mulu National Park is the world’s largest cave chamber and capable of accommodating 40 Boeing 757 aeroplanes inside of it. Borneo has the highest peak in Southeast Asia . At 13,438ft (4,096 metres) above sea level, Mount Kinabalu is the tallest mountain. It is home to the world’s biggest flower. The Rafflesia lives in the rainforests of Borneo and is a parasitic plant whose flower gives off a horrific smell. It’s often referred to as the “corpse flower” because of this, Whilst it produces this smell to attract insects.
- Madagascar Island
Madagascar, island country lying off the southeastern coast of Africa at an area of 592,800 square kilometres (228,900 sq mi). Madagascar is the world’s second-largest island country. Famous for the wide-eyed lemurs, eccentric baobab trees, and vanilla farming, Madagascar Island throws wonderful surprises to your way. Stumble upon the great adventures and experiences in Madagascar with the help of this extensive Madagascar Island Guide. The island paradise is known for its rare wildlife, alien landscapes, and virgin coastline. Located in the Indian Ocean, the fourth largest island is a perfect destination for honeymooners, nature lovers, and thrill seekers. This red island it took humans 300,000 years to discover. It’s also called as Rainbow island. Madagascar has a population of more than 22 million inhabitants. Capital and largest city is Antananarivo.
It’s paradise for wildlife lovers. Its resident animals are more than half the world’s chameleons and dozens of species of lemur. Here thousand of birds live, most of which are endemic. Men and women wear the same clothes. It has a few World Heritage Sites. They are the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, a 500-year-old burial site, the rainforests of the Atsinanana, which are home to many rare species. They consume quite a lot of marijuana. It recently abolished the death penalty. As one of the poorest places in the world, with a per capita GDP of $1,554 and an average life expectancy of just 65.5. It’s not surprising. Despite the poverty, luxury tourism has arrived. Madagascar has very few railways, just 854 kilometres of track, to be precise. Madagascar was once a safe haven for hundreds of pirates. Today the country is on a slow and steady economical and political growth path from an extremely low level. The location of Madagascar Island is also one factor that contributes towards attracting travelers to this place. A trip to these awe-inspiring places to visit in Madagascar Island will make your vacation an unforgettable experience. The landforms, the flora and fauna, the wildlife and everything that falls within is a customized package by nature.
5.Baffin Island
Baffin Island, island lying between Greenland and the Canadian mainland. With an area of 195,928 square miles (507,451 square km). Remote and virtually untouched, the world’s fifth largest island is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the best places in the Arctic for expedition travel. The biggest island in Canada, Baffin Island is a grand wild landscape, the spectacular homeland of the Inuit and an accessible Arctic playground for the adventurous. Baffin Island draws the most visitors to Nunavut every year, and it isn’t hard to see. Coastal islands kilometres-high mountains, kilometres-high mountains and Steep fjords all offer different views and adventures in the great wild. The water provides another great view of these and other mythical animals, so join Adventure Canada to cruise the fabled Northwest Passage. The island was first discovered by Europeans in 1576 and was used extensively in the whaling industry. Iron-ore deposits have been found in the north, and Nanisivik, at its northwestern tip, is the site of one of the world’s northernmost mines, producing silver, lead, and zinc. The weather in Baffin Island remains relatively mild with an average temperature of 40°F (7°C). Sightings of migratory seabirds and other wildlife are high. We can enjoy stunning sunsets instead. Towering mountains as high as 7,000 feet (2,100 metres) form the backbone of the island’s geography along the north-eastern coasts. This is also where two of Canada’s largest national parks are found. The rest of Baffin Island, are a wonderful combination of spectacular fjords, numerous glaciers, steep granite peaks, and limestone cliffs. About 60% of the world’s polar bear population live in the Canadian Arctic. you might also see caribou, hare, fox, lemmings, and even the tundra grey wolf endemic to Baffin Island. There are over 100 bird species, including snowy owls, falcons, hawks, ptarmigans, and puffins. The world’s highest number of unicorn-like narwhal live and thrive in the waters of the north coast, alongside walrus and seals.
