The fact that these islands have been populated for millennia is testament to man's ingenuity and tenacity. The people who live
there are the descendants of pioneers and native populations whose cultures and influence remain to this day. Year-long expeditions are no longer
necessary, however, as the advent of travel and relatively comfortable hotels have made a weekend break to a remote island a perfectly
feasible option.
We've listed the five largest islands in the world and briefly outlined what you can find there. There's obviously more to the islands than can be summarised in these brief paragraphs, so you'll either have to do more research or simply visit the islands yourself.
Greenland
This ancient country boasts an immense amount of Eskimo and Norse history. The 14th century ruins of the Norse settlements are
still visible in many places, especially Hvalsey on the Southern tip of the country. The houses are flamboyantly painted in stark contrast to the
grey, alien landscape - Greenland's aesthetic is haunting and memorable.
Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresby Sund, view from heli landing point). Photograph by Hannes Grobe, AWI. Licensed under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA-2.5.
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, but barely gets a mention when it comes to holidaying. This Indonesian country
is split into two provinces - Papua and West Papua - each with distinct political and historical significance. Between five and ten percent of
the planet's flora and fauna can be found on this island alone, making it a must-do for nature lovers.
Borneo
Old map of Borneo by Pigafetta
The third largest island in the world is split into three countries - Malaysia, Indonesia and the tiny Brunei. Three quarters of
the land is Indonesian, and about a quarter is Malaysian, leaving two tiny slivers for Brunei. The whole country is covered in interesting ecology,
and the human politics of the area create overwhelming diversity of cultures and history.
Madagascar
Belazao
80% of the species found on Madagascar aren't found anywhere else on the planet. Since it split from the 'mainland' 88m years ago,
it has had a chance to develop its own ecology and for unique animals to evolve. Where African influence remains, power and wealth is still measured
in cattle - the distinctive zebu is Madagascar's livestock of choice.
Baffin Island
This part of Canada is home to some of the world's more questionable place names. Iqaluit is in Frobisher Bay, to the west of which
is the Fury and Hecla Straight. Even more startling is the scenery - some of the most striking mountains in the world are on this island, including
Mount Thor which has the planet's greatest vertical drop.
Mount Thor Peak
Point of Information: Antarctica covers 5.4m square miles, but mile-thick ice covers 98% of it. Most of the actual bedrock of
Antarctica is below sea level. For this reason, most people don't count it as an island in its own right, but if you're interested in visiting
then your best option is an expedition or a cruise. Remember, expeditions aren't for the faint hearted - you'll need to be fit, healthy, and
extremely tolerant of cold weather.
