Islands are dream destinations. You never really know why. However, an island is at the same time the syndrome of isolation, one is protected there but sometimes one is also a little prisoner there. But on the largest islands in the world this question does not really arise. Why is that? Well, because some of them are the size of large countries, the largest of them is called the mainland island.
1. Australia, the island continent
At 7,617,930 square kilometres, Australia is the world’s largest island. Beware, however, because some geographers will tend to classify this island directly as a continent. The smallest continent that emerged from the ocean shelf. Nevertheless Australians consider themselves on a very large island surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
2. Greenland, one of the largest islands in the world.
With its 2,130,800 square kilometres, Greenland is unquestionably one of the largest islands in the world. Nevertheless, Greenland could also reveal a major surprise. This immense territory covered by an ice cap could in fact be a set of three large islands joined together by ice.
3. New Guinea, a coveted and unspoiled land
This island in Southeast Asia covers an area of 786,000 square kilometres. Two states share one of the largest islands in the world. They are Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Two countries that were once at war over the sharing of this forested island of primary forests. Forests from which exotic woods are being torn away.
4. Borneo, one of the world’s largest islands
For the fourth largest island in the world, you always have to go to South-East Asia, a little over a thousand kilometres from New Guinea. Borneo, an island covering 743,330 square kilometres, is in the same situation as the island ahead of it in this ranking. That is to say, three countries share the island of Borneo. Indonesia has the largest share, followed by Malaysia and Brunei.
5. Madagascar, a long African island
With its 578,041 square kilometres, Madagascar ranks fifth among the world’s largest islands. This island is a natural treasure since it is one of the places in the world with the most endemic species. By endemic we mean species of fauna or flora found only on the island of Madagascar.
6. Baffin Island
This island located above the Arctic Circle just across from Greenland. This very large island is also called Baffin Island. With an area of 507,451 square kilometres, its highest point is 2,591 metres at Penny Ice Cap.
It is deserted, with an estimated population density of 0.02 people per square kilometre. Of the island’s 11,000 inhabitants, it is estimated that over 60% live in Iqaluit, the largest city on the island.
7. Sumatra
For the seventh largest island in the world, you have to go to Sumatra in Indonesia once again. An island in the west of the country that covers an area of no less than 473,481 square kilometres.
It is also the most densely populated island in the country, with a quarter of the country’s total population living there. Indonesia is one of the most populated countries in the world. The population is estimated to be close to 55 million people. And the highest point of the island is Mount Kerinci which culminates at an altitude of 3,805 meters.
8. Honshu, Japan’s largest island.
The island of Honshu, with an area of 230,510 square kilometres, is the eighth largest island in the world and seventh largest when Australia is removed.
Honshu is the main island of Japan and is home to Japan’s largest cities. Tokyo and Kyoto the former capital, but also Osaka.
9. Victoria Island
For this island with a surface area of 217,291 square kilometres and a population of about two thousand people, it is again necessary to travel to northern Canada.
10. Great Britain
So there are three federated states of the United Kingdom occupying the Big Island. Scotland, England and Wales share the 209,331 square kilometres of this island in northern Europe.
photo credits : Yann Vernerie