A peninsula is an interesting land formation that juts out from a
larger tract of land and into the nearby water. Almost an island but not
quite, the water, be it sea, ocean, or river, surrounds the jutting
land on 3 sides. Peninsulas include capes and promontories (large,
raised pieces of land), and can belong to one or several countries.
This article takes a look at some of the largest peninsulas in the
world.
The World's Largest Peninsulas
Arabian Peninsula
Without a doubt, the largest peninsula in
the world is the Arabian Peninsula at 1,250,006 square miles. The
Arabian Peninsula is connected to the mainland Asian continent and
surrounded on all sides by the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, and the
Red Sea. The northern side of the area flows into the Arabian Desert and
serves as the unofficial border of Saudi Arabia
and Kuwait. The peninsula itself has a varying landscape that includes a
central plateau, vast deserts, the Hejaz mountain range, and marshy
coastal lands. The harsh climate makes it unsuitable for agriculture,
however, goat, sheep, and camel herding are common. The Arabian
Peninsula, made up of 9 different countries, plays a big part in oil and gas extraction and refining.
Deccan (Indian) Peninsula
The
second largest peninsula is 800,004 square miles. The Deccan Peninsula
is located in the southern part of central India. The Western and
Eastern Ghats Mountain ranges make up part of the peninsula, are covered
in forests, and rich in biodiversity. This area is also the habitat of
several threatened species from elephants to crested-serpent eagles. The
Deccan Peninsula is also made up of a large, protected tiger reserve.
The climate on the Deccan Peninsula ranges from semi-arid to tropical.
Principal agriculture here includes cotton, sugarcane, and rice.
Indochina
After
the Deccan Peninsula in India, the number 3 spot goes to the Indochina
Peninsula which encompasses 748,553 square miles. This is the area often
referred to as Southeast Asia and several countries are located here.
These include Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam,
and Myanmar. The Indochina Peninsula provides one of the most important
trade routes in the region and boasts 3 waterways, 2 railroads, 6
highways, and 2 oil and gas pipelines to help facilitate economic
activity. This peninsula also provides home to over 300 mammal species
and 1,000 different birds.
The Horn of Africa
Number 4 is
the Horn of Africa, located in northeastern Africa. This land mass has
726,975 square miles surrounded by the Arabian Sea. The area includes
the nations of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia,
and Eritrea. Each of these countries has a combined population of
around 115 million. The Horn of Africa is covered by mountain ranges and
the low areas are hot and dry. Various species of plants and animals
live on this peninsula ranging from leopards to antelopes. This region
of Africa hosts the largest number of endemic reptiles than any other
(over 285 species!). Residents of the Horn of Africa largely participate
in livestock herding and the key exports are coffee, bananas, and
livestock.
Other Major Peninsulas From Around The World
The
previously mentioned land masses are the four biggest in terms of area
size. The remaining large peninsulas can be found all over the world.
Numbers 6 through 10 on the list are the Alaskan Peninsula with an area
of 579,153 square miles, the Labrador Peninsula (540,543 square miles),
Scandinavia (289,577 square miles), The Balkans (257,414 square miles),
the Iberian Peninsula (224,7711 square miles), and the Korean Peninsula
(85,270 square miles). Other large peninsulas can be found in the chart
below.
Importance of Peninsulas
Whether large or small, wide or narrow, peninsulas are unique
geographic locations. Every continent in the world has a peninsula that
was formed by rising or falling sea levels. These land formations often
host wide ranges of flora and fauna, many threatened or endangered. Due
to their unique geographic positioning, peninsular lands are often
important in international trade.
15 Largest Peninsulas In The World
| Rank | Peninsula; Surrounding Waters | Area |
|---|
| 1 | Arabian Peninsula; Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, and Red Sea | 1,250,006 square miles |
| 2 | Deccan Peninsula; Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean | 800,004 square miles |
| 3 | Indochina; Bay of Bengal, China Sea, Indian Ocean, and Strait of Malacca | 748,553 square miles |
| 4 | Horn of Africa; Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden | 726,975 square miles |
| 5 | Alaskan Peninsula; Bering Sea and Pacific Ocean | 579,153 square miles |
| 6 | Labrador Peninsula; Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Hudson Bay, and Labrador Sea | 540,543 square miles |
| 7 | Scandinavia; Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Norwegian Sea | 289,577 square miles |
| 8 | The Balkans; Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, Black Sea, Ionian Sea, and Mediterranean Sea | 257,414 square miles |
| 9 | Iberian Peninsula; Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea | 224,711 square miles |
| 10 | Korean Peninsula; East China Sea, Korean Strait, and Yellow Sea | 85,270 square miles |
| 11 | Florida; Atlantic Ocean, Florida Strait, and Gulf of Mexico | 65,755 square miles |
| 12 | Baja California; Gulf of California and Pacific Ocean | 55,363 square miles |
| 13 | Italian Peninsula; Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Tyrrhenian Sea | 50,709 square miles |
| 14 | Kola; Barents Sea and White Sea | 38,610 square miles |
| 15 | Sinai; Gulf of Aqaba, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and Suez Canal | 23,166 square miles |
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