10 largest islands on earth. The title of "World's Largest Island" goes to...

This article lists the largest islands on Earth, some of which, in terms of area and population, could easily pass for an entire continent. Most of the islands in this ranking are widely known, but there are also some that you may not have heard of. The islands on this list are distinguished by their special flora and fauna, unique to them, which attracts tourists from all over the world and allows them to be considered as honeymoon destinations.

10. Ellesmere Island, Arctic Ocean

With an area of ​​122,000 sq. km:

• tenth largest island in the world,
• third in Canada
• the northernmost island of the Arctic archipelago.

Much of Ellesmere Island is covered by the famous Cordillera mountain range. Canada's second largest national park is located on this island.

9. Victoria Island, Arctic Ocean

This island is located in the Canadian Arctic archipelago. Victoria Island has an area of ​​135,000 sq. km and is the second largest in Canada. It is named after Queen Victoria and is amazing in beauty. The island boasts a mild climate and offers tourists a break from the busy world in the lap of wild nature.

8. Great Britain, coast of North-West Europe

The largest island of the British Isles, it covers an area of ​​143,000 square meters. km. The UK had a population of approximately 61 million in 2011, making it the third most populous island after Java and Honshu. It is surrounded by 1000 small islands and is famous for its history, magnificent architectural monuments and beautiful ecology.

7. Honshu, Japan Pacific Ocean

Honshu is the most populous island in Japan. Pay attention to . It includes the largest cities in Japan:

• Kyoto,
• Tokyo,
• Osaka.

It is the second most populous island after Java. According to 2005 estimates, the population was 103 million. The island is almost 1,300 km long and 50 to 230 km wide, with a total area of ​​143,500 sq km, about 60% of the total area of ​​Japan.

6. Sumatra, Northeast Indian Ocean

This island, located in Western Indonesia, is part of the Sunda Islands. Sumatra has an area of ​​294,283 sq km and a population of more than 50 million people. Medan is the largest city of the island, has 4,300,000 inhabitants. Its landscapes are marred by two geographical regions: the swampy plains in the east and the Barisan Mountains in the west.

The wild and mountainous island has great natural resources. Sumatra's main attraction is its natural beauty: volcanoes, lakes and jungles.

5. Baffin Island, North Atlantic Ocean

The largest Canadian island, which lies in Nunavut. Its area is 315,312 sq km, the population in 2007 was about 11,000 people. The Alpine mountains are distinguished by high peaks and ridges, however, plateaus are also present. The Barnes and Penny ice caps are the largest on the island. Baffin Island is a spectacular wilderness, the spectacular homeland of the Eskimos and an arctic land open to brave souls and extreme sports enthusiasts.

4. Madagascar, Indian Ocean

The island is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, officially known as the Republic of Madagascar ( formerly Malagasy Republic). It covers an area of ​​434,500 sq km, making it the 47th largest country in the world and the fourth largest island.

Due to its long isolation from adjacent continents, it is home to animals and plants that exist nowhere else. Various ecosystems of the island are under threat of extinction due to environmental hazards.

3. Borneo, West Central Pacific

It is not only the third largest island in the world, but also the largest in Asia. It is divided between three countries:

• Indonesia,
• Malaysia,
• Brunei.

Almost 73% of the island is Indonesian territory. This island is home to one of the world's oldest species of rainforest (about 140 million years old). Borneo has an area of ​​462,365 sq km, representing 1% of the world's land but containing almost 6% of the world's biodiversity. An amazing land that looks like an island in the clouds.

2. New Guinea, Southwest Pacific

The second largest island, located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, covers an area of ​​138,500 square meters. km. The island's population is 11,306,940 people. The land on it contains an uninterrupted chain of mountains with peaks over 4,000 meters, which are crowned with ice caps.

