Island

Island

An island or isle is a piece of land, distinct from a continent, completely surrounded by water. There are continental islands, which were formed by being split from a continent by plate tectonics, and oceanic islands, which have never been part of a continent. Oceanic islands can be formed from volcanic activity, grow into atolls from coral reefs, and form from sediment along shorelines, creating barrier islands. River islands can also form from sediment and debris in rivers. Artificial islands are those made by humans, including small rocky outcroppings built out of lagoons and large-scale land reclamation projects used for development. Islands are host to diverse plant and animal life. Oceanic islands have the sea as a natural barrier to the introduction of new species, causing the species that do reach the island to evolve in isolation. Continental islands share animal and plant life with the continent they split from.

Data Source : Wikipedia

• Related Topics:  Lists Of Islands - This Is A List Of The Lists Of Islands In The World Grouped By Country, By Continent, By Body Of Water, And By Other Classifications. For Rank-Order Lists, See The Other Lists Of Islands Below., Islands, Fluvial Landforms, Coastal And Oceanic Landforms, Oceanographical Terminology