Which of these islands has the largest area? The title of "World's Largest Island" goes to...
- over half a million. Some of them are of natural origin, others are the result of climate change, natural phenomena or human activity. Do you know the answer to the question: “Which island is the largest on Earth?”
Magnificent Greenland
Greenland is considered the largest landmass in the middle of the World Ocean. Its territory is 2.176 million sq. km, which is approximately 1/8 of the entire Russia. Almost all of the land is covered with glaciers, so Greenland is considered a sparsely populated country. It is permanently inhabited by only
15,000 people. Climatic conditions are considered severe. The thermometer graph in winter drops to - 47 C. In summer, the maximum mark reaches + 10 C.
New Guinea
The island is smaller in size than Greenland. Its territory is 786 thousand sq. km. It lies on the route between Asia and Australia in the Pacific Ocean. Despite the small territory, there are two countries located here: Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The second independent entity is home to about
7.5 million people. That is, there are approximately 10 people per square kilometer - an indicator that is quite low compared to other countries with good weather conditions for living.
Borneo (Kalimantan)
Slightly inferior to New Guinea. The area of the island, located next to the Philippines, is 743 sq. km. However, its territory is densely populated - about 16 million people live here. Borneo is surrounded by the islands of Java and Sumatra, and the Malacca Peninsula is nearby. A distinctive feature of Kalimantan is that two rivers with the same names flow through it, one of which has received the status of the longest among the islands.
Madagascar
Near the coast South Africa There is an amazing reserve with unusual fauna. Madagascar occupies 587 thousand sq. km. The length of the island stretches for 1500 km, its width is only 600 km. It leads in population in the category "What is the most big island in the world." There are about 20 million permanent residents here, that is, 1,300 more than in Greenland.
Baffin Island
The island belongs to Canada. Its location is determined at the same latitude as Greenland. The climate is harsh and difficult to live in. It is for this reason that on a land area of 507 sq. km. Only 11 thousand people live there.
Sumatra
In sixth position on the list of “What is the largest island in the world” is Sumatra, which belongs to Indonesia. The area of the island is
473 thousand sq. km. Geographically, the area is notable for the fact that after the eruption of the Toba volcano on its territory, the Ice Age began. A huge crater 100 m wide was formed here.
Honshu
The size of Honshu is much smaller than the other listed islands, amounting to only 228 thousand sq. km. But it is considered densely populated - 103 million people live there. Despite the high demographic level, the territories have been technically developed. Honshu is home to a huge metropolis where over 35 million people live.
Finding out the exact number of islands on Earth is difficult. It is believed that there are about 2000 islands in the world. They differ from each other in size, topography, climate, flora and fauna. The largest island in the world is named Greenland.
The largest island is Greenland
This autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark is least densely populated area in the world. The population density of the island is 0.028 / km 2, and the number of people living there is 57,728 people. And these, for the most part, are not Europeans, but Greenlandic Eskimos (Kalaallits) or descendants of mixed marriages between Danes and Eskimos. In 2009, the Greenlanders gained the status of a separate people, and Denmark was assigned the protection of Greenland and the management of foreign affairs.
“Sandwiched” between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, Greenland is not a very hospitable land against the backdrop of even harsher waters. However, this island has long attracted the attention of polar explorers and is currently positioned as a place for adventure tourism.
Total area of Greenland
Greenland covers 2,130,800 km². Moreover, 81% of the island area is covered by ice cover. If we imagine that this ice completely melted, this would lead to a rise in global sea level by 7 meters.
Where did the name "Greenland" come from?
This name, which is more reminiscent of “false advertising,” has generated controversy among researchers. Some believe that at the time of the discovery of Greenland the local climate was much milder, and coastal areas in the southwest the islands were generously covered with vegetation, and according to others, the name “Greenland” was chosen by the discoverer Eirik the Red in order to attract settlers to the island. The source of the second version is the work of Ari the Wise, an Icelandic chronicler of the 11th century. However, the first copy of his work dates back to the 13th century, and it is believed to have been supplemented by various authors. Therefore, one can be skeptical about this explanation of the name “Greenland”.
But Iceland was much more unlucky than Greenland. This land, washed by the warm Gulf Stream, was called “ice” because the settlers landed on it during severe frosts.
