The smallest island on earth. smallest inhabited islands

Bishop's Rock is a small rocky outcrop jutting out of the sea, 4 miles west of the Isles of Scilly in Cornwall. The rock rises from a depth of 45 meters, revealing an island 46 meters long by 16 meters wide. A lighthouse is built on it, which makes Bishop the smallest island in the world with a building on it, which was recorded by the Guinness Book of Records.

The rocks around the Isles of Scilly have caused many shipwrecks over the years. In 1707, a squadron of the British Navy sank here along with 2,000 sailors, and it was decided to build a lighthouse. It was decided to build a lighthouse on the westernmost point of the islands, Bishop's Rock.

Engineer James Walker was opposed to building a massive granite tower on the island, arguing that the mountain ledge was too small for such a lighthouse. He argued that such a tower would not withstand the enormous force of the seas, demonstrating that the wind speeds here sometimes exceeded the allowable norms.


So in 1847 it was decided to install a cast iron lighthouse with a spiral staircase at a cost of £12,000. The first task was to reinforce the cast iron bases into solid granite with long wrought iron rods. Within two years the structure was completed and all that was required was a lighting apparatus. But before the lighting equipment was installed, a massive storm swept away the entire structure on the evening of February 5th, 1850.


James Walker then returned to the idea of ​​a granite tower. It was a dangerous task, because the sea here is very rough and the island is too small. The workers were settled in a housing on a small neighboring uninhabited island, where living quarters and workshops were installed. When the weather allowed, builders were taken to Bishop Rock. All granite was brought from the mainland, where it was shaped and numbered before being shipped to the island. After seven years of labor, the tower was finally completed in 1858.


In the old days, the 49-meter lighthouse used kerosene lamps. Today, generators and batteries are in operation, and a helipad was created in 1976. Bishop Island became automatic in 1991 and the last keepers left the lighthouse in December 1992. Today, the lighthouse has ten floors and up to four visitors can stay here for up to three weeks.

Since Bishop was recognized as the smallest island, for comparison, you can look at the largest islands, which are dedicated to a separate photo tape.

A large number of tiny continents constantly appear in the ocean, but not all of them remain “afloat”, they simply go back into the water abyss. But there are also those that become inhabited, that is, they are inhabited by people. Surely many do not know which is the smallest island in the world, and where it is located. This will be discussed in this article.

Bishop Rock

The title of the smallest island rightfully received this piece of land. The rock is even listed in the Guinness Book. It is located in the south of Great Britain and is a protective barrier between England and is so small that only one lighthouse stands on it - nothing else fits on the rock, it is not intended for habitation. Height (together with the structure) reaches 52 meters. the main task lighthouse - signal to nearby ships about the location of a tiny piece of land and prevent them from running aground.

Bishop Rock is the smallest of the islands of a thousand archipelagos. It is famous for its rich history. Near its shores there were many shipwrecks. However, throughout the history of its existence, the lighthouse has repeatedly saved ships from death. The building was founded in the 19th century (1847). The builders hardly managed to install a lighthouse, this was prevented by powerful waves and strong winds who simply demolished the structure. As a result, the lighthouse was built from durable stone, iron beams and granite blocks. Already in 1858, the building illuminated

Tiny inhabited island of Dunbar Rock

Another one of the tiny plots in the world. The smallest island, Dunbar, is located in the bay of the Guanaia Peninsula, 70 km from the coast. According to official figures, its area does not exceed half a hectare, and the rock itself looks more like a beautiful one. Many times this piece of land was resold, today a white three-story hotel is built on the mysterious land, which is surrounded by an oak forest. It turned out to be a truly heavenly place in the middle of the bottomless ocean. Fans are frequent customers of this villa.

Roaming Mainland Sable

What is the smallest island on earth? This is a small sandy patch of land off the coast of Nova Scotia - Sable. He constantly roams the water surface, this happens due to the oncoming current of the cold and warm seas. Sailors called it the island of death, because during a strong storm, 15-meter waves completely swallowed the earth, and ships crashed against it.

