Archipelago with an area of 300 km. The smallest countries in the world by area. Facts about Great Britain
Archipelagos - full list archipelagic countries and archipelagos belonging to different states, broken down by oceans and parts of the world.
What is an archipelago and what are they like?
Archipelago – it is a complex of islands located close to each other. The archipelagos are similar in geological structure. According to their origin, they are all:
- Mainland
This is the name for archipelagos that were originally part of the mainland, but as a result of the movement of tectonic plates, they separated from the land and formed a complex of islands. The most striking example of a mainland archipelago is British Isles. Also, these include New Earth, New Zealand.
- Volcanic
These island complexes were formed as a result of volcanic activity, or are themselves volcanoes. Most often, in this case, the island is the top of a huge underground volcano, which peeks out from under the water. The most striking representatives of volcanic archipelagos are the Hawaiian Islands.
- Coral
A complex of islands that arose as a result of the growth and death of underwater corals. Islands can be shaped like a ring or a semicircle - they are called atolls. Most of coral archipelagos are located in the Pacific Ocean. The most famous coral archipelago is the Marshall Islands.
- Alluvial
The island complex natural origin. They are complex hydraulic structures that are installed in water areas. Alluvial islands do not formally have the status of archipelagos and islands, since they are not natural objects. The most famous man-made archipelago is the Isle of Palms located in the Emirates.
Of course, they are not deserted and are located on many small states. The islands that make up the territory are in contact with each other and have geographical and political unity.
On this moment There are about 30 state TV stations in the world, located on archipelagos. These include the Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji. Archipelagic lines are used for contact between islands. All water space within these lines belongs to the archipelago-state.
The largest archipelagos
On our planet great amount archipelagos. The largest of them are
- Malay
- Japanese Islands
- British Isles.
Malay Archipelago considered the best and largest in the world. Its area is 2 million square kilometers and it includes more than 10,000 islands. The lands of this giant are located in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The Malay Archipelago is home to many volcanoes and mountains, as well as many gas and oil fields. The population is dominated by fishing and farming.
The world's second largest archipelago is the Canadian Arctic. He is in Arctic Ocean. The area of this archipelago is approximately 1.3 million sq. km. The main population is Eskimos. This complex includes the islands of Ellesmere, Victoria, and Baffin Island. The archipelago is topically composed of various trails, mountains and plateaus.
Next large archipelago known to everyone - these are the same Japanese islands. They included many small islands, each of which is interconnected. Most of them are occupied by mountains and volcanoes, as well as coniferous forests. The geological situation there is extremely unstable - there are earthquakes and tsunamis. The bulk of the population is located directly Japanese island. Marine fishing is highly developed - fishing and crabs.
And last on the list, but not least, the archipelago is the British Isles. Its area is approximately 320 thousand square kilometers, the archipelago includes Great Britain, Ireland and many other small cities. Great Britain and Ireland are two states that are located on this territory.
List of archipelagos
This list shows all the existing archipelagos in the world. For our convenience, I divided them by territorial basis - the oceans where they are located, as well as into territorial subgroups of islands. Each of the lists is arranged in alphabetical order for your convenience. If there is a state on the territory of the archipelago, this will be noted in the list. You can find every archipelago on the planet, learn about it and perhaps consider it as a holiday destination.
