9 Interesting Difference Between Peninsula and Island (With Table)

What is the difference between peninsula and island?

Peninsula and islands are different types of landforms. These landforms usually share many features despite being different. The common features tend to confuse many people.

The main difference between island and peninsula is that the former is a region cut off from the mainland and covered with water on all sides whereas the latter is connected to the mainland by an isthmus and covered with water on three sides only.

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Difference Between Peninsula and Island

Comparison Table (Peninsula vs Island)

Basic Terms	Peninsula	Island
Description	It is a region connected to the mainland with an isthmus and covered with water on three sides only.	It is a region cut off from the mainland and covered with water on all sides.
Water Surrounding the Landmass	On three sides only.	All the sides.
Size	Significant.	Small or big.
Access	Land, air, and water.	Air and water
Types	The point, split, headland, cape, bill, and promontory.	Oceanic and continental.
Formation	A gradual rise in water and surrounding the landmass at a low elevation.	Continental island occurs as a gradual break and movement away from the mainland. The oceanic island has a volcanic eruption or coral origin.
Connected to Mainland	By isthmus or stretch of land.	No connection.
Single or in groups	Single.	Often in groups.
Inhabitation	Usually inhabited.	The oceanic island is uninhabited. Continental islands are major tourist attraction sites.

What Is a Peninsula?

It is a region connected to the mainland by an isthmus and covered with water on three sides. These regions are mainly found in the seacoast by the formation of landmass due to a gradual rise in water at a low elevation.

The formation occurs when the temperature increases and the land happen to be at low elevation. The increase in temperature makes the water level rise covering the piece of land from three sides only.

Common types of the peninsula are split, bill, promontory, headland, cape, fork, and point. Isthmus is a trip of land connecting the peninsula and the mainland. An example is the Isthmus of Suez connects Asia and Africa.

The largest peninsula in the world is the Arabian Peninsula. It is followed by the Deccan (Indian) Peninsula, Indochina, and the Horn of Africa.

The Indian peninsula is located in central India to the south. The Indochina peninsula covers Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos.

The horn of the Africa peninsula is covered by the Arabian sea. It comprises Eritrea, Somalia, and Ethiopia. Keep in mind that Rame peninsula is among the most beautiful peninsula in the world.

Rame Peninsula has some of the most beautiful beaches and serene conditions. It has a rich culture and isolated from the country.

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What Is Island?

An island is a landmass isolated from the mainland and covered by water bodies on both sides. There is no connection between the mainland and the island. It can only be accessed through air or water.

The islands occur in groups and they are formed when the land split from the mainland drifting into the sea. The island is also known as the isle.

Types of islands are continental and oceanic islands. Continental island is part of the continental masses and oceanic island are formed due to eruption of volcanic.

An example of a continental island is Australia and that of an oceanic island is Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean.

There are some tropical islands formed from coral reefs. Examples of tropical islands are Maldives, Nauru, and Tonga. An example of a manmade island is Honshu in Osaka Bay.

Main Difference between Peninsula and Island

Peninsula is covered by water on three sides only. Island is surrounded by water on both sides.
Isthmus connects the peninsula to the mainland. Island is not connected to the mainland at all.
Peninsula can be accessed by land, air, and water. Island can be accessed by air and water only.
Types of the peninsula are split, point, fork, promontory, bill, headland, and cape. Types of islands are continental and oceanic.
Peninsula is one piece of land and a significant geographical area. The island is either small or big.

Similarities between Peninsula and Island

Both are surrounded by water.
Both can be accessed by air and water.
Some are inhabitable
Have great serene and tourist attraction sites

In Conclusion

Hawaii is the largest island in the United States located in the Central Pacific and Greenland is the world’s largest island with low population density.

The headland is a narrow piece of land and the cape is a rocky peninsula in the Atlantic Ocean. Promontory peninsula is a mass of land stretching into the water body.

The core difference between peninsula and island is that the former is covered by water on three sides only and connected to the mainland by isthmus while the latter is covered by water on all sides and has no connection to the mainland.

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