famous archipelagos. What is an archipelago in geography? Relief of Novaya Zemlya
There is such a thing as an "archipelago country". What does it mean? What states can be attributed to this type? And which country is located on 474 islands? The answers to all these curious questions are in our article!
Archipelago as a geographical concept
If you look at the map of the Pacific Ocean, focusing on its southwestern part, you can see a huge number of islands of different sizes. Very often they are located in groups, forming the so-called archipelagos.
The term itself is of ancient Greek origin and consists of two words: pelages - "sea" and arche - "old, ancient". Initially, this term denoted precisely the group of islands of Ancient Greece.
Islands within the same archipelago, as a rule, have a common genesis and are located on the same plinth (bottom). There are archipelagos of continental, volcanic and coral origin.
Archipelago countries (list)
Each country has its own geographical location. Some states are located within the mainland, other countries - on the islands.
Archipelago countries are those states that occupy groups of islands located close to each other. And we are talking about island groups. That is, for example, it is difficult to attribute Croatia to this type, because its main part is located on the mainland.
The following are all archipelago countries (list):
- Great Britain;
- New Zealand;
- Indonesia;
- Kiribati;
- Marshall Islands;
- Solomon islands;
- Seychelles;
- Palau;
- Tuvalu;
- Tonga;
- Japan;
- Philippines;
- Denmark.
It is worth noting that most of the states from this list are located in Southeast Asia and Oceania - the most "island" regions of the planet.
Which country is located on 474 islands?
As we can see, in the modern world there are more than a dozen archipelago states. In this list, one country is located on 474 islands. What is it called?
This country is Denmark. It is located in Northern Europe, just between the mainland and the Scandinavian Peninsula. Indeed, this country is located on 474 islands. All of them are characterized by low-lying relief and sandy soils. Only 70 of these islands are inhabited by people. The largest of them are Zeeland, Bornholm, Lolland.
Denmark is one of the oldest powers in Europe. The Kingdom of Denmark was formed in the tenth century. By the way, the national flag of Denmark is also the oldest in the world. A banner with a white cross on a red background has been known since the 13th century.
Modern Denmark is in the top ten of many world rankings. We are talking about the level of education, health care, democracy, human development and GDP per capita. In addition, the Danes have repeatedly been called the happiest nation in the world.
We offer you some more interesting facts about Denmark:
- in the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, there is the famous Tivoli Leisure Park, which served as the prototype for the famous Disneyland;
- Denmark is the first European country to make same-sex marriage legal;
- The Faroe Islands, as you know, belong to Denmark. However, few people know that the Danish king won them at cards from the Norwegian monarch;
- Strøget boulevard in the center of Copenhagen is the longest walking street in Europe;
- it was in Denmark that one of the most famous and recognizable writers on the planet, Hans Christian Andersen, lived and worked;
- Danes are forced to pay one of the highest personal car taxes in the world;
- Perhaps the most famous Danish product on the world market is the Lego children's designer.
Finally...
Now you know which country is located on the 474 islands. There are 15 archipelago states in the world, which are located in different parts of the world.
Malay archipelago
The largest archipelago on Earth is the Malay Archipelago. It is located between the southeastern coast of Asia and Australia and covers an area of approximately 2 million square kilometers. The archipelago includes approximately 10 thousand islands, namely: Greater Sunda, Lesser Sunda, Philippine and Moluccas, as well as many small islands. The largest islands of the Malay Archipelago are Kalimantan, Java, Sulawesi and Sumatra, which are part of the Greater Sunda Islands.
Java is also the most populated island in the world, with over 124 million people in 2005.
Location and terrain of the Malay Archipelago
The islands of the Malay Archipelago are washed by the waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. On the territory of the islands of the archipelago, the state of Indonesia is almost completely located - the largest island state in the world, as well as the Philippines, Brunei, East Timor and partially Malaysia. The climate in the archipelago is dominated by equatorial in the center and subequatorial in the northern and southern outskirts, the average annual temperature is about 24 degrees in the plains and 16 degrees in the mountains, and it practically does not depend on the season.
The relief of the main part of the islands is predominantly mountainous, the highest point of all the islands of the archipelago is Mount Kinabalu, located on the island of Kalimantan, whose height reaches 4101 m. There are more than 300 volcanoes in the Malay Archipelago, of which about 100 are active. The most famous active volcano is Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait near the islands of Java and Sumatra. This volcano is infamous for having the strongest eruption in history among all volcanoes.
Fauna and flora of the Malay Archipelago
The fauna and flora of the Malay Archipelago is quite diverse and at the same time original, which is due to both the favorable climate and the geographical position of the islands. More than 1100 plant species grow on the territory of the archipelago, about 500 of which are endemic, that is, they grow exclusively on the islands of the archipelago.