This is a real cemetery in the middle. Only about five hundred disasters have been documented. After the installation of service beacons, the tragedy stopped. Today, this “ship eater” is inhabited by a small group of people who protect the local flora from death. However, the island does not shine with rich vegetation; trees take root on it with difficulty.

Residential island Cay Caulker

There are the most beautiful corners on our planet where you feel like a real Robinson. Tourists consider Kay Kolker one of the the best places in the world. The smallest island is, of course, Bishop Rock, but this piece of land is also not very large. Its area is about 7 sq. m. This is a real exotic for tourists from megacities. An abundance of unusual vegetation combined with blue sea makes this place truly fabulous.

St. Simons Island

Located in the Atlantic. Inhabited small resort village in the middle of the deep ocean. The size land plot- a little over 10 sq. m. About 30 people permanently live and work here, the rest come to relax, enjoy the magnificent landscape and privacy.

Natural treasure of Croatia - a small island of Visovac

The ancient piece of land on which the temples of the Virgin of Visovatska and the Mother of Mercy were built is located in the middle of picturesque river Krka. Of course, this is not the smallest island on earth, but definitely the most beautiful and religious. Outside the natural heritage of the republic there is a lake teeming with trout. Tall cypress trees grow around the entire perimeter of the site, protecting the island from scorching rays and winds. An atmosphere of peace is in the air. You can get here only by boat from the village of Bristane.

There are many fabulous and mysterious mini-continents in the world. It is unlikely that anyone will be able to see the smallest island in the bottomless ocean, it simply cannot be reached. But there are also those that, thanks to man, have become a real property of the public and small resorts that bring enormous profits. Moreover, the names of some of them are associated with ancient legends and tales.

Each island lives an original life, is characterized by a special color, its own concepts of culture and civilization. Exotic small corners in the middle of the water surface attract with their pristine beauty, extraordinary landscape created by nature itself, and the cleanest beaches. Surely none of us would refuse to visit such amazing place, feel the pristine color and immerse yourself in a sea of ​​​​pleasure.

The smallest island in the world is called Bishop and is located in the southwest of Britain, the Scilly archipelago. All that is there is a lighthouse as high as a fifteen-story building. The size of the island is forty-six by sixteen meters.

The construction of a lighthouse on the smallest island began in the middle of the 19th century. Ten years passed before the lighthouse began to illuminate these places. The first attempt was unsuccessful - the strongest waves swept the entire building. The second attempt was made four years later, but before that a project was developed, according to which it was necessary to bring huge granite blocks to the island. It took three thousand tons building materials. A few years later, it was decided to strengthen the lighthouse, and then another three tons of plates were brought in. It turned out such a kind of nesting doll - a lighthouse inside a lighthouse. A hundred years later, electricity was extended to the lighthouse; at the end of the 20th century, a platform appeared on the roof of the building, on which a helicopter could land.

There is no more resource-intensive lighthouse on the planet than the one on Bishop Island - a 45-meter giant towering over aggressive waves.

But it pays for itself with interest, these places are more than disastrous. In the seas of Great Britain, perhaps, you will not find a more dangerous place. Still alive in memories local residents legends about tragic death squadron under the control of Admiral Claudesley, which occurred at the beginning of the 18th century. When the ships "Association", "Eagle" and "Romney" crashed, more than two thousand ordinary crew members said goodbye to life.

The most interesting thing is that the disaster could have been avoided. However, a terrible price had to be paid for the admiral's snobbery. The fact is that a simple sailor, apparently well acquainted with the area, dared to show "super-impudence" and personally warn the admiral that the ships had taken the wrong course. For such disrespect for the highest rank, the poor fellow was pulled up on a yardarm ... How it all ended, we already know. And the admiral himself managed to swim ashore. However, a fisherwoman noticed him, who was unconscious, when she saw a golden ring on the man’s hand, she wanted to take it off. When she did not succeed, the young lady, without thinking twice, cut off his brush.

