The 4 largest islands. The largest island on earth

Before talking about which one is big Island Earth, you should understand what the island is. Some, when they hear this word, draw images in their imaginations. resort areas, for example, Crete, Maldives, Sicily, others immediately pop up before the eyes of pictures from action adventure films.

Small and big islands the world really keep many mysteries and secrets, and new ones are still being discovered Interesting Facts about these pieces of land, surrounded on all sides by water.

The largest island on Earth. Name

In total, there are over 500 thousand islands on our planet. They all have different sizes: there are both tiny and just huge. Do you know which is the largest island on Earth? Many people mistakenly believe that this is Australia. It would seem that everything is correct - this site sushi has an area of ​​7600 thousand square meters. km and is surrounded by water on all sides. But still, Australia is considered to be and not an island itself. Then what is Greenland, which is three times smaller in size than Australia, but surpasses the majority in area modern countries... Below we will tell you more about it.

Greenland is the largest island on Earth (+ photo)

The area of ​​this part of the land is 2130.8 thousand square kilometers. The geographical miracle belongs to Denmark and could significantly increase the area of ​​this country, but this is hampered by the relief and climate: more than 80 percent of the earth's surface is covered by an ice sheet. And this is not surprising, because Greenland is located in the immediate vicinity of the North Pole, and is washed by the waters of the Arctic and partly Atlantic oceans. All this makes Greenland one of the most unusual, vibrant, majestic and beautiful places on our planet. The landscapes of the island are so beautiful that only few people can live there, because even in summer the air warms up to a temperature slightly above zero degrees. What can we say about winter, when frosts down to -50 Celsius are considered normal!

Still harsh weather do not stop tourists, and many come to the island to see with their own eyes majestic ice, observe the unique fauna of the harsh, but so beautiful Greenland. It is recommended to visit her in summer time, when, in addition to everything, you can also admire the white nights.

This is how it is - the largest island in the world. But on our planet there are many other significant land areas surrounded by water. They are also interesting, so we will continue to consider the largest islands on Earth.

New Guinea

It is the second largest island in the world (786 thousand sq. Km). Unlike Greenland, it is completely located in the Pacific Ocean, in its western part. Accordingly, the climate here is completely different. Tropics, rich and varied nature, warm and gentle sea - this is what has to offer travelers New Guinea... Interestingly, this island was divided by two countries, which is not often found. One site belongs to Papua New Guinea and the other to Indonesia.

Of course, each state would like to have the entire island at its disposal, but half of it is not bad! Scientists consider New Guinea to be one of the last corners on the planet, which has not yet been fully explored. Not so long ago, an area was discovered on the island, later called New Eden, with dozens of unknown or considered extinct plants and animals. And, what is most surprising, the inhabitants of the "Garden of Eden" were not at all afraid of people.

Kalimantan

Of course, when describing the largest islands on Earth, one cannot ignore this part of the land. Kalimantan has an area of ​​743.33 thousand square kilometers and, like New Guinea, is distinguished by the richness of nature and the beauty of landscapes. The island belongs to three states at once: more than 70% of the territory is controlled by Indonesia, almost all the rest is owned by Malaysia, and only a small area went to Brunei.

Since Kalimantan crosses the equator, the climate is appropriate here: hot and humid. Most of the area (over 80 percent) is occupied by tropical forests, where they live. Now they have become more civilized and are happy to demonstrate their combat dances to tourists, as well as sell souvenirs.

Madagascar

After the release of the animated film of the same name, everyone probably recognized Madagascar about Madagascar. Since then, this large island, with an area of ​​587.041 thousand square kilometers, has become the dream of a large number of travelers. It is spread out in Indian Ocean, and its main attraction and wealth are amazing inhabitants, most of which are endemic, that is, they are not found anywhere else. These are numerous lemurs, chameleons, giant fossas, geckos, bats, and turtles. Zoologists and botanists are simply thrilled to come here and discover more and more new species of fauna and flora. Well, for those who are not very interested in vegetable and animal world, it will be more interesting to enjoy the magnificent beaches of Madagascar!

