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{{Short description|Collection of islands}}
'']]]
{{Redirect|Island chain|the strategy|Island chain strategy||Archipelago (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|arpeggio|a cappella}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}


], located in ] and ], is the largest archipelago in the world.]]
An '''archipelago''' ({{PronEng|ɑrkəˈpɛləgoʊ}}) (ark-ə-PĔLL-ə-gō) is a chain or cluster of ]s. The word ''archipelago'' literally means "chief ]", from ] ''arkhon'' (''arkhi''-) ("leader") and ''pelagos'' ("sea"). In ], the '''Archipelago''' (Greek: Αρχιπέλαγος) was the proper name for the ] and, later, usage shifted to refer to the ] (since the sea is remarkable for its large number of islands). It is now used to generally refer to any island group or, sometimes, to a sea containing a large number of scattered islands like the ].
] with its large number of islands is the origin of the term ''archipelago''.]]
] in ]]]
An '''archipelago''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|ɑːr|k|ə|ˈ|p|ɛ|l|ə|ɡ|oʊ|audio=en-us-archipelago.ogg}} {{respell|AR|kə|PEL|ə|goh}}),<ref>{{cite Dictionary.com|archipelago}}</ref> sometimes called an '''island group''' or '''island chain''', is a chain, cluster, or collection of ]s, or sometimes a sea containing a small number of scattered islands.
Archipelagos are sometimes defined by political boundaries. For example, while they are geopolitically divided, the ] and ] geologically form part of a larger Gulf Archipelago.<ref name="NOS Archipelago">{{cite web |author1=NOAA |title=What is an archipelago? |url=https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/archipelago.html |website=National Ocean Service |access-date=10 May 2023}}</ref>


==Etymology==
== Types of Archipelagos ==
The word ''archipelago'' is derived from the Italian ''arcipelago'', used as a proper name for the ], itself perhaps a deformation of the Greek Αιγαίον Πέλαγος.<ref>{{cite Dictionary.com|archipelago}}</ref><ref>Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “archipelago (n.), Etymology,” July 2023, </ref> Later, usage shifted to refer to the ] (since the sea has a large number of islands). The erudite ] deriving the word from ] ἄρχι-(''arkhi-'', "chief") and πέλαγος (''pélagos'', "sea"), proposed by ], can still be found here and there.<ref>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</ref>
Archipelagos are usually found in the open sea; less commonly, a large ] may neighbor them, an example being ] which has more than 700 islands surrounding the mainland. Archipelagoes are often ], forming along ]s or ], but there are many other processes involved in their construction, including ], ], and ].


==Geographic types==
The four largest modern states that are mainly archipelagos are ], the ], the ] and ] (the world's largest archipelagic state according to the CIA World Factbook) .
Archipelagos may be found isolated in large amounts of water or neighbouring a large land mass. For example, ] has more than 700&nbsp;islands surrounding its mainland, which form an archipelago.


Archipelagos are often volcanic, forming along ]s generated by ] zones or ], but may also be the result of ], ], and ]. Depending on their geological origin, islands forming archipelagos can be referred to as ''oceanic islands'', ''continental fragments'', or ''continental islands''.<ref>Whittaker R. J. & Fernández-Palacios J. M. (2007) ''Island Biogeography: Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation''. New York, Oxford University Press</ref>
The largest archipelago in the world by size is in ], the ], situated in the ]. {{fact|date=May 2008}}


===Oceanic islands===
Oceanic islands are mainly of volcanic origin, and widely separated from any adjacent continent. The ] and ] in the ], and ] in the south ] are examples.


===Continental fragments===
Continental fragments correspond to land masses that have separated from a continental mass due to ] displacement. The ] off the coast of ] are an example.


===Continental archipelagos===
] with many islands in southwestern Finland]]
Sets of islands formed close to the coast of a continent are considered continental archipelagos when they form part of the same continental shelf, when those islands are above-water extensions of the shelf. The islands of the ] off the coast of ] and the ] are examples.

