Which country has more than 15,000 islands. Island states of Europe, Asia, America. List of island states of the world. Northern Mariana Islands

The islands are a little piece of paradise. Which country can claim to have the most islands? Which country has the most islands? Islands can be very large or very small and are mainly composed of rocks.

It is estimated that approximately 700 million people on earth live on islands. Due to their isolation, islands typically offer a unique environment as they tend to be biodiversity hotspots with rare flora and fauna. It is assumed that Sweden has more islands than any other country in the world. The following are other countries that have the largest number of islands:

Estonia - 2355

A 2015 study found that Estonia has 800 more islands than previously thought, bringing the total number of islands in the country to 2,355. big Island in Estonia - Saaremaa, total area which is 2,671 sq. km. Many of Estonia's islands are uninhabited.

Greece - 6000

Various sources indicate that the number of islands in Greece ranges from 1,600 to 6,000 depending on the minimum size defined as an island. Of the total, more than 166 have permanent settlements. Crete is the largest greek island in terms of area, followed by Euboea, Lesbos and Rhodes. All islands are located in different clusters, namely: the North Islands Aegean Sea at west coast Turkey, the Argo-Saronica islands near Athens, the Cyclades in the central Aegean Sea, the Dodecanese near Turkey, the Sporades off the coast of Euboea and the Ionian Islands in the Ionian Sea. The Ionian Islands have the best sandy beaches, while the Delos Islands are replete with historical and cultural monuments because it is the birthplace of Apollo.

UK - 6289

Great Britain is an island itself, separated from mainland Europe by the North Sea and the English Channel. Including all overseas territories, the UK has 6,289 islands, most of which are in Scotland.

Japan - 6,853

Japan is a 2,990-kilometer-long archipelago consisting of 6,853 islands, of which more than 430 are inhabited. The four main islands are Honshu (which is the largest), Hokkaido, Shikoku and Kyushu. While most of them are natural, there are a few in Japan artificial islands. Each of Japan's inhabited islands has unique cultural and biological diversity. Japanese islands are a rich base for research and expeditions, as well as for fishing. Every year, about 1,500 earthquakes occur throughout the country. Four-fifths of Japan's territory is covered with forests and mountain ranges, about 200 active volcanoes make it difficult to expand settlements, farms or industry.

Philippines - 7107

The Philippines is a tropical country located in the South- East Asia. Many of the country's 7,107 islands are popular among tourists for their beautiful beaches and turquoise waters. The largest island in the Philippines is Luzon, which is also the most populated island. Most Big city on the island of Luzon - Quezon.

Australia - 8222

According to the latest data, there are more than 8,000 islands in Australia. The actual number is estimated at 8222. Of these, 3747 islands are in Western Australia, 1955 in Queensland, 1000 in Tasmania, 88 in the Northern Territory and 346 in South Australia. Melvin Island is the largest of the total number of islands. Australia boasts a variety of wildlife, including kangaroos and platypuses. Other attractions include a large barrier reef, lakes, forests and vast desert.

Indonesia – 17,508

The Republic of Indonesia is an archipelago of mostly volcanic islands located in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is the 14th largest country in the world by area. The main islands in Indonesia include the Malaku and Sunda groups. On the Sunda Islands is the island of Java, on which the capital of the state is located - the city of Jakarta. The Indonesian islands are popular among tourists for their unique beaches, volcanoes, prehistoric relics, limestone cliffs and rich wildlife including forests, elephants, tigers, etc. Indonesia's wildlife and culture make this country one of the best tourist destinations on the planet.

Canada - 52,455

According to Statistics Canada, the state has 52,455 islands. The largest of them is Baffin Island, which has an area of ​​507,451 square kilometers. About 30,000 islands lie within Hudson Bay, making it one of the largest freshwater archipelagos. A total of 1,864 islands are found on the St. Lawrence River. To the north of mainland Canada is the Canadian Archipelago, which contains Queen Elizabeth and Manitoulin Islands. Manitoulin Island is the largest freshwater island in the world and is home to 17 other lakes, which in turn contain even smaller islands.