Photos and videos about Greenland
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10 largest islands in the world by area
10. Sulawesi – 180,681 km²
The ranking of the largest islands on Earth opens with a handsome Indonesian who is one of the most popular tourist places. It offers excellent conditions for diving in coral thickets, beckons clean beaches, exotic fauna and lush tropical forests. For those who value architecture and culture more interesting than nature, can visit the Rotterdam Fort, the palace and tomb of the Govan kings and take part in magnificent local ceremonies.
The main religion of the island is Islam, so locals do not drink or sell alcohol to tourists.
Another feature of Sulawesi is its unusual shape. This island is adjacent to four more peninsulas, making Sulawesi resemble an orchid on the map.
9. Ellesmere – 183965 km²
Like another participant in the ranking of the largest islands in the world (namely Victoria Island), Ellesmere also lies entirely within the Arctic Circle. It is not surprising that it is very sparsely populated - only 146 people. It is also the most mountainous island in the Canadian Arctic archipelago and quite inhospitable, so it’s hardly worth going here for entertainment.
8. Great Britain - 209331 km²
Is the largest island in Europe. Its territory includes England, Scotland and Wales.
Great Britain is a less impressive island than most of the islands on this list. There are no active volcanoes, exotic flora or ferocious animals on its territory. But there are plenty of hills, rocky coastlines, picturesque villages and the best tea in the world.
7. Victoria – 217291 km²
The largest island in the world, of those that are entirely within the Arctic Circle. However, despite its size, Victoria Island is surprisingly small, with fewer than 2,000 people living there.
Instead of people, Victoria was overrun by tens of thousands of caribou and musk oxen, both of which are endemic to Canada.
6. Honshu – 225800 km²
Honshu is the largest of Japan's four main islands. It is also the most densely populated island on the list of the largest islands in the world. The population of Honshu is 103 million people.
He is the second most densely populated island on Earth after Indonesian island Java with its 139 million inhabitants. This is not surprising, given that the metropolis of Tokyo, home to 38 million Japanese, is located on Honshu.
The island has excellent conditions for skiing and mountaineering, because all 30 highest peaks Japan are located on Honshu (including Fuji).
5. Sumatra – 443066 km²
Eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis are typical for Sumatra, but this does not stop tourists from wanting to experience the wild and mysterious nature of the jungle. Orangutans, tigers, rhinoceroses and elephants inhabit the forests of Sumatra, and picturesque beaches will give rest to tired travelers. Water sports are also very developed in Sumatra, including surfing and diving.
4. Baffin Island – 507451 km²
Canada has the longest coastline in the world and an unknown number of islands. The largest of them is Baffin Island. It is distinguished by mountainous, harsh and primitively beautiful landscapes. Almost the entire population of the island, which is over 10 thousand people, lives on the coast. Only people go to the central part of the island scientific expeditions, studying nature, which is almost untouched by human influence.
3. Madagascar – 587713 km²
Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and the largest island in Indian Ocean. This incredibly diverse area contains 5% of all known animal and plant species.
2. Borneo – 743330 km²
The world's third largest island after Greenland is made up of three countries, although about 73% of Borneo is Indonesian territory. The sovereign state of Brunei makes up just one 1% of the island, and the remaining territory is Malaysian.
Borneo is home to one of the oldest tropical forests in the world. It is also home to many exotic and rare wild animals: proboscis monkeys, gibbons, Malayan bears and saltwater crocodiles that lie in wait in the waters of the South China Sea.
1. New Guinea – 785,753 km²
This island has the most high mountain Oceania and Jaya.
New Guinea is also a world-famous diving destination, with excellent diving conditions throughout most of the year.
The underwater world is teeming with colorful corals and colorful fish. And after the Second World War, in the waters near the island there remained large number shipwrecks.
List of islands by area, comparison table
| № | Island | Area (km²) | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenland | 2130800 | Greenland, autonomous province of Denmark |
| 2 | New Guinea | 785753 | Indonesia and Papua New Guinea |
| 3 | Kalimantan | 748168 | Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia |
| 4 | Madagascar | 587713 | Madagascar |
| 5 | Baffin Island | 507451 | Canada |
| 6 | Sumatra | 443066 | Indonesia |
Incredible facts
It is incredibly difficult to calculate the total number of islands on our planet.