The animal world is represented by anthropoid and dog-like monkeys, elephants, rhinos, and various marsupials. Among the endemic representatives of the fauna of the archipelago, one can note such animals as the Malay bear, the Malayan red wolf, and the Komodo monitor lizard. By the way, the Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard in the world.
Minerals of the islands of the Malay Archipelago
The islands of the Malay Archipelago are rich in minerals. The largest deposits of tin were discovered here (Bank Island, Indonesia), as well as deposits of bauxite, copper, iron, nickel and manganese ores. In addition, there is a significant amount of oil and gas. In this regard, the influence of man on the nature and ecology of the archipelago is increasing. Many endemic species of flora and fauna are now under threat of extinction. To preserve them, several large reserves and national parks have been created on the islands of the archipelago, for example, the Komodo National Park, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
It may seem that in such places you can only lie in a hammock among palm trees. However, here the rest can be very diverse, which will be discussed today.
Archipelago | Flight cost | When is the best time to go | Visa |
French polynesia | June‒October | A visa is required, it is issued at the French Embassy |
|
Hawaiian Islands | April‒November | US visa required |
|
May‒November | Visa not needed |
||
April‒August | Visa not needed |
||
Azores | June-September | Need a Schengen visa |
|
Bahamas | December‒April | Visa not needed |
|
Canary Islands | March‒November | Need a Schengen visa |
|
Galapagos Islands | May–December | Visa not needed |
|
Maldives | November–April | Visa issued on arrival |
|
Balearic Islands | May–September | Need a Schengen visa |
French polynesia
French Polynesia is a state that includes several archipelagos and more than a hundred islands at once, among which you can swim for months. The islands are located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in its southern part, which makes them difficult to access from anywhere in the world.
At the same time, there are as many ways to spend a vacation here as there are islands themselves. For example, beaches for every taste, and sometimes even color. At the same time, you can plunge into the many-sided city life in Tahiti, enjoy, in the opinion of many, the perfect picture and excellent service in Bora Bora, and get in touch with the unique mountain landscape in Wa Pu.
For whom: for lovers of beach holidays, nature, underwater sports
Things to do | The best choice |
Go on a trip | Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Maupiti, Rangiroa, Tubuai, Mangareva |
go diving | Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Tahaa, Rangiroa, Fakarava, Tikehau, Manihi, Tubuai, Mangareva, Nuku Hiva |
surf | |
Admire the mountains | Tahiti, Moorea, Maupiti, Tubuai, Wa-Pu |
Swim with dolphins | |
Ride on the water (water skiing, kite surfing, etc.) | Moorea, Bora Bora |
Watch the birds | Tetiaroa |
Tetiaroa, Wa-Pu |
|
Meet the Polynesians | Raiatea, Tahaa, Maupiti, Fakarava, Manihi, Rurutu, Mangareva, Ua-Pu |
Visit vanilla plantations | |
Visit pearl farms | Manihi, Mangareva |
Be a little Robinson Crusoe | |
Watch the whales |
Hawaiian Islands
Also located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, only about 4000 km north of French Polynesia, they are the main resort state of the USA, which is directly related to the popularity of these islands. During the season, many beaches are overcrowded, although if you wish, you can find quite secluded places.
The basis of the archipelago are six large islands, which are surrounded by dozens of small islands and atolls. It is worth coming here to see erupting volcanoes, amazing mountains, touch the tragedy of Pearl Harbor and get to know the Hawaiians - the most friendly of the peoples of America, as they call themselves.
For whom: lovers of beach holidays, nature, underwater sports, surfers
Things to do | The best choice |
See fellow Grand Canyon | |
Go on a river cruise | |
Admire the mountains | Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Maui, island of Hawaii |
See whales, sea turtles | Kauai, Maui |
go diving | Kauai, Oahu |
Immerse yourself in the city's cultural life | |
surf | |
Get to know the Hawaiians | |
Visit natural reserves | Oahu, Maui |
Escape from the crowds of tourists | |
Go on an SUV tour | |
Visit a coffee plantation | island of hawaii |
Fly over an erupting volcano | island of hawaii |
Fiji
This archipelago is only a three to four hour flight from the east coast and is billed as one of the best places on earth to start your family life and is affordable for all budgets.
Most of the tourists and life is located on the huge islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, where the main resorts and the benefits of civilization are concentrated. In total, there are more than 300 islands in the archipelago, some of which can only be visited with special permission from the authorities.
