The 10 largest islands in the world and amazing facts about them

The islands in this article occupy vast territories among the oceans and are characterized by their distinctive features. Each of them has a unique history, nature and culture. This can be easily seen if you take a short trip to these corners of the Earth.

Greenland

Area: 2,130,800 km²

Greenland is the largest island in the world, which is kind of stuck between Europe and America and is located above the Arctic Circle. The island is covered by glaciers and consists of solid perpetual ice. It is true that local nature has willed to create a narrow coastal strip in the southwest. This vital passageway runs into a powerful ice sheet on one side and directly into the sea on the other.

This is where most of Greenland’s population, the Inuit, live, who are primarily fishermen. Together with Danes only 60 thousand people live here. Note that on the territory of Greenland could well fit a quarter of the countries of the Old World. The largest island is ruled by Denmark, but internal affairs are handled by local authorities by mutual agreement. The capital of Greenland is the city of Nuuk, which bizarrely combines modern and old features of European culture. By the way, the northernmost island is three times smaller in area than Australia, the smallest continent of all.

Greenland

Island of New Guinea

Area: 785,753 km²

The island of New Guinea is located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is rightly called a natural wonder: the unprecedented diversity of ecosystems has given mankind a unique fauna and flora. Here, for example, there is a rare species of tree kangaroos. The western part of the huge island belongs to Indonesia, and the eastern part to Papua New Guinea.

Unfortunately, the considerable deposits of copper and gold attract the interest of many foreign companies. And if industrial mining begins, the environment will be seriously damaged. According to the latest data, 11.67 million people live in New Guinea. There are 820 different languages spoken here: this is unlike any other country in the world. The capital of the island of New Guinea is Port Moresby, where along with modern buildings there are monuments of ancient architecture.

New Guinea Island

Kalimantan (Borneo)

Area: 747,984 km²

Kalimantan (Borneo) is the third largest island in the heart of the Malay Archipelago, located between Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. It is the largest island in Southeast Asia. According to the latest figures, Borneo is now home to more than 21 million people from various tribes inhabiting the impenetrable jungle island.

The natives are considered to be the Dayaks, who previously had a grim reputation as bounty hunters. Kalimantan’s tropical rain forests, which originated about 140 million years ago, impress with the diversity of animal and plant life. There are 221 species of mammals and 420 species of birds! Borneo is one of the paradisiacal places of the planet, where thousands of tourists strive to get to. Near the Himalayas is the capital of Kota Kinabalu – a small city with skyscrapers and remnants of past ancient life.

Kalimantan (Borneo)

Madagascar

Area: 587,040 km²

“The Big Red Island” – Madagascar, named for its ferralitic soil, which is characterized by its purple color, stretches off the eastern coast of Africa. It is washed by the Indian Ocean and covers an area of 587,040 km². Madagascar is home to about 26 million people, who are mainly engaged in agriculture.

It is noteworthy that the island state is a leader in the production of vanilla, which is supplied to many countries of the world. Malagasy – the indigenous inhabitants of Madagascar – carefully preserve long-standing traditions. For example, they even build houses for kalanuri – mythical invisible people, so that they are always good neighbors. The capital of Madagascar is Antananarivo, a large city with well-developed infrastructure and more than 1 million inhabitants.

Madagascar

Baffin Land

Area: 507,451 km²

Baffin’s Land is located in the southeastern part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is separated from the equally harsh Greenland only by the Davis Strait. According to the latest data, 13,148 people live on the territory of Baffin Land. Hunting and fishing are the main occupations of the population.

Despite the scanty vegetation, the island is home to sheep, caribou, polar bears and other animals that have settled above the Arctic Circle. Baffin Island is home to Canada’s first national park, Auyuittuk, which was created on this lifeless corner of the planet through the efforts of enthusiasts. Iqaluit is the island’s largest city and is considered an important economic center.

Baffin Land

Sumatra Island

Area: 473,000 km²

The island of Sumatra is located in the west of the Malay Archipelago. For this corner of the planet, constant earthquakes and tsunamis are commonplace. Sumatra can be called an island of active volcanoes, which, alas, have brought many troubles. For example, during the eruption of Krakatau in 1883 the lava burned 165 villages.

The island is home to just over 60 million people. Among them we should mention a small Batak tribe, which in the distant past preached the cult of cannibalism. The former virgin beauty of Sumatra with its picturesque nature and diverse fauna is fading. The reason for this is oil extraction, which is in full swing here. Although Sumatra is a part of the island state of Indonesia, the natives consider the large port city of Medan, rather than Jakarta, to be their capital.

Sumatra Island

United Kingdom

Area: 242,495 km²

The United Kingdom is an island nation comprising England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It has a population of 66,971,411 people. The UK is located along the northwest coast of continental Europe and is surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of the island is London, which is considered the largest financial and economic center in the world.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (full official form) has a rich and eventful history, significant achievements in culture, science and technology. It should be noted that London was the first city on the planet, where the subway appeared. The main language of the island state is English, spoken by more than half of the population.

London

Honshu Island

Area: 227,962.59 km².

Honshu Island is part of the Japanese archipelago, it is located between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. Note that it occupies more than half of the territory of the Land of the Rising Sun. Honshu is home to 107 million people. Here in the Kanto region is the capital of Japan – Tokyo. The city with a population of 14 264 798 inhabitants amazes many tourists with its beauty and unprecedented comfort.

Many national parks with diverse flora and fauna have been created on Honshu. And at every step you can feel the connection of time. Of particular interest is the volcano mountain Osoreyama, which is located in the northern part of Honshu. It is here that festivals are held twice a year, where itako shamans can help residents meet the souls of the dead.

Honshu Island

Victoria Island

Area: 217,291 km²

Victoria Island was discovered in 1838 by the polar explorer Thomas Simpson. Its territory is located above the Canadian mainland. On the territory of the island, according to the latest data, lived 2168 people. The harsh climate does not spoil the rich vegetation and the number of animals that live along the coastline with its numerous formed bays.

Only the picturesque landscapes of Victoria somehow soften the overall bleak picture. But this corner of the planet has one indisputable advantage. On Victoria Island there is a huge number of mirror-clear lakes. The largest settlements are Cambridge Bay and Ulukhaktok.

Victoria Island

Ellesmere Island

Area: 196.2 thousand km²

Ellesmere Island is an area with a harsh climate and poor plant life. The animals living here have long adapted to the local conditions. Ellesmere Island is located in the province of Nunavut, at the northernmost edge of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Scientists’ research has shown that about 40 million years ago this corner of the Earth was teeming with life. In the tropical forests there were creatures that looked like modern lemurs, and in the waters splashed the ancestors of future crocodiles and hippos.

Ellesmere is considered a highland area, with a small part of it set aside as a National Park with seven fjords. The rest of the island is under the dominion of eternal ice. Nunavut is home to about 150 inhabitants who are apparently accustomed to the gale force winds blowing in from the ocean and the bitter cold.

Ellesmere Island