Island

Island
An island or isle is any piece of subcontinental land that is surrounded

by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features
on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys.
An island in a river or a lake island may be called an eyot or ait, and a
small island off the coast may be called a holm. Sedimentary islands in
the Ganges delta are called chars. A grouping of geographically or
geologically related islands, such as the Philippines, is referred to as
an archipelago.
The word island derives from Middle English iland, from Old
English igland (from ig or ieg, similarly meaning 'island' when used
independently, and -land carrying its contemporary meaning.
TIDAL ISLAND
This type of island is one whose existence is highly dependent on
tidal action. It refers to pieces of land that are more visible at low
tide but submerged during high tidal action. Tidal islands are one of
the most common types of Islands in the world.
Tidal islands are usually connected to the mainland via an artificial

causeway or naturally. The artificial causeways are particularly of
an advantage as they enhance easy access to tidal islands while
protecting tourists and visitors from dangers associated with high
tidal waves.
Typical examples include Jindo and Mondo in South Korea, St.

Michael’s Mount in the United Kingdom, Cramond Island in
Scotland and many others.
JINDO AND MODO IN SOUTH
KOREA
ST. MICHAEL’S MOUNT IN UNITED

KINGDOM.
CRAMOND ISLAND IN SCOTLAND

HAJI ALI DARGAH, INDIA
CORAL ISLANDS
This type of island is formed from coral detritus and other organic
materials. They usually occur in tropical and sub-tropical regions of
the world as parts of coral reefs which have grown to cover a large
area of land under the sea. This type of islands is formed from a
volcanic island (over a hot spot).
A fringing reef grows on the outer side of the volcano as it emerges.

Eventually, the volcano moves away from the hot spot through a
process referred to as ‘plate tectonics’. Thus, subsidence occurs as
the volcano becomes unable to keep up with the erosion due to the
ocean.
After the island has been submerged, the coral must keep growing
in order to keep its space in the epipelagic zone. The coral then
grows into an atoll (possessing a shallow lagoon in the middle,
which undergoes ‘accretion’ to create an island that consists mainly
of carbonate materials). The remains of plant life further aid the
formation of coral islands.
GULF OF MANNAR, INDIA
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR

ISLAND , INDIA.
LAKSHADWEEP ISLAND
BORO BORO ISLANDS , FRENCH

POLYNESIA
GREAT CHAGOS BANK ,MALDIVES.
Artificial Islands
Although most islands that are existing today were created by
natural processes, some islands are also man-made. Such islands
were created to serve various purposes like the extension of
habitable land, the creation of new land for agriculture or to
encourage tourism.
Often, natural islands have been extended artificially by draining
water around these islands or adding material to extend the islands.
Artificial islands are sometimes built on pre-existing "low-tide
elevation," a naturally formed area of land which is surrounded by
and above water at low tide but submerged at high tide. Legally
these are not islands and have no territorial sea of their own.
The World, Dubai

The Vasilyevsky Island, St.
Petersburg, Russia
Willingdon Island, Kochi,

Kerala
Cattle Island, Sambalpur,

Orissa
BARRIER ISLANDS
Narrow islands that lie parallel to the coastline, and separate the
mainland from the ocean, are known as barrier islands. Barrier
islands serve to protect the coastline from storms and waves. The
islands are separated from the mainland by sounds or lagoons.
The formation of barrier islands can take place by various
processes. For example, barrier islands might be created by the
deposition of sediments like gravel, sand or silt by longshore
currents. Barrier islands might also be made from billions of coral
exoskeletons.
Sriharikota Island, Andhra

Pradesh
Majuli Island, Assam
Rabbit Island, Tasman Bay, New

Zealand
Fraser Island, Queensland,
Australia

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Island

An island or isle is any piece of subcontinental land that is surrounded

Tidal islands are usually connected to the mainland via an artificial

Typical examples include Jindo and Mondo in South Korea, St.

ST. MICHAEL’S MOUNT IN UNITED

CRAMOND ISLAND IN SCOTLAND

A fringing reef grows on the outer side of the volcano as it emerges.

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR

BORO BORO ISLANDS , FRENCH

The World, Dubai

Willingdon Island, Kochi,

Cattle Island, Sambalpur,

Sriharikota Island, Andhra

Majuli Island, Assam

Rabbit Island, Tasman Bay, New

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