30 Most Incredible Island Archipelagos
Tue, Nov 4, 2008
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Atlantic, Artic & Americas Archipelagos
1. The Azores are a Portuguese archipelago sitting just 950 miles (1,500 km) from Lisbon on an active triple tectonic junction over the North American Plate, the Eurasian Plate and African Plate, making it a hotbed for volcanic activity.
Sverdrup
2. Made up of 700 islands and 200 coral cays – sandy islands formed over reefs – the Bahamas are the lowest lying archipelago with the highest point, Mount Alvernia, reaching a mere 63 meters high.
XcepticZP
The archipelago, although independent since 1973, has remained part of the Commonwealth of Nations, which is why the countries politics and law resemble those of the UK so closely.
Wikimedia Commons
3. Probably best known for its bizarre triangle, Bermuda’s inviting waters and natural beauty manage to entice regular visitors despite the threat of disappearance.
CWAG2008
The archipelago sits in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the south east coast of the United States and is made up of approximately 138 islands.
Wikimedia Commons
4. The volcanic Cape Verde islands sit just off the cost of Senegal and are a wonderful mix of Portuguese and West African cultures. Uninhabited until the 15th century, Cape Verde is becoming more and more popular with visitors, especially those seeking perfect windsurfing conditions and divers wanting to explore the Blue Eye of Cape Verde (pictured), which is about 50 m deep.
Andrew Peascod
Pacific & Oceanic >
Indian & Mediterranean >
5. You’d be forgiven in thinking that the name Tierra del Fuego, which is Spanish for Land of Fire, has a warm and toasty climate when in fact it is quite inhospitable. Lying at the tip of Chile the islands are cold, wet and often covered in snow. Its name actually derives from the Ona and Yaghan tribal traditions of lighting bonfires. The tip of the archipelago forms Cape Horn, which is often considered as the southern-most tip of South America.
GERMAN
6. Part of the British Isles archipelago, the Isles of Scilly lie just 28 miles (45 km) off Land’s End, England and form their own archipelago of six populated islands and a number of smaller rocky islands. Scilly is a great example of sustainable culture; it has been inhabited since the Stone Age with the population living off the land and sea until the 20th century, and even though farming and fishing continues, as with many small communities these days, tourism has become the main industry.
Tom Corser
7. Not the view most people associate with Florida, this satellite image shows just how many islands make up the Florida Keys – 1,700 in total. The archipelago stretches from the southern tip of Florida to Key West and it’s fine sunny climate make it an all-year-round holiday destination.
Cnes-Spot Image
8. The Greater Antilles are part of the West Indies and include the countries of Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. This wonderful HDR shot beautifully summarizes the colorful cultures of all the islands.
Noel back in Zurich
9. The Virgin Islands archipelago is part of the Lesser Antilles and is divided into the US Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands. The islands were originally inhabited by Ciboney, Carib and Arawak tribes (who died out during overbearing colonial rule) and were mainstays for slavery in the 18th and 19th centuries. Now, thankfully, those who visit the islands are enslaved only by the sunshine and sandy beaches.
US Virgin Island Tourism
10. Located in the Arctic Ocean, about midway between Norway and the North Pole, is the archipelago of Svalbard. There are a number of islands in the cluster but only three of them are inhabited, with the largest settlement in Longyearbyen, where the midnight sun lasts from mid April to the end of August.
Per Harald Olsen
11. Located the Archipelago Sea – said to be the largest archipelago in the world, if defined by the number of islands – the islands of Finland are small, close together and change quite visibly during a lifetime, as glacial rebound in that part of the world happens relatively fast. Turku, on the southwest coast of Finland, was once the capital and is believed to the oldest city in the country.
Krista Keltanaen
11. The Frisian archipelago spreads across the coast of three countries – Netherlands, Germany and Dernmark, but is owned by Germany. Most of the islands are protected areas, including the impressive sand dunes, and include an international wildlife nature reserve.
