archipel

An archipelago is a group or chain of islands clustered in a sea or ocean. The term comes from the Greek archipélagos, from archí meaning chief and pelagos meaning sea. Archipelagos form in various ways and can range from a few islands to thousands, covering large areas or remaining relatively compact.

There are several formation types. Continental archipelagos develop from fragments of continental crust or from islands that remain tied to a continent as sea levels change, with examples including the Greek Aegean Islands. Oceanic archipelagos arise from volcanic activity on oceanic crust, often at hotspots or plate boundaries; well-known examples include the Hawaiian Islands and the Canary Islands. Coral or reef archipelagos form as long-lived corals grow in warm, shallow seas, producing low-lying island chains such as the Maldives and many atolls in Kiribati.

Archipelagos vary greatly in size and the number of islands, from a small cluster to hundreds or thousands of islands. They often host diverse and highly endemic ecosystems, but their isolation can make them particularly vulnerable to habitat loss, invasive species, and climate-related threats like sea-level rise.

Humans interact with archipelagos through fishing, tourism, transportation, and resource extraction. Island groups can develop distinct cultural and linguistic identities shaped by maritime connections and geographic separation.

Notable examples include the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, the Bahamas, the Maldives, and the Seychelles.