6.Sumatra Island
An island of extraordinary beauty, it bubbles with life and vibrates under the power of nature. Sumatra, Indonesian Sumatera, Indonesian island, the second largest of the Greater Sunda Islands, in the Malay Archipelago . It is separated in the northeast from the Malay Peninsula by the Strait of Malacca and in the south from Java by the Sunda Strait. Sumatra’s climate is hot, except in the highlands, and extremely moist. Vegetation includes monster flowers (Rafflesia arnoldii), myrtles, bamboo, rhododendrons, orchids, and such trees as the Sumatran pine (Pinus merkusii), palm, oak, chestnut, ebony, ironwood, camphorwood, sandalwood, and rubber-producing types. Wild and rugged, Sumatra is a blend of Mother Nature extremes, blessed with natural wealth as well as proneness to natural disasters. Volcano eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and landslides are common headline grabbers for this one of the world’s richest ecosystems. But nobody can deny Sumatra’s beauty from the top of majestic volcanoes to the lush of the jungles and down at sea level, where idyllic deserted beaches are scattered along the island.
Some world-class diving sites in Pulau Weh and surfing in the wild Mentawai islands. You can also enjoy spicy Padang cuisines, relax on the shore of Lake Toba, bag the top of Mount Kerinci of Jambi, stop by the granite beaches of Belitung, and see dolphins at Kiluan, Lampung. The island’s animal life includes orangutans, various apes, elephants, tapirs, tigers, the two-horned Sumatran rhinoceros, gibbons, tree shrews, flying lemurs, wild boars, and civets. Three national parks on the island are Mount Leuser, Kerinci Seblat, and Bukit Barisan Selatan. Lake Toba, with an area of about 440 square miles (1,140 square km), is the largest of many mountain lakes. The island experienced a major natural disaster in late 2004 when the great Indian Ocean tsunami inundated low-lying areas along the northwest coast and adjacent islands and caused widespread death and destruction. Agricultural products grown for export include rubber, tobacco, tea, coffee, palm oil, ramie fiber, sisal, copra, betel nuts, kapok, peanuts (groundnuts), and pepper. A major portion of Indonesia’s timber comes from Sumatran forests, which also yield various oils and fibers. Sumatra and adjacent islands have reserves of petroleum, natural gas, tin, bauxite, coal, gold, silver, and other minerals.
7.Honshu Island
Honshu is the largest and most populous main island of Japan. Honshu lying between the Pacific Ocean (east) and the Sea of Japan (west). It forms a northeast–southwest arc extending about 800 miles (1,287 km) and varies greatly in width. The coastline extends 6,266 miles (10,084 km). Honshu has an area of 87,992 square miles (227,898 square km). Honshu contains Japan’s highest mountain Mount Fuji of 3,776 meter peak, and its largest lake, Lake Biwa. Honshu is further broken up into five smaller regions: Tohoku in the north, Kanto to the east, Chubu in the center, Kansai in the south and Chugoku to the west. Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes are in the Chubu region, as well as tourist-favorite Takayama. Honshu is housing the great majority of its population and hosting most of the visitors as well. Due to its size, it is commonly subdivided into smaller regions. More than 104(year 2010) million people are squeezed into pockets of flat land among the many volcanoes which form a long, mountainous arc from the northeast tip to the and copper are found on the island.
The Shinano, the longest river of Japan, traverses central Honshu. Most of the rivers of the island are short and swift, feeding many small hydroelectric plants. As the historical center of Japanese cultural and political power, the island includes several past Japanese capitals, including Kyoto, Nara and Kamakura. Electronics, metallurgical, chemical, and textile industries are very important on the island, although the larger cities have diverse industries. Most of Japan’s industry is located in a belt running along Honshu’s southern coast, from Tokyo to Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, and Hiroshima; by contrast, the economy along the northwestern Sea of Japan coast is largely based on fishing and agriculture. Agriculture is varied; rice, other grains, cotton, fruits, and vegetables are grown. The bulk of Japan’s tea and silk comes from Honshu. Japan has steadily increased the number of bridges and tunnels connecting Honshu with its other islands.