Since ancient times, the skeletons of Scilly have had a bad reputation - many ships sank here. Western winds they raise huge waves, which, having scattered in the vastness of the Atlantic, having accumulated all the rage, fall upon the outpost of the English Channel. George Bailey says: “In 1861, gigantic waves rose much higher than the lighthouse, on the granite slab of which a bell was fixed with a twenty-centimeter cast metal bracket. It was located over a hundred feet above high tide. So, the strength and height of the waves was such that a bracket from a granite slab was pulled out like a root crop from the ground. Naturally, the bell, which weighed two hundred and fifty kilograms, fell off and shattered into pieces.

And a decade after the last event, a storm of such strength arose that the waves flooded the lighthouse, located at a height of 33 meters above sea level, with its head. Can you imagine what could happen to the ship if it were in the midst of such a manifestation of the elements?

There are cases when ships, as if in a trap, circled surrounded by rocks, but the wind literally pushed them onto the dead shore. In calm weather, the islands are almost invisible due to heavy fog. Many ships were lost off the coast, when the captains found themselves in the course of the Rennel, passing in the western part of the English Channel.

Perhaps many deaths could have been avoided had it not been for unfortunate oversight- until the 17th century, the smallest island in the world was mapped with an error of ten miles north.

According to historians, 20,000 shipwrecks occurred near the southwestern part of Great Britain, where the smallest island in the world is located. While around the rest of the coastal zone of this state - 25,000. Anyone who wants can read a book that researchers Richard Larn and Clive Carter wrote in 1969. According to rough estimates, 1250 ships rest in the "cemetery of ships".

The inhabitants of Scilly traded in robbery, for this they, knowing the peculiarity local weather, deceived the captains of the ships. Having tied a lit lantern to the horns of a hungry cow, they let the animal into the coastal meadow. The main thing is that the night should be dark and rainy. In the dark, the sailors mistook the lantern for a lighthouse and headed for the “cow lighthouse”. It was the last mistake in their life.

Of course, such frequent shipwrecks could not go unnoticed by the authorities, and a serious issue was considered at a meeting of the British Parliament. So it was decided to build a lighthouse. It was a disaster for the locals! Therefore, one should not be surprised at the joy that seized the population when the first built lighthouse was demolished by the waves.

As we already know, their joy was short-lived, the lighthouse was erected, and it stands to this day. The height of the lighthouse, standing on the smallest island in the world, was thirty-three meters, and the fire lit on it was visible at a distance of sixteen miles. Subsequently, the building grew somewhat and began to rise above sea level by 45 meters, and the visibility increased to 18 miles.

You can get to the lighthouse by boat or helicopter, although the latter option will be somewhat more expensive. At the moment, the lighthouse has ten floors, but not all are open to the public, but only four. The control room is located between the second and fourth floors. If you wish, you can stay at the lighthouse for a few days - if you like the violence of the elements, you will be interested there.

For more than 20 years, the lighthouse has been operating offline. There are no more guardians, now it is deserted and gloomy.

It is difficult to count all the islands on the planet. They differ in size, distance from continents and other factors. Such a piece of land can form in several ways: separate from the earth or become part of a solid rock ejected by an underwater volcano.

On the earth's surface during the formation of the island there was no life. Only after thousands of years they became inhabited. Birds and winds carried the seeds of shrubs and trees, and man built stone structures. Some islands have become known to the whole world due to their favorable location and tiny size.

Bishop Rock

This is the smallest piece of land. It has one building. You can find the island in the county of Carnoulle in the west of England. To get to it, you need to swim deep into the Atlantic Ocean from the Isle of Scilly 6,400 meters. Bishop Rock protrudes 2 meters above the ocean, and the length of one side does not exceed 16 meters.

Only a lighthouse has been built on this island. Its purpose is to warn ships of the danger of landing on a reef. There is only enough space for 4 people on this stretch of land. Until 1992, one worker lived here, who repaired the signal building. After full automation The lighthouse is rarely visited by visitors.

You can find this group of islands on the border of the USA and Canada. An archipelago stretching 80 km along the St. Lawrence River is being formed. This includes 1864 islands. Some of them are a UNESCO National Treasure. There are lots of different sizes here. Some of them are inhabited by people.