Baffin's Land

The five largest islands in terms of area are closed by this inhospitable and cold part of the land, which belongs to 507.451 thousand square kilometers). The climate here is similar to the Greenlandic one, it is the same windy and frosty, but at the same time attractive and mesmerizing with its severity. In addition to the few inhabitants, they also live here, and at least no one forbids thinking so! Baffin's Land is known for its mountain sites: one of the highest cliffs in the world of Thor and the mesas of Asgard.

Sumatra

It so happened that some of the largest islands of the Earth, if not entirely, then at least partially belong to Indonesia. So Sumatra, which has an area of ​​473 thousand square kilometers, is in charge of this country. The specified island is divided into almost equal parts by the equator, respectively, it is located in two hemispheres of our planet at once.

Sumatra is located in the western part of the Malay Archipelago and belongs to the group of large Sunda Islands... The coastline is weakly indented, and there are coral reefs not far from the coast.

United Kingdom

The area of ​​this land area, surrounded by water, is 229.848 thousand square kilometers. Like the other largest islands on Earth, Great Britain is very interesting to view. Scotland, England and Wales are located here. The coastline has a length of 966 kilometers from north to south, and the width of the island reaches 483 kilometers.

Honshu

It is the eighth largest island in the world (227.97 thousand square kilometers) and the largest in the Japanese archipelago. It accounts for 60 percent of the area of ​​all Japan. The relief is mountainous, so there are many volcanoes. There is also the permanent symbol of the Country. rising sun- Mount Fuji.

12/1/2015 at 00:40 Pavlofox · 27 620

Top 10 largest islands in the world

The island is a piece of land separated from other continents. There are more than half a million such land areas on planet Earth. Moreover, some may disappear, others appear. So the youngest island appeared in 1992 as a result of a volcanic outburst. But some of them are striking in their scale. Ranked the largest islands in the world 10 most impressive positions on.

10. Ellesmere | 196 thousand sq. Km

9. Victoria | 217 thousand sq. Km

8. Honshu | 28 thousand sq. Km

7. Great Britain | 230 thousand sq. Km

6. Sumatra | 43 thousand sq. Km

5. Baffin's Land | 500 thousand sq. Km

4. Madagascar | 587 thousand sq. Km

3. Kalimantan | 748 thousand sq. Km

The third level of the rating largest islands in the world is occupied with an area of ​​748 thousand sq. km. and with 16 million inhabitants. This island has another common name - Borneo. Kalimantan occupies the center of the Malay Archipelago and belongs to three states at once: Indonesia (most of it), Malaysia and Brunei. Borneo is washed by four seas and is covered with dense tropical forests, which are considered the oldest in the world. Borneo's landmark is the highest point South-East Asia- Mount Kinabalu 4 thousand meters high. The island is rich natural resources in particular, diamonds, which gave it its name. Kalimantan means diamond river in the local language.

2. New Guinea | 786 thousand sq. Km

1. Greenland | 2,130 thousand sq. Km

The most impressive island in the world is Greenland... Its area exceeds the area of ​​many European states and is 2130 thousand square kilometers. Greenland is part of Denmark, and is several dozen times larger than the mainland of this state. Green, as they call it this island, washed by the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. Due to weather conditions, most of it is not inhabited (about 57 thousand people live), and is covered with ice. Glaciers contain huge reserves of fresh water. In terms of the number of glaciers, it is second only to Antarctica. Greenlandic national park considered the northernmost and largest in the world.

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Today there are more than five hundred thousand islands in the world. They come in a wide variety of sizes. Many of these islands are very small. They can fit two people, no more. However, there are also those islands, the size of which is equal to the whole countries of the world. This article will focus on the largest island in the world.

Where is the largest island in the world located?

The largest island in the world is undoubtedly Greenland. It belongs to Denmark, but it has the right to self-government. This island is located in the Arctic Circle. Nearly eighty percent of Greenland is covered by a giant glacier. Despite such unusual features of the location and relief, numerous travel companies offer a large number of attractive tours to this place. Here all tourists are promised an unusual pastime and unforgettable vacation surrounded by exotic nature.

