{{Short description|Collection of islands}} {{Redirect|Island chain|the strategy|Island chain strategy||Archipelago (disambiguation)}} {{Distinguish|arpeggio|a cappella}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{More citations needed|date=April 2026}} [[File:Indonesia relief location map.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|The [[Indonesian Archipelago]], located in Asia and [[Oceania]], is the largest [[archipelagic state]] in the world.]] [[File:Aegeansea.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Aegean Sea]] with its large number of islands is the origin of the term ''archipelago''.]] [[File:MerguiArchipelagoMap.png|thumb|The [[Mergui Archipelago]] in Myanmar]] An '''archipelago''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|ɑːr|k|ə|ˈ|p|ɛ|l|ə|ɡ|oʊ|audio=en-us-archipelago.ogg}} {{respell|AR|kə|PEL|ə|goh}}),<ref>{{cite Dictionary.com|archipelago}}</ref> sometimes called an '''island group''' or '''island chain''', is a chain, cluster, or collection of islands. An archipelago may be in an ocean, a sea, or a smaller body of water. Examples of archipelagos include the [[Aegean Islands]] (the origin of the term ''archipelago''), the Canadian [[Arctic Archipelago]], the [[Stockholm Archipelago]], the [[Malay Archipelago]] (which includes the Indonesian and Philippine Archipelagos), the [[Lucayan Archipelago|Lucayan (Bahamian) Archipelago]], the [[Japanese archipelago]], the [[Hawaiian Islands|Hawaiian Archipelago]], and the [[Galapagos]].
==Etymology== The word ''archipelago'' is derived from the Italian ''arcipelago'' (used as a proper name for the [[Aegean Sea]]), itself perhaps a deformation of the Greek Αιγαίον Πέλαγος.<ref>{{cite Dictionary.com|archipelago}}</ref><ref>Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. "archipelago (n.), Etymology", July 2023, [https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/4069383322]</ref> Usage later shifted to refer to the [[Aegean Islands]] (since the sea has a large number of islands). The erudite [[paretymology]], deriving the word from [[Ancient Greek]] ἄρχι- (''arkhi-'', "chief") and πέλαγος (''pélagos'', "sea"), proposed by [[Cristoforo Buondelmonti|Buondelmonti]], can still be found.<ref>Maltézou, Chryssa A., ''De la mer Égée à l'archipel: quelques remarques sur l'histoire insulaire égéenne'' In: Mélanges Hélène Ahrweiler Pt. 2 (1998) p. 464–465</ref>
==Geographic types== Archipelagos may be found isolated in large bodies of water or neighboring a large land mass. For example, Scotland has more than 700 islands surrounding its mainland, which form an archipelago.{{cn|date=March 2026}}
Depending on their geological origin, islands forming archipelagos can be referred to as ''oceanic islands'', ''continental fragments'', or ''continental islands''.<ref>Whittaker R. J. & Fernández-Palacios J. M. (2007) ''Island Biogeography: Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation''. New York, Oxford University Press</ref>
===Oceanic islands=== Oceanic islands are formed by volcanoes erupting from the ocean floor. The [[Hawaiian Islands]] and [[Galapagos Islands]] in the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]], and [[Mascarene Islands]] in the south [[Indian Ocean]] are examples.{{cn|date=March 2026}}
===Continental fragments=== Continental fragments are islands that were once part of a continent, and became separated due to natural disasters. The fragments may also be formed by moving glaciers which cut out land, which then fills with water. The [[Farallon Islands]] off the coast of California are examples of continental fragment islands.{{cn|date=March 2026}}
=== Coral cay archipelago === A coral cay archipelago is formed when ocean currents transport sediments that gradually build up on coral reefs. The [[Florida Keys]] are one example.<ref>{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=What is an archipelago? |url=https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/archipelago.html |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=oceanservice.noaa.gov |language=EN-US}}</ref>
===Continental islands=== [[File:Острова_близ_Турку._Saaret._By_Victor_Belousov._-_panoramio.jpg|alt=|thumb|The [[Archipelago Sea]] with many islands in southwestern Finland]] Continental islands are islands that were once part of a continent and still sit on the continental shelf, which is the edge of a continent that lies under the ocean. The islands of the [[Inside Passage]] off the coast of [[British Columbia]] and the [[Arctic Archipelago|Canadian Arctic Archipelago]] are examples.{{cn|date=March 2026}}
===Artificial archipelagos=== Artificial archipelagos have been created in various countries for different purposes. [[Palm Islands]] and [[The World (archipelago)|The World Islands]] in Dubai were or are being created for leisure and tourism purposes.<ref>{{cite web | last=McFadden | first=Christopher | title=7+ Amazing Facts About Dubai's Palm Islands | website=Interesting Engineering | date=22 December 2019 | url=https://interestingengineering.com/7-curious-facts-about-dubais-palm-islands | access-date=8 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528112320/https://interestingengineering.com/7-curious-facts-about-dubais-palm-islands |archive-date=2022-05-28 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Wainwright | first=Oliver | title=Not the end of The World: the return of Dubai's ultimate folly | website=The Guardian| date=13 February 2018 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/feb/13/not-end-the-world-return-dubai-ultimate-folly | access-date=8 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817130959/https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/feb/13/not-end-the-world-return-dubai-ultimate-folly |archive-date=2025-08-17 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Marker Wadden]] in the Netherlands is being built as a conservation area for birds and other wildlife.<ref>{{cite web | last=Boffey | first=Daniel | title=Marker Wadden, the manmade Dutch archipelago where wild birds reign supreme | website=The Guardian| date=27 April 2019 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/27/marker-wadden-islands-netherlands-manmade-archipelago-wild-birds-eco-haven | access-date=8 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260110132406/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/27/marker-wadden-islands-netherlands-manmade-archipelago-wild-birds-eco-haven |archive-date=2026-01-10 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Superlatives== The largest archipelago in the world by number of islands is the [[Archipelago Sea]], which is part of Finland. There are approximately 40,000 islands, most being uninhabited.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sjofartsverket.se/upload/378/Sjokortsbilder/61.pdf |title=Nautical chart: International no. 1205, SE61, Baltic Sea, North, Sea of Åland |access-date=16 March 2023|archive-date=20 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020134932/http://www.sjofartsverket.se/upload/378/Sjokortsbilder/61.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The largest [[archipelagic state]] in the world by area with more than 17,500 islands,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indonesia at a glance |url=https://www.fao.org/indonesia/about-us/indonesia-at-a-glance/en |access-date=2026-03-04 |publisher=FAO}}</ref> and by population of around 284 million people,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mid Year Population - Statistical Data |url=https://www.bps.go.id/en/statistics-table/2/MTk3NSMy/mid-year-population--thousand-people-.html |access-date=2026-03-04 |website=www.bps.go.id |publisher=[[Statistics Indonesia]]}}</ref> is [[Indonesia]].<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Indonesia|access-date=7 December 2008 |year=2008}}</ref> <!-- It isn't clear if this 'factoid' should be in this article, or in the [[Indonesia]] article instead. -->
==See also== {{Portal|Geography|Islands}} * [[List of landforms]] * [[List of archipelagos by number of islands]] * [[List of archipelagos]] * [[Archipelagic state]] * [[List of islands]] * [[Aquapelago]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Archipelagoes}} {{Wiktionary}}
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Archipelago}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090130062925/http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/island-archipelagos/3612 30 Most Incredible Island Archipelagos]
{{Coastal geography}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Archipelagoes| ]]<!--please leave the empty space as standard--> [[Category:Coastal and oceanic landforms]] [[Category:Oceanographical terminology]]