The country's climate is mainly tropical, with average annual maximum temperatures between 30 and 32 degrees in the lowlands. While daytime temperatures in the highlands are usually above 22 degrees all year round. The island is distinguished by colossal biodiversity, it contains more than 5% of the total number of species inhabiting our planet.

1. Greenland, North Atlantic

Greenland is the largest non-continental island in the world. Located within the Arctic belt. The island has an area of ​​3,500,000 square meters. km, but is the least populous country with a population of 56,452 people. Greenland is an independent country within the Kingdom of Denmark. More than three-quarters of the island is covered by the only modern ice sheet outside Antarctica.

There are countless islands in the world. They differ from each other in their relative geographical location, 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 brief description of the ten largest islands on the planet in order of increasing area.

10. Ellesmere

Area 196,235 km². The island is located in northern Canada. The length is 830 km, width -645 km. Ellesmere's origin is continental, it lies on the Canadian geological shield. Most of the island is covered with glaciers; Hazen is located in the northern part. The vegetation is dominated by mosses and lichens; trees and shrubs are absent. The fauna is represented by polar hares and Caribou Piri deer. During the 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 and is of continental origin. Forests occupy a tenth of the territory. The most common forests are pine and birch. Currently, the island is home to 56 species of mammals. The territory belongs to the state of Great Britain, and is inhabited mainly by the English, Scots, Irish and Welsh.

8. Victoria

Area 217,291 km². Like Ellesmere, Victoria is located in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The length of the island is 700 km, and the width varies from 564 to 623 km. Victoria is a mainland island by origin. The flora is sparse due to harsh climatic conditions. You can find mosses, lichens, and non-flowering plants. Victoria is home to polar bears, arctic foxes, and musk oxen. Seabirds nest on the coast. The population is represented by 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 ranges 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, thuja, oak. In the northern part you can see maple, linden, elm, and ash. The small composition of the animal world is explained by the isolation of the island from the continent. Honshu is home to brown bears, raccoon dogs, wild boars, badgers, and foxes. The population is more than 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. Its length is 1790 km and its width is 435 km. By its origin, Sumatra is an oceanic island. Thanks to the humid climate, tropical forests predominate. Oak, laurel, chestnut, ficus and palm trees grow in them. The fauna is very diverse. There are 196 species of mammals and 250 species of reptiles. The territory is densely populated; Indonesians, Thais, Chinese, and Vietnamese live here. Sumatra belongs to Indonesia.

5. Baffin Island

Area 507,451 km². The territory is located in northern Canada. Like other islands of the Canadian Archipelago, Baffin Island is of continental origin. Due to the cold climate, the flora is quite sparse. The animal world is represented by seals, walruses, arctic foxes, lemmings, reindeer and polar bears. The territory belongs to Canada. The majority of the population are Eskimos. English-Canadians and French-Canadians come on duty.

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 mainland 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, and pandanuses. Lemurs are considered the most recognizable animals on the island. The entire territory of the island is under the control of the Republic of Madagascar. The majority of the population is Malagasy.

3. Kalimantan

Area 743,330 km². The island is located in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The length is approximately 1100 km. Kalimantan was formed as a result of the movement of continents, and is of continental origin. The average annual temperature is +26°C. The island has high humidity and often rains. These conditions made it possible for numerous plants to develop. There are 2,000 species of trees and palms here. The island is home to rhinoceroses, elephants, and tapirs. Unique animals are flying dogs, dwarf anoa bulls, and Malayan bears. The world of birds and reptiles is diverse. Kalimantan is shared 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 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. Ficus, bamboo, mango, and breadfruit grow in them. There are many reptiles, crocodiles, chameleons, and alligators in New Guinea. The world of mammals has 180 species, most of them are. The island is shared between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Most of the population is Papuans.

