10 largest islands to explore on the planet before you die!

May 18, 2025

TIMESOFINDIA.COM

Giant Islands

Our planet is brimming with some stunning islands that offer everything from lush rainforests and pristine beaches. Exploring the largest islands on Earth is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that promises unforgettable experiences. A look:

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Greenland

Greenland is the world’s largest island, with an area of 2,166,086 sq km. It is home to Inuit people and is part of Denmark. This island is mostly ice-covered and three times the size of Texas.

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New Guinea

Covering an area of about 821,400 sq km . New Guinea is the third-largest tropical rainforest and receives over 300 inches of rainfall a year. It is also one of the most sparsely populated areas in the world.

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Borneo

Borneo is an island that spans over 748,168 sq km. It is home to the largest flower in the world, named Rafflesia arnoldii. It also includes Mount Kinabalu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Borneo’s rainforests are over 140 million years old.

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Madagascar

Madagascar is 587,295 sq km in area and is situated off the coast of Africa. It is popular for unusual wildlife, as lemurs live only in Madagascar. The island is home to over 800 species of butterflies fluttering across the region. It is also the world's largest producer of vanilla.

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Baffin Island

Baffin Island, with an area of 507,451 sq km, is Canada's largest island. You can witness the Northern Lights and spot the narwhals and beluga whales here. There are no roads connecting Baffin Island to the mainland. The only way to reach here is by boat or airplane. Here in winter the temperature drops to -40°C.

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Sumatra

Sumatra is an Indonesian island that spans around 443,066 sq km. This island also has three UNESCO World Heritage national parks and 35 active volcanoes. It’s one of the only places where you can find wild orangutans, Sumatran tigers, elephants, and rhinos. Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world, is also situated here.

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Honshu

Spread across an area of around 227,898 sq km, Honshu is Japan's largest and most populated island. It includes Mount Fuji, Tokyo, and Lake Biwa. The island is also known as the cultural and economic center of Japan.

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Victoria Island

Victoria Island spans 217,291 sq km of area. Victoria Island has a lake containing an island, which holds a lake with another island. This makes Victoria Island a must on your bucket list. It has a very sparse population with around 1,500 residents. The island was named after Queen Victoria and was explored during the 19th century.

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Great Britain

With an area of 209,331 sq km, Great Britain is the largest island in Europe and the ninth-largest in the world. It includes England, Scotland, and Wales and is part of the United Kingdom. The island’s population exceeds 60 million people, making it densely populated. The island is the birthplace of the English language and has contributed significantly to world literature.

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Ellesmere Island

Ellesmere Island has an area of 196,236 sq km, making its size almost half of Germany. This island is located in the northernmost island of Canada’s Arctic Archipelago in Nunavut. It features rugged mountains, massive glaciers, deep fjords, ice caps, and polar deserts. Quttinirpaaq National Park is also situated here. Ellesmere Island is considered an important site for climate research and Arctic exploration.

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