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Types of Islands You Should Know

Let's find out more about the types of islands found around the world.
Batul Nafisa Baxamusa

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Land surrounded by all sides by water is an island. All lands that are smaller in size than the Australian continent are considered islands.

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Our beautiful planet has 6 major types of islands. Each type of island is a beauty in itself. Let's take a quick look at the different types of islands found on Earth.

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6 Types of Islands
Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Continental Islands

Continental islands were a part of continents which got separated due to shift in the tectonic plates.
For example, Greenland was part of North America's continental shelf, while Tasmania belonged to the Australian continent.

Oceanic Islands

Oceanic islands form when layers of lava spewed from underwater volcanoes build up and rise above the water's surface

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Japan, formed by volcanic eruptions, is one example of an oceanic island. Others include Mauritius, the Hawaiian Islands, Jan Mayen, and Iceland.

Coral Islands

Coral islands form from large masses of coral exoskeleton and associated matter, commonly found in tropical and sub-tropical areas with extensive coral reefs.
The Lakshadweep islands have 39 coral islands. Other examples include the Maldives and St. Martin's Island.

Barrier Islands

Barrier islands run parallel to the coastline, separated from the mainland. They form from sand deposits carried by ocean currents.
Barrier islands exist on every continent except Antarctica. For instance, Moreton Bay in Australia boasts the third-largest sand island globally.

Tidal Islands

Tidal islands are attached to the mainland and appear only during low tides. During high tides, they are submerged into water as if they never existed.
Mont-Saint-Michel in France is a prime example of a tidal island. Other instances include Jindo and Modo islands in South Korea.

Artificial Islands

Artificial islands - as the name suggests are those that do not occur naturally, but are man-made. They are made for aesthetic reasons, tourism, etc.

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Some of the well-known artificial islands include The Dubai Waterfront, Osaka Bay, Vasilyevsky Island, etc.

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Protect natural landmasses from pollution to preserve connected ecosystems and ensure thriving life.

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Each of these 6 types of islands are beautiful in their own right. They are perfect destinations to spend an exotic holiday.