Recursive islands and lakes

A recursive island or lake is an island or a lake that lies within a lake or an island.[1] For the purposes of defining recursion, small continental land masses such as Madagascar and New Zealand count as islands, while large continental land masses do not.

Recursive islands

Islands in lakes
Main article: Lake island
Idjwi, in the central-southern region of Lake Kivu

Only a few notable examples are given, including one on Saturn's moon Titan.

Island In lake Country Area
(km2)		 Coordinates Notes
Manitoulin Island Lake Michigan–Huron Canada2,76645°39′8″N 82°06′32″WLargest lake island in the world[1][2]
René-Levasseur Island Manicouagan Reservoir Canada2,020 51°23′50″N 68°41′30″W The island is artificial as the lake it is in was made by flooding a smaller existing lake due to the creation of the Daniel-Johnson dam
Sääminginsalo Saimaa Finland1,090 61°58′58″N 29°4′53″E If Sääminginsalo is considered an island, as it is separated from one side by an artificial canal (Raikuu canal).
Olkhon Island Lake Baikal Russia730 53°9′24″N 107°23′1″E
Isle Royale Lake Superior United States535 48°0′0″N 88°55′0″W
Ukerewe Island Lake Victoria Tanzania530 2°1′46″S 33°0′36″E
St. Joseph Island Lake Michigan–Huron Canada365 46°13′11″N 83°56′47″W
Drummond Island Lake Michigan–Huron United States347 46°0′0″N 83°40′0″W
Idjwi Lake Kivu DR Congo340 2°9′58″S 29°3′21″E
Kotasaari Kallavesi Finland285 62°52′52″N 28°0′23″E If Kotasaari is considered an island, as it is separated from one side by an artificial canal (Summa canal).
Ometepe Lake Nicaragua Nicaragua276 11°30′0″N 85°35′0″W Made of two conjoined volcanic islands
Zapatera Lake Nicaragua Nicaragua 54 11°43′48″N 85°49′12″W
Big island Great Slave Lake Canada ~200 61°07′45″N 116°45′24″W
Mercer Island Lake Washington United States 33.4[3] 47°34′39″N 122°12′43.2″W Crossed by the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge, the second longest floating bridge in the world.
Wizard Island Crater Lake United States 1.3 42°56′19″N 122°08′44″W Crater Lake itself is a caldera formed by the eruption of Mount Mazama; a series of smaller eruptions later formed cinder cones on the caldera floor, of which Wizard Island is the highest, and the only one now visible above the lake's surface.[4]

Islands in lakes on islands
Samosir is in the middle of Lake Toba.

There are nearly 1,000 islands in lakes on islands in Finland alone.[5]

Name In lake On island Country Area
(km2)		 Coordinates Notes
Samosir Lake Toba Sumatra Indonesia 630 2°35′0″N 98°49′0″E Largest island in a lake on an island.[1] Manmade from digging canal [note 1]
Gatter Island Lake Hazen Ellesmere Island Canada 0.2 81°55′5″N 69°05′35″W
Glover Island Grand Lake Newfoundland Canada 178 48°46′52″N 57°41′54″W Largest naturally occurring island in a lake on an island.
Volcano Island[7] Lake Taal Luzon Philippines 26.1 14°00′44″N 120°59′7″E
Motutaiko Island Lake Taupo North Island New Zealand 0.11 38°51′17″S 175°56′36″E
Mou Waho Lake Wānaka South Island New Zealand 1.2 44°33′10″S 169°04′50″E
Pomona Island Lake Manapouri South Island New Zealand 2.6 45°30′30″S 167°28′30″E
Unknown name West Lake Brownsea Island United Kingdom 0.0008 50°41′34″N 1°58′21″W
Belle Isle Windermere Great Britain United Kingdom 0.17 54°21′43″N 2°56′4″W
Storgrynnan Vandöfjärden Fasta Åland Finland 0.12 60°17′46″N 19°55′12″E
Unnamed Senanayaka Samudra Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 0.02 7°12′0″N 81°31′10″E
Derrywarragh Island Lough Neagh Ireland United Kingdom 0.56 54°30′57″N 6°34′11″W
Sveta Marija Veliko jezero Mljet Croatia 0.017 42°46′8″N 17°21′37″E
Nakajima Lake Tōya Hokkaido Japan 4.84 42°36′07″N 140°51′11″E
Loeha Island Lake Towuti Sulawesi Indonesia 12.5 2°46′22″S 121°32′51″E
Lalu Island Sun Moon Lake Nantou Taiwan 0.882 23°51′20″N 120°54′40″E
Yufei Island Qingcao Lake Hsinchu Taiwan 0.00425 24°46′29″N 120°58′18″E
Unnamed Kasegalik Lake Flaherty Island Canada There are several other islands in that lake.
Isla Cabritos Lago enriquillo Hispaniola Dominican Republic 16.67 18°29'22''N 71°40'56''W
Unnamed Unnamed Cat Ba Island Vietnam 0.0005 20°46'54"N 107°05'30"E There is a smaller one, right at the south of it.