Officially, only land with an area of ​​​​at least 1 m², which rises above sea level all year round, can be considered an island here. There must be at least one tree growing on the ground. Favorite miniature plots of land in the Thousand Islands archipelago are the following:

Heart Island. The romantic Boldt Castle is located here. This is a popular wedding venue in the US;

Wolf Island. This is the largest area of ​​the archipelago. The number of inhabitants is 1400 people;

One Room Island. It accommodates only one one-story house, a tree and two benches.

Pontikonisi

This mini mainland is located in Greece. You can find it in the Kanoni area. The area of ​​the territory is 1 hectare. Along the shore, Pantikonisi is surrounded by a stone fence that prevents flooding at high tide. This popular tourist facility has long been known. There are excursions to ancient monuments Greece.

The only building on the small land is the Pantokrator Monastery, built at the beginning of the 12th century. Its dilapidated walls continue to amaze tourists, and the white ornate steps that pass through the island resemble a mouse's tail. You can swim to it by ferry, which departs from Cape Kanoni 4 times a day.

A small piece of land is located in a mysterious place on Lake Bled in Slovenia. Apart from fresh water it is surrounded by forests and mountains of the Julian Alps. This is the only natural island in the country, which is considered the main attraction of the area. Tourists who come to rest tend to visit these places.

You can get to the island by boat, which the owners offer for rent on the pier, or with an excursion group on gondolas. Arriving ships to the embankment of the island. From here, a stone staircase stretches to the Church of the Assumption. This place is popular with honeymooners. Wedding ceremonies and other sacraments take place here.

In the 9th century, people lived on this small piece of land. This is confirmed by archaeologists who have found household items and other traces of settlements in this area. Scientists suggest that it was a Slavic cult of pagans. Graves with human remains dating back to the 10th century have been found on the island.

In the middle of Lake Iseo near northern Italy lies the island of Loretto. It belongs administratively to the district of Siviano. It can only be viewed from the outside, since the land has been bought out, and the new owner does not welcome tourists. Sailing around it on a boat, you can see the pier, two ancient lighthouses and a neo-Gothic castle built in 1910 by Vincenzo Riccieri. Territory of Loretto planted coniferous trees.

Previously, monks lived on the island, but by 1580 the monastery ceased to exist. In these places, only one hermit Pietro remained, who left this land after some time. Arrived here in the 19th century, Gabriel Rosa (historian, traveler) discovered only the ruins of an ancient tower, a chapel destroyed over the years.

An interesting attraction of Montenegro is a miniature piece of land in the middle of the Bay of Kotor. It is located in a quiet bay surrounded by majestic mountains. On the territory you can see the abbey, founded in the 9th century. Ancient buildings are surrounded by a stone wall. The inhabitants of this area experienced constant tension. The island was captured and destroyed many times. In the 16th century, a Turkish pirate burned down the abbey. 100 years after the restoration, the building was again destroyed by an earthquake.

The Montenegrin attraction is known for its art gallery, which is located in a small church. The works of Lovro Marinov Dobrichevich, who wrote in the 15th century, are exhibited here. The mysterious island is also famous for its cypress grove. Majestic trees are planted around the cemetery, where distinguished and wealthy residents of the city of Perast are buried. Anyone can get to the island on their own by boat or with an excursion group on a boat.

A small amazing piece of land is located near the ancient city of Trakai in Lithuania. This island is located on Lake Galvė. The area is considered a landmark of the city. The miniature mainland holds an ancient castle, which was built in the 14th century. Previously, the building was a strategic object, while Trakai was considered the center of the Main Duchy of Lithuania. Now there are concerts, festivals and thematic meetings.

Center architectural ensemble defensive complex - the palace where Prince Vitovt lived. This building is surrounded by a massive wall, which has retained its strength over the centuries. You can enter the island without restrictions. You need to cross the bridge to the neighboring land and go to Trakai. It is possible to use water transport. Boats and boats are moored to the pier on the waterfront.