Archipelagos of the Arctic Ocean –
a complex of northern islands located close to the Arctic. Characterized by a cold climate and low population density :
- Franz Josef Land
- Canadian Arctic Archipelago
- New Siberian Islands
- Belcher Islands
- Severnaya Zemlya
- New Earth
- Spitsbergen
- Queen Elizabeth Islands
Archipelagos of the Atlantic Ocean -
a vast complex of island clusters scattered across Atlantic Ocean. This includes a number of European and African archipelagos, as well as island complexes of North and South America. This includes the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, and the British Isles:
Archipelagos located along the coast of Europe -
- British Isles
- Inner Hebrides
- Outer Hebrides
- Hebrides
- Channel Islands
- Isles of Scilly St Kilda
- Faroe islands
- Shetland
Archipelagos located along the coast of Africa -
- Bay of beautiful islands
- Arquipelago dos Bijagos
- Bajuni Islands
- Saint Helena Islands
- Saad al-Din
- Sao Tome
- Tristan da Cuna
- Bermuda
- Outer Lands
- Canadian Arctic Archipelago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Tierra del Fuego
- Magdalena Islands
- St. Peter and Paul Rocks
- Fernando de Noronha
- South Sandwich Islands
- islands
Macarenesian archipelagos -
- Åland Islands
- Azores
- Wild Islands
- Canary Islands
- Madeira Islands
Archipelagos of the Baltic Sea -
- Östergotland Archipelago
- Södermanland Archipelago
- Småland Archipelago
- Caelix Archipelago
- Turku Archipelago
- Pitea Archipelago
- Luleå Archipelago
- Skellefteå Archipelago
- Heparanda Archipelago
- Eregrand Archipelago
- Sea of the archipelago
- Western Estonian archipelago
- Stockholm archipelago
- Swedish arch-lag of the east coast
Archipelagos of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea -
- Los Roques Archipelago
- Greater Antilles
- West Indies
- Virgin Islands
- islands
- Lesser Antilles
- Windward Islands
- ABC Islands
- Leeward Antilles
- Puerto Rican Islands
- Leeward Islands
- Florida Keys
Archipelagos of the Mediterranean Sea -
- Campanian Archipelago
- Maddalena Archipelago
- Balearic Islands
- Venice Lagoon
- Dodecanese
- Ionian Islands
- Cyclades
- Sporades
- Tuscan archipelago
North Sea archipelagos -
- Frisian Islands
Archipelagos of the Indian Ocean -
A complex of archipelagos located in the Indian Ocean. They have a tropical climate and heat. The archipelagos here consist of a large number of small islands. One of the most prominent representatives is the artificial World Archipelago :
- Andaman Islands
- Bonaparte Archipelago
- Pirate Archipelago
- Chagos Archipelago
- Archipelago research
- Mergui Archipelago
- Zanzibar Archipelago
- Amirant Islands
- Cocos Islands (Keeling Islands)
- Comoros
- Langkawi
- Lakshadweep
- Kerguelen Islands
- Mascarene Islands
- World Archipelago
- Nicobar Islands
- Islands of the Mozambique Channel
- Socotra
- Houtman Abrolhos
Archipelagos of the Red Sea -
- Hurghada Archipelago
- Farasan Islands
- Dahlak Archipelago
Archipelagos of the Pacific Ocean -
it is the largest complex of archipelagos. This includes a huge number of islands and all the world's largest archipelagos. Of particular interest are the Asian archipelagos - the number of islands that make them up is the largest in the world. This complex includes both the archipelagos of the Americas and the aforementioned Asian ones, as well as the archipelagos of circumtropical countries. The climate varies from temperate to tropical:
Archipelagos along the coast of the Americas -
- Andreanivsky Islands
- Aleutian Islands
- Alexandra Archipelago
- Chiloe Archipelago
- Guatecas Archipelago
- Guayaneco Archipelago
- Chonos Archipelago
- Patagonic Archipelago
- Wellington Archipelago
- Queen Adelaide Archipelago
- Fox Islands
- Channel Islands of California
- Islands of the Four Mountains
Archipelagos located along the coast of Asia -
- Ryukyu Archipelago
- Asian islands
- Gorong Archipelago
- Rio Archipelago
- Tambelan Archipelago
- Tadjuh Archipelago
- Uotubela Archipelago
- Cuio Archipelago
- Sulu Archipelago
- Chumphon Archipelago
- Solor Archipelago
- Greater Sunda Islands (Sunda Islands)
- Gang Arc
Work on the World Islands began in 2003 on the initiative of the Emir of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, also known for other ambitious projects (for example, famous hotel"Sail"). The idea to create an artificial archipelago appeared after it became clear that coastline Persian Gulf there is not enough for everyone who wants to buy a piece of land near the water. The first sign was Palm Jumeirah - the same “palm tree” that today is one of the symbols. Almost immediately after it, 4 kilometers from the coast, the Nakheel company began to build The World(World).
Unlike Palm Jumeirah, the World Islands do not have a land connection with the mainland, so all building materials were delivered here only by water and air. Sand to create islands with an area of 14 to 83 thousand m2 was taken from the bottom of the Persian Gulf, and to prevent it from being washed away, a system of breakwaters was built around it.
Material for the construction of the islands was taken from the bottom of the Persian Gulf Photo of the period of construction of one of the islands
Initially, it was planned to create 7 “continents,” but since few people could afford such large areas of land, they decided to divide them into dozens of islands that could be purchased by private individuals. The very first appeared in 2004, it was called “Dubai”. By 2006, the Mir archipelago was almost ready, and two years later, about 70% of the territories were bought up by private investors.