Every year new islands appear in the world, but the largest islands still remain in their places.
Here you can learn about both the world's largest islands and the largest island states ah and even the largest lake islands.
NOTE: Australia is still considered more of a continent than an island, but if you consider it an island, then it is the largest island on Earth, with an area of 7,618,493 square meters. km.1. Greenland Island
Greenland is considered the largest island on our planet. Its local name is Kalallit-Nunaat. The area of the island is 2,166,086 square meters. km.
Highest point: Gunbjorn (3,700 meters).
Region: Greenland.
Country: Denmark.
Facts about Greenland
* The capital of Greenland, Nuuk, is the smallest capital city in the world. Its population is only 15,105 people (as of July 2009).
* It is believed that Greenland was inhabited in prehistoric times by various Paleo-Eskimo groups. However, archaeological research shows that the Inuit settled here around 2500 BC.
* The first Europeans arrived here in 985. They were Norwegians and Icelanders. They were called the Norwegian Greenlanders.
The most interesting thing about beautiful island Greenland you can find out just below or by clicking HERE .
2. Island of New Guinea
Area – 785,753 sq. km.
Highest point: 4884 meters.
Population (2010): 9,500,000 people.
Countries: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea.
Facts about New Guinea
Mount Bagan - active volcano. Height 1730.
* Western part The islands of New Guinea are located in Indonesia, and its eastern part is in the territory of the state of Papua New Guinea.
* New Guinea is the largest island divided between countries.
* 11,000 plant species live here, 600 rare species birds, more than 400 species of amphibians, more than 450 species of butterflies, and approximately 100 species of mammals.
* In ancient times, this island was connected to the Australian continent.
* New Guinea was discovered for Europe in the 16th century by Spanish and Portuguese sailors.
* The island received its name from the Spanish navigator Inigo Ortiz de Retes. When he arrived on the island in 1545, it seemed to him that the local people were very similar to the aborigines who live in African Guinea.
3. Borneo Island
Area - 748,168 sq. km.
Archipelago: Malay Archipelago.
Country: Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia.
Highest point: Mount Kinabalu, 4095 meters.
Population (2010): 19,800,000 people.
Facts about Borneo Island
* On this island grows the world's largest flower - Rafflesia, the smell of which, according to local residents, is similar to the smell of a decomposing corpse.
* Borneo has a tropical forest that is more than 130 million years old. It is home to many species of rare animals: the Sumatran rhinoceros, Asian elephant, Bornean clouded leopard and others.
4. Madagascar Island
Area - 587,713 sq. km.
Country: Madagascar.
Highest point: 2961 meters.
Population (2008): 20,042,552 people.
Facts about Madagascar
* Millions of years ago, Madagascar was part of the same land, Gondwana, and about 60 million years ago, this island was the first to separate from the mainland and thereby became the first island on our planet.
* The first people came to Madagascar about 2000 years ago.
* The first European to notice this island was the Portuguese navigator Diego Diaz. This happened at the beginning of the 16th century, and after that Madagascar became one of the most important trading points on the way to India.
* Malagasy, French and English are spoken on the island.
* Since the island is rich in iron and aluminum, it was nicknamed the Great Red Island.
* The country of Madagascar ranks first in the cultivation and export of vanilla.
5. Baffin Island
Area - 503,944 sq. km.
Country: Canada.
Region: Nunavut.
Highest point: 2147 meters.
Population (2007): 11,000 people.
Facts about Baffin Island
* Baffin Island is a very cold and virtually uninhabited place.
* Thor Peak, named after the Norse god, can be found here. It is worth noting that Thor Peak is the highest cliff on our planet.
* Baffin Island was named after the famous British explorer William Baffin, who first described the island in 1616. It is believed that Baffin is its discoverer.
* More than half of the island's territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle. For this reason, there are polar days and nights here.
6. Sumatra Island
Area - 443,066 sq. km.
Country: Indonesia.
Highest point: 3800 meters.
Population (2010): 50,600,000 people.
