Recursive islands and lakes
Island or lake that is itself within an island or lake
A recursive island or lake , also known as a nested island or lake, is an island or a lake that lies within a lake or an island.[ 1]
For the purposes of defining recursion , small continental land masses such as Madagascar and New Zealand count as islands, while large continental land masses do not. Islands found within lakes in these countries are often recursive islands because the lake itself is located on an island.
Recursive islands
Islands in lakes
Idjwi, in the central-southern region of Lake Kivu
Island
In lake
Country
Area (km2 )
Coordinates
Notes
Manitoulin Island
Lake Michigan–Huron
Canada
2,766
45°39′8″N 82°06′32″W / 45.65222°N 82.10889°W / 45.65222; -82.10889
Largest lake island in the world[ 1] [ 2]
René-Levasseur Island
Manicouagan Reservoir
Canada
2,020
51°23′50″N 68°41′30″W / 51.39722°N 68.69167°W / 51.39722; -68.69167
The island is artificial as the lake it is in was made by flooding a smaller existing lake due to the creation of the Daniel-Johnson dam .[ 3]
Soisalo
spread across several lakes
Finland
1,638
62°28′58″N 28°7′53″E / 62.48278°N 28.13139°E / 62.48278; 28.13139
The largest island in continental Finland. It has shores to four different lakes (Kallavesi , Unnukka , Suvasvesi and Kermajärvi ), but they are not all at the same level.
Sääminginsalo
Saimaa
Finland
1,090
61°58′58″N 29°4′53″E / 61.98278°N 29.08139°E / 61.98278; 29.08139
Separated from one side by an artificial canal (Raikuu canal ).
Olkhon Island
Lake Baikal
Russia
730
53°9′24″N 107°23′1″E / 53.15667°N 107.38361°E / 53.15667; 107.38361
Isle Royale
Lake Superior
United States
535
48°0′0″N 88°55′0″W / 48.00000°N 88.91667°W / 48.00000; -88.91667
Ukerewe Island
Lake Victoria
Tanzania
530
2°1′46″S 33°0′36″E / 2.02944°S 33.01000°E / -2.02944; 33.01000
St. Joseph Island
Lake Michigan–Huron
Canada
365
46°13′11″N 83°56′47″W / 46.21972°N 83.94639°W / 46.21972; -83.94639
Drummond Island
Lake Michigan–Huron
United States
347
46°0′0″N 83°40′0″W / 46.00000°N 83.66667°W / 46.00000; -83.66667
Idjwi
Lake Kivu
DR Congo
340
2°9′58″S 29°3′21″E / 2.16611°S 29.05583°E / -2.16611; 29.05583
Kotasaari
Kallavesi
Finland
285
62°52′52″N 28°0′23″E / 62.88111°N 28.00639°E / 62.88111; 28.00639
Separated from one side by an artificial canal (Summa canal ).
Ometepe
Lake Nicaragua
Nicaragua
276
11°30′0″N 85°35′0″W / 11.50000°N 85.58333°W / 11.50000; -85.58333
Made of two conjoined volcanic islands
Zapatera
Lake Nicaragua
Nicaragua
54
11°43′48″N 85°49′12″W / 11.73000°N 85.82000°W / 11.73000; -85.82000
Big Island
Lake of the Woods
Canada
~200
61°07′45″N 116°45′24″W / 61.12917°N 116.75667°W / 61.12917; -116.75667
Mercer Island
Lake Washington
United States
33.4[ 4]
47°34′39″N 122°12′43.2″W / 47.57750°N 122.212000°W / 47.57750; -122.212000
Crossed by the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge , the second longest floating bridge in the world.
Duck Island
Green Lake
United States
47°40′45.9804″N 122°20′28.9098″W / 47.679439000°N 122.341363833°W / 47.679439000; -122.341363833
Wizard Island
Crater Lake
United States
1.3
42°56′19″N 122°08′44″W / 42.93861°N 122.14556°W / 42.93861; -122.14556
Crater Lake itself is a caldera formed by the eruption of Mount Mazama ; a series of smaller eruptions later formed cinder cones on the caldera floor, of which Wizard Island is the highest, and the only one now visible above the lake's surface.[ 5]
—
Orba Co
China
34°32′44″N 81°2′21″E / 34.54556°N 81.03917°E / 34.54556; 81.03917
Highest-elevation islands in the world. There are three islands of quite similar size.
