Major Island of Oceania

Several significant islands can be found in Oceania, a sizable area in the Pacific. Among the notable ones are New Guinea, Tasmania, Fiji, New Zealand, and mainland Australia. Visitors from all over the world are drawn to these islands by their various landscapes, populations, and natural treasures. Every island in Oceania, from the untamed beauty of South Island to the tropical paradise of Hawai'i, provides its own distinct appeal and experiences.

Features of Major Island of Oceania

Here are the descriptions of major island of Oceania −

Mainland Australia

The majority of the Australian continent, excluding Tasmania, the Aru Islands, New Guinea, and other offshore islands, is known as Mainland Australia. Along with continental Australia, the phrase can be used in a physical sense to omit neighbouring continental islands and external territories from the region that is administered by the Commonwealth of Australia. The landmass also serves as the mainland of the Commonwealth of Australia's jurisdiction. The states of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia, as well as the Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, and Northern Territory, are generally included under this umbrella phrase.

New Guinea

With an area of 785,753 km², New Guinea is the second-largest island in the world. The island, which is part of Oceania and located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, is separated from Australia by the 150 km (81 nautical miles; 93 miles)-wide Torres Strait, despite the fact that both landmasses are situated on the same continental shelf. There are many smaller islands to the west and east. The majority of Papua New Guinea's territory is located on the eastern part of the island. Western New Guinea is the name given to the western part.

South Island

The South Island, also known as Te Waipounamu, is the larger of New Zealand's two main islands in terms of surface area, with the North Island being smaller but home to more people. Cook Strait, the Tasman Sea, and the Pacific Ocean form its northern, western, southern, and eastern borders, respectively. The South Island is the world's 12th-largest island by area, measuring 150,437 square kilometres. It has an oceanic climate at low altitudes. The Southern Alps, which span along the South Island from north to south, have formed it. They include Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand's tallest peak at 3,724 meters.

North Island

One of the two major islands in New Zealand, the North Island, also known as Te Ika-a-Mui, is divided from the larger but considerably less populated South Island by the Cook Strait. The island is the fourteenth-largest island in the world with a surface area of 113,729 km². The North Island is home to 3,922,000 people, making it the 28th-most populous island in the world and the most populous island in Polynesia. This figure represents almost 77% of all New Zealanders. The North Island contains twelve major urban centres, half of which are recognized as cities. They are Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, which is situated near the southwest extremity of the island, Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Napier, Hastings, Whanganui, Palmerston North, and Whangrei.

Tasmania

Tasmania is an Australian island state. After Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, who made the first known European sighting of the island on November 24, 1642, Tasmania was given its name. The Bass Strait divides it from the Australian continent, which is situated 240 kilometres (150 miles) to the south, where the archipelago's southernmost point is found. The state includes the surrounding 1,000 islands in addition to Tasmania's main island, which is the 26th largest island in the world. With 569,825 inhabitants as of December 2021, it is the state with the lowest population in Australia. Hobart is the largest city and the capital of the state, and the Greater Hobart area is home to almost 40% of the total population. As a result, it is the most decentralized state in Australia.

New Britain

The largest island in Papua New Guinea's Islands Region, the Bismarck Archipelago, is called New Britain. The Solomon Sea's northwest corner separates it from New Guinea, and St. George's Channel separates it from New Ireland. The two largest cities in New Britain are Kimbe and Rabaul/Kokopo. The island is about Taiwan's size. The island was known as Neupommern while it was a part of German New Guinea. Having active volcanoes like as Ulawun, Langila, the Garbuna Group, the Sulu Range, and the volcanoes Tavurvur and Vulcan of the Rabaul caldera, it shares a lot of similarities with the majority of the Bismarcks. It has a crescent shape with 520 km of shoreline in the southeast.