Arne Hückelheim
12. An iconic image of the Galapagos Islands, the iguana, basks in the suns rays atop a rock, trying to heat up before it ventures into the water again. Located on the Equator, off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos are home to a vast array of endemic wildlife making it a perfect place for Darwin to study natural selection and the origin of species, subjects which were to become both controversial and legendary.
Datune
13. Unalaska belongs to the Aleutian Islands archipelago off the coast of Alaska and was first inhabited by the Aleut people, who numbered 1,000 in 1759. Russian fur traders soon moved into the area, much to the disgust of native Aluetians who tried but failed to drive them away. It soon became a leading trading port for the fur seal industry. Today the islands’ main catch is Bering Sea crab.
Wanetta Ayers
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December 11th, 2008 at 2:36 pm[...] never ceases to amaze me. I just stumbled across this amazing list of 30 Beautiful Island Archipelagos. A must [...]
November 5th, 2008 at 2:44 am
I was fascinated in finding this publication. I love islands and was trying to find a list of them round the world.
Although i would like to mention, being myself from Argentina, that Tierra del Fuego is also one of the 24 provinces of my country. Leaving aside the dispute between Chile and Argentina for territories that has been going on for years, i wanted to mention that Tierra del Fuego argentina is also a beautiful place, and has amazing islands.
In this province you can find what we argentineans call “el faro del fin del mundo” which means the lighthouse of the end of the world. A place that has a special mistic, being close to the “estrecho de Drake”, where to oceans meat. It is said that the sound of the oceans is so loud that no other noice is heard.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:45 am
“where to oceans meat” is miss written. it should say: “where 2 oceans meet”
November 5th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Nice way to encourage long-distance flights for holidays, you hypocritical eco-freaks.
November 5th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Have you ever heard of Malta?
November 5th, 2008 at 10:14 am
You forgot the Faroe Islands, an archipelago in the North Atlantic.
Named Best Island Travel Destination by the National Geographic Traveler panel of experts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow2HumAf13w
November 5th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Should be east coast of Spain.
The Stockholm archipelago in Sweden are far more interesting/beautiful/complex than the Finnish (and the German/Danish). And all of them are in the Baltic Sea.
November 5th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
the sad thing is you didn’t see fit to link to the full size images.
November 6th, 2008 at 1:52 am
Those are some gorgeous photos. The colors seem surreal. I’m going to put some of them on my Vision Board. Simply beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
November 6th, 2008 at 1:55 am
wow!!!wonderful!!!i have nothing to say,
perfect!!!!
http://mabelacostacitycouncil.blogspot.com
November 6th, 2008 at 2:05 am
very beautiful islands…
too perfect for vacations!!
http://mabelacostacitycouncil.blogspot.com
November 6th, 2008 at 4:31 am
If there was such an island and I’m a billionaire, I’d ask Bond to live with me and we’d have the sun to ourselves.
November 6th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Really amazing places to see from the air and ground.
Must be great to be able to see places like this
in person. Its good to know about locations like these.
Thanks from tony
November 6th, 2008 at 11:05 am
ha ha christopher’s made me laugh……have to add
have you ever heard of MADAGASCAR??
November 6th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
rofl @ joeplumba ’s comment. i guess you could take a boat though lol
November 7th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
very nice post!
..though one correction from my side:
The Frisian Argipelagos are not all owned by Germany, five of the islands situated in the ‘Waddenzee’ are Dutch.
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:44 pm
I am surprised that there is no mention of the archipelagos in the Indian Ocean or have you not heard of the Andaman and Nicobar islands, Lakshadweep islands.
April 18th, 2009 at 7:49 am
This is gorgeous…! It’s on my “List of Places to Go Before I Die…”! (And I’m a Travel Agent!LOL)
June 19th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Greetings Islanders,
I just got back from filming Tahiti, The Islands of Love in HD.
The trailers are up on youtube.com/alphaember
If you click on the HD icon, you can see it in HD.
Please leave your comments there.
You can also see my film of the Carnivale di Venezia, & a Road Trip on Highway 1
Take care,
Regards
Bonnie
August 29th, 2009 at 9:13 am
nice report but many small ilands are absent here of south east asia.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:42 am
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG that pic is SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
PRITTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!