The title of “World's Largest Island” goes to... Which island is the largest on Earth? Which island is the most

Good day, dear readers of the site “I and the World”! Today we want to tell you about the islands and we will definitely highlight the largest island in the world. Even the largest of them differ from the continents in their size - they are smaller than continents and are surrounded by water on all sides. But even during high tides they are not sinkable, because... are above sea level.

We present to you the top 10 largest islands, and which is the largest and what it is called, you will find out by reading the article to the end.

In 10th place is Ellesmere - 196,236 sq. km

Snow, eternal glaciers, remains of prehistoric animals - this is how Ellesmere Island can be described. The map shows that this is the northern island of Canada with a population of only 150 people.

It was discovered by the English sailor and traveler William Baffin in the 17th century. It is difficult to live here due to the very harsh climate.

The closest Canadian city is difficult to get to – 3,578 km. Even the North Pole is much closer - 817 km, but local residents probably don’t need to go there.

Next on the list is Victoria Island - 217,290 sq. km

The English navigators were very brave when they discovered many territories. Victoria was also discovered by the Englishman Thomas Simpson in the early 19th century and named it after his queen.

At first, only meteorologists lived here, and only towards the end of the 20th century did Eskimos begin to move here, engaging in fishing activities.

The island's area can fit, for example, the small country of Belarus.

8th place - Honshu - 227,970 sq. km

According to legend, in the old days the Gods decided to divide the ocean and cut the water with a huge sword. And when they raised the sword, 4 drops slowly fell down and formed islands. The largest turned into an island called Honshu. It’s a pity that the drops fell on seismically unstable places, because earthquakes are frequent on the island.

The famous Fuji volcano rises here. Currently, about 103 million people live on the island and they are not crowded anywhere.

This is where major cities are located: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima - and all this is Japan.

7th place is taken by Great Britain – 229,848 sq. km

Great Britain is also an island, and it is the largest in Europe.

The beginning of the history of the island is considered to be 43 BC. e. Since ancient times, the Noto people lived here, and later modern people began to populate the territory. A chain of white chalk rocks stretches along the island. It is said that because of the white color, Great Britain came to be called by the Roman word Albion (white).

The territory is densely populated and more than 61 million people live here.

Sumatra is in 6th place - 471,066 sq. km

Located in one of the parts of Indonesia. The territory is crossed almost in the middle by the equator, so Sumatra is located in two hemispheres at once.

Tsunamis and earthquakes happen quite often here, but with 50 million people living here, it's not too much of a concern.

The Toba volcano exploded here 73,000 years ago, triggering an 1,800-year ice age.

The lands of Sumatra have many mineral resources: gold, nickel, tin, iron, coal, oil, but all these riches belong to Indonesia. Go on a trip to the shores of Sumatra; it’s better to fly by plane: pirates are rampant on the waters.

5th place - Baffin Island - 507,451 sq. km

And again we are in Canada! And again the English discoverer is William Baffin. In the 17th century, he was looking for a way to the shores of fabulous India. Well, before reaching my destination, I accidentally discovered the island and the nearby sea.

Everything was named after the sailor. What is good in the land of polar cold?

Of course there is a rich world of animals: deer, polar bears, polar owls, white wolves, arctic foxes. Well, there are as many as 11 thousand people! Many people do not like the polar cold and frost even in July.

In 4th place is Madagascar - 587,713 sq. km

This is both a state and an island, the shores of which are washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean and are home to more than 24 million people.

Madagascar has recently become known throughout the world for the cartoon of the same name. Look, very funny!

Scientists believe that the island broke away from Africa on one side and from India on the other, so there is very rare flora and fauna here. And there are a huge number of different spices, for example, tsilanindimilahi pepper.

3rd place belongs to the island of Kalimantan - 748,168 sq. km

It was divided by three states at once: Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. How many countries, so many preferences. Some call it Borneo, others call it Kalimantan - translated as “diamond river”, because there are a huge amount of diamonds here. Of course, this is not a private island of one of the states. They just have an influence on him.

The first people settled here about 40,000 years ago and currently the population has increased to 20 million people.

The territory is also called riverine, because the longest of the island rivers, the Kapuas River (1143 km), flows here.

Residents of one of the cities walk here every day along the equator, as if along a boulevard, because the city is located right on the equator line. The beautiful sandy beach attracts many tourists.