Islands in lakes on islands in lakes
NameIn lakeOn islandIn lakeCountryArea
(km2)		 CoordinatesNotes
Kokkosaari[8] Kokkohauta Sääminginsalo Saimaa Finland 0.88 61°59′20″N 29°12′55″E Sääminginsalo is considered an island, as it is separated from one side by an artificial canal (Raikuu canal). Claimed by some to be the world's largest island in a lake in an island in a lake. Another island, Suursaari (62°5′28″N 28°59′28″E) in Hanhijärvi, is also located in Sääminginsalo, and is about half the size of Kokkosaari.
Unnamed Lake Chaunoy (Lac du Chaunoy)[9] René-Levasseur Island Manicouagan Reservoir Canada 0.44 51°33′5″N 68°49′8″W René-Levasseur Island is an artificial island, formed when the Manicouagan reservoir was flooded in 1970. There are also more than 10 other smaller islands in Lake Chaunoy, the largest of which is less than a tenth of the size of the one listed here.
Treasure IslandLake MindemoyaManitoulin IslandLake Michigan–HuronCanada0.445°45′50″N 82°10′41″WLargest natural island on a lake on an island on a lake.
Kakawaie Island Lake Kagawong Manitoulin Island Lake Michigan–Huron 0.24 45°48′45″N 82°18′22″W
Ryan Island[10] Siskiwit Lake Isle Royale Lake Superior United States 0.141 48°0′36″N 88°46′15″W Largest island in the largest lake on the largest island in the largest lake in the world (Lake Superior)
Unnamed Second Lake Drummond Island Lake Michigan–Huron United States 0.044 46°03′2″N 83°35′55″W
Unnamed[11] Mackaysee Lake Chambers Island Green Bay, Lake Michigan United States 0.009 45°11′41″N 87°20′43″W
Unnamed Frith Lake Kelvin Island Lake Nipigon Canada 0.0013 49°52′29″N 88°40′53″W
Piiroonsaari[8]SaravesiKotasaariKallavesiFinland0.22Kotasaari is considered an island, as it is separated from one side by an artificial canal (Summa canal).
Suurisaari[8]OininkiÄitsaariSaimaaFinland0.1461°18′57″N 28°38′1″E
Ukonsaari[8]KulkemusPartalansaariPihlajavesi (Saimaa)Finland0.1261°40′9″N 28°23′43″E
Unnamed Lake Cancy René-Levasseur Island Manicouagan Reservoir Canada 0.011 51°33′21″N 68°50′52″W
Unnamed Lac des Pigamons Îlots Walcott Lake Mistassini Canada 0.0002 51°07′18″N 73°21′34″W
unnamed unnamed Wilson island Great Slave Lake Canada 0.011 61°50′7″N 112°46′57″W
Raaskasaari Kylliönjärvi Viljakansaari Pihlajavesi (Saimaa) Finland 0.05 61°33′53″N 28°22′56″E
Unnamed Unnamed Kållandsö Vänern Sweden 0.0027 58°41′52″N 13°11′18″E There is a second island in the lake, almost the exact same size
Ösjöholmen ÖsjönAmmerönRevsundssjönSweden0.00862°51′57″N 15°10′23″E
Unnamed Unnamed Tynnelsö Mälaren Sweden 0.0005 59°25′1″N 17°04′44″E
Unnamed Unnamed Unnamed Lake Kovdozero Russia 0.0162 66°45′23″N 31°58′37″E
Unnamed Unnamed Shaganappie Island Wollaston Lake Canada 0.0066 58°22′22″N 102°57′51″W
Unnamed Calder Lake Malcolm Island Reindeer Lake Canada 0.0154 56°58′24″N 102°8′1″W
Unnamed Unnamed Ispatinow Island Cree Lake Canada 0.00019 57°27′40″N 106°40′47″W
Unnamed Unnamed Blanchet Island Great Slave Lake Canada 0.01 61°59′40″N 112°30′56″W Several small islands in this lake
unnamed island Vanooyen Lake Shakespeare Island Lake Nipigon Canada 0.0182 49°39′36″N 88°24′10″W There is a second, smaller island in this lake.
Unnamed Margaret Lake Elk Island God's Lake Canada 0.00095 54°39′32″N 94°10′44″W Several small islands in this lake
Unnamed Unnamed Ile Guillaume Couture Lac Mistassini Canada 0.0017 50°55′1″N 73°37′32″W
unnamed unnamed Ile Tchapahipane Lac Mistassini Canada 0.00125 51°4′34″N 73°25′25″W
unnamed island unnamed lake Pie Island Lake Superior Canada 0.0086 48°13′58″N 89°3′26″W Two islands of similar size are in this lake
unnamed Muir Lake St Ignace Island Lake Superior Canada 0.00325 48°48′28″N 88°2′3″W
unnamed Antler Lake St Ignace Island Lake Superior Canada 0.0041 48°48′59″N 88°0′5″W Two islands of similar size are in this lake
unnamed island Williamson Lake St Ignace Island Lake Superior Canada 0.00425 48°48′4″N 88°1′39″W
unnamed island Molinski Lake Simpson Island Lake Superior Canada 0.01 48°49′13″N 87°42′51″W
unnamed Caribou Lake Simpson Island Lake Superior Canada 0.00465 48°45′51″N 87°39′33″W
unnamed Veronica Lake Slate Islands Lake Superior Canada 0.0065 48°39′28″N 86°59′23″W
unnamed Michi Lake Michipicoten Island Lake Superior Canada 0.0037 47°44′28″N 85°54′29″W There are 3 islands in total in this lake
unnamed Channel Lake Michipicoten Island Lake Superior Canada 0.0084 47°43′50″N 85°48′0″W A second, smaller island is immediately to the west of this one.
unnamed unnamed unnamed Knielinger See Germany 0.0003 49°01′52.5″N 8°18′34.3″E
Unnamed Unnamed Wizard Island Crater Lake United States

