What Is an Example of an Archipelago?
An archipelago is a series of islands formed from the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates. Both Japan and Hawaii are examples of archipelagos formed in different ways.
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Types
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Archipelagos are categorized by how they were made. The Hawaiian Islands were produced by a hotspot under the Earth's crust. Japan was formed by one tectonic plate moving under another in a process called subduction.
Formation
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Most archipelagos are volcanic, and formed as the crust passes over a stationary hotspot in the magma underneath. Processes like land elevation can also form them.
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Geography
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Archipelagos are most frequently found in the open ocean, like the many island chains in the Pacific. Sometimes they are found next to large landmasses, as is the case with Japan.
Size
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Islands in an archipelago can vary greatly in size. Indonesia is part of the world's largest archipelago, and has very large islands, while the Hawaiian archipelago includes all the tiny atolls surrounding the main island.
History
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Archipelagos form over millions of years. Islands produced by the hotspot under Hawaii range from less than half a million (Hawaii) to over 82 million years old.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Roberto Garrido http://www.flickr.com/photos/10684558@N06/9389599, University of Hawaii http://www.hawaii.edu/environment/ainakumuwai/html/ainakumuwaiislandformation.htm