However, the construction boom on The World Islands did not last long. In 2008, a large-scale financial crisis began, the consequences of which are still visible today. Construction sites were frozen, and projects to create hotels and luxury resorts were partially realized only on the island of Lebanon. The situation only picked up steam in 2018, when Kleindienst decided to modernize part of the archipelago by adding facilities with artificial snow and ice. But the future will tell how successful these plans will be.
How to get to the World Archipelago in Dubai
It is almost impossible to get to the World Islands without being the owner of one of them. Even boat trips in this place are prohibited, except for a transfer to Lebanon, where the Royal Island beach club is located. A boat departs every hour from Fishing Harbor 1. For the excursion, you need to purchase a ticket that includes a boat ride and a visit to the club itself.
The exact address: La Rambla boulevard, building 19.
How to get there from Dubai Airport:
Option 1
Metro: From the stop at terminal 3, take the red line to Business Bay station in 27 minutes.
Bus: at the metro station, change to bus number 9 and go to Al Arouba Street 1, the journey takes 10 minutes.
On foot: walk 1 km.
Option 2
Bus: From the stop at terminal 1, take bus No. 32C to Satwa Roundabout 1, the journey takes 28 minutes.
Bus: change to route No. 88 and drive to Suhail Bin Jumaa Masjid for 23 minutes.
On foot: walk 1 km.
How to get there from Al Maktoum Airport:
Option 1
Bus: Take route No. F55 to the Ibn Battuta stop, the journey takes 37 minutes.
Metro: From Ibn Battuta station, travel to Business Bay in 25 minutes.
Bus: Route No. 9 gets to Al Arouba Street 1 in 10 minutes.
On foot: walk 1 km.
Option 2
Bus: take route No. F55 to the Ibn Battuta stop in 37 minutes.
Bus: change to route No. 8 and go to Rashid Al Hadees Masjid 2, the journey takes 1.5 hours.
The World Archipelago in Dubai on the map
What to see
The world's largest artificial archipelago, "Mir", occupies an area of about 55 km 2, on which some islands are collected in groups, while others are located at a distance from each other. It was originally planned that this place would become a “resort for the elite” - filled with luxury villas, hotels and beach clubs for the most famous and wealthy people in the world. Several companies, having bought part of the islands, actually tried to implement such projects.
5-star hotels and a whole group of luxury villas were built on the island of Aquitainia, and Isla Moda was planned to be entirely dedicated to fashion. In addition to the resort infrastructure, they wanted to open boutiques of the most famous brands, a hotel designed by Karl Lagerfeld and several venues for fashion shows. On the 19 islands of “Australia” and “New Zealand”, Kuwaiti investors were going to put into operation huge complex"Ocean". As part of such a resort, the construction of residential buildings on the coast and on stilts, spa hotels with swimming pools and private villas began. However, all these projects “froze” at various stages of implementation.
At the same time, part of the territory of the Mir archipelago remained non-commercial. For example, the island of “Ethiopia” was bought by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at a time when they were still married, “Antarctica” belongs to Michael Schumacher, and “Great Britain” belongs to billionaire Richard Branson. Most of the Rossiya group was bought by Russian businessmen, with the exception of St. Petersburg, which is owned by the Kleindienst Group.
But the high cost of development on the islands, which are connected to the mainland only by air and water, led to the fact that only “Lebanon” was able to be opened to the general public. There is a beach club “The Royal Island”, which includes:
- Huge swimming pool;
- Volleyball court;
- Two beaches with panoramic views;
- Bar for parties and discos;
- Mediterranean restaurant.
There are also rooms for relaxation, but they are only available during the day - during work beach club. Therefore, only day trips, during which you can sunbathe, swim in the pool or go on a short boat trip around the area. One of the advantages of such excursions is the small number of people; on some days the club’s visitors can easily be counted on the fingers of one hand.
Opening hours and ticket prices
Beach club “The Royal Island” on the island of “Lebanon” is open:
- Every day from 11:00 to 18:00.
Ticket price including boat travel:
- For adults - 300 AED ( ~6,393 rub. );
- For children under 10 years old - 150 AED ( ~3,197 rub. ).
- The largest artificial archipelago was planned to be made even larger - with the help of new islands they wanted to turn it into “The Universe” (The Universe project).
- You can purchase one of the islands directly from the developer company only by personal invitation, which is sent by the most famous people peace.
