What’s the biggest island in the world? While many people immediately think of Australia, this country is not classified as an island!
By definition, an island is an area surrounded by water. The number of islands in the world is estimated to be close to 300,000, if we take into account their variability in size, ranging from that of a continent, such as Australia, to a few square kilometers, such as coral islets.
Although the continental lands are entirely surrounded by water, they are not classified as islands.Australia (7,617,930 km²) is generally considered the smallest of the four, the other three being the Americas, Antarctica and Afro-Eurasia. As the smallest continent, however, Australia is still three times larger than the island that tops the list of the world’s largest islands!
10. Ellesmere Island
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Paul Gierszewski
Canada’s third-largest island, Ellesmere is the most northerly part of the country, with a population of just 146. It is home to the most northerly permanently inhabited settlement in the world, the Canadian Forces Station Alert. This is a weather and radar station that serves as a reminder of Canada’s jurisdiction to major powers that pass under Canadian ice without permission.
9. Great Britain
Photo credit: Flickr – NASA Goddard
Great Britain is the world’s third most populous island (after Java and Honshū) and Europe’s largest, with a surface area of 216,777 km².
8. Victoria Island
Photo credit: 360Travelling
Barely larger than Great Britain, this vast island of 217,291 km² in northern Canada is inhabited by just 1,700 souls.
7. Honshū
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Mstyslav Chernov
It’s typically the first island that comes to mind when you think of Japan. Honshū is home to over 90 million inhabitants, the vast majority of whom live in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Its surface area: 230,510 km².
6. Sumatra
Photo credit: Pixabay – skeeze
The largest island located entirely in Indonesia, Sumatra is home to over 50 million people. With a surface area of 473,481 km², it is the seventh largest island in the world.
5. Baffin Island
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Ansgar Walk
Located in the far north of Canada, the island has a population of just 10,745, and its largest « town » has a population of just 6,000. With a surface area of 507,451 km², Baffin Island is slightly larger than Spain.
4. Madagascar
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Heinonlein
Located in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of southern Africa, Madagascar boasts some of the world’s most interesting flora and fauna. Its surface area: 578,041 km².
3. Borneo
Photo credit: Flickr – amrufm
Borneo, the third largest island in the world, is shared by three countries: Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. The mountain in the photo above is Mount Kinabalu, the highest point on the island, which covers an area of 743,330 km².
2. New Guinea
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Jon Radoff
The second largest island on the planet, New Guinea is home to the world’s highest concentration of languages (over 1000), a large number of isolated tribes and a vast amount of unexplored land. With a surface area of 786,000 km², New Guinea is home to part ofIndonesia and Papua New Guinea.
1. Greenland
Photo credit: Pixabay – Barni1
Although some scientists believe that under Greenland’s icy surface there are actually three separate islands, most encyclopedias define Greenland as the world’s largest non-continental island, with a surface area of 2,130,800 km².
So, are you bluffed?! Did you think Australia was the biggest island in the world? Well, it’s not! If you’re interested in reading more unusual information, you can find the 10 highest mountains in the world or the 10 hardest passport stamps to get!