Fascinating destinations from all over the world
The world is full of countless uninhabited places, such as dense jungles, forests, or other hard-to-reach areas. And that describes some islands, too. But unlike jungles or forests, islands have little to no density in terms of both flora and fauna. Most of the uninhabited ones consist of ice caps, snow, and below-freezing temperatures.
Curious to discover more about them? Then check out this gallery for insight on some of the largest uninhabited islands in the world. Simply click on.
Ellef Ringnes Island is located in Nunavut, Canada, and is part of the Sverdrup Islands. First discovered in 1901, the island is 4,361 sq mi (11,295 km2).
Located in the Severnaya Zemlya group in Russia, half of it is under glaciers. The island is estimated at 5,470 sq mi (14,170 km2).
The island was named after the October Revolution, also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, after which the Russian Empire became the Soviet Union.
A member of the archipelago of Svalbard, Norway, this island is mostly covered in ice caps, except for the north where walruses and reindeer live.
Nordaustlandet also has an area with sedimentary rocks, including limestone and dolomite. The island is 5,586 sq mi (14,467 km2).
Discovered from the air in 1940, Thurston Island is the third-largest island in the world. At 6,062 sq mi (15,700 km2) in area, it has numerous glaciers and peninsulas.
Thurston Island was named after a sponsor of the Antarctic Expedition, W. Harris Thurston.
Prince Patrick Island is one of the least accessible territories in Canada. Its area is 6,119 sq mi (15,848 km2).
Discovered in 1953 by George Mecham and Francis Leopold McClintock, it was later named after the Governor General of Canada from 1911 to 1926, Prince Arthur William Patrick.
Located in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Bathurst Island was previously inhabited with indigenous people. The area of the island is estimated at 6,194 sq mi (16,042 km2).
Kotelny Island is located in the Russian Arctic, between the Laptev Sea and the East Siberian Sea.
Discovered in 1773 by Ivan Lyakhov, the total area of Kotelny Island is 8,944 sq mi (23,165 km2).
Part of the Canadian territory of Nunavut, Somerset Island was inhabited by the Thule people around 1000 CE.
The 46th largest island in the world, Somerset Island has an area of 9,570 sq mi (24,786 km2).
One of the larger members of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Prince of Wales Island has an area of 12,872 sq mi (33,339 km2).
The island was discovered in 1851, and named after the eldest son of Queen Victoria, Albert Edward, who eventually became King Edward VII.
With an area of 16,274 sq mi (42,149 km2), Melville Island is the 33rd largest island in the world and the sixth-largest uninhabited island.
While there's almost no vegetation on the island, it hosts various animals, such as Arctic wolves, Arctic foxes, polar bears, and ermines.
Axel Heiberg Island is located in Nunavut, Canada. It's the 32nd largest island in the world and Canada's seventh-largest island.
Named after Norwegian diplomat and financier Axel Heiberg, the island has an area of 16,671 sq mi (43,178 km2).
Discovered by members of the United States-International Geophysical Year party from Ellsworth Station during the 1957–1958 season, Berkner Island was named after American physicist Lloyd Berkner. The island has an area of 17,000 sq mi (44,000 km2).
Severny Island is the 30th-largest and the third-largest uninhabited island in the world. It has an area of 18,882 sq mi (48,904 km2).
Located in the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, the island is part of the Russian Arctic National Park.
The largest island of Antarctica, Alexander Island was discovered in 1821 by a Russian expedition. It was named after the reigning tsar of the time, Alexander I of Russia.
Consisting of mountain ranges and hills, Alexander Island has an area of 18,950 sq mi (49,070 km2).
Located in Nunavut, Canada, Devon Island is the largest uninhabited island in the world and the sixth-largest island in Canada.
With an area of 21,331 sq (55,247 km2), Devon Island is only slightly smaller than Croatia!
Sources: (Mental Floss) (A-Z Animals)
The largest uninhabited islands in the world
The majority of these islands belong to Canada and Russia
TRAVEL Geography
The world is full of countless uninhabited places, such as dense jungles, forests, or other hard-to-reach areas. And that describes some islands, too. But unlike jungles or forests, islands have little to no density in terms of both flora and fauna. Most of the uninhabited ones consist of ice caps, snow, and below-freezing temperatures.
Curious to discover more about them? Then check out this gallery for insight on some of the largest uninhabited islands in the world. Simply click on.