An archipelago (/ˌɑːrkəˈpɛləɡoʊ/ AR-kə-PEL-ə-goh), sometimes called an island group or island chain, is a chain, cluster, or collection of islands, or a sea containing a small number of scattered islands. An archipelago may be on a lake, river, or an ocean. The list of archipelagos includes the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, the Stockholm Archipelago, the Malay Archipelago (which includes the Indonesian and Philippine Archipelagos), the Bahamian Archipelago, the nation of Japan and the state of Hawaii.
Etymology
The word archipelago is derived from the Italian arcipelago, used as a proper name for the Aegean Sea, itself perhaps a deformation of the Greek Αιγαίον Πέλαγος. Later, usage shifted to refer to the Aegean Islands (since the sea has a large number of islands). The erudite paretymology deriving the word from Ancient Greek ἄρχι-(arkhi-, "chief") and πέλαγος (pélagos, "sea"), proposed by Buondelmonti, can still be found here and there.
Geographic types
Archipelagos may be found isolated in large amounts of water or neighboring a large land mass. For example, Scotland has more than 700 islands surrounding its mainland, which form an archipelago.
Depending on their geological origin, islands forming archipelagos can be referred to as oceanic islands, continental fragments, or continental islands.
Oceanic islands
Oceanic islands are formed by volcanoes erupting from the ocean floor. The Hawaiian Islands and Galapagos Islands in the Pacific, and Mascarene Islands in the south Indian Ocean are examples.
Continental fragments
Continental fragments are islands that were once part of a continent, and became separated due to natural disasters. The fragments may also be formed by moving glaciers which cut out land, which then fills with water. The Farallon Islands off the coast of California are examples of continental islands.
Continental Islands
Continental islands are islands that were once part of a continent and still sit on the continental shelf, which is the edge of a continent that lies under the ocean. The islands of the Inside Passage off the coast of British Columbia and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago are examples.
Artificial archipelagos
Artificial archipelagos have been created in various countries for different purposes. Palm Islands and The World Islands in Dubai were or are being created for leisure and tourism purposes.Marker Wadden in the Netherlands is being built as a conservation area for birds and other wildlife.
Superlatives
The largest archipelago in the world by number of islands is the Archipelago Sea, which is part of Finland. There are approximately 40,000 islands, mostly uninhabited.
The largest archipelagic state in the world by area, and by population, is Indonesia.
See also
- List of landforms
- List of archipelagos by number of islands
- List of archipelagos
- Archipelagic state
- List of islands
- Aquapelago
References
- "archipelago". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
- "archipelago". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
- Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “archipelago (n.), Etymology,” July 2023, [1]
- Maltézou, Chryssa A., De la mer Égée à l'archipel: quelques remarques sur l'histoire insulaire égéenne In: Mélanges Hélène Ahrweiler Pt. 2 (1998) p. 464-465
- Whittaker R. J. & Fernández-Palacios J. M. (2007) Island Biogeography: Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation. New York, Oxford University Press
- McFadden, Christopher (22 December 2019). "7+ Amazing Facts About Dubai's Palm Islands". Interesting Engineering. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- Wainwright, Oliver (13 February 2018). "Not the end of The World: the return of Dubai's ultimate folly". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- Boffey, Daniel (27 April 2019). "Marker Wadden, the manmade Dutch archipelago where wild birds reign supreme". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- "Nautical chart: International no. 1205, SE61, Baltic Sea, North, Sea of Åland" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
- "Indonesia". The World Factbook (2025 ed.). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 7 December 2008. (Archived 2008 edition.)
External links
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
- 30 Most Incredible Island Archipelagos
An archipelago ˌ ɑːr k e ˈ p ɛ l e ɡ oʊ AR ke PEL e goh sometimes called an island group or island chain is a chain cluster or collection of islands or a sea containing a small number of scattered islands An archipelago may be on a lake river or an ocean The list of archipelagos includes the Canadian Arctic Archipelago the Stockholm Archipelago the Malay Archipelago which includes the Indonesian and Philippine Archipelagos the Bahamian Archipelago the nation of Japan and the state of Hawaii The Indonesian Archipelago located in Asia and Oceania is the largest archipelago in the world The Aegean Sea with its large number of islands is the origin of the term archipelago The Mergui Archipelago in MyanmarEtymologyThe word archipelago is derived from the Italian arcipelago used as a proper name for the Aegean Sea itself perhaps a deformation of the Greek Aigaion Pelagos Later usage shifted to refer to the Aegean Islands since the sea has a large number of islands The erudite paretymology deriving the word from Ancient Greek ἄrxi arkhi chief and pelagos pelagos sea proposed by Buondelmonti can still be found here and there Geographic typesArchipelagos may be found isolated in large amounts of water or neighboring a large land mass For example Scotland has more than 700 islands surrounding its mainland which form an archipelago Depending on their geological origin islands forming archipelagos can be referred to as oceanic islands continental fragments or continental islands Oceanic islands Oceanic islands are formed by volcanoes erupting from the ocean floor The Hawaiian Islands and Galapagos Islands in the Pacific and Mascarene Islands in the south Indian Ocean are examples Continental fragments Continental fragments are islands that were once part of a continent and became separated due to natural disasters The fragments may also be formed by moving glaciers which cut out land which then fills with water The Farallon Islands off the coast of California are examples of continental islands Continental Islands The Archipelago Sea with many islands in southwestern Finland Continental islands are islands that were once part of a continent and still sit on the continental shelf which is the edge of a continent that lies under the ocean The islands of the Inside Passage off the coast of British Columbia and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago are examples Artificial archipelagos Artificial archipelagos have been created in various countries for different purposes Palm Islands and The World Islands in Dubai were or are being created for leisure and tourism purposes Marker Wadden in the Netherlands is being built as a conservation area for birds and other wildlife SuperlativesThe largest archipelago in the world by number of islands is the Archipelago Sea which is part of Finland There are approximately 40 000 islands mostly uninhabited The largest archipelagic state in the world by area and by population is Indonesia See alsoGeography portalIslands portalList of landforms List of archipelagos by number of islands List of archipelagos Archipelagic state List of islands AquapelagoReferences archipelago Dictionary com Unabridged Online n d archipelago Dictionary com Unabridged Online n d Oxford English Dictionary s v archipelago n Etymology July 2023 1 Maltezou Chryssa A De la mer Egee a l archipel quelques remarques sur l histoire insulaire egeenne In Melanges Helene Ahrweiler Pt 2 1998 p 464 465 Whittaker R J amp Fernandez Palacios J M 2007 Island Biogeography Ecology Evolution and Conservation New York Oxford University Press McFadden Christopher 22 December 2019 7 Amazing Facts About Dubai s Palm Islands Interesting Engineering Retrieved 8 July 2020 Wainwright Oliver 13 February 2018 Not the end of The World the return of Dubai s ultimate folly The Guardian Retrieved 8 July 2020 Boffey Daniel 27 April 2019 Marker Wadden the manmade Dutch archipelago where wild birds reign supreme The Guardian Retrieved 8 July 2020 Nautical chart International no 1205 SE61 Baltic Sea North Sea of Aland PDF Archived from the original PDF on 20 October 2017 Retrieved 16 March 2023 Indonesia The World Factbook 2025 ed Central Intelligence Agency Retrieved 7 December 2008 Archived 2008 edition External linksLook up archipelago in Wiktionary the free dictionary Wikimedia Commons has media related to Archipelagoes Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Archipelago Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed Cambridge University Press 30 Most Incredible Island Archipelagos
