Volcanic or oceanic islands are formed due to volcanic eruptions in the ocean floor. Due to eruptions, lava layers build up and it protrudes above the sea level, thus forming such ocean islands. An example would be The Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean which is formed by a single hotspot.
Madagascar sits off the eastern coast of southern Africa
Continental islands were once part of the mainland a long time ago, but due to the shift of the tectonic plates these landmasses separated from the continents, forming islands surrounded by water.
Barrier Type of islands
Image retrieved on 06/01/2022 from sciencefacts.net
Narrow islands that lie parallel to the coastline, and separate the mainland from the ocean, are known as barrier islands. Barrier islands serve to protect the coastline from storms and waves. The islands are separated from the mainland by sounds or lagoons.
Information retrieved on 06/01/2022 from worldatlas.com
Heron Island, a coral island in the Great Barrier Reef, off the east coast of Queensland, Australia.
Coral island, tropical island built of organic material derived from skeletons of corals and numerous other animals and plants associated with corals. Coral islands consist of low land perhaps only a few metres above sea level, generally with coconut palms and surrounded by white coral sand beaches. Geologically, the island is just one small part of the whole coral reef.
Palm Jumeriah
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Although most islands that are existing today were created by natural processes, some islands are also man-made. Such islands were created to serve various purposes like the extension of habitable land, the creation of new land for agriculture or to encourage tourism.
The island of Mont Saint-Michel in France
Image retrieved on 06/01/2022 from sciencefacts.net
A tidal island refers to a piece of land that becomes visible at low tide but is submerged during high tide. These islands are connected to the mainland either naturally or via an artificial causeway. These causeways connecting the island with the mainland allow visitors to reach the island by land but require them to wary of high tides.
Information retrieved on 06/01/2022 from worldatlas.com
