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Definition of an Archipelago Landform

An archipelago is simply a cluster or chain of islands. There are numerous archipelagos in oceans and seas all over the world, some of which make up the world's best-known countries and landmarks.

Features
- Some archipelagos feature islands with lush vegetation and abundant wildlife. Others are simply comprised of barren rock protruding from the ocean. A good number of them are inhabited; many are not.
Geography
- Archipelagos may be isolated in open water, such as the Hawaiian Islands, or they may surround large land masses, such as the archipelagos off the southern coast of Chile. They may consist of only a few islands, or thousands. The Indonesian archipelago, comprised of 17,000 islands, is the world's largest.
Formation
- Some archipelagos are formed by volcanoes when cooled magma builds up in giant mounds on the sea floor. Others are underwater hills or mountains whose tops are exposed due to a drop in sea level. A few are formed when rising and falling tides or severe weather erode larger land masses.
Famous Archipelagos
- Well-known archipelagos include the Florida Keys, the Hawaiian Islands, the Philippines, the British Isles, the Greek Isles, the country of Japan, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, the Caribbean Islands, and the Galapagos Islands.

Nature