For whom: for lovers of beach holidays, nature, underwater sports, for those who want to retire, honeymooners
Things to do | The best choice |
Go Hiking | Yasawa Islands, Viti Levu, Vanua Levu |
Be alone with nature | Yasawa Islands |
Swim in a kayak | Yasawa Islands |
go diving | Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Yasawa Islands, Mamanuca Islands |
Go on a great road trip | Viti Levu |
Live in a village with the locals | Viti Levu |
Ride the train through the jungle | Viti Levu |
Watch the birds | Vanua Levu |
Get to know the local tribes | Vanua Levu |
Relax in thermal springs | Vanua Levu |
See turtle beaches | Lau Islands, Mamanuca Islands |
Go down to the caves | Lau Islands |
Visit sugarcane plantations | Vanua Levu |
Walk through the mini desert | Viti Levu |
Vanuatu
Just 1000 km west of Fiji is one of the most exotic archipelago states of Vanuatu. Tourism began to develop actively here only in the last two decades, so the country can offer almost untouched nature, more than 100 original peoples and one of the best places in the world for diving.
Diving here is especially interesting for a number of reasons: the transparency of the water in most places is kept at the level of 50 meters, it is here that the largest underwater cemetery of military equipment of the Second World War and the largest sunken cruise liner "President Coolidge" available to scuba divers are located. The theme of diving is so popular that it is here that an underwater post office was opened: a diver serves it.
For whom: for fans of diving, nature lovers, beach holidays, honeymooners
Azores
This archipelago, consisting of 9 groups of islands, is located in the Atlantic Ocean at a distance of 1500 km west of Portugal. Many people who have visited the islands like to say that they have been to the best place on the planet, but at the same time, there is no question of any palm trees sprinkled with white sand. In terms of beach holidays, they are very mediocre, but nature lovers will come off here to the fullest.
Rainforests, volcanoes, mountain lakes, deserts, caves, waterfalls, valleys, coves and stunning panoramas provide countless options for trekking. At the same time, the weather is rarely very hot and is ideal for walking and hiking. Clear water and a rich underwater world create excellent conditions for underwater sports.
For whom: for lovers of nature, hiking, diving
Bahamas
The Bahamas are more than 700 islands that have nothing to do with the violent volcanic activity in this region. This means a flat terrain and a postcard format of the purest water and sand for all the islands.
For whom: for lovers of night city life, architecture, beach holidays, hiking
Photo: thinkstockphotos.com, flickr.com
There is such a thing as an "archipelago country". What does it mean? What states can be attributed to this type? And which country is located on 474 islands? The answers to all these curious questions are in our article!
Archipelago as a geographical concept
If you look at the map of the Pacific Ocean, focusing on its southwestern part, you can see a huge number of islands of different sizes. Very often they are located in groups, forming the so-called archipelagos.
The term itself is of ancient Greek origin and consists of two words: pelages - "sea" and arche - "old, ancient". Initially, this term denoted precisely the group of islands of Ancient Greece.
Islands within the same archipelago, as a rule, have a common genesis and are located on the same plinth (bottom). There are archipelagos of continental, volcanic and coral origin.
Archipelago countries (list)
Each country has its own geographical location. Some states are located within the mainland, other countries - on the islands.
Under the archipelago countries are meant those states that occupy those located close to each other. And we are talking about island groups. That is, for example, it is difficult to attribute Croatia to this type, because its main part is located on the mainland.
The following are all archipelago countries (list):
- Great Britain;
- New Zealand;
- Indonesia;
- Kiribati;
- Marshall Islands;
- Solomon islands;
- Seychelles;
- Palau;
- Tuvalu;
- Tonga;
- Japan;
- Philippines;
- Denmark.
It is worth noting that most of the states from this list are located in Southeast Asia and Oceania - the most "island" regions of the planet.
Which country is located on 474 islands?
As we can see, in the modern world there are more than a dozen archipelago states. In this list, one country is located on 474 islands. What is it called?
This country is Denmark. It is located in Northern Europe, just between the mainland and the Scandinavian Peninsula. Indeed, this country is located on 474 islands. All of them are characterized by low-lying relief and sandy soils. Only 70 of these islands are inhabited by people. The largest of them are Zeeland, Bornholm, Lolland.
Denmark is one of the oldest powers in Europe. formed in the tenth century. By the way, the national flag of Denmark is also the oldest in the world. A banner with a white cross on a red background has been known since the 13th century.
Modern Denmark is in the top ten of many world rankings. We are talking about the level of education, health care, democracy, human development and GDP per capita. In addition, the Danes have repeatedly been called the happiest nation in the world.
We offer you some more interesting facts about Denmark:
- in the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, there is the famous Tivoli Leisure Park, which served as the prototype for the famous Disneyland;
- Denmark is the first country in which same-sex marriage became legal;
- The Faroe Islands, as you know, belong to Denmark. However, few people know that he won them at cards from the Norwegian monarch;
- Strøget boulevard in the center of Copenhagen is the longest walking street in Europe;
- it was in Denmark that one of the most famous and recognizable writers on the planet, Hans Christian Andersen, lived and worked;
- Danes are forced to pay one of the highest personal car taxes in the world;
- Perhaps the most famous Danish product on the world market is the Lego children's designer.
Finally...
Now you know which country is located on the 474 islands. There are 15 archipelago states in the world, which are located in different parts of the world.