This island is attractive for tourists. People come here who are not afraid of the harsh climatic conditions. Almost the entire territory remains deserted due to strong snow cover and a harsh climate. Rest in this place can be really harsh. You need to be prepared for this. Therefore, tourists need determination in order to withstand all the trials that will lie in wait for them while traveling around the island.

Greenland is much larger than Denmark. The territory is about fifty times the size of this state. Self-government was introduced on the island six years ago. Denmark is engaged in the military defense of this territory and decides on all political issues. The island has its own judicial system, which is governed by local laws.

Climatic features of the island of Greenland

The climate in the southern and northern parts of Greenland is very different. This is due to the fact that its territory covers a large area. The climate ranges from arctic to subarctic. It is surprising that in summer period many parts of Greenland can warm up to 21 degrees Celsius. On average, the temperature here at this time of the year does not rise above 0 degrees Celsius. In winter, the average temperature is minus 27 degrees Celsius. It is not easy for people living in the coastal zone. This is due to the fact that very strong winds blow here.

It should be noted that the name of this island literally translates as Green Country. This is surprising, because there are practically no green areas that would contribute to the development of agriculture.

What attracts tourists to Greenland?

Tourists love the nature of this island. There are surprisingly Beautiful places with original landscape features. In addition, such natural phenomena that exist here are not found anywhere in the world. In summer, the local beauty of nature can be enjoyed even at night when the sun is shining. However, because of it, it is almost impossible to admire the northern lights. That's why best time to observe the natural phenomenon, it is mid-spring.

Greenland population

The indigenous inhabitants of Greenland are the Eskimos. Their national language is Greenlandic. However, the local population also speaks Danish. In the northern regions, the Eskimos still build an igloo for living. The population is not engaged in agriculture. The main industries here are fishing and hunting. Salmon, cod and other fish products are exported.

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, or they can hardly accommodate even one person. Tectonic processes cause the appearance of new islands and the flooding of old ones, as well as 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, with an area of ​​over 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, it is home to 16,583 people, and the area of ​​the city is 6.9 km 2. The island is located in the northeastern part North America... The climate of the territory is heterogeneous and changeable; the mildest weather conditions are noted on the southwest 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 land area with an equatorial and subequatorial climate, the island has a rich animal and vegetable world as well as excellent conditions for beach tourism.

3. Kalimantan

Few in the area of ​​New Guinea is the island of Kalimantan, which has the third indicator in the world and an area of ​​734 thousand km 2. 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 countries such as Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia. In total, the island is home to 19.8 million people. 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 km 2. Located off the eastern coast of Africa, washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean, separated from the mainland by the Mozambique Strait. It is 1600 km long and 600 km wide. The island is home to the state of the same name, the capital of which is Antananarivo. Madagascar has a predominantly tropical climate. In the central part of the island is the high-mountainous plateau Anjafi; five mountain ranges pass on the land. World famous lemurs live only in Madagascar.

5. Baffin's Land

Baffin's Land 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. Located in the north of the mainland and washed by the waters of the Arctic Ocean. The island has numerous freshwater lakes, the largest of which Nettilling covers an area of ​​5542 km 2. A little more than 11 thousand people live on Baffin Land. More significant settlement is hindered by the harsh climatic conditions.

6. Sumatra

Located in the western part of the Malay Archipelago, Sumatra is the sixth largest island in the world. Its territory occupies 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, the island is home to 50.6 million people. On land there is Lake Toby, located in a huge caldera, it covers an area of ​​1103 km 2, and the 120-meter Sipiso-piso waterfall, the source of which is an underground river.