Silcox Island
American Lake
United States
47°07′44″N 122°33′53″W
There are residents that live on this island, there is no ferry service to them.
Islands in lakes on islands
Samosir is in the middle of Lake Toba.
There are nearly 1,000 islands in lakes on islands in Finland alone.[ 6]
Islands in lakes on islands in lakes
Name
In lake
On island
In lake
Country
Area (km2 )
Coordinates
Notes
Kokkosaari [ 9]
Kokkohauta
Sääminginsalo
Saimaa
Finland
0.88
61°59′20″N 29°12′55″E / 61.98889°N 29.21528°E / 61.98889; 29.21528
Claimed to be the world's largest island in a lake on an island in a lake. Another island, Suursaari (62°5′28″N 28°59′28″E / 62.09111°N 28.99111°E / 62.09111; 28.99111 ) in Hanhijärvi, is also located in Sääminginsalo, and is about half the size of Kokkosaari. Separated by an artificial canal, Sääminginsalo might not be considered an island.
—
Lake Chaunoy (Lac du Chaunoy)[ 10]
René-Levasseur Island
Manicouagan Reservoir
Canada
0.44
51°33′5″N 68°49′8″W / 51.55139°N 68.81889°W / 51.55139; -68.81889
René-Levasseur Island is an artificial island, formed when the Manicouagan reservoir was flooded in 1970. There are also more than 10 other smaller islands in Lake Chaunoy, the largest of which is less than a tenth of the size of the one listed here.
Treasure Island
Lake Mindemoya
Manitoulin Island
Lake Michigan–Huron
Canada
0.4
45°45′50″N 82°10′41″W / 45.76389°N 82.17806°W / 45.76389; -82.17806
Largest natural island on a lake on an island on a lake.
Kakawaie Island
Lake Kagawong
Manitoulin Island
Lake Michigan–Huron
Canada
0.24
45°48′45″N 82°18′22″W / 45.81250°N 82.30611°W / 45.81250; -82.30611
Ryan Island[ 11]
Siskiwit Lake
Isle Royale
Lake Superior
United States
0.141
48°0′36″N 88°46′15″W / 48.01000°N 88.77083°W / 48.01000; -88.77083
Largest island in the largest lake on the largest island in the largest lake in the world (Lake Superior)
—
Second Lake
Drummond Island
Lake Michigan–Huron
United States
0.044
46°03′2″N 83°35′55″W / 46.05056°N 83.59861°W / 46.05056; -83.59861
—[ 12]
Mackaysee Lake
Chambers Island
Green Bay , Lake Michigan
United States
0.009
45°11′41″N 87°20′43″W / 45.19472°N 87.34528°W / 45.19472; -87.34528
—
Frith Lake
Kelvin Island
Lake Nipigon
Canada
0.0013
49°52′29″N 88°40′53″W / 49.87472°N 88.68139°W / 49.87472; -88.68139
Piiroonsaari[ 9]
Saravesi
Kotasaari
Kallavesi
Finland
0.22
62°50′41″N 28°4′36″E / 62.84472°N 28.07667°E / 62.84472; 28.07667
Separated by an artificial canal, Kotasaari might not be considered an island.