1. Greenland

Area 2,130,800 km². Greenland is located northeast of and is the largest island on Earth. The length of the island is 2600 km, width - 1200 km. The island is of mainland origin. The subarctic climate on the coasts turns into a marine one. In the south you can see dwarf birch, rowan and willow. Closer to the north, the surface is covered with mosses and lichens. Animals include musk ox, polar bear, polar wolf, and arctic fox. Walruses and harp seals set up rookeries on the coasts. Bird markets are organized by eider ducks and gulls. The island belongs to Denmark. The population, represented by the Greenlandic Eskimos, lives on the west coast.

Finding out the exact number of islands on Earth is difficult. It is believed that there are about 2000 islands in the world. They differ from each other in size, topography, climate, flora and fauna. The largest island in the world is named Greenland.

The largest island is Greenland

This autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark is least densely populated area in the world. The population density of the island is 0.028 / km 2, and the number of people living there is 57,728 people. And these, for the most part, are not Europeans, but Greenlandic Eskimos (Kalaallits) or descendants of mixed marriages between Danes and Eskimos. In 2009, the Greenlanders gained the status of a separate people, and Denmark was assigned the protection of Greenland and the management of foreign affairs.

“Sandwiched” between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, Greenland is not a very hospitable land against the backdrop of even harsher waters. However, this island has long attracted the attention of polar explorers and is currently positioned as a place for adventure tourism.

Total area of ​​Greenland

Greenland covers 2,130,800 km². Moreover, 81% of the island area is covered by ice cover. If we imagine that this ice completely melted, this would lead to a rise in global sea level by 7 meters.

Where did the name "Greenland" come from?

This name, which is more reminiscent of “false advertising,” has generated controversy among researchers. Some believe that at the time of the discovery of Greenland, the local climate was much milder, and the coastal areas in the southwest of the island were generously covered with vegetation, while others believe that the name “Greenland” was chosen by the discoverer Eirik the Red in order to attract settlers to the island. The source of the second version is the work of Ari the Wise, an Icelandic chronicler of the 11th century. However, the first copy of his work dates back to the 13th century, and it is believed to have been supplemented by various authors. Therefore, one can be skeptical about this explanation of the name “Greenland”.

But Iceland was much more unlucky than Greenland. This land, washed by the warm Gulf Stream, was called “ice” because the settlers landed on it during severe frosts.

Photos and videos about Greenland

1 of 6

10 largest islands in the world by area

10. Sulawesi – 180,681 km²

The ranking of the largest islands on Earth opens with the Indonesian beauty, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations. It offers excellent conditions for diving in coral thickets, clean beaches, exotic fauna and lush tropical forests. Those who are more interested in architecture and culture than nature can visit the Rotterdam Fort, the palace and tomb of the Govan kings and take part in the magnificent local ceremonies.

The main religion of the island is Islam, so locals do not drink or sell alcohol to tourists.

Another feature of Sulawesi is its unusual shape. Four more peninsulas adjoin this island, making Sulawesi resemble an orchid on the map.

9. Ellesmere – 183965 km²

Like another participant in the ranking of the largest islands in the world (namely Victoria Island), Ellesmere also lies entirely within the Arctic Circle. It is not surprising that it is very sparsely populated - only 146 people. It is also the most mountainous island in the Canadian Arctic archipelago and quite inhospitable, so it’s hardly worth going here for entertainment.

8. Great Britain - 209331 km²

Is the largest island in Europe. Its territory includes England, Scotland and Wales.

Great Britain is a less impressive island than most of the islands on this list. There are no active volcanoes, exotic flora or ferocious animals on its territory. But it does have rolling hills, rocky coastlines, picturesque villages and the best tea in the world.

7. Victoria – 217291 km²

The largest island in the world, of those that are entirely within the Arctic Circle. However, despite its size, Victoria Island is surprisingly small, with fewer than 2,000 people living there.

Instead of people, Victoria was overrun by tens of thousands of caribou and musk oxen, both of which are endemic to Canada.

6. Honshu – 225800 km²

Honshu is the largest of Japan's four main islands. It is also the most densely populated island on the list of the largest islands in the world. The population of Honshu is 103 million people.