- During construction Coral reefs were moved to new locations. It is planned that they will be gradually populated by aquatic inhabitants, so that in a few years this formation will look completely natural.
- In order to avoid stagnation of water in the straits, there is a forced circulation system - special blades on the breakwaters create artificial currents.
- Construction is currently underway on the island of Sweden ski resort. There are already completed facilities in which closed presentations were held.
10
- Square: 316 km 2
- Population: 429,344 people
- Density: 1432 people/km 2
- Motto:"Valor and constancy"
- Form of government: Parliamentary republic, democracy
- Capital: Valletta
Republic of Malta - Island state in the Mediterranean Sea. The name comes from the ancient Phoenician malat (“harbour”, “shelter”).
In 1964, Malta gained independence from Great Britain, and in 1974 a republic was proclaimed, but until 1979, when the last British government in Malta was eliminated naval base, the British Queen was still considered the head of state.
The territory of Malta is represented by the Maltese archipelago, consisting mainly of the islands of Malta and Gozo. It also includes uninhabited islands St. Paul and Filfla, the sparsely populated island of Comino, as well as tiny Cominotto and Filfoletta. Malta's length is 27 km, width is 15 km (less than the diameter of the Moscow ring road highway). Gozo is half the size, and Comino is only 2 km long. Malta is the only country in Europe that does not have permanent rivers or natural lakes.
9
- Square: 300 km 2
- Population: 341,256 people
- Density: 1,359 people/km 2
- Form of government: Presidential republic
- Capital: Male
The Republic of Maldives is a South Asian country and is located on a group of atolls consisting of 1,192 coral islets in the Indian Ocean south of India.
The islands do not rise much above sea level: the highest point of the archipelago is on the southern Addu (Sienu) atoll - 2.4 m. Due to this, the Maldives is known as the lowest located state.
The total area is 90 thousand km², the land area is 298 km 2. The capital Male, the only city and port of the archipelago, is located on the atoll of the same name.
As for tourism, it is worth noting that all the main beauties of the Maldives are located below sea level, but there are no special attractions on land. There is an unremarkable capital, Male, many similar uninhabited islands where people like to have picnics, as well as a kind of “action” - a fishing excursion. Perhaps the only notable overwater excursion is the “Photo Flight”, a seaplane flight over the islands. Other popular excursions are a yacht cruise or a submarine dive. The most common way of spending time among tourists in the Maldives is diving, since there are coral reefs near every island. In addition, windsurfing, catamaran, water skiing, snorkeling, Beach volleyball, tennis, billiards, squash and darts.
8
- Square: 261 km 2
- Population: 51,538 people
- Density: 164 people/km 2
- Motto:“The state comes before personal interests”
- Form of government: Parliamentary monarchy
- Capital: Buster
Island state in the Caribbean Sea. Includes 2 islands - St. Christopher, also known as St. Kitts ( Saint Kitts,St. Kitts), and Nevis, from the Lesser Antilles ridge. Both islands are of volcanic origin and mountainous. The total length of the coastline is 135 km.
Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest country in the Western Hemisphere, both in terms of area and population.
It is a member of the British Commonwealth, headed by the Queen of Great Britain.
The two traditional industries of St. Kitts and Nevis are agriculture and tourism. The main agricultural crop is sugar cane (one third of cultivated land). On the island of Nevis, cotton, coconut palms, and pineapples are grown. Coffee trees, bananas, peanuts, yams, and rice are also cultivated. Livestock farming is developed - goats and sheep are raised. Fishing is also one of the traditional industries. However, agricultural production provides no more than half of domestic food needs.
7
- Square: 181 km 2
- Population: 53,158 people
- Density: 293.7 people/km 2
- Motto:"Achievement through common effort, Marshallese"
- Form of government: Republic
- Capital: Majuro
The Micronesian nation of the Marshall Islands is a cluster of atolls and islands located in the Pacific Ocean just north of the equator.
The Marshall Islands are named after British Captain John Marshall (also known as William Marshall), who, along with fellow Captain Thomas Gilbert, are named after neighboring islands Gilbert, explored the archipelago in 1788 while transporting prisoners to New South Wales.