Suurisaari[ 9]
Oininki
Äitsaari
Saimaa
Finland
0.14
61°18′57″N 28°38′1″E / 61.31583°N 28.63361°E / 61.31583; 28.63361 |
Ukonsaari[ 9]
Kulkemus
Partalansaari
Pihlajavesi (Saimaa)
Finland
.12
61°40′9″N 28°23′43″E / 61.66917°N 28.39528°E / 61.66917; 28.39528
—
Lake Cancy
René-Levasseur Island
Manicouagan Reservoir
Canada
0.011
51°33′21″N 68°50′52″W / 51.55583°N 68.84778°W / 51.55583; -68.84778
—
Lac des Pigamons
Îlots Walcott
Lake Mistassini
Canada
0.0002
51°07′18″N 73°21′34″W / 51.12167°N 73.35944°W / 51.12167; -73.35944
—
—
Wilson Island
Great Slave Lake
Canada
0.011
61°50′7″N 112°46′57″W / 61.83528°N 112.78250°W / 61.83528; -112.78250
Raaskasaari
Kylliönjärvi
Viljakansaari
Pihlajavesi (Saimaa)
Finland
0.05
61°33′53″N 28°22′56″E / 61.56472°N 28.38222°E / 61.56472; 28.38222
—
—
Kållandsö
Vänern
Sweden
0.0027
58°41′52″N 13°11′18″E / 58.69778°N 13.18833°E / 58.69778; 13.18833
There is a second island in the lake, almost the exact same size
Ösjöholmen
Ösjön
Ammerön
Revsundssjön
Sweden
0.008
62°51′57″N 15°10′23″E / 62.86583°N 15.17306°E / 62.86583; 15.17306
—
—
Tynnelsö
Mälaren
Sweden
0.0005
59°25′1″N 17°04′44″E / 59.41694°N 17.07889°E / 59.41694; 17.07889
—
—
—
Lake Kovdozero
Russia
0.0162
66°45′23″N 31°58′37″E / 66.75639°N 31.97694°E / 66.75639; 31.97694
—
—
Shaganappie Island
Wollaston Lake
Canada
0.0066
58°22′22″N 102°57′51″W / 58.37278°N 102.96417°W / 58.37278; -102.96417
—
Calder Lake
Malcolm Island
Reindeer Lake
Canada
0.0154
56°58′24″N 102°8′1″W / 56.97333°N 102.13361°W / 56.97333; -102.13361
—
—
Ispatinow Island
Cree Lake
Canada
0.00019
57°27′40″N 106°40′47″W / 57.46111°N 106.67972°W / 57.46111; -106.67972
—
—
Blanchet Island
Great Slave Lake
Canada
0.01
61°59′40″N 112°30′56″W / 61.99444°N 112.51556°W / 61.99444; -112.51556
Several small islands in this lake
—
Vanooyen Lake
Shakespeare Island
Lake Nipigon
Canada
0.0182
49°39′36″N 88°24′10″W / 49.66000°N 88.40278°W / 49.66000; -88.40278
There is a second, smaller island in this lake.
—
Margaret Lake
Elk Island
God's Lake
Canada
0.00095
54°39′32″N 94°10′44″W / 54.65889°N 94.17889°W / 54.65889; -94.17889
Several small islands in this lake
—
—
Ile Guillaume Couture
Lac Mistassini
Canada
0.0017
50°55′1″N 73°37′32″W / 50.91694°N 73.62556°W / 50.91694; -73.62556
—
—
Ile Tchapahipane
Lac Mistassini
Canada
0.00125
51°4′34″N 73°25′25″W / 51.07611°N 73.42361°W / 51.07611; -73.42361
—
—
Pie Island
Lac Mistassini
Canada
0.0086
48°13′58″N 89°3′26″W / 48.23278°N 89.05722°W / 48.23278; -89.05722
Two islands of similar size are in this lake
—
Muir Lake
St Ignace Island
Lake Superior
Canada
0.00325
48°48′28″N 88°2′3″W / 48.80778°N 88.03417°W / 48.80778; -88.03417
—
Antler Lake
St Ignace Island
Lake Superior
Canada
0.0041
48°48′59″N 88°0′5″W / 48.81639°N 88.00139°W / 48.81639; -88.00139
Two islands of similar size are in this lake
—
Williamson Lake
St Ignace Island
Lake Superior
Canada
0.00425
48°48′4″N 88°1′39″W / 48.80111°N 88.02750°W / 48.80111; -88.02750
—
Molinski Lake
Simpson Island
Lake Superior
Canada
0.01
48°49′13″N 87°42′51″W / 48.82028°N 87.71417°W / 48.82028; -87.71417
—
Caribou Lake
Simpson Island
Lake Superior
Canada
0.00465
48°45′51″N 87°39′33″W / 48.76417°N 87.65917°W / 48.76417; -87.65917
—
Veronica Lake
Slate Islands
Lake Superior
Canada
0.0065
48°39′28″N 86°59′23″W / 48.65778°N 86.98972°W / 48.65778; -86.98972
—
Michi Lake
Michipicoten Island
Lake Superior
Canada
0.0037
47°44′28″N 85°54′29″W / 47.74111°N 85.90806°W / 47.74111; -85.90806
There are three islands in total in this lake
—
Channel Lake
Michipicoten Island
Lake Superior
Canada
0.0084
47°43′50″N 85°48′0″W / 47.73056°N 85.80000°W / 47.73056; -85.80000
A second, smaller island is immediately to the west of this one.