New Guinea takes 2nd place – 786,000 sq. km

There are few continents in the world, and although Australia is its smallest continent, it lays claim to many nearby territories. So New Guinea belonged to this country until the middle of the 20th century, but then it still granted independence. There is still an uninhabited corner here that attracts researchers with rare specimens of plants and animals.

In some places in New Guinea, primitive life has been preserved. These lands were discovered not by an Englishman, but by a navigator from Portugal in the 16th century. According to legend, he looked at the curly hair of the aborigines and named the new land Papua - “curly.” The current population is 9.5 million people.

And finally, 1st place – Greenland – 2,130,800 sq. km

Green Island - Greenland, owned by Denmark, is the largest of the world's islands.

Why it’s green is unclear, because there’s a lot of ice around. History is silent about this. Greenland is home to about 57,000 people, but most of it is covered by glaciers and is therefore uninhabited.

Local Eskimos have been fishing since ancient times. But the first Europeans settled here in 875.

Greenland passed from Denmark to Norway several times. You ask: which country does it belong to now? Little Denmark. And if to its 43,000 sq. km add Greenland, then Denmark will be the 13th largest in the world. Now the local population is engaged not only in fishing, but also raising deer and sheep, and also extracting oil.

Tourism here is well developed - about 20,000 tourists come here every year. It is high time to recognize Greenland as a continent, because it is only three times smaller than Australia.

I would also like to tell you about the Greek island of Crete

Here legends and myths live next to modern reality. Every year up to 4 million tourists visit these beautiful places.

And many people want to become local property owners, and the quality of these houses is excellent. They say: “Greece has everything,” but Crete also has everything – a wonderful climate, a huge number of attractions, calm beaches and, of course, shopping.

We talked about the largest and most amazing islands on the planet. The list of wonderful places can be extended, but we will stop at ten. These are picturesque corners of nature. But there is a concept - an artificial island created by man. That's what we'll talk about in the following articles. Follow our publications and recommend reading to your friends. In the meantime, we say goodbye, see you again!

Hello friends. Today I made a selection of the largest islands in the world. I won’t make a long introduction, but let’s get straight to the interesting stuff.

The world's largest island - Icy Greenland

The world's largest island located among the Arctic ice of North America. This is Greenland, covering an area of 2,130,800 km². The geographically described island belongs to Denmark and is its independent unit.

And, although the name “Greenland” translates as “green island”, there is practically no vegetation here, in addition, it is very cold in Greenland. In winter, the air temperature can drop to -50°C, and in summer to -12°C, so only 56,295 people live in this area. 7% of the surface of the entire territory is occupied by ice, the thickness of which reaches 3 km.

The capital of the largest island in the world is the city of Nuuk, whose name translates as “city of good hope.” Greenland's main attraction in the world. And the most unusual folk treasure is the toy - tupilak, created by local Eskimos from the skin and tusks of a walrus and symbolizing the evil spirit - the ruler of the northern ice.

Mysterious New Guinea

New Guinea is a huge island located in the western Pacific Ocean. Its area is 786,000 km²; in size, the island is the second largest on the planet and one of the five largest islands in the world. Geographically, this piece of land is part of two different states. The western part belongs to Indonesia, and the eastern part is a separate state of Papua New Guinea.

This island is the most mysterious and little-studied in the world. The local population consists of thousands of different tribes, which until recently did not even suspect each other’s existence. The flora and fauna of one of the largest islands on the planet are still poorly understood. The city of Tufi is rightfully considered the world capital of diving; the beauty of its underwater world will not leave even the most experienced underwater swimmer indifferent.

Local residents live by their own laws - the most unusual in the world. For example, the law on witchcraft states that a person who believes himself to be bewitched suffers no consequences for his actions. There are 18 active volcanoes on the territory of New Guinea, the ancient power of which is worshiped by the local population.

Borneo Island (Kalimantan)

The third largest island on the planet is the island of Borneo (Kalimantan), covering an area of 734 km². This island is located in the heart of the Malay archipelago and is the only island that simultaneously belongs to three different countries: Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Historically, this island was discovered by the navigator Magellan in 1521, but ancient writings indicate that life existed on this landmass long before that.

At the beginning of the 13th century, the island aborigines were actively engaged in trade in spices and fish with neighboring states. The main part of the island is covered with mountains and jungle, and the thousand-year-old forests are the oldest in the world. Plants and animals that are the most predatory on the planet have been recorded on the island.

The world's largest orangutan lives on Borneo, and some species of giant plants are capable of eating not only insects, but also large predators. The main attraction of Borneo is the cable car, 480 m long and 20 m high. It is from this height that all the beauties of this wild region are revealed.