===Artificial archipelagos===
Artificial archipelagos have been created in various countries for different purposes. ] and ] off Dubai were or are being created for leisure and tourism purposes.<ref>{{cite web | last=McFadden | first=Christopher | title=7+ Amazing Facts About Dubai's Palm Islands | website=Interesting Engineering | date=22 December 2019 | url=https://interestingengineering.com/7-curious-facts-about-dubais-palm-islands | access-date=8 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Wainwright | first=Oliver | title=Not the end of The World: the return of Dubai's ultimate folly | website=The Guardian| date=13 February 2018 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/feb/13/not-end-the-world-return-dubai-ultimate-folly | access-date=8 July 2020}}</ref> ] in the Netherlands is being built as a conservation area for birds and other wildlife.<ref>{{cite web | last=Boffey | first=Daniel | title=Marker Wadden, the manmade Dutch archipelago where wild birds reign supreme | website=The Guardian| date=27 April 2019 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/27/marker-wadden-islands-netherlands-manmade-archipelago-wild-birds-eco-haven | access-date=8 July 2020}}</ref>

==Superlatives==
The largest archipelago in the world by number of islands is the ], which is part of ]. There are approximately 40,000 islands, mostly uninhabited. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sjofartsverket.se/upload/378/Sjokortsbilder/61.pdf|title=Nautical chart: International no. 1205, SE61, Baltic Sea, North, Sea of Åland.|publisher=|access-date=16 March 2023|archive-date=20 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020134932/http://www.sjofartsverket.se/upload/378/Sjokortsbilder/61.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The largest archipelagic state in the world by area, and by population, is ].<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Indonesia|access-date=7 December 2008 |year=2008}}</ref>
<!-- It isn't clear if this 'factoid' should be in this article, or in the ] article instead. -->


==See also== ==See also==
{{Portal|Geography|Islands}}
{{Wiktionary}}
*] * ]
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* Lists of islands: see ] and ]
], situated between the ] and the ], the largest archipelago in the world by the number of islands.{{Fact|date=February 2008}}]]


==References==
]
{{Reflist}}
]

==External links==
{{Wiktionary}}
{{Commons category|Archipelagoes}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Archipelago}}
*


{{coastal geography}}
{{geo-term-stub}}
{{Authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 14:52, 5 January 2025

Collection of islands "Island chain" redirects here. For the strategy, see Island chain strategy. For other uses, see Archipelago (disambiguation). Not to be confused with arpeggio or a cappella.

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 Myanmar

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 sometimes a sea containing a small number of scattered islands. Archipelagos are sometimes defined by political boundaries. For example, while they are geopolitically divided, the San Juan Islands and Gulf Islands geologically form part of a larger Gulf Archipelago.

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 neighbouring a large land mass. For example, Scotland has more than 700 islands surrounding its mainland, which form an archipelago.

Archipelagos are often volcanic, forming along island arcs generated by subduction zones or hotspots, but may also be the result of erosion, deposition, and land elevation. 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 mainly of volcanic origin, and widely separated from any adjacent continent. The Hawaiian Islands and Galapagos Islands in the Pacific, and Mascarene Islands in the south Indian Ocean are examples.

Continental fragments

Continental fragments correspond to land masses that have separated from a continental mass due to tectonic displacement. The Farallon Islands off the coast of California are an example.

Continental archipelagos

The Archipelago Sea with many islands in southwestern Finland

Sets of islands formed close to the coast of a continent are considered continental archipelagos when they form part of the same continental shelf, when those islands are above-water extensions of the shelf. 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 off 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

References

  1. "archipelago". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
  2. NOAA. "What is an archipelago?". National Ocean Service. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  3. "archipelago". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
  4. Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “archipelago (n.), Etymology,” July 2023,
  5. 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
  6. Whittaker R. J. & Fernández-Palacios J. M. (2007) Island Biogeography: Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation. New York, Oxford University Press
  7. McFadden, Christopher (22 December 2019). "7+ Amazing Facts About Dubai's Palm Islands". Interesting Engineering. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  8. Wainwright, Oliver (13 February 2018). "Not the end of The World: the return of Dubai's ultimate folly". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  9. Boffey, Daniel (27 April 2019). "Marker Wadden, the manmade Dutch archipelago where wild birds reign supreme". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  10. "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.
  11. "Indonesia". The World Factbook (2025 ed.). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 7 December 2008. (Archived 2008 edition.)

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