Almost every student can answer the question about the name of the largest island on the planet.Such is Greenland.It is located between the Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean, a distance of 740 kilometers from the North Pole.The island covers an area of 2,130,800 square kilometers, is considered part of the North American continent.With regard to the political status, it has an independent management, but belongs to Denmark.
first settlers
According to historical data, the Europeans, this island was first discovered in the year 877, when the expedition led by Gunnbjørn Fjeld was rejected by the hurricane westward from Iceland.With regard to the first settlers in this land, that they considered to be the Vikings, who arrived on its western coast in the years 982-983, led by Erik Raud Turvaldsona.They chose a few flat areas, well protected from the effects of winds.This area is so impressed Vikings its lush green vegetation, contrasting with the surrounding glacial desert in the summer time that they called the island of Green Land, which is translated as "The Green Land".It should be noted that such a name was originally used only for the south-west coast.Fully extended to the largest island in the world, it is only in the fifteenth century.
Features area
Most of Greenland is covered by glaciers.They cover an area in excess of 1.8 million square kilometers.A significant proportion of them, like Antarctica, is a solid block of ice that almost wears out even in relatively warm summer.Talking about how the world's largest island, it should be noted that in recent years the tendency of reducing the volume of the active shield.This threatens global catastrophe, because if all the ice in Greenland melts completely, according to rough calculations of scientists, the water level in the oceans will rise by seven meters.
As for the rest of the territory, it is a continuous strip, which are mostly in the northern and south-western parts and stretch along the coast.The width of the places they reach the mark of 250 kilometers.The contact areas of the glacier with the banks is a constant chipping away gigantic icebergs.One of these in 1912 broke away from here, and led to the collapse of the well-known throughout the world the ship "Titanic."
Climate
The largest island in the world is quite different climate variability.In the summer, the average temperature in the coastal areas of Greenland is nine degrees.At the same time there are times when the thermometer can jump up to twenty degrees, or go down to zero.The lowest temperatures are typical for the east coast.Here they constitute, on average, -27 ° C.
Flora and fauna
largest island - Greenland - can not boast an abundance of plants and animals.Flora is mostly represented by the forest-tundra areas, which are concentrated in the southern part.They consist mainly of dwarf birch.On the west coast is quite developed are thickets of dwarf willows, lichens and mosses.The eastern part of the island is a polar desert, so the plant is not here.Total distinguishing feature characteristic of the entire flora of Greenland, is that there are no tall trees.
Scarcity is typical for the local fauna.The most common animals that inhabit the largest island in the world, can be called polar bears, weasels, rabbits, reindeer, lemmings and Arctic foxes.Wolves are very rare.The birds, walruses, seals, and narwhals live mainly on a rocky coast.The rich local neighborhood - it is fish, which is represented by different types - flounder, cod, catfish and so on.
Population and cities
Talking about what the world's largest island, it should be noted that despite the relatively harsh climate, Greenland is completely populated.Currently, there lives about 58 thousand people.Most of them are descendants of indigenous people (Eskimos) and colonizers (Danes and Norwegians).Greenlanders are engaged primarily commercial hunting and fishing.On the island is officially considered two languages - Greenlandic and Danish.
capital and also the largest city in Greenland is Nuuk (the name translates as "good hope"), which is situated above the photos.Its population is a little more than fifteen thousand people.The settlement was founded in 1756.The main local landmark is considered to be the Greenland National Museum.
flag and coat of arms
The largest island in the world has its own symbols.It is the image of the emblem of the polar bear (the most widespread animal here) on a blue background (which represents the two oceans).As for the flag, it is a red-white color.It should be noted that the application of the second color is dictated by the political dependence of the island from Denmark.On the banner is placed as a circle, indicating the sun.However, there is another version regarding this symbolism.In particular, some researchers suggest that the circle represents the main local attraction - the glaciers.
other large islands of the planet
largest island in the world spread across all its parts.On the second largest after New Guinea is Greenland, which is found in the Pacific Ocean.It was opened by a Portuguese expedition in 1526.The island covers an area constituting 786,000 square kilometers and is a real paradise among tourists.Native flora and fauna is so diverse that even now scientists from time to time to find new species of plants and animals.
In third place is the size of the island of Borneo, an area of 737,000 square kilometers.He washed at the same time, two and four Sea Strait.In terms of vegetation (which is the largest island of the planet can not boast), he is the antithesis of Greenland.The fact that about 80% of its territory is nestled forests.In Kalimantan have solid reserves of diamonds, oil and gas, due to which the local people live.
Not far from the African continent is the island of Madagascar, which is the largest in the Indian Ocean.Its area is 587,000 square kilometers.On the island of the same name is the Republic.Earth's interior is rich in various minerals, including iron ore and gold.As for the flora and fauna, about 80% of the species are found only in Madagascar.
Honshu Island
Specific words deserves the largest island of Japan - Honshu.Its length is 1400 kilometers and a maximum width - 300 km.About 60% of Japanese territory is located on it.Here there is also the country's capital - Tokyo and some other major cities - Osaka, Yokohama and Nagoya.As regards administrative arrange island, the whole territory is divided into 34 prefectures.
local climate, vegetation and topography vary greatly in the regions.Indeed, if the characteristic of the northern part of the middle and low mountains in the south are much higher.On the island there are numerous volcanoes.About twenty of them are considered to be active in our time.The biggest and most famous is Mount Fuji.
Honshu, among other things, is the most developed region in Japan from an economic point of view.Here it is concentrated most of the national interest, including unusual natural landscapes, parks and architectural monuments.