The land area of the Marshall Islands is only 181.3 km2, while the area occupied by lagoons is 11,673 km2. The country is located on 29 atolls and 5 outlying islands, which are divided into two groups: 18 islands in the Ralik chain (translated from Marshallese as “sunset”) and 16 islands in the Ratak chain (or Radak; translated from Marshallese as “sunrise”). . Both chains are approximately 250 km apart and stretch from northwest to southeast for approximately 1200 km. The most important islands are the atolls of Kwajalein and Majuro. The largest island of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kwajalein is also the atoll with the largest lagoon in the world.
6
- Square: 160 km 2
- Population: 37,313 people
- Density: 229.56 people/km 2
- Motto:"For God, Prince and Fatherland"
- Form of government: nominally constitutional monarchy
- Capital: Vaduz
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a dwarf state in Central Europe. Liechtenstein borders Austria in the east and Switzerland in the west, its territory is completely surrounded by the territories of these states.
The Principality is located in the spurs of the Alps, the highest point is Mount Grauspitz (2,599 m). One of the rivers flows through the western part of the country. largest rivers Western Europe - Rhine.
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the prince. Legislative power belongs to the prince and the Landtag (parliament), Executive power is vested in the government, which is elected by the Landtag for the term of its powers and approved by the prince. The majority of the population speaks the Alemannic dialect of German.
This beautiful Dreamland, despite its very small size, is famous for its ancient history and rich cultural heritage. Picturesque natural landscapes, magnificent medieval architecture and, of course, fashionable ski resort famous all over the world.
The heart of Liechtenstein and its “pearl” is the capital Vaduz. This is where most of the country's attractions are concentrated. Business card Not only the city, but the entire state is the magnificent princely castle of Vaduz. Beautiful architectural structure rises on a hill and can be seen from anywhere in the city.
5
- Square: 61 km 2
- Population: 32,742 people
- Density: 520 people/km 2
- Motto:"Freedom"
- Form of government: parliamentary republic
- Capital:
San Marino is located in Southern Europe, surrounded on all sides by Italian territory. Within its current borders, San Marino is the oldest state in Europe. The country is located on the southwestern slope of the triceps mountain range Monte Titano (738 m above sea level), rising above the hilly plain of the Apennine foothills.
The legendary foundation of San Marino dates back to the beginning of the 4th century. According to legend, in 301, a member of one of the first Christian communities from the island of Rab in the Adriatic Sea (the territory of modern Croatia), stonecutter Marino and his friends found refuge in the Apennines, on the top of Monte Titano. He opened quarries in the mountain, and then, seeking solitude, built himself a small cell on its top and retired from the world. The glory of his holy life attracted crowds of pilgrims to him, and soon a small monastery was formed near his cell. This monastery, named after its founder, Saint Marinus, undoubtedly existed already at the end of the 6th century and lived an independent life, not politically dependent on any of its neighbors.
San Marino has a republican form of government. The heads of state are two captain-regents appointed by the Great General Council.
Inbound tourism plays a significant role in the country's economy; up to 2 million people are involved in the tourism industry in the state every year, and more than 3 million tourists visit the country every year.
4
- Square: 26 km 2
- Population: 10,782 people
- Density: 431.00 people/km 2
- Motto:"Tuvalu - for Almighty God"
- Form of government: monarchy
- Capital: Funafuti
Tuvalu is a tiny state in Oceania with a population of about 11,000 people. Planes from Fiji fly here twice a week and almost certainly, in 50 years, this state will be under water, and now there is a targeted resettlement local residents to other states such as Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.
This Pacific nation is located in Polynesia and was called Ellis Islands until 1975. Modern name translated from the Tuvaluan language means “eight standing together” (referring to the eight traditionally inhabited islands of Tuvalu; the ninth - Niulakita - was settled relatively recently). The European discoverer of the islands, Alvaro Mendaña de Neira, named the archipelago the "Lagoon Islands", and in 1819 they received the name "Ellis Islands", which was used throughout almost the entire colonial era
Tuvalu is a collection of atolls and islands located in the Pacific Ocean just south of the equator. The land area of Tuvalu is only 26 km 2, while the area occupied by lagoons is more than 494 km 2. The country is located on 5 atolls (Nanumea, Nui, Nukulaelae, Nukufetau, Funafuti), 3 low-lying coral islands (Nanumanga, Niulakita, Niutao) and one atoll/reef island (Vaitupu), stretching from northwest to southeast for 595 km .
A significant part of the population of Tuvalu lives in the capital and only city of the country, Funafuti - 47%.
