Islands
Essential Questions:
• What is an island?
• How are islands different from
continental masses?
• What are some advantages and
disadvantages of an island?
Objectives: Students will be able to:
• Describe what an island is
• Locate the world’s 20 largest islands
• Describe some of the characteristics
of four different kinds of islands
• Describe some of the advantages and
disadvantages of being an island.
What is an island?
A body of land surrounded by water,
(as opposed to a peninsula)
Less than continental size
Above water at all times
Large enough to support life
Varieties of islands
Continental islands
Part of the continent shelf, and of the
same geologic composition as the continent,
but separated from the mainland by water,
either through rifts, erosion, subsidence,
or a rise in sea level.
Varieties of islands
Continental islands
Example: Madagascar
Varieties of islands
Oceanic islands
Rise from the ocean floor
often through volcanic action.
Varieties of islands
Oceanic islands
Example: Hawaii
Varieties of islands
Coral islands
Formed in shallow water
by the activities of coral, a living thing.
Varieties of islands
Coral islands
Example: Florida Keys
Varieties of islands
Barrier islands
Formed by deposition,
either from rivers or ocean currents.
Barrier Islands are often parallel
to the coast, made of sand or silt,
and are relatively unstable.
Varieties of islands
Barrier islands
Example:
San Padre Islands
(Texas)
Underline the names
of the 20 largest islands
Cuba
Victoria
Ellesmere
Baffin
Greenland
Newfoundland
Iceland
Great Britain
Ireland
Madagascar
Sumatra
Java
Borneo
Celebes
New Guinea
North Island, NZ
South Island, NZ
Mindanao
Luzon
Honshu
How are islands unique?
Climate
More influenced by the ocean
More moderate
climate
Not always wet
How are islands unique?
Surrounded by water
Safety (Great Britain)
Isolation (New Zealand)
Cultural distinctiveness (Ireland)
Biological diversity (Galapagos)
How are islands unique?
Transportation and Location
Location advantage
(Manhattan)
Transportation
stop (Hawaii)
Transportation disadvantage (Isle Royale)
How are islands unique?
Economics
Linked with
location (Guam)
Linked with unique
physical or cultural
characteristics (Jamaica)
Tourism!
Describe the location and
characteristics of _______ Island.
State why it is considered an island,
and what kind of island it is.
Describe two advantages
and two disadvantages it has
because it is an island.