Majestic Madagascar

The fourth largest island on the planet belongs to the incredible Madagascar. The described island state covers an area of 587,000 km². A unique feature of Madagascar is the presence of absolutely amazing plants and animals that live on the island.

For several decades, world scientists have been trying to comprehend the secrets of this amazing state and study its nature, however, the amazing Madagascar surprises each time with new wonderful discoveries.

The island is home to over 30 species of lemurs. The local population considers this animal sacred. According to legends, the soul of a deceased person moves into a lemur and continues its journey on Earth.

The harshest island

Closes TOP of the largest islands in the world- Baffin Island Island, located in and covering an area of 507,451 km². Due to the harsh climate, the population of the described island is only 11,000 people. The nature of the Arctic north fascinates with its beauty.

Local Inuit residents travel by sled dogs and snowmobiles. And amazing reindeer move around the city completely calmly, without fear of people. The island aborigines have their own language and sacredly honor the traditions of their ancestors, however, they are very literate and intellectually developed residents, fluent in several languages and developing infrastructure in such harsh climatic conditions.

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Greenland is actually the most largest island in the world, since Australia is considered by most scientists to be a continent. Three quarters of Greenland is covered by permanentice sheet, the onlyoutside Antarctica . With a population of approximately 56,480 (2013), she is least populous country in the world. Greenland located between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It is an independent territory of Denmark.

Interesting facts about Greenland

Greenland is an island, not a continent.
A total of 57,600 people live on a vast territory of 2,130,800 square kilometers.
Greenland is home to the second largest ice sheet in the world after Antarctica.
Greenland National Park is the largest and northernmost national park in the world.

2. New Guinea, 785 thousand square kilometers

The island of New Guinea in the western Pacific Ocean is the second largest island in the world.This island includes a total area of 785 thousand square kilometers.New Guinea is administered by two countries - the western part belongs to Indonesia and the eastern part belongs to Papua New Guinea. WITH read by the easternmost islandMalay Archipelago, lies to north of Australia

New Guinea is an amazing island because contains a huge number of types of ecosystems, these are: glacial, alpine tundra, savanna, montane and lowland rainforest, mangroves, wetlands, lake and river ecosystems, seagrass and some of the richest coral reefs on the planet.

Interesting facts about the island of New Guinea

The island is dominated by high mountains and volcanoes.
Humans inhabited the island more than 40,000 years ago.
New Guinea has large reserves of copper and gold.

3. Borneo Island, 748 thousand square kilometers

The island of Borneo is the only island in the world that is administered by three countries - Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Borneo is surrounded by the South China Sea to the north and northwest, the Sulu Sea to the northeast, the Celebes Sea to the east, and the Java Sea to the south. To the west of Borneo is the island of Sumatra. In the south and east are the islands of Indonesia: Java and Sulawesi.

With an area of 743,330 square kilometers, it is the third largest island in the world, and is the largest island in Asia. Its highest point is Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia with an altitude of 4095 meters.

Borneo has significant cave systems and one of the world's longest underground rivers. Dir Cave is home to more than three million bats.

Interesting facts about the island of Borneo

Borneo's rainforests are over 130 million years old.This is the oldest tropical forest in the world.These forests are also home to 15,000 plant species, 221 mammal species and 420 bird species.
Mount Kimabalu, the highest peak in Southeast Asia, is located on the island of Borneo.
Endangered orangutans and fruit bats are found only in the forests of Borneo.

4. Island of Madagascar, 587 thousand square kilometers

Madagascar is an island located on the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean.With a total area of 587 thousand square kilometers, it is the fourth largest island in the world.The island of Madagascar was formed about 88 million years ago as a result of separation from the Indian subcontinent.This island is home to many unique plant and animal species.Madagascar is also called the "eighth continent" or "alternate world".

Interesting facts about Madagascar

Madagascar is home to 250,000 animal species.70% of them are found nowhere else in the world.
There are 14,000 different plant species on the island of Madagascar and 90% of them are endemic.
Ring-tailed lemurs can only be found in the forests of the island of Madagascar.
The coral reef in southwest Madagascar is the third largest coral reef in the world.

5. Baffin Island, Canada, 507 thousand square kilometers

Baffin Island, located in Nunavut, is the largest island in Canada.Baffin Island is almost 507 thousand square kilometers. OnThe island in the Arctic archipelago receives extremely cold weather with an average annual temperature of -8 degrees Celsius. On the islandmany fjords and freshwater lakes.

