Top 10 largest islands in the world

The islands are defined by the subcontinental land mass completely surrounded by water. Islands come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and locations. The most common type of island are continental islands, which are located on the continental shelf and therefore represent only water bodies of the continent itself. Oceanic islands, on the other hand, are not located on the continental shelf and are usually of volcanic origin. Finally, there are tropical islands, formed from coral reefs. The following ranks the 10 largest islands in the world by land area. Note that only islands are included in the ranking, continents like Australia are not.

TOP 10 BIGGEST ISLANDS IN THE WORLD:

1. GREENLAND

2,130,800 km² / 822,700 square miles

2. NEW GUINEA

785,753 km² / 303,381 sq mi

3. BORNEO

748,168 km² / 288,869 square miles

4. MADAGASCAR

587,041 km² / 226.658 square miles

5. BAFFIN ISLAND

507,451 km² / 195,928 square miles

6. SUMATRA

443,066 km² / 182,812 square miles

7. HONSHU

225,800 km² / 87,200 square miles

8. VICTORIA ISLAND

217,291 km² / 83,897 square miles

9. GREAT BRITAIN

209,331 km² / 80,823 square miles

10. ELLESMERE ISLAND

196,236 km² / 75,767 square miles

Top 10 largest islands in the world

List of islands wikipedia

1. Greenland

Island size: 2,130,800 km² / 822,700 square miles

Location: North America (between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans)

Part of: Denmark

Greenland is the largest island in the world. With a land area of 2,130,800 km² (822,700 sq mi), Greenland stretches across both the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. Although located in North America and largely autonomous, Greenland is officially part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Despite its enormous size, only about 55,000 people live on the entire island. About 80% of the island is covered by the only permafrost in the world outside of Antarctica. Why is it called Greenland then? That's how the Vikings named the island after its discovery in the 10th century. Since settlements started in the summer, Greenland used to be a lot greener at the time. The name may also have been chosen by Norwegian Viking Erik the Red to attract more settlers to the island.

2. New Guinea

Island size: 785,753 km² / 303,381 sq mi

Location: Oceania (Southwest Pacific)

Part of: Papua New Guinea / Indonesia

Just north of Australia is the world's second largest island. New Guinea. Part of mainland Australia, New Guinea has a total area of 785,753 km² (303,381 sq mi). The island's name was given by Spanish explorers to the island in the 16th century. They noticed great similarities between the island's black indigenous population and the African Guineans, hence the name given to the island. called the island of Nueva Guinea or New Guinea. Today, New Guinea is divided almost precisely politically in the middle: the western half belongs to Indonesia, the eastern half belongs to the independent nation of Papua New Guinea. A total of more than 11 million people live on the island.

3. Borneo

Island size: 748,168 km² / 288,869 square miles

Location: Southeast Asia (Pacific)

Part of: Indonesia / Malaysia / Brunei

Borneo ranks third among the largest islands in the world. The island has an area of 748,168 km² (288,869 sq mi) and is located in the Southeast Asian part of the Pacific Ocean. The island today is home to more than 21 million people. It is politically divided among three countries: The largest share, about 73%, belongs to Indonesia. Malaysia owns 26% and the remaining 1% includes the entire territory of the independent nation of Brunei, for which the island is named.

4. Madagascar

Island size: 587,041 km² / 226,658 square miles

Location: East Africa (Indian Ocean)

Part of: Madagascar

With an area of 587,041 km² (226,658 sq mi), Madagascar is the largest island in Africa, the largest island in the Indian Ocean as well as the 4th largest island in the world. Madagascar got its name by mistake in the 13th century: Italian explorer Marco Polo mistook the island's shores for Mogadishu (the capital of present-day Somalia on mainland East Africa, called "Magadazo" back then) and transliterated it. falsely changed to “Madageiscar” which eventually became the current official name. The entire island of Madagascar today belongs to the country of the same name, making Madagascar the second largest island nation in the world (after Indonesia, however the territory includes several islands). About 25 million people live in and on Madagascar.

5. Đảo Baffin

Island size: 507,451 km² / 195,928 square miles

Location: North America (Arctic Ocean)

Part of: Canada

Just north of the Canadian mainland is Baffin Island, the fifth largest island in the world. It has a land area of 507,451 km² (195,928 sq mi). The island is named after the English explorer William Baffin, who discovered the island in the 17th century (although the Vikings may have discovered the island in the 10th century). Today, Baffin Island is part of Canada and as such, is the country's largest island. However, just over 13,000 people live in the vast area.