It is the second most populous island on Earth after the Indonesian island of Java with its 139 million inhabitants. This is not surprising, given that the metropolis of Tokyo, home to 38 million Japanese, is located on Honshu.

The island has excellent conditions for skiing and mountaineering, as all 30 of Japan's highest peaks are located on Honshu (including Fuji).

5. Sumatra – 443066 km²

Eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis are typical for Sumatra, but this does not stop tourists from wanting to experience the wild and mysterious nature of the jungle. Orangutans, tigers, rhinoceroses and elephants inhabit the forests of Sumatra, and picturesque beaches will provide rest for weary travelers. Water sports are also very developed in Sumatra, including surfing and diving.

4. Baffin Island – 507451 km²

Canada has the longest coastline in the world and an unknown number of islands. The largest of them is Baffin Island. It is distinguished by mountainous, harsh and primitively beautiful landscapes. Almost the entire population of the island, which is over 10 thousand people, lives on the coast. Only scientific expeditions are sent to the central part of the island to study nature, which is almost untouched by human influence.

3. Madagascar – 587713 km²

Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and the largest island in the Indian Ocean. This incredibly diverse area contains 5% of all known animal and plant species.

2. Borneo – 743330 km²

The world's third largest island after Greenland is made up of three countries, although about 73% of Borneo is Indonesian territory. The sovereign state of Brunei makes up just one 1% of the island, and the remaining territory is Malaysian.

Borneo is home to one of the oldest tropical forests in the world. It is also home to many exotic and rare wild animals: proboscis monkeys, gibbons, Malayan bears and saltwater crocodiles that lie in wait in the waters of the South China Sea.

1. New Guinea – 785,753 km²

On this island is the highest mountain in Oceania - Jaya.

New Guinea is also a world-famous diving destination, with excellent diving conditions throughout most of the year.

The underwater world is teeming with colorful corals and colorful fish. And after World War II, a large number of shipwrecks remained in the waters near the island.

List of islands by area, comparison table

Incredible facts

It is incredibly difficult to calculate the total number of islands on our planet.

Every year new islands appear in the world, but the largest islands still remain in their places.

Here you can learn about the world's largest islands, the largest island states and even the largest lake islands.

1. Greenland Island

Greenland is considered the largest island on our planet. Its local name is Kalallit-Nunaat. The area of ​​the island is 2,166,086 square meters. km.

Highest point: Gunbjorn (3,700 meters).

Region: Greenland.

A country: Denmark.

Facts about Greenland

* The capital of Greenland, Nuuk, is the smallest capital city in the world. Its population is only 15,105 people (as of July 2009).

* It is believed that Greenland was inhabited in prehistoric times by various Paleo-Eskimo groups. However, archaeological research shows that the Inuit settled here around 2500 BC.

* The first Europeans arrived here in 985. They were Norwegians and Icelanders. They were called the Norwegian Greenlanders.

You can find out the most interesting things about the beautiful island of Greenland just below or by clicking HERE .

2. Island of New Guinea

Area – 785,753 sq. km.

Highest point: 4884 meters.

Population (2010): 9,500,000 people.

Countries: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea.

Facts about New Guinea

Mount Bagan is an active volcano. Height 1730.

* The western part of the island of New Guinea is located on the territory of Indonesia, and its eastern part is located on the territory of the state of Papua New Guinea.

* New Guinea is the largest island divided between countries.

* It is home to 11,000 species of plants, 600 rare species of birds, more than 400 species of amphibians, more than 450 species of butterflies, and approximately 100 species of mammals.

* In ancient times, this island was connected to the Australian continent.

* New Guinea was discovered for Europe in the 16th century by Spanish and Portuguese sailors.

* The island received its name from the Spanish navigator Inigo Ortiz de Retes. When he arrived on the island in 1545, it seemed to him that the local people were very similar to the aborigines who live in African Guinea.

