oceanic islands
Mid-sea volcanic remnants
Oceanic islands are islands that rise from the ocean floor rather than from continental shelves.
They form through volcanic activity or coral reef building, and include Hawaii, the Galápagos, and most Pacific atolls.
Because they were never connected to continents, their native species arrived by air, water, or drift—producing distinctive ecosystems with high rates of endemic life.
- atollRing-shaped reef island
- coral reefCalcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- coral bleachingStress-induced reef discoloration
- volcanoEarth's fiery vent
- volcanic rockCooled magma material
endemic species · biodiversity · marine ecosystem · tourism · isolation · remote outpost · archipelago · indigenous cultures · Robinson Crusoe · lost at sea · invasive species · climate change impact · lagoon · Polynesia · plate tectonics · subduction zone · Pacific islands · seamount
- Atlantic IslandsAzores, Bermuda, Canary Islands, Madeira, Cape Verde
- island ecologyendemic species, archipelago, archipelagos, atoll, atolls
- biogeographybioregion, species range, endemism, dispersal, native range
- Island Biogeographyendemic species, colonization, volcanic islands, atolls, archipelagos
- Caribbean wildlifeshark, sharks, dolphin, whale, flamingo
- nautical navigationnautical charts, navigation charts, marine charts, shipping routes, sea charts
oceanic islandscontinental shelves
Submerged edges of landmasses
continents · mainland · continental crust · coastal islands · barrier islands