7.UK

The seventh largest island in the world is Great Britain, whose territory is occupied by the state of the same name, including England, Wales and Scotland, with the capital in London. The area of ​​the island is 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 population. Great Britain is washed by the waters Atlantic Ocean... The island has Lake Loch Lomond, which has an area of ​​71 km 2. Located Island state northwestward from continental 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. The island is home to more than 100 million people, it is the largest in the Japanese archipelago. Honshu is 1,300 km long and no more than 230 km wide. The island's area is 60 percent of the total territory of Japan. Washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, coastline 5450 km Mount Fujiyama, the symbol and active stratovolcano of Japan, is located on Honshu.

9. Victoria

Victoria Island, which is part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, has an area of ​​217.2 thousand km 2, ranking ninth 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 the settlement of this land area, which is home to 1,700 people. The maximum length is 500 km, with the greatest value being 600 km. The island has numerous lakes, the largest of which, Ferguson, occupies 588 km 2. Victoria is part of the North American ecological region "Polar Tundra".

10. Ellesmere

Another island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago is ranked tenth. The area of ​​the territory is 196.2 thousand km 2, in its eastern part there is the border of Canada and Greenland, the island is home to 146 people, the climate is polar arctic. Here is the northernmost settlement in the world, Alert, in which only five people live. There are three settlements in Ellesmere.

About a third of the area is covered with glaciers. The polar night can last up to five months. Winter temperatures reach -50 ° C. Highest point the island is the peak of Barbo with a height of 2616 meters.

Do you know how many times the largest island in Russia is smaller than the largest island in the world? Read the post and find out.

No. 10. Ellesmere (Canada) - 196,236 km2

Ellesmere is the most north island Canada is one of the ten largest islands in terms of area in the world. Due to the harsh climate, the population of the island is about 150 people.

On the territory of Ellesmere, the remains of prehistoric animals have been repeatedly found. The first settlers were nomads from Siberia. In 1250, the Tule people, the ancestors of the Eskimos, settled on the territory. But by the middle of the 18th century, the island had become deserted.

The island was discovered in 1616 by the English navigator William Buffin.

No. 9. Victoria (Canada) - 217,291 km2

Victoria Island (Canada) is in ninth place in terms of area. The island was discovered in 1838 during the expedition of the British explorer Thomas Simpson.

In the 50s of the 20th century, there were several settlements on the island where meteorologists lived. By the end of the 20th century, the population has increased, and the Eskimo settlers who have taken up fishing activities here will notice.

No. 8. Honshu (Japan) - 227,970 km2

Honshu is the largest island in the Japanese archipelago and ranks 8th in the ranking of the largest islands in the world. The largest Japanese cities are located on the island of Honshu: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima, etc.

The island is covered with many volcanoes, some of them are active. The population of the island is more than 103 million people.

No. 7. Great Britain (Great Britain) - 229 848 km2

The UK is ranked 7th on the list of the largest islands in the world and is the largest island in the British Isles and in Europe as a whole.

The history of Great Britain began with the Roman conquest in 43 BC, but the island also had an earlier history.

Great Britain was inhabited by the people of Noto several hundred thousand years ago. Modern man arrived at British Isles before the beginning of the last ice age, but retreated to southern Europe due to the glaciers that cover the island. According to archaeological finds, after 12,000 BC. NS. The British Isles were re-populated. About 4000 BC NS. the island was inhabited by people of the Neolithic culture.

Today, the population of the island of Great Britain is more than 61 million people, which makes it the most populous region in Europe.

No. 6. Sumatra (Indonesia) - 443,066 km2

Sumatra is the sixth largest island in the world. It is located in two hemispheres at once, since the Equator passes almost in the middle of the island. The island belongs to Indonesia and is part of the Malay Archipelago. It is located in a zone of frequent earthquakes and tsunamis.

Today the population of the island of Sumatra is more than 50 million people. The main cities of Sumatra are Medan, Palembang, Padang. People of many nationalities live in Sumatra, about 90% are Muslims.

About 73 thousand years ago, an explosion of the Toba volcano occurred on the island of Sumatra. This event led to an 1800 years ice age and a decline in the human population to 2000 people.

The name of the island comes from the Sanskrit word samudra - "ocean" or "sea".