Norway - 55000

The Northern European country of Norway has more than 55,000 islands. In fact, there are so many islands that it is difficult to count them accurately. Norway's coastline is estimated to range from 25,000 km to 83,000 km. The largest island in Norway is Spitsbergen.

Finland - 188,000

The Finnish Tourism Board recognizes that the country has 179,584 islands, 98,050 of which are located within the country's 188,000 lakes. Only 455 of these islands have permanent settlements and use water communication with the mainland, and have no roads. More than 700 of the islands are relatively large and have road connections to the mainland. Other tens of thousands serve recreational, expeditionary, research or other purposes. Tourists here can go horseback riding, kayaking, fishing and other types of active recreation.

Sweden – 221,800

Experts estimate that Sweden has 221,800 islands, most of which are uninhabited. This number means that Sweden likely has more islands than any other country in the world. Even the country's capital, Stockholm, is an archipelago of fourteen islands connected by more than 50 bridges, as well as medieval city Gamla Stan, museums and royal palaces. The island of Öland has well-maintained beaches, a castle and buildings whose history goes back 5,000 years, making the island a World Heritage UNESCO. On other islands you can go swimming, fishing and other aquatic species sports.

Today, people who need to create a website have the opportunity, thanks to the services of the company https://www.limenet.kiev.ua/ua/, to create a high-quality website that meets all the necessary modern requirements, both in terms of design, layout, and shell and site encodings. Limenet will do everything necessary work from scratch, creating a website, providing support in setting up and promoting the site.

Many countries, for example Spain, are not only the mainland, but also islands - in this case, famous Ibiza, Tenerife, Mallorca, etc. However, there are countries that are entirely located exclusively on islands. Currently, among the 194 independent states of the world, 47 are island states. In principle, Australia can also be counted among them. Although this country is located on a continent, it has no land borders, and this is typical for island states. Many of these countries can offer luxurious holiday conditions and magnificent views. 13 of the most beautiful island states in the world are presented to you.

Singapore

Singapore is one of the richest island countries in the world. The city-state is located on an island near the southern end of the Malay Peninsula, which is only about 720 square kilometers in area, making Singapore one of the smallest countries in Southeast Asia. The beauty of this country lies not so much in natural formations, but in amazing buildings, unusual designs and Asian charm.

Jamaica

The name of this country and island comes from a corruption of the Indian word “haimaka”, which literally means “island of springs”. Indeed, the island has many small but very picturesque rivers and streams. And the island in the Caribbean Sea has wonderful hills, coral sand beaches, high mountains and dense forests occupying a fifth of the island.

Seychelles

Seychelles is a beautiful archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean with the most beautiful beaches and gorgeous exotic nature. It's no wonder that the Seychelles is so popular among tourists all over the world!

Mauritius

The state of Mauritius is located in the Indian Ocean, in East Africa. The republic includes two large islands, Mauritius and Rodrigues, as well as the Cargados-Carajos archipelago, the Agalega Islands and many small islands. The nature of Mauritius is good: the shores are fringed with coral reefs, sugar cane plantations sway in picturesque valleys, plateaus and mountains are cut by hundreds of small rivers, waterfalls thunder in the jungle, and craters extinct volcanoes exude a thin smoke.

Iceland

Let's move from warm islands to the northern Atlantic islands. Iceland is an intriguing and fascinating country, and it is located on a large island of the same name and small islands around it. By the way, Iceland is the largest island of volcanic origin, and some volcanoes periodically erupt lava, breaking through ice crusts.

Japan

The fourth largest island state by area is one of the most distinctive countries in the world. Here the West meets the East, giving birth to an amazing culture. Japanese cities are entire multi-layered anthills, and Japanese nature, especially cherry blossoms, has inspired many poets and writers. Japan is covered with a dense network of short, deep rivers, there are many quiet lakes, and probably everyone has heard about Mount Fuji.

Fiji

Amazing country in the southern part Pacific Ocean It is very popular among surfers all over the world for its gorgeous waves and luxurious beaches. Fiji is made up of 332 volcanic and coral islets covered with mangroves, wet tropical forests and savannas.