Interesting facts about Baffin Island

Baffin Island is named after British explorer William Baffin.
You can see amazing manifestations northern lights , So how most parts of Baffin Island lie tonorth of the Arctic Circle.

6. Sumatra, Indonesia, 480 thousand square kilometers

With its 480 thousand square kilometers, Sumatra is the second largest island of Indonesia and the most a large island in western Indonesia, which is part of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island that is entirely within Indonesia (the two major islands, Borneo and New Guinea, are divided between Indonesia and other countries) and the sixth largest island in the world.

Sumatra has a wide range of different plant and animal species, but has lost almost 50% of its rainforest in the last 35 years, and many animal species are endangered, such as the Sumatra ground cuckoo, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran elephant, Sumatran rhinoceros and orangutan.

It is also the westernmost island of the Indonesian archipelago.Sumatra is prone to strong earthquakes and tsunamis.This is because this island lies in the subduction zone of the Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates.However, the island of Sumatra is home to amazing wildlife and rich forests.

Interesting facts about Sumatra Island

Most of the island of Sumatra is covered with tropical forests.Unfortunately, due to resettlement and oil extraction, the island lost almost 50% of its forest between 1985 and 2007.
Sumatra contains large reserves of gold and silver.
Some of the best oilseeds and coal deposits are also located on the island of Sumatra.

7. Honshu, Japan, 225 thousand square kilometers

Located between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, Honshu Island is Japan's largest island.Honshu has great historical significance, since Japanese civilization was formed on its territory for many years. Heaccounts for about 60% of Japan's total size.

Interesting facts about Honshu Island

The island of Honshu is home to some of Japan's important cities, including Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Yokohama and Osaka.
The island of Honshu is the second most populous island in the world after Java.
The largest mountain in Japan, Mount Fuji is located on this island.
Japan's largest lake, Lake Biwa, is also located on Honshu.

8. Victoria Island, Canada, 217 thousand square kilometers

Victoria is the second largest island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Victoriawas discovered by polar explorer Thomas Simpson in 1838. Most of the island's landmass consists of peninsulas.These include the Prince Albert Peninsula to the northwest, Wollaston Peninsula to the southwest, Collinson to the east, and a large unnamed peninsula east of Hadley Bay.The coastline is heavily indented, forming bays along the edges of the island.

Interesting facts about Victoria

Victoria Island was named after Queen Victoria.
As of 2006, only 1,875 people live on this large island.

9. Great Britain, 209 thousand square kilometers

Despite the fact that the island of Great Britain in our Top 10 occupies only 9th place, but in terms of importance it can safely be put in first place. Primarily because during archaeological excavations sites of ancient man were discovered that date back to 500,000 BC. And secondly, because Great Britain once ruled half the world, and even now the English Queen Victoria has power, in addition to Great Britain, over Canada, Australia, New Zealand and smaller countries.

Interesting facts about Great Britain

The UK is the most populous region in Europe.
London is the largest city in Great Britain.

10. Ellesmere, Canada, 196 thousand square kilometers

The northernmost of Canada's islands and belonging to the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Ellesmere Island is the third largest island in Canada and the 10th largest island in the world.It is located in the province of Nunavut in Canada.This is the highest mountain region in Canada's Arctic archipelago. More than one fifth of Ellesmere is protected asNational reserve, which includes yourself seven fjords and manyglaciers. Most of the island is covered with glaciers and ice. Ellesmere is home to only 146 people, and the island was featured in the Hollywood blockbuster Man of Steel.

A chain of sedimentary rocks located in the northern regions of Ellesmere Island that are more than 100,000 years old.
Ellesmere Island contains remnants of the last Ice Age.
At 2,616 m, Barbeau Peak is the highest point in the province of Nunavut.
Arctic willow is the only tree species found on Ellesmere Island.

In the seas and oceans of the planet there are about 500 thousand islands, of which no more than two percent are inhabited. In terms of area, such land formations can accommodate entire states, or they can barely accommodate even one person. Tectonic processes cause the emergence of new islands and the flooding of old ones, and areas of land surrounded by sea water are also formed due to human activity creating artificial territories.

1. Greenland

The largest island on the planet is Greenland, its area exceeds 2.130 million km 2. The territory is washed by the waters of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. The island belongs to Denmark and represents an autonomous administrative unit with a population of 57.7 thousand people, most of whom are Greenlandic Eskimos. The capital of Greenland is Nuuk, with a population of 16,583 people and an area of 6.9 km2. The island is located in the northeastern part of North America. The climate of the territory is heterogeneous and changeable; the mildest weather conditions are observed on the southwestern coast.