—
—
—
Knielinger See
Germany
0.0003
49°01′52.5″N 8°18′34.3″E / 49.031250°N 8.309528°E / 49.031250; 8.309528
—
—
Wizard Island
Crater Lake
United States
—
Lac Civic
Île Bronson
Réservoir Cabonga
Canada
There are other islands in lakes on islands in Cabonga.
Islands in lakes on islands in lakes on islands
Nameless isle within Victoria Island in Nunavut Territory in Canada[ 13]
Name
In lake
On island
In lake
On island
Country
Area (m2 )
Coordinates
Notes
—
—
—
Nettilling Lake
Baffin Island
Canada
40,000
66°41′15″N 70°28′48″W / 66.68750°N 70.48000°W / 66.68750; -70.48000
There are more islands in lakes on the 'level 2' island in Nettling Lake.
—
—
—
—
Victoria Island
Canada
16,000
69°47′32″N 108°14′26″W / 69.79222°N 108.24056°W / 69.79222; -108.24056
Sometimes unofficially referred to as Inception Island .[citation needed ]
—
Aek Natonang (Locally Sidihoni Lake[ 14] )
Samosir
Lake Toba
Sumatra
Indonesia
13,125
2°33′52″N 98°53′0″E / 2.56444°N 98.88333°E / 2.56444; 98.88333
Two islands, the largest of which is 175 m by 75 m.
—
—
Glover Island
Grand Lake
Newfoundland
Canada
7,500
48°47′48″N 57°39′28″W / 48.79667°N 57.65778°W / 48.79667; -57.65778
There are several (at least seven) other, even smaller, islets in the lake
—
—
Glover Island
Grand Lake
Newfoundland
Canada
2,300
48°43′8″N 57°46′23″W / 48.71889°N 57.77306°W / 48.71889; -57.77306
In a lake 11 km south west to the lake that contains the larger island. There are no other island in this island's lake
—
—
—
Meelpaeg Reservoir
Newfoundland
Canada
100
48°18′44″N 56°30′48″W / 48.31222°N 56.51333°W / 48.31222; -56.51333
There are 3 other smaller islands in the same lake.
—
Arethusa Pool
Mou Waho
Lake Wānaka
South Island
New Zealand
225
44°33′15″S 169°05′3″E / 44.55417°S 169.08417°E / -44.55417; 169.08417
There are two islands in this lake, both less than 25 m across.
—
—
Eilean Sùbhainn
Loch Maree
Great Britain
United Kingdom
225
57°41′24″N 5°29′9″W / 57.69000°N 5.48583°W / 57.69000; -5.48583
Two islets, each of which is 15m by 15m
—
—
—
Kooryet Lake
Banks Island (British Columbia)
Canada
~100
53°21′7″N 129°59′30″W / 53.35194°N 129.99167°W / 53.35194; -129.99167
A number of small islets, the largest of which is only 10m across
—
—
Samosir
Lake Toba
Sumatra
Indonesia
400
2°38′11″N 98°50′14″E / 2.63639°N 98.83722°E / 2.63639; 98.83722
—
—
—
Jubilee Lake
Newfoundland
Canada
20
48°3′50″N 55°10′24″W / 48.06389°N 55.17333°W / 48.06389; -55.17333
Several small islets, the largest of which is about 5 m across
—
—
Cayo pajaro
Laguna de Leche
Cuba
Cuba
832
22°13′31″N 78°40′2″W / 22.22528°N 78.66722°W / 22.22528; -78.66722
There are several other islets in the lake, all about half the area of the specified islet.
—
—
—
Lago Windhond
Isla Navarino
Chile
30
55°06′41.3″S 67°35′33.5″W / 55.111472°S 67.592639°W / -55.111472; -67.592639
Approximately 50 other smaller and similar sized islets are present in the immediate surrounding area.
