Small and large islands of the Atlantic Ocean. Their description and characteristics

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest water reservoir in the world. But, despite its high water content, it is very scarce for the presence of small land in comparison with the Indian or Pacific oceans. Islands of the Atlantic Ocean are divided into northern and southern, the border between which passes, as you might guess, through the equator. Among them there are huge, located near the continents, and miniature, which form archipelagos and whole arcs among themselves. We will consider the main archipelagoes, from the largest to the smallest.

Greenland

First we will find out which islands in the Atlantic Ocean are the largest. Undoubtedly, the first largest is Greenland, where the eponymous state is located. This island is considered the largest in the world, and its area is 2 130 800 square kilometers. Despite the fact that all the lands of Greenland are covered with snow and glaciers, the climate here is changeable. In the southern part, the temperature is kept within 7-8 degrees below zero. In the north, the thermometer falls below the 25 degree mark. The most densely populated city is in the west of Greenland and is called Nuuk or Gotkhob.

British

These are the large islands of the Atlantic Ocean, which are located in the North-West of Europe. On the one hand they are washed by the North Sea, on the other - by the Atlantic. On these lands are two states - Great Britain and Ireland. The archipelago includes two islands of the same name, which are the largest. Also here are the small Shetland Islands, Orkney and Hebrides. All of them are in cold waters, because summer vacation here is not popular.

West Indies

In the West of the Atlantic is one large archipelago, which Europeans, conquering America, called the West Indies. It includes three groups of islands: the Bahamas, the Great Antilles and the Lesser Antilles. The first includes more than seven hundred islets, among which not more than thirty are inhabited. The Bahamas is considered the most expensive recreational area in this region, the main entertainment center for adults and children. The small Antilles of the Atlantic Ocean is a kind of arc consisting of small islets. They have a well developed tourist area, but some are uninhabited. They are followed by the Great Antilles. This archipelago consists of the famous to all Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico.

Bermuda Triangle

Islands of the Atlantic Ocean, which are located nine hundred kilometers from the coast of the United States, have a mysterious name - Bermuda. Despite existing legends (the archipelago is part of the Bermuda Triangle, within which ships and planes sometimes disappear), these lands are a place of tourist pilgrimage for people from all over the world. The beach season here opens in April, in winter the air temperature drops to 15 degrees Celsius. The islands are not a densely populated region, however, it is a full province, which is under the rule of the British crown.

Off the coast of Antarctica

The South Sandwich Islands are the coldest islands of the Atlantic Ocean. The list of territorial units, which are part of the archipelago, consists of 11 points. Among them, the largest island is Montague, which is located in the central part of the archipelago. These lands are uninhabited, since the air temperature here is almost always very low. In the winter, the thermometer drops to -30 and below, it always snow. Summer lasts for several days, and the absolute maximum temperature, which was fixed here, is +8 Celsius. The islands have been in possession of the UK since their discovery by James Cook.

Paradise tourist corner

But the Canary Islands are one of the few places where in the waters of the Atlantic you can rest in paradise all year round. They are located slightly west of Africa and fall into the tropical climatic belt. The Canary Islands of the Atlantic Ocean are famous for their forever summer weather. At any time of the year the air temperature here does not rise above 30 and does not fall below 25 degrees, poteomu and in winter, and in summer here you can comfortably sunbathe, swim and have fun.

Burning Lands

Summarizing, it is worth talking about the origin of these lands. Almost all the islands that we listed above are the volcanic islands of the Atlantic Ocean. This category includes all the archipelagos, consisting of small islands, which are located near the equator, and near the poles. The volcanic lands include the Bermuda archipelago, the Canary Islands, the Bahamas, the South Sandwich Islands, the lands of the Cape Verde and many others. Some of them still have active volcanoes, which are a major problem for all local residents.

Conclusion

Not all islands of the Atlantic Ocean were mentioned above. List of small lands that are available in this great water area, where much more extensive. Archipelagos are formed near Britain, Alaska, between Greenland and Canada, around Africa, near Antarctica and South America. But to count them all, and even to describe them, is a long and painstaking business. Therefore, we listed only the brightest representatives of this geographical group, indicating the main similarities and differences.