2. New Guinea

The second largest island on the planet is New Guinea, with an area of 786 thousand square meters. The territory is located in the Pacific Ocean, north of Australia. The southern part of the island is washed by the waters of the Coral and Arafura Seas. The main land area belongs to the state of Papua New Guinea, its western part belongs to Indonesia. The length of the island is 2000 km and its width is more than 700 km. Being a landmass with an equatorial and subequatorial climate, the island has a rich flora and fauna, as well as excellent conditions for beach tourism.

3. Kalimantan

New Guinea is slightly inferior in area to the island of Kalimantan, which has the third largest area in the world and an area of 734 thousand km 2. The most common name is Borneo; on planet Earth it is the only island whose territory is divided between three states. Kalimantan is under the jurisdiction of countries such as Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. In total, 19.8 million people live on the island. The territory is washed by the waters of the Java and South China seas, as well as the Sulu and Sulawesi seas, and others.

4. Madagascar

The fourth island in the world is Madagascar, whose territory exceeds 584 km 2. It is located off the eastern coast of Africa, washed by the Indian Ocean, separated from the mainland by the Mozambique Strait. It is 1600 km long and 600 km wide. The island is home to a state of the same name, the capital of which is Antananarivo. Madagascar's climate is predominantly tropical. In the central part of the island there is the high-mountain Anjafi plateau; five mountain ranges pass through the landmass. World-famous lemurs live only in Madagascar.

5. Baffin Island

Baffin Island Island ranks fifth in the world in terms of territory, with an indicator of 507.4 thousand km 2. Belongs to Canada and is part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is located in the north of the mainland and is washed by the waters of the Arctic Ocean. The island has numerous freshwater lakes, the largest of which, Nettilling, covers an area of 5542 km 2. A little over 11 thousand people live on Baffin Island. More significant settlement is hampered by harsh climatic conditions.

6. Sumatra

Situated in the western part of the Malay Archipelago, the island of Sumatra is the sixth largest in the world. Its territories occupy 473 thousand km 2 with a length of 1.8 thousand km and a width of 435 km. The island is located in both hemispheres of the planet, divided almost in half by the equator. Sumatra is part of Indonesia; the island territory is home to 50.6 million people. On land there is Lake Toby, located in a huge caldera, it covers an area of 1103 km 2, and the 120-meter Sipiso-piso waterfall, the source of which is an underground river.

7. UK

Great Britain is recognized as the seventh largest island in the world by area, the territory of which is occupied by the state of the same name, including England, Wales and Scotland, with its capital in London. The area of the island occupies 229.9 thousand km 2, with a length of 1440 km and a width of up to 660 km. The territory is home to 63 million people, making the island the third largest in the world in terms of population. Great Britain is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The island is home to Loch Lomond, which has an area of 71 km2. The island state is located in the north-west direction from the continental part of Europe.

8. Honshu

The second most populous island in the world, Honshu is the eighth largest island on the planet. The territory of 227.9 thousand km 2 is slightly smaller than Great Britain. The island is home to more than 100 million people and is the largest in the Japanese archipelago. The length of Honshu is 1300 km, and the width does not exceed 230 km. The island's area makes up 60 percent of Japan's total area. It is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the length of the coastline is 5450 km. Honshu is home to Mount Fuji, a symbol and active stratovolcano of Japan.

9. Victoria

Victoria Island, which is part of the Canadian Arctic archipelago, has an area of 217.2 thousand km 2, occupying ninth position in the ranking. The island territory is washed by the waters of the Arctic Ocean and belongs to Canada. The harsh climate does not allow the settlement of this landmass, which is home to 1,700 people. The maximum length is 500 km, with the greatest width being 600 km. There are numerous lakes on the island, the largest of which, Ferguson, occupies 588 km 2. Victoria is part of the North American Polar Tundra ecological region.

10. Ellesmere

Another island, part of the Canadian Arctic archipelago, ranks tenth in the ranking. The area of the territory is 196.2 thousand km 2, in its eastern part there is the border of Canada and Greenland, 146 people live on the island, the climate is polar arctic. Here is the northernmost settlement in the world, Alert, which is home to only five people. There are three settlements in total on Ellesmere.

About a third of the area is covered by glaciers. The polar night can last up to five months. Winter temperatures reach -50 °C. The highest point of the island is Barbeau Peak with a height of 2616 meters.

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 live 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 “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. 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.