Saint Lucia

This state is one of the smallest among the islands: its area is only 620 km². The island in the Caribbean was discovered by Columbus in 1502 on St. Lucia's Day - hence the name. True, the picturesque island was inhabited by warlike Carib Indians, so at first it was not possible to resettle Europeans there. Today official language states - English, although Patois is widespread among a significant part of the population.

Palau

Palau is even smaller than Saint Lucia. This state is located in the east of the Philippines, in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, on a scattering of small atolls formed on the tops of underwater volcanoes. Undersea world off the coast of Palau is so good that it was even declared an underwater wonder of the world; the gardens and forests of the islands are thickets of orchids and exotic flowers, and the lakes are home to millions of jellyfish.

Madagascar

Let's jump from one of the smallest island states to the second largest - Madagascar. The island in the Indian Ocean, south of the African continent, is home to 5% of all animal and plant species on this planet, of which more than 80% are endemic.

Cuba

A charming island with a fascinating history, it boasts white sandy beaches, blue waters and the best coral reefs in the world, and Cuban culture is surprisingly interesting and colorful. Viva la Cuba!

Kiribati

Most likely, you have never heard of this state. But in vain, because this is one of the most beautiful island countries in the world. The state located in the Pacific Ocean is located on 33 atolls, twenty of which are uninhabited. There are only 100 thousand people living in the entire country - Tungar and Banaba aborigines who speak their own language, Kiribati.

Maldives

The area of ​​this state is only 298 sq.m., but it is known throughout the world for its expensive exclusive resorts with high level service. Islands in the heart Indian Ocean newlyweds often choose for honeymoon– it’s so romantic there!

A country whose territory is entirely within an archipelago and is in no way connected to the mainland is called an “island state.” Of the 194 officially recognized countries in the world, 47 are considered such. They should be distinguished from coastal territories and political entities that generally do not have access to the sea. More often island states of the world are located near the edges of the continents, but some, for example, the archipelagos of Oceania, may be located at a sufficient distance from coastline. For ease of classification, countries are divided into groups. The main criterion for division is belonging to one or another part of the world or continent. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Europe

2. Japan

The oldest East Asian state. Located on (the largest of them is Honshu, followed by Hokkaido, Shikoku and Kyushu) and the Ryukyu archipelagos (the largest object is Okinawa) and Nampo. A dangerous seismic zone passes through the country. The capital Tokyo is located in the center of the island of Honshu.

3. Philippines

Often island states are located on archipelagos of the same name. The Republic of the Philippines is a clear confirmation of this. The capital of this country in Southeast Asia is the city of Manila on the island of Luzon. This state is considered one of the poorest in Asia.

4. Sri Lanka

Small South Asian state. The area is located directly on island of the same name, south of Hindustan. The capital is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. It is best known for its historical name - Ceylon, and has also been famous since ancient times for its unique varieties of mountain tea.

5. Republic of China

A partially recognized state located in Southeast Asia. Located on the island of Taiwan and several adjacent archipelagos, the capital is Taipei. A major commercial and economic district on the Asian coast.

6. East Timor

The state in the southern part of the Malay Archipelago occupies eastern part Timor and small islands Ataura and Jacques. Capital and The largest city- Dili.

7. Brunei

The state belongs to Southeast Asia. Located on which is part of the Greater Sunda Archipelago. One of the smallest states in the Asian region and the whole world. The capital is a large and picturesque city With exotic name Bandar Seri Begawan, which is translated from the local language as “The City of His Lordship.”

8. Bahrain

A small island state, geographically located in South-West Asia, on the island of the same name in Persian Gulf. It is very rich in oil and is one of the active members of OPEC. The capital and main economic center of the country is the city of Manama.

9. Singapore

This country belongs to the Southeast Asia region. It lies on the territory of 63 islands, the largest of which are Singapore, Ubin, and Sentosa. It is a free trade and economic zone in Asia. The capital is the city of the same name on the main island with an identical name.

10. Maldives

A state located on a group of atolls of the same name in South Asia. It is no secret to many that this is the most picturesque and attractive country for tourism in the world. The only city of Male is the capital and a major tourist center. Approximately 97% of the territory is occupied by water surface.