3
- Square: 21 km 2
- Population: 9,488 people
- Density: 473.43 people/km 2
- Motto:"God's will comes first"
- Form of government: parliamentary republic
- Capital: Official capital No; unofficial - the city of Yaren.
The Republic of Nauru is a dwarf state on the coral island of the same name in the western part Pacific Ocean. The origin of the word "Nauru" is unknown. As now, the Nauruans in the distant past called the island "Naoero".
There is no official capital or cities on the island. The presidential residence is located in Meneng District, while government offices and parliament are located in Yaren District. The entire population of the island lives along the coast, as well as around Lake Buada.
2
- Square: 2.02 km 2
- Population: 30,508 people
- Density: 18,679 people/km 2
- Motto:"God willing"
- Form of government: dualistic constitutional monarchy
- Capital:
A dwarf state associated with France, located in southern Europe on the coast of the Ligurian Sea near the French Cote d'Azur 20 km northeast of Nice; on land it borders with France. It is one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in the world. The Principality is widely known for its casino in Monte Carlo and the stage of the Formula 1 championship held here - the Monaco Grand Prix. Coastline length - 4.1 km, length land borders- 4.4 km. Over the past 20 years, the country's territory has increased by almost 40 hectares due to the drainage of marine areas.
The first people built their settlements on the territory of Monaco in the 10th century BC. e., these were the Phoenicians. Much later the Greeks and Monoiki joined.
The history of modern Monaco begins in 1215 with the founding of a colony of the Genoese Republic on the territory of the principality and the construction of a fortress.
As of 2014, the population of Monaco is 37,800 people, but it is worth noting that most of the full citizens of the state are Monegasques. They are exempt from taxes and have the right to settle in the area of the old city.
Monaco's economy is developing mainly due to tourism, gambling, the construction of new residences, as well as due to media coverage of the life of the princely family.
1
- Square: 0.44 km 2
- Population: 842 people
- Density: 1900 people/km 2
- Form of government: absolute theocratic monarchy
- Capital:
And, undoubtedly, the title of the most small state in the world belongs to the Vatican. Vatican City is a dwarf enclave state (the smallest officially recognized state in the world) within the territory of Rome, associated with Italy. The Vatican's status in international law is an auxiliary sovereign territory of the Holy See, the seat of the highest spiritual leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.
Diplomatic missions of foreign countries are accredited to the Holy See, not to the Vatican City State. Foreign embassies and missions accredited to the Holy See, due to the small territory of the Vatican, are located in Rome (including the Italian embassy, which is thus located in its own capital.
In antiquity, the territory of the Vatican (lat. ager vaticanus) was not inhabited, since in Ancient Rome this place was considered holy. Emperor Claudius held circus games at this place. In 326, after the advent of Christianity, the Basilica of Constantine was erected over the supposed tomb of St. Peter, and from then on the site began to be inhabited.
The Vatican is a theocratic state ruled by the Holy See. The sovereign of the Holy See, in whose hands the absolute legislative, executive and judicial powers are concentrated, is the Pope, elected by the cardinals for a life term. After the death or abdication of the Pope and during the conclave until the enthronement of the new Pope, his duties (with significant restrictions) are performed by the Camerlengo.
The Vatican has a non-profit planned economy. Sources of income are primarily donations from Catholics around the world. Part of the funds comes from tourism (sale of postage stamps, Vatican euro coins, souvenirs, fees for visiting museums). The majority of the workforce (museum staff, gardeners, janitors, etc.) are Italian citizens.
The Vatican budget is US$310 million.
The Vatican has its own bank, better known as the Institute of Religious Affairs.
Do you know how many times the largest island in Russia is smaller than the big island peace? Read the post and find out.
No. 10. Ellesmere (Canada) - 196,236 km2
Ellesmere is the most northern island Canada is one of the ten largest islands by area in the world. Due to the harsh climate, the island's population is about 150 people.
The remains of prehistoric animals have been repeatedly found on the territory of Ellesmere. The first settlers were nomads from Siberia. In 1250, the Thule people, the ancestors of the Eskimos, settled in the territory. But by the middle of the 18th century the island became deserted.
The island was discovered in 1616 by the English navigator William Baffin.
No. 9. Victoria (Canada) - 217,291 km2
In ninth place by area is Victoria Island (Canada). The island was discovered in 1838 during the expedition of British explorer Thomas Simpson.
In the 50s of the 20th century, there were several settlements on the island where meteorologists lived. By the end of the 20th century, the population increased due to Eskimo settlers who took up fishing activities here.