3. Borneo Island

Area - 748,168 sq. km.

Archipelago: Malay Archipelago.

A country: Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia.

Highest point: Mount Kinabalu, 4095 meters.

Population (2010): 19,800,000 people.

Facts about Borneo Island

* On this island grows the world's largest flower - Rafflesia, the smell of which, according to local residents, is similar to the smell of a decomposing corpse.

* Borneo has a tropical forest that is more than 130 million years old. It is home to many species of rare animals: the Sumatran rhinoceros, Asian elephant, Bornean clouded leopard and others.

4. Madagascar Island

Area - 587,713 sq. km.

A country: Madagascar.

Highest point: 2961 meters.

Population (2008): 20,042,552 people.

Facts about Madagascar

* Millions of years ago, Madagascar was part of the same land, Gondwana, and about 60 million years ago, this island was the first to separate from the mainland and thereby became the first island on our planet.

* The first people came to Madagascar about 2000 years ago.

* The first European to notice this island was the Portuguese navigator Diego Diaz. This happened at the beginning of the 16th century, and after that Madagascar became one of the most important trading points on the way to India.

*Malagasy, French and English are spoken on the island.

* Since the island is rich in iron and aluminum, it was nicknamed the Great Red Island.

* The country of Madagascar ranks first in the cultivation and export of vanilla.

5. Baffin Island

Area - 503,944 sq. km.

A country: Canada.

Region: Nunavut.

Highest point: 2147 meters.

Population (2007): 11,000 people.

Facts about Baffin Island

* Baffin Island is a very cold and virtually uninhabited place.

* Thor Peak, named after the Norse god, can be found here. It is worth noting that Thor Peak is the highest cliff on our planet.

* Baffin Island was named after the famous British explorer William Baffin, who first described the island in 1616. It is believed that Baffin is its discoverer.

* More than half of the island's territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle. For this reason, there are polar days and nights here.

6. Sumatra Island

Area - 443,066 sq. km.

A country: Indonesia.

Highest point: 3800 meters.

Population (2010): 50,600,000 people.

Facts about Sumatra

* The island is home to the Toba volcano, which is believed to have caused the last ice age. About 70,000 years ago, this volcano exploded and released thousands of cubic kilometers of ash into the air, obscuring the rays of the Sun for many years. Today, in the caldera of the Toba volcano there is a beautiful lake of the same name, and in its center there is another island - Samosir, inside which there is also a lake - Sidokhni.

* Scientists believe that the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano on the island led to the formation of a strait between the islands of Sumatra and Java. In 1883, the volcano exploded and, together with the island on which it was located, they sank to the bottom of the sea. Today, in its place a new mountain has formed - Anak-Krakatoa ("Child of Krakatoa"), which grows 7 meters every year.

* Batak tribes still live on the island. Before the adoption of Christianity, these tribes were cannibals.

* The most expensive coffee in the world, Kopi Luwak, is grown here in Sumatra. The fact is that there is only one animal on the island - the kopi luwak, which loves coffee berries. Of course, he chooses only the best berries. They are not completely digested by kopi-luwak. Locals collect them, wash them and roast them to create coffee.

7. Honshu Island

Area - 225,800 sq. km.

A country: Japan.

Highest point: 3776 meters.

Population (2010): 100,000,000 people.

Facts about Honshu Island

* On the island of Honshu there is Mount Fuji - the symbol of the land of the rising sun.

* Earthquakes are common here as Honshu is located at the intersection of 3 formation plates.

* The largest Japanese cities in Japan are also located here - Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto.

8. Great Britain Island

Area - 229,957 sq. km.

Archipelago: British Isles.

A country: Great Britain.

Regions: England, Scotland, Wales.

Highest point: 1,344 meters.

Population (2011): 61,371,315 people.