No. 5. Baffin's Land (Canada) - 507 451 km2

Baffin's Land is the first in area among the islands of Canada and the fifth in the world. Due to the harsh climatic conditions of the island, the population is about 11 thousand people. The largest locality islands - Iqaluit.

The first description of the island was made by William Buffin in 1616, and the island was named after him.

No. 4. Madagascar (Madagascar) - 587 713 km2

The fourth line of the rating is occupied by the island of Madagascar. Located in the Indian Ocean near east coast Africa. The island is home to the state of Madagascar (the capital of Antananarivo). Today the population of the island of Madagascar is more than 24 million people.

Locals call Madagascar the red island because of the color of the soil. More than half of the animals that live in Madagascar cannot be found on the mainland, and 90% of the plants are endemic.

No. 3. Kalimantan (Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei) - 748,168 km2

Kalimantan or Borneo is the third largest island in the world. It is divided between 3 states: Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The island is located in the center of the Malay Archipelago.
Kalimantan means diamond river in the local language. It was named so because of its rich resources, in particular, a large number of diamonds.

The first people settled Kalimantan about 40 thousand years ago. Today the population of the island is about 20 million people. More than 300 ethnic groups live on the island.

# 2. New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) - 785,753 km2

There are still places in New Guinea where people have not been. This place attracts researchers of flora and fauna, as they can meet the rarest species of animals and plants here. More than 11 thousand species of plants, 600 unique species of birds, over 400 species of amphibians, 455 species of butterflies and about a hundred known species mammals.

New Guinea bala was inhabited by humans at least 45 thousand years BC. NS. from Asia. More than a thousand Papuan-Melanesian tribes originated from the first settlers. The lack of large animals suitable for domestication on the island hindered the development of agriculture and made cattle breeding impossible. This contributed to the preservation of the primitive communal system in large areas of New Guinea up to the present day. The mountainous landscape contributed to the isolation of people from each other, as a result of which a huge variety of languages ​​appeared on the island.

The pioneer of New Guinea was the Portuguese don Jorge di Menezes, who landed on the island in 1526. According to legend, he gave the island the name "Papua", which translates as curly, this is due to the curly hair of the local aborigines.

Today the population of the island of New Guinea is more than 9.5 million people.
The ancient agricultural settlement of Cook is located in New Guinea, showing isolated development Agriculture over 7-10 millennia and included in the List World heritage UNESCO.

# 1. Greenland (Denmark) - 2,130,800 km2

The largest island in the world is Greenland. The green country, as this island is also called, belongs to Denmark. Due to the glacial cover (84% of the surface) and unfavorable climatic conditions, most of the island is not inhabited. Today the population of Greenland is more than 57 thousand people. The largest settlement on the island is Nuuk (Gothob).

Several thousand years before the arrival of Europeans, the Greenlandic Eskimos, who call themselves Inuit, lived on the island. Inuit have adapted to the extreme conditions of the arctic climate and feel quite comfortable. From time immemorial they have been fishing and hunting.

Of the Europeans, the first to enter the island was the Norman Gunbjorn in 875. In 982, Eric Raudi settled on the island with several comrades, exiled from Iceland for his crimes. Later they were joined by the Norse Vikings. In 983, the first Norman colony was founded in Greenland.

After the settlement of Greenland by Europeans, the island was repeatedly passed from hand to hand. Until 1536, the island belonged to Norway, then it began to belong to Denmark, in accordance with the union between Denmark and Norway. In 1721, a Danish colony called Gothob was officially established on the island. In 1814, after the dissolution of the union between Norway and Denmark, Greenland became completely Danish possession.

The main activity of the population of Greenland is fishing. But at the end of the 20th century, the breeding of reindeer and sheep and the extraction of oil appeared. Tourism and air transport play an important role. More than 20 thousand tourists visit Greenland every year.

The largest island in Russia (Sakhalin) is 27 times smaller than the largest island in the world (Greenland).

The largest islands of Russia:
Sakhalin - 76,600 km2
Northern - 48904 km2
Yuzhny - 33275 km2
Boiler house - 23,200 km2
October Revolution - 13708 km2