No. 8. Honshu (Japan) - 227,970 km2
Honshu is largest island Japanese archipelago and ranks 8th in the ranking of the largest islands in the world. The largest Japanese cities are located on the island of Honshu: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima, etc.
The island is covered with many volcanoes, some of them active. The population of the island is more than 103 million people.
No. 7. Great Britain (UK) - 229,848 km2
Great Britain ranks 7th on the list of the largest islands in the world and is the most big island among the British Isles and in Europe as a whole.
The history of Great Britain begins with the Roman conquest in 43 BC, but the island also had an earlier history.
Great Britain was inhabited by the Noto people several hundred thousand years ago. Modern man arrived in the British Isles before the start of the last ice age, but retreated during Southern Europe due to the glaciers covering the island. According to archaeological finds, after 12,000 BC e. The British Isles were repopulated. Around 4,000 BC e. the island was inhabited by people of the Neolithic culture.
Today the population of the island of Great Britain is more than 61 million people, making it the most densely populated area in Europe.
No. 6. Sumatra (Indonesia) - 443,066 km2
Sumatra is the sixth largest island in the world. It is located in two hemispheres at once, since the Equator passes almost through the middle of the island. The island belongs to Indonesia and is part of the Malay Archipelago. It is located in an area of frequent earthquakes and tsunamis.
Today the population of the island of Sumatra is more than 50 million people. The main cities of Sumatra: Medan, Palembang, Padang. People of many nationalities live in Sumatra, about 90% profess Islam.
About 73 thousand years ago, the Toba volcano exploded on the island of Sumatra. This event resulted in 1,800 years of ice age and a reduction in the human population to 2,000 people.
The name of the island comes from the Sanskrit word samudra - “ocean” or “sea”.
No. 5. Baffin Island (Canada) - 507,451 km2
Baffin Island is the first largest island in Canada and the fifth largest in the world. Due to the harsh climatic conditions of the island, the population is about 11 thousand people. Largest locality islands - Iqaluit.
The first description of the island was made by William Baffin in 1616, and the island was named after him.
No. 4. Madagascar (Madagascar) - 587,713 km2
The fourth place in the ranking is occupied by the island of Madagascar. Is located in Indian Ocean at eastern shore Africa. The island is home to the state of Madagascar (the capital is Antananarivo). Today the population of the island of Madagascar is more than 24 million people.
Locals call Madagascar the red island because of the color of the soil. More than half of the animals found in Madagascar cannot be found on the mainland, and 90% of the plants are endemic.
No. 3. Kalimantan (Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei) - 748,168 km2
Kalimantan or Borneo is the third largest island in the world. It is divided between 3 countries: Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The island is located in the center of the Malay Archipelago.
Kalimantan means diamond river in the local language. It is named so due to its rich resources, in particular a large number diamonds
The first people settled Kalimantan about 40 thousand years ago. Today the population of the island is about 20 million people. More than 300 ethnic groups live on the island.
№2. New Guinea(Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) - 785,753 km2
There are still places in New Guinea where no man has ever been. This place attracts flora and fauna researchers as they can meet rare species animals and plants. More than 11 thousand species of plants, 600 unique species of birds, over 400 species of amphibians, 455 species of butterflies and about a hundred known species of mammals live here.
New Guinea has been inhabited by humans since at least 45 thousand years BC. e. from Asia. More than a thousand Papuan-Melanesian tribes descended from the first settlers. The absence of large animals suitable for domestication on the island hindered the development of agriculture and made cattle breeding impossible. This contributed to the preservation of the primitive communal system in large areas of New Guinea until the present day. The mountainous landscape contributed to the isolation of people from each other, as a result of which a huge variety of languages appeared on the island.
The discoverer of New Guinea was the Portuguese Don Jorge de Menezes, who landed on the island in 1526. According to legend, he gave the island the name “Papua”, which translates as curly, due to the curly hair of the local aborigines.
Today the population of the island of New Guinea is more than 9.5 million people.
On the territory of New Guinea there is an ancient agricultural settlement of Kuka, showing the isolated development of agriculture over 7-10 thousand years and included in the List World Heritage UNESCO.
No. 1. Greenland (Denmark) - 2,130,800 km2
The largest island in the world is Greenland. Green country, as this island is also called, belongs to Denmark. Due to glacial cover (84% of the surface) and unfavorable climatic conditions Most of the island is uninhabited. Today the population of Greenland is more than 57 thousand people. The largest settlement on the island is Nuuk (Gothob).