Facts about Great Britain

* Great Britain is also called Albion, as it was previously known as the land of albinos. The Romans called the British Isles with the word “Britain” (lat. Britannia), which is where the name of this island came from. But they decided to add “Great” to the word “Britain” so that the country would be listed as a political unit. Today we have the island of Britain and a geopolitical unit called Great Britain.

* The Prime Meridian intersects the axis of the Greenwich Observatory located in London.

* Since the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a single state, any person living on its territory can be called “British”, even if he is from Scotland or Northern Ireland.

9. Victoria Island

Area - 220,548 sq. km.

A country: Canada

Regions: Nunavut, Northwest Territories

Highest point: 665 meters

Population (2001): 1707 people.

Facts about Victoria Island

* Thomas Simpson was the first to discover this island in 1838. The British explorer decided to name the island in honor of the English Queen Victoria, who was also the Queen of Canada from 1867 to 1901.

* Here is the largest island within an island within an island.

10. Ellesmere Island

Area - 183,965 sq. km.

A country: Canada

Region: Nunavut.

Highest point: 2616 meters

Population (2006): 146 people.

Facts about Ellesmere Island

* The island is decorated with large mountains and ice fields. Ellesmere is the highest mountain part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

* The island has been shrouded in ice since the last ice age, but only 1/3 of its territory is covered by glaciers.

10 largest island states in the world

1. Indonesia - 1,912,988 sq. km.

2. Madagascar - 587,041 sq. km.

3. Papua New Guinea - 462,840 sq. km.

4. Japan - 377,837 sq. km.

5. Philippines - 300,000 sq. km.

6. New Zealand - 270,534 sq. km.

7. UK - 242,910 sq. km.

8. Cuba - 110,860 sq. km.

9. Iceland - 103,000 sq. km.

10. Ireland - 70,273 sq. km.

10 largest volcanic islands

These islands were formed as a result of volcanic eruptions at the bottom of the sea.

1. Sumatra, Indonesia - 473,481 sq. km.

2. Honshu, Japan - 225,800 sq. km.

3. Java, Indonesia - 138,794 sq. km.

4. Northern, New Zealand - 111,583 sq. km.

5. Luzon, Philippines – 109,965 sq. km.

6. Iceland – 103,000 sq. km.

7. Mindanao, Philippines – 97,530 sq. km.

8. Hokkaido, Japan – 78,719 sq. km.

9. New Britain, Papua New Guinea – 35,145 sq. km.

10. Halmahera, Indonesia – 18,040 sq. km.

10 largest lake islands

1. Manitoulin, Lake Huron, Canada - 2,766 sq. km.

2. René-Levasseur, Manicouagan Reservoir, Quebec, Canada – 2,000 sq. km.

3. Olkhon, Lake Baikal, Russia - 730 sq. km.

4. Isle Royale, Lake Superior, Michigan, USA - 541 sq. km.

5. Ukerewe, Lake Victoria, Tanzania - 530 sq. km.

What is an island? For many, these are resort areas like the Maldives, Sicily or Crete. For others, pictures from action-packed adventure films appear before their eyes. Indeed, the islands of the world are full of secrets and mysteries, and scientists never tire of publishing unusual facts about these small pieces of land, surrounded by water on all sides.

So the youngest island recently came of age. He is 21 years old. He was born in July 92 after a volcanic eruption near Bogoslov Island in the Aleutian Islands archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. Its length is 400 meters and its height is 90 meters.

TOP 10: largest islands in the world

However, the island cannot always be measured in hundreds of meters. There are many on the world map that represent entire maritime states.

Let's talk about the latter. . By tradition, we’ll start with the last line of the hit parade.

10th place - Ellesmere Island

10th place goes to the Canadian island Ellesmere. This part of the land with an area of ​​203 thousand square meters is located in the Arctic Ocean.

9th place - Victoria Island

In 9th place is another Canadian island with a beautiful name. Victoria. Its area is slightly larger than the previous one - 213 thousand square meters. It is located next door, in the ice of the same Arctic.