New Caledonia (Grande Terre)

The largest and most important island in the French overseas region of New Caledonia is called Grande Terre. The island was entirely covered by water until around 37 million years ago. James Cook, a British adventurer, first saw Grande Terre in 1774 and gave it the name "New Caledonia". Approximately 1,300 kilometres (810 miles; 700 nautical miles) east of Australia lies the island. Mont Panié, at a height of 1,628 m (5,341 ft), is the highest peak. One of the biggest islands in the Pacific Ocean is called Grande Terre.

Yos Sudarso (Dolak)

Only the tiny Muli Strait separates Pulau Yos Sudarso or Pulau Dolok from New Guinea's main island. It is a portion of the South Papua region of Indonesia's Merauke Regency. The island is fashioned like a leaf and is 11,740 km² (4,530 sq. mi) in length and size. Up until 1963, it was known as Frederik Hendrik Island. Dolok, Kimaam, and Kolepom are some of the island's alternate and local names. The island has a population density of 2.5 people per square mile, or roughly 11,000 people. Languages from the Kolopom family, such as Kimaghima, Ndom, and Riantana/Kimaan, are spoken by the locals.

Hawaiʻi (Big Island)

The state of Hawaii contains Hawaii, the biggest island in the country. The Hawaiian Islands are a group of volcanic islands in the North Pacific Ocean, and this one is the furthest southeast. Its 10,430 km² make up 63% of the total landmass of the Hawaiian archipelago. Only 13% of Hawai'i's population resides there, nevertheless. After the north and south islands of New Zealand, Hawaii is the third-largest island in Polynesia. To distinguish it from the state, the island is frequently referred to as the Island of Hawai'i or Hawai'i Island. The Big Island is another name for it. Hawaii County and the island are administratively one entity.

Viti Levu

The Republic of Fiji's largest island is Viti Levu. Nearly three quarters of the Republic of Fiji's inhabitants reside on Viti Levu, which is also home to the capital city of Suva. Suva, the capital of the country, is located there, and most people in Fiji live there. The centre of the entire Fijian archipelago, Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji and is home to 70% of the population, or over 600,000. Its area is 10,389 square kilometres, and it is 146 kilometres long and 106 miles broad. The Giant Fijian Long-Horned Beetle, one of the largest insects in the world, is only known to live on the island of Viti Levu.

List of Major Island of Oceania

Here is the list of major islands of Oceania, their area and location:

Island name	Area (km2)	Country or territory
Mainland Australia	7,595,342	Australia
New Guinea	785,753	Indonesia (Papua and West Papua) and Papua New Guinea
South Island	145,836	New Zealand
North Island	111,583	New Zealand
Tasmania	65,022	Australia (Tasmania)
New Britain	35,145	Papua New Guinea (West and East New Britain provinces)
New Caledonia (Grande Terre)	16,648	New Caledonia, special collectivity of France
Yos Sudarso (Dolak)	11,742	Indonesia (Papua)
Hawaiʻi (Big Island)	10,434	Hawaii, state of the United States
Viti Levu	10,388	Fiji

Conclusion

Mainland Australia, New Guinea, South Island, North Island, Tasmania, New Britain, New Caledonia (Grande Terre), Yos Sudarso (Dolak), Hawai'i (Big Island), and Viti Levu are just a few of the significant islands that make up Oceania. The size, location, and political leanings of these islands varies. Each island offers distinctive geographical characteristics and cultural variety, from the vastness of Mainland Australia to the volcanic landscapes of Hawai'I (of the United States).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the largest island in Oceania?

The largest island in Oceania is Mainland Australia, with an area of 7,595,342 square kilometres.

Which island is home to Papua New Guinea?

Papua New Guinea is located on the island of New Guinea.

What are the two main islands of New Zealand?

The two main islands of New Zealand are the North Island and the South Island.

Where is Tasmania located?

Tasmania is an island located south of mainland Australia.

Which Island is part of the United States?

Hawaiʻi (Big Island) is part of the United States and is one of the islands in the Hawaiian archipelago.

What is the capital of Fiji?

Suva is the capital city of Fiji, located on the island of Viti Levu.