America

Almost all of the island states of America are located in the Atlantic Ocean and are washed by the waters of the warm Gulf of Mexico and the restless Caribbean Sea. This part of the world is sometimes called the West Indies. In the past, these territories were under the rule of large European colonialists, but currently they have the status of independent countries.

The island states of this region are located on the territory of the Large (the largest is Cuba, followed by Haiti and Puerto Rico) and Small (Leeward and Windward) Antilles, Bahamas and other small archipelagos. The countries are distinguished by a special warm Caribbean climate and picturesque nature with lush reed thickets.

Island states of America: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bahamas, also Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, St. Lucia, along with Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and countries such as Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis.

Other island states

In addition to the listed countries, it is worth highlighting the islands and Oceania as a separate group. Independent African territories in the east include Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles, and in the west - Sao Tome and Principe, Cape Verde. Basically, the territories of these countries are located on the archipelagos of the same name.

The islands are divided into Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia. But many of them are uninhabited or dependent territories. Independent island countries Pacific: Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Nauru, also New Zealand, Solomon islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tonga, Federated States Micronesia, Palau and, of course, Marshall Islands.

The concept of an island state, descriptions of island states

Information about the concept of an island state, descriptions of island states

1.List of island states by area

2.Brief descriptions some island states

The island state is- a state located on one or several islands and not connected by any of its regions with the mainland. In this way, island states are distinguished from coastal or landlocked states. Currently, among the 194 independent states of the world, 47 are island states.


List of island states by area

No. State Area in km²

1 Indonesia 1,912,988

2 Madagascar 587.041

3 Papua New Guinea 462.840

4 Japan 377.837

5 Philippines 300,000

6 New Zealand 270.534

7 UK 242.910

8 Cuba 110.860

9 Iceland 103,000

10 Ireland 70.273

11 Sri Lanka 65,610

12 Dominican Republic 48,422

13 Taiwan 36.006

14 Haiti 27.750

15 Solomon Islands 27,556

16 Fiji 18.367

17 East Timor 14.409

18 Bahamas 13.939

19 Vanuatu 12.190

21 Cyprus 9.251

22 Brunei 5.765

23 Trinidad and Tobago 5.128

24 Cape Verde 4,033

25 Samoa 2.831

26 Mauritius 2,040

27 Comoros 1,862

28 Sao Tome and Principe 1.001

29 Kiribati 811

30 Tonga 748

31 Dominica 746

32 Bahrain 711

33 Micronesia 702

34 Singapore 683

36 Palau 508

37 Seychelles 454

38 Antigua and Barbuda 442

39 Barbados 430

41 Grenada 345

42 Malta 316

43 Maldives 298

45 Marshall Islands 181

46 Tuvalu 26

47 Nauru 21

Brief descriptions of some island states

Indonesia, official name- The Republic of Indonesia (Indian: Republik Indonesia) is the largest state in Southeast Asia and the 16th largest country in the world. Located on the islands of the Sunda archipelago and is the largest island nation in the world. With a population of about 230.5 million people, it ranks fourth in the world in terms of this indicator. It has a rich and controversial history.

Madagascar is a state in the western Indian Ocean, on the island of Madagascar and adjacent small islands off east coast Africa. Area - 587 thousand km², population - 18.4 million people. (2005, UN assessment). The capital is Antananarivo.



Japan is an island state in East Asia. Part of the territories, according to the official Japanese position, that are part of Japan (southern Kurile Islands) is de facto part of Russia, and is the subject of a territorial dispute. Japan is a member of the UN, G8 and APEC. In terms of GDP, Japan in 2008 ranked second in the world (first - the USA). Japan remains the only country in the world against which it was used nuclear weapon.

Great Britain is an island state in Western Europe, form of government - parliamentary monarchy. The capital is the city of London. The name of the country comes from the English Great Britain. Britain - according to the ethnonym of the Briton tribe.



State on British Isles(island of Great Britain and the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, a large number of small islands and archipelagos, Channel Islands), washed by Atlantic Ocean and its seas. Area: total - 244,820 km², land - 240,590 km², inland waters - 3,230 km². The most high peak- the city of Ben Nevis English Ben Nevis Gaelic Beinn Neibhis / (1343 m) - located in the north of Scotland (Grampian Mountains), the most low point- Fenland (−4 m).