Facts about Sumatra
* The island is home to the Toba volcano, which is believed to have caused the last ice age. About 70,000 years ago, this volcano exploded and released thousands of cubic kilometers of ash into the air, obscuring the rays of the Sun for many years. Today, in the caldera of the Toba volcano there is a beautiful lake of the same name, and in its center there is another island - Samosir, inside which there is also a lake - Sidokhni.
* Scientists believe that the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano on the island led to the formation of a strait between the islands of Sumatra and Java. In 1883, the volcano exploded and, together with the island on which it was located, they sank to the bottom of the sea. Today, in its place a new mountain has formed - Anak-Krakatoa ("Child of Krakatoa"), which grows 7 meters every year.
* Batak tribes still live on the island. Before the adoption of Christianity, these tribes were cannibals.
* The most expensive coffee in the world, Kopi Luwak, is grown here in Sumatra. The fact is that there is only one animal on the island - the kopi luwak, which loves coffee berries. Of course, he chooses only the best berries. They are not completely digested by kopi-luwak. Locals they are collected, washed and roasted to create coffee.
7. Honshu Island
Area - 225,800 sq. km.
Country: Japan.
Highest point: 3776 meters.
Population (2010): 100,000,000 people.
Facts about Honshu Island
* On the island of Honshu there is Mount Fuji - the symbol of the land of the rising sun.
* Earthquakes are common here as Honshu is located at the intersection of 3 formation plates.
* The largest Japanese cities in Japan are also located here - Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto.
8. UK Island
Area - 229,957 sq. km.
Archipelago: British Isles.
Country: United Kingdom.
Regions: England, Scotland, Wales.
Highest point: 1,344 meters.
Population (2011): 61,371,315 people.
Facts about Great Britain
* Great Britain is also called Albion, as it was previously known as the land of albinos. The Romans called the British Isles with the word “Britain” (lat. Britannia), which is where the name of this island came from. But they decided to add “Great” to the word “Britain” so that the country would be listed as a political unit. Today we have the island of Britain and a geopolitical unit called Great Britain.
* The Prime Meridian intersects the axis of the Greenwich Observatory located in London.
* Since the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a single state, then any person living on its territory can be called “British”, even if he is from Scotland or Northern Ireland.
9. Victoria Island
Area - 220,548 sq. km.
Country: Canada
Regions: Nunavut, Northwest Territories
Highest point: 665 meters
Population (2001): 1707 people.
Facts about Victoria Island
* Thomas Simpson was the first to discover this island in 1838. The British explorer decided to name the island in honor of the English Queen Victoria, who was also the Queen of Canada from 1867 to 1901.
* Here is the largest island within an island within an island.
10. Ellesmere Island
Area - 183,965 sq. km.
Country: Canada
Region: Nunavut.
Highest point: 2616 meters
Population (2006): 146 people.
Facts about Ellesmere Island
* Island decorated big mountains and ice fields. Ellesmere is the highest mountain part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.
* The island has been shrouded in ice since the last ice age, but only 1/3 of its territory is covered by glaciers.
10 largest island states in the world
1.
Indonesia - 1,912,988 sq. km.
2. Madagascar - 587,041 sq. km.
3. Papua New Guinea - 462,840 sq. km.
4. Japan - 377,837 sq. km.
5. Philippines - 300,000 sq. km.
6. New Zealand- 270,534 sq. km.
7. UK - 242,910 sq. km.
8. Cuba - 110,860 sq. km.
9. Iceland - 103,000 sq. km.
10. Ireland - 70,273 sq. km.
10 largest volcanic islands
These islands were formed as a result of volcanic eruptions at the bottom of the sea.
1. Sumatra, Indonesia - 473,481 sq. km.
2.
Honshu, Japan - 225,800 sq. km.
3. Java, Indonesia - 138,794 sq. km.
4. Northern, New Zealand - 111,583 sq. km.
5. Luzon, Philippines – 109,965 sq. km.
6. Iceland – 103,000 sq. km.
7. Mindanao, Philippines – 97,530 sq. km.
8. Hokkaido, Japan – 78,719 sq. km.
9. New Britain, Papua New Guinea – 35,145 sq. km.
10. Halmahera, Indonesia – 18,040 sq. km.
10 largest lake islands
1. Manitoulin, Lake Huron, Canada - 2,766 sq. km.
2.
