Asia is the largest part of the world in terms of area and population. This is the territory of the highest mountains and the longest rivers, deserts and impenetrable jungles, small villages and multimillion megacities. In many respects, it is a champion, but in this article we will talk about the large islands and peninsulas of Asia. What are the biggest? Why are they interesting?
Islands and peninsulas of Asia
Asia spans 43.4 million km2, nearly six times the size of Australia and three times the size of Antarctica. It occupies most of the Eurasian continent and is separated from Europe by natural borders such as the Ural Mountains, the Caspian Sea, the Emba River, the Kerch Strait.
Asia is washed by the Arctic, Pacific and Indian oceans. A number of inland water bodies connect it with the Atlantic. Its coastline is quite indented and is characterized by a large number of seas, bays, coves and lagoons. Among the major peninsulas of Asia stand out Arabian, Korean, Indochina,Hindustan, Asia Minor, Chukotka, Kamchatka, Taimyr. They are dispersed along the entire coast and are present both in the south and in the north and east.
The islands and archipelagos of Asia account for approximately 2 million km2. A significant part of them is located near the southern and southeastern shores. The largest of them are the island of Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Java, Honshu.
Arabian Peninsula
The largest peninsula in Asia and the world covers an area of 3.25 million km2. It is located in the southwestern part of the Eurasian continent and is separated from Africa by the Red Sea. Almost the entire peninsula is occupied by deserts. Its climate is considered the hottest and driest on the planet. There are very few permanent rivers here, and the main sources of water are groundwater that comes to the surface. Around them, oases are usually formed with lush vegetation, which contrasts sharply with the dry steppes of other territories.
Another feature of the Arabian Peninsula is that it is inhabited predominantly by Arabs. All eight states within it are Muslim. Saudi Arabia is home to the two holy cities of Islam, Mecca and Medina.
Indochina
The Asian peninsula of Indochina covers an area of 2 million km22 and accommodates seven countries on its territory. Despite its name, India and China are not included in this list. It’s just that the Europeans once thought that the peninsula has the features of these two states, which is why itand given this name.
It is located in southeast Asia and, unlike the Arabian Peninsula, has a warm and humid subequatorial climate. Below +15 degrees the temperature here falls only in the mountains. This Asian peninsula receives a huge amount of rainfall, so its vast territories are covered with tropical rainforests and mangroves, and rice plantations are located on low hills in terraces.
Kalimantan
Kalimantan, or Borneo, is the largest island in Asia and the third largest in the world. It is surpassed in size only by New Guinea and Greenland. It occupies a central position in the Malay Archipelago and belongs to three countries at once - Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia. The area of Kalimantan is 743,330 km2.
A significant part of the island is occupied by mountain ranges, located mainly in its central and northern regions. They generally do not exceed 2,000 meters, but the highest point in Borneo, Mount Kinabalu, reaches 4,094 meters. The main attractions of the island are the unique nature and Aboriginal tribes living in the mountains. Kalimantan covers several types of rainforests, which are inhabited by crocodiles, orangutans, gibbons, giant flying foxes and elephants. Proboscis monkeys, inhabiting exclusively the island of Borneo, are the crown of the local fauna.