8.Victoria Island
Victoria Island is a large island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago that straddles the boundary between Nunavut and the Northwest Territories of Canada. It is the eighth largest island in the world, with an Area of 217,291 km2 (83,897 sq mi). It is Canada’s second largest island. It is the main business and financial centre of Lagos in Lagos State, Nigeria. Victoria Island is one of the most exclusive and expensive areas to reside in Lagos. Travellers frequently use the term Victoria Island when referring to Vancouver Island but, in this context, the name Victoria Island is a misnomer. Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada, and is located on southern Vancouver Island. Whether you call this photogenic city and spectacular island by the names Victoria, Victoria Island or Vancouver Island, this beautiful and westernmost region of Canada will continue to attract over 6 million annual visitors from around the world. The romantic waterfront city of Victoria is the vacation capital of Canada, and the premier tourist spot in the Pacific Northwest, basking as it does in the mildest climate in Canada. Its British colonial heritage is still very much in evidence.
The one-time colonial outpost is alive with cosmopolitan dining, superb shopping, a colourful nightlife and a full complement of cultural offerings. Victoria Island, second largest island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Divided administratively between the Northwest Territories and the territory of Nunavut. The island was discovered in 1838 by Thomas Simpson, the island was named for Queen Victoria and was first explored by John Rae in 1851. Northwest Passage, historical sea passage of the North American continent. It represents centuries of effort to find a route westward from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean through the Arctic Archipelago of what became Canada. Since the end of the 15th century, Western explorers have attempted to establish a commercial sea route north and west around the American land barrier encountered by Christopher Columbus. The Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama sailed south around Africa and reached India in 1498.
- Great Britain Island
Great Britain, also called Britain, island with an Area of 80,823 sq miles/209,331 sq km lying off the western coast of Europe and consisting of England, Scotland, and Wales. The term is often used as a synonym for the United Kingdom, which also includes Northern Ireland and a number of offshore islands. Great Britain is not a country; it’s a landmass. “Group of islands in W Europe, consisting of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Orkney, the Shetland Islands, the Channel Islands belonging to Great Britain, and the islands adjacent to these”. The largest island in the British Isles is Great Britain.
In the Middle Ages, the name Britain was also applied to a small part of France now known as Brittany. As a result, Great Britain came into use to refer specifically to the island. However, that name had no official significance until 1707, when the island’s rival kingdoms of England and Scotland were united as the Kingdom of Great Britain. Ireland, meanwhile, had effectively been an English colony since the 12th century, and after the emergence of Great Britain, it remained under the influence of the British crown. In 1801 it formally joined with Great Britain as a single political entity, which became known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The notion of Europe is very old. The British Isles is the name of a group of islands situated off the north western corner of mainland Europe.
- Ellesmere Island
Ellesmere island is located in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, is believed to have been visited by Vikings in the 10th century, named in 1852 for Francis Egerton, 1st earl of Ellesmere. Ellesmere Island, largest island of the Queen Elizabeth Islands, Baffin region, Nunavut territory, Canada, located off the northwest coast of Greenland. The island, roughly 300 miles wide by 500 miles long (500 km wide by 800 km long) and covering an area of 75,767 square miles 196,236 square km. It is the third largest island in Canada, the 10th-largest island in the world and the most northerly island in the Arctic Archipelago.
The entire island is deeply incised by fjords, and the northern coast is extended by ice shelves. The land descends southward to Hazen Plateau, dominated by Lake Hazen, which is the largest lake in the polar region. Ellesmere is a true polar desert, with only 70 mm of precipitation annually in some places. More than one-fifth of the island has been turned into a national park, Quttinirpaaq National Park was created on the northern part of the island. There are numerous species of birds and several other land mammals, but coastal sea ice discourages marine mammals. According to population, there are three settlements on Ellesmere Island including Alert, Eureka, and Grise Fiord. Politically, it is part of the Qikiqtaaluk Region. The Ellesmere Island Volcanics are a Late Cretaceous group of volcanoes and lavas in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of northern Ellesmere Island. Petroleum deposits have been discovered on the island.