René-Levasseur, Manicouagan Reservoir, Quebec, Canada – 2,000 sq. km.
3. Olkhon, Lake Baikal, Russia - 730 sq. km.
4. Isle Royale, Lake Superior, Michigan, USA - 541 sq. km.
5. Ukerewe, Lake Victoria, Tanzania - 530 sq. km.
What is an island? For many, these are resort areas like the Maldives, Sicily or Crete. For others, pictures from action-packed adventure films appear before their eyes. Indeed, the islands of the world are full of secrets and mysteries, and scientists never tire of publishing unusual facts about these small pieces of land, surrounded by water on all sides.
So the youngest island recently came of age. He is 21 years old. He was born in July 92 after a volcanic eruption near Bogoslov Island in the Aleutian Islands archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. Its length is 400 meters and its height is 90 meters.
TOP 10: largest islands in the world
However, the island cannot always be measured in hundreds of meters. There are many on the world map that represent entire maritime states.
Let's talk about the latter. . By tradition, we’ll start with the last line of the hit parade.
10th place - Ellesmere Island
10th place goes to the Canadian island Ellesmere. This part of the land with an area of 203 thousand square meters is located in the Arctic Ocean.
9th place - Victoria Island
In 9th place is another Canadian island with beautiful name Victoria. Its area is slightly larger than the previous one - 213 thousand square meters. It is located next door, in the ice of the same Arctic.
8th place - Great Britain island
8th place is rightfully given to the island United Kingdom. It is located on an area of 230 thousand square kilometers. Washed by the Atlantic Ocean. From unusual facts It is worth noting that a huge number of people live on this island. More than 60 million islanders live on the island of Great Britain.
7th place - Honshu Island
7th place on the list Japanese island Honshu. It has an area of just under 230 thousand square kilometers in the Pacific Ocean. The largest Japanese cities are located on the island of Honshu: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, etc. According to the latest data, its population exceeds the British one. About 100 million people.
6th place - Sumatra island
By the way, Indonesia is called the “land of a thousand islands”. Scientists have counted more than 13,500 islands on the territory of the state. 12,000 of them are uninhabited. Moreover, most of these small pieces of sushi don't even have geographical names.
5th place - Baffin Island
5th place was taken by another Canadian island - Baffin Island. It is located on an area of 507 thousand square kilometers in the Arctic Ocean.
4th place - Madagascar island
In 4th place is the island, which became especially famous after the animated film of the same name. Madagascar. It occupies just under 600 thousand square kilometers in the Indian Ocean.
The most interesting things are ahead. Let's move on to the top three. Who is included in the list of the three largest islands in the world?
3rd place - Kalimantan island
3rd place goes to the island of Kalimantan, or Borneo in other words. It is also located in the Indian Ocean and belongs to three countries: Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Its area is 743 thousand square kilometers.
2nd place - New Guinea island
New Guinea takes silver. It occupies 786 thousand square kilometers in the Pacific Ocean. By the way, from the point of view of the residential area geographical feature, this island could claim first place. Two countries have spread their possessions on this piece of land: Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.
1st place - Greenland island
The title of “World's Largest Island” goes to an amazing country – Greenland . Its area is 2 million 131 thousand square kilometers. The island is located off the northeastern coast of America. It is separated from Canada by the Smith and Robson Straits in the northwest, the Baffin Sea and Davis Strait in the west, and the Labrador Sea in the southwest. On the northern side, Greenland is washed by the Arctic Ocean, or more precisely, the Lincoln Sea. To the northeast of the island is the Greenland Sea, to the southeast is the Denmark Strait. On the south side is the Atlantic.
Climate
The climate in Greenland is different: marine, subarctic, arctic and even continental arctic. Cyclone is the most frequent guest on the island. This means that there are constantly strong winds, sudden changes in weather and precipitation.
The average temperature on the coast in winter is from - 7 to - 37 degrees Celsius. In the interior of the island the conditions are quite harsh: up to -47. In summer, the temperature does not rise above +10 along the entire coast, and in the depths it remains below zero.
Flora and fauna
Plants here can only be found in areas free of glaciers. On these tiny pieces of the island there are birches, willows, rowan trees, alder and even juniper. As for animals, they are exclusively northern on the island. No surprises: polar bears, bowhead whales and seals, walruses, polar wolves and reindeer.