8th place - Great Britain island

8th place is rightfully given to the island Great Britain. It is located on an area of ​​230 thousand square kilometers. Washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Among the unusual facts, it is worth noting that a huge number of people live on this island. More than 60 million islanders are on the island of Great Britain.

7th place - Honshu Island

7th place on the list is occupied by a Japanese island Honshu. It has an area of ​​just under 230 thousand square kilometers in the Pacific Ocean. The largest Japanese cities are located on the island of Honshu: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, etc. According to the latest data, its population exceeds the British one. About 100 million people.

6th place - Sumatra island

By the way, Indonesia is called the “land of a thousand islands”. Scientists have counted more than 13,500 islands on the territory of the state. 12,000 of them are uninhabited. Moreover, most of these small pieces of sushi don't even have geographical names.

5th place - Baffin Island

5th place was taken by another Canadian island - Baffin Island. It is located on an area of ​​507 thousand square kilometers in the Arctic Ocean.

4th place - Madagascar island

In 4th place is the island, which became especially famous after the animated film of the same name. Madagascar. It occupies just under 600 thousand square kilometers in the Indian Ocean.

The most interesting things are ahead. Let's move on to the top three. Who is included in the list of the three largest islands in the world?

3rd place - Kalimantan island

3rd place goes to the island of Kalimantan, or Borneo in other words. It is also located in the Indian Ocean and belongs to three countries: Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Its area is 743 thousand square kilometers.

2nd place - New Guinea island

New Guinea takes silver. It occupies 786 thousand square kilometers in the Pacific Ocean. By the way, from the point of view of the residential territory of a geographical object, this island could claim first place. Two countries have spread their possessions on this piece of land: Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.

1st place - Greenland island

The title of “World's Largest Island” goes to an amazing country – Greenland . Its area is 2 million 131 thousand square kilometers. The island is located off the northeastern coast of America. It is separated from Canada by the Smith and Robson Straits in the northwest, the Baffin Sea and Davis Strait in the west, and the Labrador Sea in the southwest. On the northern side, Greenland is washed by the Arctic Ocean, or more precisely, the Lincoln Sea. To the northeast of the island is the Greenland Sea, to the southeast is the Denmark Strait. On the south side is the Atlantic.

Climate

The climate in Greenland is different: marine, subarctic, arctic and even continental arctic. Cyclone is the most frequent guest on the island. This means that there are constantly strong winds, sudden changes in weather and precipitation.

The average temperature on the coast in winter is from - 7 to - 37 degrees Celsius. In the interior of the island the conditions are quite harsh: up to -47. In summer, the temperature does not rise above +10 along the entire coast, and in the depths it remains below zero.

Flora and fauna

Plants here can only be found in areas free of glaciers. On these tiny pieces of the island there are birches, willows, rowan trees, alder and even juniper. As for animals, they are exclusively northern on the island. No surprises: polar bears, bowhead whales and seals, walruses, polar wolves and reindeer.

How could this place get a name that literally translates as “green land”?

Legends of history

The island of Greenland was discovered by the Vikings. They came here in the 10th century. There are even several legends about how the name appeared. Some believe that in medieval times the island had a completely different climate, warm. Blooming greenery gave this name to its land. Others express their opinion about the cunning of the first settlers. Allegedly, they gave the island such a fabulous name to attract people here.

Since 1536, Greenland was considered Danish territory. This was due to the fact that Norway was under the yoke of the Danes, and the countries were united into a single state. However, in 1905 Norway gained independence and claimed the island for itself. But Denmark was not going to give up Greenland without a fight. The issue was resolved through the Permanent Court of International Justice. She made a decision: to leave Greenland as a Danish colony.

The largest island in the world, Greenland, belongs to Denmark to this day. 84% of the territory is solid ice. But, despite this, there are settlements on the island. The largest is Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. The city is located on the west coast. Just over 15 thousand people live here.