Islands for sale

Small areas of land that protrude above the level of the oceans and seas belong to the state. They will become private property as soon as a buyer is found for them. You can buy an island in any part the globe. The cost of such pleasure is calculated based on the location of the site, the distance to civilization, the presence of buildings. for sale great amount mini islands. The following areas are considered attractive for living and working:

Sweet, British Columbia. This piece of land is located in the middle of a lake in Canada. On the territory there is a residential building and a shipyard. The island is densely covered with coniferous trees.

Alligator Caye, Belize. tropical climate envelops this area. This green island is located near the city of Dangrit. The winding coastline is indented with coves and bays.

Lark Caye, Belize. This tropical island is located close to the mainland. There is a mobile connection here. It can be reached by boat in 15 minutes from the pier of Placencia.

Cockroach Bay, Belize. The island is located next to barrier reef. The coastline is covered with golden sand. Mangrove trees and coconut palms grow on the territory.

Tidmarsh, Nova Scotia. This area is suitable for building your own castle. Amazing miniature lands are located off the coast of Nova Scotia. The nearest city with the necessary infrastructure is Sheet Harbor.

Leader, Nova Scotia. This island is located near the city of Halifax. You can swim to it in half an hour. Two piers have been built here, which are located on opposite sides of the land.

Staff, Ireland. This is a pristine European island. Vegetation here grows along the coast. Crowns of majestic trees lean towards the water, creating cozy corners of paradise. Next to it are the same small lands that the state is ready to transfer to private individuals.

Hangover, Florida, USA. Among the miniature territories on the list for sale, this island is the largest. Previously, there was a settlement of Indian tribes, so the land is filled with interesting artifacts.

Isla Alhambra, Brazil. A small piece of land is a tropical dream of city dwellers. There are no buildings on the island, only dense greenery of forests and plains.

Little Golding Cay, Bahamas. This piece of land is part of the Berry Islands in the Bahamas. It is isolated from the outside world. It can only be reached by plane.

There are countless miniature islands on the planet, small and large. Land plots are gradually settled by people and turn into amazing sights. Even the smallest lands, washed by the waters of oceans and lakes, have names and administrative affiliations.

There is no way to strictly determine which of the myriad islets scattered in different corners world, is the smallest. There are only conditional applicants for this honorary title. For example, the Guinness Book of Records names the Bishop Rock sticking out of the water in the south of Great Britain among 1040 other islands of the archipelago. There was only a lighthouse on it. Of course, in reality there are thousands of islands even smaller. This rating also includes the smallest islands with a developed tourist infrastructure.

1. South Bass, USA (6.43 sq km)

The smallest tourist island in the world is located in that part of the waters of Lake Erie, which belongs to US state Ohio. On its small area, a small brewery and a winery could fit, where the indigenous people of these places work. In total, no more than 400 people live on the island. Tourists come here not only to try local intoxicating drinks, but also to go boating on the lake and live in nature in campsites.

2. Cay Caulker, Belize (6.5 sq km)

This island is located in the waters caribbean, 20 miles off the coast of Belize. It is here that the largest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere is located.
Less than 1500 people live on the island. Until the middle of the 19th century, Cay Caulker was uninhabited, only occasionally visited british ships to replenish water supplies or for simple repairs. But then came Mexican refugees who planted coconut palms and founded a fishing village with sandy paths, which has now become a very popular, albeit small, resort. The island has even made an airstrip, although it is still vulnerable to hurricanes.

3. Fox Island, Alaska (10.4 sq km)

This island off the coast of Seward has pebbly beaches and secluded bays, so there are plenty of marine life such as whales and sea lions.

4. Saba Island, Lesser Antilles (13 sq km)

In the Caribbean, west of Saint Martin is the island of Saba, with a population of 1200 people. The best time to visit is January-March. It is called the "pristine queen of the Caribbean" for its unspoiled nature. It has practically no tourist infrastructure and places suitable for swimming. But on the other hand, this dormant volcano, which has become an island, is very attractive for divers. There is a unique marine park here.