Predominant in the north and west mountainous terrain- North Scottish Highlands (up to 1343 m), Pennine and Cambrian mountains; in the south and southeast there are hilly plains. The climate is temperate oceanic, humid. Average temperatures in January are from 3 to 7 °C, in July 11-17 °C; precipitation up to 3000 mm per year in the west and 600-750 mm in the southeast. Main rivers: Thames - 334 km, Severn - 310 km, Trent - 298 km, Mersey - 109 km, Clyde - 170 km. Largest lakes: Loch Ness (area 56 km²), Loch Neagh (area 396 km²). Forests (beech, oak, birch) occupy about 9% of the UK's territory.

New Zealand is a country in the southwest Pacific Ocean, located on two large islands (North Island and South Island) and a large number (approximately 700) adjacent smaller islands. The capital of the country is Wellington. New Zealand's population is approximately 4,284,000 (as of November 2008). The country is built on the principles of a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy and is among the developed countries of the world.

Island states and territories Caribbean

Cuba is one of the few socialist countries in the world. Cuba has deposits of non-ferrous metals (nickel, cobalt); sugar cane and tobacco leaves are grown. The climate in Cuba is tropical. Havana, the capital of Cuba, and its surroundings have magnificent beaches. Cuba has historical landmarks from the time of Spanish rule: old fortress, the castle of the three kings, the monastery of San Francisco, etc. There are many caves on the island, the most interesting of which is near the city of Matan Das. Largest international resort Cuba - Varadeiro. Tourists are eager to visit the house-museum of the writer Ernest Hemingway near Havana.

The island of Jamaica is located in the very center of the Caribbean Sea, 145 km south of Cuba. It is one of the largest Caribbean Islands. There are deposits of bauxite here, which are supplied mainly to the USA. Jamaica in the past was famous island pirates, and today has become a famous holiday destination. The capital of Jamaica is Kingston. For a long time, the island was owned by the Spaniards, British, French, and Portuguese, who brought slaves from different countries. Over the centuries, these nations intermingled. As a result, Jamaicans combine the traditions of all nations in their mentality.



The island has many beautiful beaches, the recreation area near Montego Bay is especially popular. In this resort area a huge selection of hotels, restaurants, shops. The underwater park attracts deep-sea diving enthusiasts. Golf courses are available. In the neighborhood of Montego Bay there are ancient plantation houses. Here you can see how tropical crops are cultivated. TO famous resorts Jamaica also includes Negril, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio. The climate on the island is tropical, trade wind.

North of Cuba, not far from the US coast, is an important tourist area- Bahamas. The capital of the archipelago is Nassau, resort center, located 16 km from international airport. One of the largest casinos operates here. The Coral World underwater observatory has recently opened. In the Bahamas there are National parks And history museums, where monuments of ancient Indian culture are exhibited.

Dominican Republic is a country with a stable political and economic system, respected by the international community, attracting foreign investors, i.e. fortunately pleasant for tourism. The capital of the republic is Santa Domingo. This is predominantly Mountain country. The mountains are covered with dense evergreen forests. The abundance of tropical fruits (coconuts, papayas, mangoes), fabulous sandy beaches, and the clear turquoise water of the Caribbean Sea attract more than 2 million tourists every year. It was from this island that Columbus began his discovery of America. Therefore, a grandiose memorial was built here in honor of Columbus - a monument and museum in the form of a truncated pyramid.



Barbados is an amazing combination of natural beauty and romance, relaxation and adventure. Tourism is one of the leading sectors of the economy. The country is known for its beaches of stunning pink sand. In the coastal strip there are huge accumulations of coral* reefs. For more than 300 years, Barba dosa has been produced famous rum. In Bridgetown, the capital of the country, there are many architectural monuments, including a monument to Admiral Nelson. The island has national parks where, in conditions wildlife Unique species of tropical plants and animals have been preserved. Barbados has a well-developed hotel and tourism infrastructure. Luxurious resorts are located in Malye Antilles: Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Saint Lucia, Curosao, etc.

Sources

http://ru.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia

http://lrcei.lviv.ua/ Ersey

 

It might be useful to read: