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The Difference Between an Islet & an Island

A landform rising from the sea and totally surrounded by water is generally called an island. Very small landforms with water on all sides, consisting mainly of rocks, carry the name islet. Calling them a small island does not adequately explain their existence and formation. Differences between islets and islands go beyond size.

Location
- Take a map of the Earth or look at your globe; it is easy to locate an island. They appear off the coast of continents and in the middle of oceans. The form chains like the Hawaiian Islands and or groups like the islands in the Caribbean. Look for an islet and your quest is harder. One example is Dokdo Islet off the east coast of Korea. It consists of two main islets; Dongdo or East Islet which rises 98 meters or 321 feet above sea level and Seodo or West Islet rising 168 meters or 551 feet above sea level. Dokdo also consists of 36 small rock formations and a series of caves.
Formation
- Islands can be formed from volcanic activity. The Hawaiian Islands represent examples of volcanic island formation. Each island is made up of at least one volcano and in the case of the big island of Hawaii, five volcanoes shaped its existence. Those volcanoes include Mauna Loa, which is the largest volcano on Earth in an active state, and Kilauea, which produces large quantities of lava every year. By contrast, Race Rocks, a series of islets located at the entrance to Victoria Harbor in Canada, is a geological formation. Its name comes from the swirling water that "race" around the rocks and cause hazardous conditions for ships.
Access and Use
- Many islets are too small to support cities and all the amenities like the Hawaiian Islands. The islet of Dokdo, for example, can only be reached by boat to the wharf on Dongdo. Visitors stay only 20 minutes to capture a view of the two islets and rock formations. Access to Race Rocks is likewise limited; in both cases preservation of the natural use of the islet is the governing principle.
Habitats
- An islet can contain a special habitat for plants and animals. Race Rocks is maintained as a ecological reserve for activities such as nesting by Black Oyster Catchers and harbor seals giving births to pups. Many other species, such as sea lions and gulls, use the islets. Human activity is kept at a minimum to allow the wildlife to use the islets in their natural state. For people around the world, videocams provide access to the reserve without disturbing the wildlife and its habitat.

Nature