The 5 Largest Islands in the World
Imagine an island, and you may picture a tiny landmass surrounded by deep blue water with a few scattered palm trees. Some of the world’s largest islands have a more significant continent than many inland countries. The five most prominent islands in the world are individually more substantial in size than some of the states within America, with populations to match.
5. Baffin Island
Baffin Island is the fifth-largest island in the world and the largest island in the Arctic Archipelago, with 194,575 miles of land. It’s located in the New Canadian Territory Nunavut in the Arctic Ocean of Northern Canada.
The population of just over 5,000 is concentrated in the capital, Iqaluit, while most of the island is uninhabited. It’s known for its view of the Northern Lights, polar bears, and kayaking. Its rugged mountains look down onto the flattest lowlands of the Canadian Arctic.
4. Madagascar
Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, with 226,917 square miles of land, about the size of Texas. Located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa, this island is home to more than 250,000 species not found anywhere else in the world.
Although inhabitants vary in appearance, religious practices, and general traditions, they all speak the common Malagasy language.
3. Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world, with 288,869 miles of land, just over twice the size of Germany, and is located in Southeast Asia. It features the oldest rainforest in the world, which covers almost three-quarters of the island and is home to 15,000 species of flowering plants, 3000 species of trees, 221 species of mammals, and 420 species of birds.
It’s the only island in the world comprising three countries — Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. More than 200 ethnic subgroups speak their dialect and have their customs, laws, territory, and culture.
2. Papua New Guinea
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Papua New Guinea is the second-largest island in the world. It is located south of the equator and north of Australia and covers 303,381 square miles. It’s known for its picturesque coral reefs, volcanic mountains, dense tropical rainforests, and large rivers.
More than 800 indigenous languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea, and it’s a major tourist destination for mountain climbers, walkers, cavers, and people who enjoy water sports such as canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, and diving.
1. Greenland
Greenland, located between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean, is the largest known island in the world, featuring 840,004 square miles. It’s known for its colossal icebergs in fantastic shapes of blue and white that float on the deep blue sea.
It also boasts green mountains with beautiful wildflowers, long creeks, cliffs, hot springs, and clear blue skies. It’s home to whales, seals, reindeer, musk oxen, and polar bears, but it’s also the cherished land of very traditional people.
