The largest island in the world. The largest islands in terms of area on our planet

Uninhabited islands almost gone. But the soul of the tourist still asks for extreme. I would go to the most big Island on the ground!

Better yet, the three largest. And it doesn't matter that they are located where it is either very cold or too hot. You can embrace everything with an inquisitive tourist soul.

Greenland (2,130,800 km²): land of glaciers and fjords

It is not known whether this island was a "Green Land" when discovered by the Vikings in the 10th century. But today it would be more correct to call this land "White Land".

It is more than 80% covered eternal ice, and 58 thousand people live only on the coast of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans.

The proximity to the North Pole is extreme for the modern tourist. There are no old cities and amazing architectural monuments... The most icy and largest island on Earth is a paradise for connoisseurs of unusually bright and majestic northern landscapes, the beauty of icebergs and white nights, unique flora and fauna.

It is interesting:

1. Icebergs. Ice mountains drifting in the sea, reflecting all the colors of the rainbow on their sides, can be watched for hours.
2. Thermal springs. It is a great pleasure to swim beyond the Arctic Circle in a crystal clean water warmed up to 40 ° С, among icebergs.
3. The colorful cities of Greenland. Probably, only here people so earnestly paint their houses, which are similar to the scenery of a northern fairy tale. And how great it is to watch the polar lights here!
4. Ilulissat festivals. Having visited the main attractions of the city (Knut Rasmussen Museum and the Cold Museum), it is worth getting poisoned on a dance festival of local aborigines. You will definitely love sled dog racing and polar bear hunting!

New Guinea (786,000 km²): Eden in the tropics

It is the largest of the islands divided between different countries.

Known to us, first of all, from the travels of Miklouho-Maclay, the island today amazes the traveler with its fantastic nature, just as it struck the famous Russian pioneer of the 19th century. New Guinea still belongs to the poorly understood corners of the earth.

In general, if you look for a real lost World then it is here. Recently, a vast area was discovered on the island where plants and animals unknown to science live carelessly. Moreover, the inhabitants of New Eden (this is what they called this paradise) are not at all afraid of people.

It is interesting:

1. Surfing and diving... This is the only way to enjoy the views of the most picturesque coral reefs on the planet. It is useful to inspect the numerous ships and aircraft that sank during the Second World War. The best places dives - Rabaul, Kimby Bay, Madang.
2. Varirata National Park. Numerous observation decks, suspension bridges- a great chance to fully appreciate the beauty of the surrounding hills and rainforest. It is recommended to visit "Derevo-dom", the center of cult worship of the Papuan tribe Koiaris.
3. Bayer - river reserve... Located on the most beautiful mountain slopes, this nature reserve gives rise to several island rivers and wild trails along which exotic birds of paradise, cassowaries, kangaroos and possums.
4. Art gallery and National Museum Papua New Guinea... The island is rich not only in nature, but also in cultural monuments. It contains tens of thousands of unique anthropological and archaeological exhibits, relics of the military past and masterpieces of contemporary local art.
5. Turtle Beach. A whole kilometer of dazzling white sand and the gentle sea. There are all the amenities.

Kalimantan (743,330 km²): a paradise for ethnographers

Divided between three states (Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei), the island attracts lovers of the tropical sun and warm azure sea. Exquisite service is offered to travelers.

The rugged jungle here, which covers 80% of Kalimantan's area, is home to wild Aboriginal tribes. The terrible traditions of cannibalism and the hunt for human skulls, which raged in these places several decades ago, were replaced by original songs and warlike dances.

In any case, there is a lot of interesting things in Kalimantan both for lovers of folklore and for "hunters" on active volcanoes, and for those who prefer to spend time peacefully on ecologically clean sea beaches.

It is interesting:

1. Pontianak city... Focus most interesting museums and architectural monuments, including the old mosque of Abdurrahman, the palace of Sultan Kadriah, the Pontianak Museum, which contains ancient porcelain and ceramics made by indigenous tribes.
2. Banjarmasin. The city of slender minarets, canals and floating markets.
3. Diamond mines... Here and today, in reality, you can see how in the very recent past the islanders had a hard time mining precious stones.
4. Canibalu - national park ... A leisurely stroll through its territory promises an unforgettable experience. Here you can see many rare plants and animals, the most beautiful 10-meter Kippungite waterfall, plunge into the pool with healing springs.

These are just a few of the treasures of the world's largest islands. Let the rest of the sights remain a secret for tourists, which is recommended to be learned on their own by going on a journey.

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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 has arrived at British islands 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 e. The British Isles were re-populated. About 4000 BC e. 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 settlement on the island is 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 Indian Ocean at 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 Madagascar is called 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 due to its rich resources, in particular a large number diamonds.

The first people settled Kalimantan about 40 thousand years ago. Today the population of the island is about 20 million people. The island is home to over 300 ethnic groups.

# 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. e. 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 for 7-10 millennia and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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

The largest island in the world is Greenland. Green country, as it is also called this island, belongs to Denmark. Due to 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 extreme conditions 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

What is an island? For many it is resort areas like the Maldives, Sicily or Crete. For others, pictures from action-packed adventure films pop up 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 has recently come of age. He is 21 years old. He was born in July 92 after a volcanic eruption near the island of Theologian of the Aleutian Islands archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. Its length is 400 meters and its height is 90 meters.

TOP 10: the 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, let's start with the last line of the hit parade.

10th place - Ellesmere Island

10th place is occupied by a 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

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

8th place - the island of Great Britain

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. From unusual facts it is worth noting that a huge number of people live on this island. More than 60 million islanders live on the island of Great Britain.

7th place - the island of Honshu

7th place in the list is 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, the population on it exceeds the British. About 100 million people.

6th place - Sumatra island

By the way, Indonesia is called "the country of a thousand islands." Scientists have counted more than 13,500 islands on the territory of the state. 12,000 of them are uninhabited. Plus, most of these small pieces of land don't even have a geographic name.

5th place - Baffin's Land Island

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

4th place - the island of Madagascar

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

The most interesting is ahead. Moving on to the top three. Who is on the list of the three largest islands in the world?

3rd place - the island of Kalimantan

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

2nd place - the island of New Guinea

New Guinea becomes the silver medalist. It occupies 786 thousand square kilometers in the Pacific Ocean. By the way, in terms of residential area geographic feature, this island could lay claim to the first place. Two countries spread their possessions on this piece of land: Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.

1st place - the island of Greenland

The title of "The largest island in the world" is awarded 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 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, by the Lincoln Sea. In the northeast of the island is the Greenland Sea, in the southeast the Danish Strait. The Atlantic is located on the south side.

Climate

The climate in Greenland is different: maritime, subarctic, arctic and even continental arctic. Cyclone is the most frequent visitor on the island. This means that it is always here strong winds, a sharp change in weather and precipitation.

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

Flora and fauna

Plants can only be found here in glacier-free areas. Birch, willow, mountain ash, alder and even juniper are found on these scanty pieces of the island. As for the 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 the name, which literally translates as "green land"?

History legends

The Vikings discovered the island of Greenland. 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 such a name to its land. Others express an opinion about the cunning of the first settlers. They allegedly gave the island such a fabulous name to attract people here.

Since 1536 Greenland has been considered a 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 Chamber of International Justice. She made a decision: to leave Greenland as a Danish colony.

The world's largest island, 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 west coast... It is home to just over 15 thousand people.

There are about 500 thousand islands in our world. They are different in size. Today we are with you the most large islands of our world.

Greenland

New Guinea

Kalimantan

Madagascar

Baffin's Land

Sumatra

O. Great Britain