5. Corvo Island, Azores (15.6 sq km)

In the Azores, lost in the vastness of the Atlantic, the island of Corvo is the most secluded and tiny. An atmosphere of peace and tranquility reigns on it, and the nature and green landscapes of the island, flowering hills, picturesque lakes and rocky shores delight those travelers who were able to climb such a distance with their pristine beauty. But the name of the island, meanwhile, is translated as "island of the raven."
In the center of the Atlantic reigns subtropical climate, thanks to which almost all year round here you can go fishing, snorkeling, explore the island in detail on leisurely walks or enjoy fresh seafood.
About 500 people live in Corva in the only village of Vila Novo do Corvo, they are all very welcoming. In a very cozy tiny town, houses are built of black stone, cobbled streets flow between them. The lifestyle here is absolutely pastoral, all the locals know each other very well. ancient tradition here it began to close houses with wooden locks, which are made by local craftsmen. Residents still use them, emphasizing their friendliness and openness.

The atoll is coral island, which partially or completely surrounds the lagoon. Atolls come in a wide variety of shapes, configurations, and sizes. Co...

6. Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands (15.7 sq km)

In the Atlantic Ocean, not far from the coast of Argentina, there is a group of disputed islands (Falkland for Great Britain and Malvinas for Argentina), among which the smallest is proudly named sea ​​lion. The local waters have a very rich fauna: sea ​​elephants, penguins, killer whales. Seven local residents keep order on the island, and the island becomes available for tourists in early October, and the season closes in April.

7. Little St. Simons, USA (40.61 sq km)

Only 25 people live and work permanently on this island, and the rest of the inhabitants are tourists. The islet is located in the waters of the Atlantic off the coast of Georgia and is part of the archipelago of the Golden Isles of Georgia. The island has pristine clean sandy beaches and pine groves. Peak tourist season falls in the spring.

8. Benguerra Island, Mozambique (55 sq km)

In the Mozambique archipelago there is the island of Benguerra, on which the national marine reserve is located. Here are many of the different types birds: flamingos, terns, kingfishers, egrets, cormorants. One and a half kilometers east of the island is a coral reef, very popular among divers vacationing in Mozambique. Very beautiful corals grow here, clown fish, small sharks, sea ​​bass and a variety of brightly colored coral fish. Here, nature has formed a unique pool among the corals, which is called the "aquarium", and in which it is ideal for snorkeling.
The life rhythm of the island matches the leisurely existence of the locals, who boast a rich culture. In the north of the island, African dhows scurry on the horizon, some of which carry fishing nets, while others deliver tourists to the coral reef.
In the Mozambique Islands, located in the tropical zone, summer reigns all year round. But it is best to come here in a dry and slightly cooler season in May-November, that is, in winter for Mozambique. But from December to January it is too hot here, and in February-March tropical showers are shed.

An island is a piece of land that is separated from the mainland by water on all sides. On our planet, you can count about half a million large and crumbs ...

9. Yap, Micronesia (101.4 sq km)

This island in the south Pacific Ocean is part of the Federated States of Micronesia. For tourists, only part of the island is intended, while the other is given over Agriculture. There are excellent conditions for scuba diving.
1200 people permanently live on the island - they are simple, friendly, calm, smiling people, just like on other islands. Guests do not burden them if they respect their way of life and traditions.
The local tribe has the hardest currency in the world - stone money. And not small coins, but three-meter circles weighing several centners. The course of each coin rose if a person was personally sacrificed for it. For example, if during a sortie to the island of Palau, where the “mint” was located, the head of the family died, then all the “hard currency” owned by his relatives rose in price. Until now, walking along the stone paths in the thickets, you can see these huge stone treasures, thoroughly overgrown with moss.

10. Madeleine, USA (109.2 sq km)

Among the 22 islands of the Apostle Archipelago, only the Madeleine Island is inhabited. 300 people permanently live here. Best time for holidays here in May-October. In summer, you can even play golf, ride a bike or kayak, while in winter you can ski or throw snow dust on snowmobiles.