Do Islands Belong to Continents?

[coolerifyoudid]

I stand somewhat corrected...

"A continent is one of Earth’s seven main divisions of land. The continents are, from largest to smallest: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.

When geographers identify a continent, they usually include all the islands associated with it. Japan, for instance, is part of the continent of Asia. Greenland and all the islands in the Caribbean Sea are usually considered part of North America."

I'm not sure why this surprised me so much given it's proximity to Canada, but I'm not sure I've ever considered Greenland to be part of North America.

 

[JayV]

I'm not sure why this surprised me so much given it's proximity to Canada, but I'm not sure I've ever considered Greenland to be part of North America.

It's definitely a part of the North American plate. As is a fair share of Siberia, and northern Japan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tectonic_plates#/media/File:Plates_tect2_en.svg

Yeah, Greenland and part of Japan are apparently on the same plate. I wouldn't have guessed that.

 

[CyberJJJ]

This question has consumed my project team today and I wanted to get CF's opinion on it. It's become a riveting debate about regions, tectonic plates, what are islands even, and the list goes on.

So I ask...

Do islands belong to continents?

I think you are out on an island caring about this question during the Iowa State/Iowa football week!

 

[CNECloneFan]

This question has consumed my project team today and I wanted to get CF's opinion on it. It's become a riveting debate about regions, tectonic plates, what are islands even, and the list goes on.

So I ask...

Do islands belong to continents?

Geologically it depends upon the origin of the island and the nature of the crust (continental vs. oceanic) that separates the island from the nearest continent.

Geographically / politically it depends upon distance and history.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

Yes.

 

[VeloClone]

If no other continent claims Hawaii I think we should send the Navy there to conquer it for ourselves.

Is that you Admiral Yamamoto?