How could this place get a name that literally translates as “green land”?
Legends of history
The island of Greenland was discovered by the Vikings. They came here in the 10th century. There are even several legends about how the name appeared. Some believe that in medieval times the island had a completely different climate, warm. Blooming greenery gave this name to its land. Others express their opinion about the cunning of the first settlers. Supposedly they gave the island this fabulous name to lie down here people.
Since 1536, Greenland was considered Danish territory. This was due to the fact that Norway was under the yoke of the Danes, and the countries were united into a single state. However, in 1905 Norway gained independence and claimed the island for itself. But Denmark was not going to give up Greenland without a fight. The issue was resolved through the Permanent Court of International Justice. She made a decision: to leave Greenland as a Danish colony.
The largest island in the world, Greenland, belongs to Denmark to this day. 84% of the territory is solid ice. But despite this, the island has settlements. The largest is Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. The city is located on west coast. Just over 15 thousand people live here.
As you know, an island is considered to be any piece of land completely surrounded by water. However, not all land areas that are in water can be classified as islands. In addition to the latter, there are also continents and continents, the most famous of which is certainly Australia. The total area of this continent (not to be confused with the island) is approximately 7,600,000 square meters. km.
In the TOP 5 most presented below big islands in the world, included islands whose area is noticeably smaller than Australia, but no less impressive.
The largest islands in the world: Greenland
So, the largest island of our planet, whose name literally translates as “green country,” is Greenland. Located in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, 80% covered eternal ice, the autonomous Danish territory has a temperate climate and total area 2,131,500 km². Known for its white nights, northern lights and local Eskimos, Greenland is also famous for its large reserves of natural resources (oil, gas). The main occupation of the island's 57 thousand population is fishing.
The largest islands in the world: New Guinea
The second largest island in the world by area is New Guinea. Washed by the waters Pacific Ocean The island, located between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, was discovered by the Portuguese in 1526. They also gave it its original name “Papua”, which means “curly” in Malay. The island owed its name to the dark-skinned aborigines with curly, thick hair who inhabited it at that time. Today New Guinea is a tropical island with a total area of 786,000 km2 and real paradise for tourists. Despite the large number of different species of plants, birds, mammals and amphibians living on the island, scientists are still discovering new species of various representatives of animals and flora. It is worth noting that most New Guinea animals are not at all afraid of people, so they can be easily picked up.
The largest islands in the world: Kalimantan
It is not for nothing that Kalimantan takes an honorable third place in the TOP 5 largest islands in the world. This island, also known as Borneo, has an area of 737,000 km². Kalimantan is washed simultaneously by four seas and two straits. Unlike Greenland, 80% of Kalimantan's entire territory is covered by tropical forests. In this connection, the island’s timber industry is extremely developed and brings considerable income to the three states located on its territory. In addition to the forest, Kalimantan is also known for its large reserves of oil, gas and diamonds, the extraction of which has been actively carried out here for centuries, as clearly evidenced by the name of the island (translated from Malay, Kalimantan means “diamond river”).
The largest islands in the world: Madagascar
The fourth place in our ranking is the island of Madagascar, recently known from the cartoon of the same name. The entire territory of the island (587,040 km2) is occupied by the sovereign state of the Republic of Madagascar. The island is rich in minerals, including gold and iron rocks; more than 80% of all animals living in Madagascar are exclusively representatives of the local fauna. Due to the fact that for a long time the island was inhabited by a large number of wild boars, the local natives called it “Madagascar” (“Boar Island”).
The largest islands in the world: Baffin Island
Canada's largest island, Baffin Island, located west of Greenland, rounds out the TOP 5 largest islands in the world. And at the same time the most interesting places, where you need a wedding photographer for your personal event! Due to severe climatic conditions, despite its vast territory - 508,000 km², the population of Baffin Island is just over 11 thousand people. The island got its name from the famous English traveler and explorer William Baffin, who was the first to describe the island in the 17th century. An interesting fact is that, despite the ubiquitous human presence on the remaining islands, the central part of Baffin Island has not yet been fully explored, which means that there are places on the island where no human has ever set foot.