Vulcan Point [ 15] [ 16]
Main Crater Lake
Volcano Island [ 17]
Lake Taal
Luzon
Philippines
14°00′35″N 120°59′54″E / 14.00972°N 120.99833°E / 14.00972; 120.99833
Islands in lakes on islands in lakes on islands in lakes
Moose Boulder was claimed to exist in the seasonal pond of Moose Flats on Ryan Island in Siskiwit Lake on Isle Royale in Lake Superior in the United States.[ 20] In 2020, an expedition to the island found that it is potentially a hoax, along with the aforementioned seasonal pond.[ 21]
Recursive lakes
Lakes on islands
Lake Alaotra region, Madagascar
Lakes on islands in lakes
Tourists on Laguna del Volcan Maderas on Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua
Lakes on islands in lakes on islands
View across Arethusa Pool (foreground) on Mou Waho Island to Lake Wānaka, New Zealand
Lakes on islands in lakes on islands in lakes
Only one such lake is known.[citation needed ]
See also
Notes
^ Was a peninsula until 1906 when a canal was dug, separating it from the mainland.[ 7]
References
^ a b c Records, Guinness World (August 28, 2018). 2019 Guinness World Records . pp. 40–41. ISBN 978-1-912286-43-0 .
^ January 2012, Natalie Wolchover 24 (January 24, 2012). "World's Largest Island-in-a-lake-on-an-island-in-a-lake-on-an-island Seen on Google Earth" . livescience.com . {{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link )
^ Québec (ministère de l’Environnement) (April 2003), "La réserve de biodiversité projetée de l'île René-Levasseur" (PDF) , Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (in French), Quebec City, p. 14, retrieved August 19, 2010
^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files" . United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020 .
^ "Crater Lake, Oregon" . NASA Earth Observatory . September 18, 2006.
^ "Suomen saaristo- ja vesistömatkailusta" (PDF) . valtioneuvosto.fi / Julkaisut .
^ "Samosir Island - Everything you Need to Know about Samosir Island" .
^ Boa Island Placenames Database of Ireland
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Shoreline - lakes (Ranta10) , 2020. Finnish Environment Centre, ELY centres. Released under CC-BY-4.0.
^ "Lac Du Chaunoy, Quebec Map" . geodata.us .
^ "GNIS Detail - Ryan Island" . geonames.usgs.gov .
^ "Islands within Chambers Island's Lake Mackaysee Now Protected by Door County Land Trust" . November 8, 2018.
^ "Island in a Lake on an Island in a Lake on an Island" . earthobservatory.nasa.gov . February 22, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2020 .
^ "Aek Natonang Lake – A Sub-Lake of Pangururan" . www.toba.indonesia-tourism.com . Retrieved August 12, 2020 .
^ Freedman, Andrew; Meko, Tim; Karklis, Laris (January 17, 2020). "Taal volcano's crater lake is nearly empty" . Washington Post .
^ "Some interesting islands and lakes" . Topografisch Verbond Elbruz. Archived from the original on September 19, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2014 .
^ "Volcano Island | volcano, Philippines" . Encyclopedia Britannica .
^ [1] , 62°39′04″ N, 97°47′14″ W
^ a b "Did you know? Canada is home to the world's most 'recursive' island" . Curiocity . February 25, 2022.
^ "Largest island on the largest lake in the world" . Albert Lea Tribune . July 21, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2020 .
^ Taub, Matthew (March 10, 2020). "The Intrepid Mother and Son Who Unraveled a Geographic Hoax" . Atlas Obscura .
^ [2]
^ "Shara-Nur lake" . BaikalNature Tour Operator . May 11, 1975. Retrieved March 13, 2020 .
^ "GNIS Detail - Lake Desor" . geonames.usgs.gov .
^ "GNIS Detail - Lake Richie" . geonames.usgs.gov .
^ Valenzuela, Orlando. "Puerta laguna misteriosa [Door to mysterious lagoon]" . El Nuevo Diario (in Spanish).
^ "Global Volcanism Program | Zapatera" . Smithsonian Institution | Global Volcanism Program .