Several thousand years before the arrival of Europeans, the island was inhabited by Greenlandic Eskimos, who call themselves Inuit. The Inuit have adapted to the extreme conditions of the Arctic climate and feel quite comfortable. From time immemorial they have been engaged in fishing and hunting.
The first European to enter the island was the Norman Gunbjorn in 875. In 982, Erik Raudi settled on the island with several comrades, expelled from Iceland for the crimes he had committed. Later they were joined by Norwegian Vikings. In 983, the first Norman colony was founded in Greenland.
After the settlement of Greenland by Europeans, the island was repeatedly passed from hand to hand. Until 1536, the island belonged to Norway, then it became part of Denmark, in accordance with the union between Denmark and Norway. In 1721, a Danish colony called Gotthob was officially established on the island. In 1814, after the dissolution of the union between Norway and Denmark, Greenland became the complete possession of Denmark.
The main activity of the Greenland population is fishing. But at the end of the 20th century, reindeer and sheep breeding and oil production appeared. Tourism and air transport play a big role. More than 20 thousand tourists visit Greenland every year.
The largest island in Russia (Sakhalin) is 27 times smaller than the largest island in the world (Greenland).
The largest islands of Russia:
Sakhalin - 76600 km2
Northern - 48904 km2
Yuzhny - 33275 km2
Boiler house - 23200 km2
October Revolution - 13708 km2
Solovki is a canvas woven from spiritual strength and physical weakness, human joy and universal grief, willpower and betrayal, beautiful lies and ugly truth, the hiss of the surf and unique sunsets, silvery fish and the rustle of wings. It is stitched with heather roots and sun rays, covered with snow and illuminated northern lights, flavored with blood, vodka and rain. The Solovki rinse in the White Sea winds, shimmering with all the colors of life, and rustle their stories to everyone who wants to hear them.
The Solovetsky Archipelago (Solovki) is located in the Onega Bay, 164 kilometers from the conventional line Arctic Circle. The archipelago consists of six large and about 260 small islands. The area of the Bolshoi Solovetsky Island is 221.8 km2, and the area of the entire archipelago exceeds 300 km2. Highest point- Mount Verbokolskaya (88.2 m) at .
photo: Kirill Ponomarev
The geographical location of the archipelago has determined the emergence of its own microclimate: cherry trees bloom (but do not bear fruit) on the islands, cedar pines, maples, and hazel trees grow. Most of the archipelago is covered with coniferous and deciduous forests, but some areas are tundra and forest-tundra. The glacier played an important role in the formation of the archipelago. There are more than 600 fresh lakes in Solovki, which are home to perch, roach, pike, burbot, and trout. In the forests you can find white hare, fox, and squirrel. In rare years when the White Sea freezes, reindeer and elk come to visit. Among the marine animals are seals, beluga whales, bearded seals, and harp seals. The sea is home to catfish, lumpfish, flounder, cod, navaga and Solovetsky herring. The coastal strip of the archipelago is unusually rich in algae plantations - seaweed (kelp), fucus and ahnfeltia, from which agar-agar is extracted.
photo: Kirill Ponomarev
History of development Solovetsky archipelago dates back about 7000 years. Ancient sites, mounds and seids were discovered here. The most mysterious monuments are the sanctuaries of the 3rd-2nd millennium BC, which include the famous. The main historical and architectural monuments of the archipelago are associated with the history of an influential spiritual monastery and the northernmost medieval fortress in the world. , reflected in the waters of the Holy Lake or the Bay of Prosperity, is one of the most popular and beloved views by tourists. IN Soviet time The first special purpose camp in the USSR was located on the archipelago, which marked the beginning of the Stalinist Gulag. More than 1,000,000 prisoners passed through and their branches on the mainland.
Today the territory of the Solovetsky archipelago and the adjacent water area is a nature reserve. In 1992, the historical and architectural ensemble of the Solovetsky Monastery was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in 1995 it was classified as a particularly valuable natural and historical heritage Russia.
text: based on materials from the guidebook “History of the Solovetsky Archipelago”, author Oleg Kodola
photo in the top block: Svetlana Ladkina, Anna Khazova, Igor Pavlov, Lyudmila Gagarinova, Evgeny Kondratyev, Nikolay Kvartnikov, Kirill Ponomarev
photo: Natalya Bochkareva