Islands in lakes on islands in lakes on islands
Nameless isle within Victoria Island in Nunavut Territory in Canada.[12]
Name In lake On islandIn lake On island Country Area
(m2)		 Coordinates Notes
— Not specified Not specified Nettilling Lake Baffin Island Canada 40,000 66°41′15″N 70°28′48″W There are more islands in lakes on the 'level 2' island in Nettling Lake.
— — —— Victoria Island Canada 16,000 69°47′32″N 108°14′26″W The sometimes cited name Inception Island is not an official name.
— Aek Natonang (Locally Sidihoni Lake[13]) Samosir Lake Toba Sumatra Indonesia 13,125 2°33′52″N 98°53′0″E Two islands, the largest of which is 175 m by 75 m.
— — Glover Island| Grand Lake Newfoundland Canada 7,500 48°47′48″N 57°39′28″W There are several (at least seven) other, even smaller, islets in the lake
— Unnamed Glover Island Grand Lake Newfoundland Canada 2,300 48°43′8″N 57°46′23″W In a lake 11 km south west to the lake that contains the larger island. There are no other island in this island's lake
— — — Meelpaeg Reservoir Newfoundland Canada 100 48°18′44″N 56°30′48″W There are 3 other smaller islands in the same lake.
unnamed island Arethusa Pool Mou Waho Lake Wānaka South Island New Zealand 225 44°33′15″S 169°05′3″E There are two islands in this lake, both less than 25 m across.
— — Eilean Sùbhainn Loch Maree Great Britain United Kingdom 225 57°41′24″N 5°29′9″W Two islets, each of which is 15m by 15m
— — — Kooryet Lake Banks Island (British Columbia) Canada ~100 53°21′7″N 129°59′30″W A number of small islets, the largest of which is only 10m across
— — Samosir Lake Toba Sumatra Indonesia 400 2°38′11″N 98°50′14″E
— — — Jubilee Lake Newfoundland Canada 20 48°3′50″N 55°10′24″W Several small islets, the largest of which is about 5 m across
— — Cayo pajaro Laguna de Leche Cuba Cuba 832 22°13′31″N 78°40′2″W There are several other islets in the lake, all about half the area of the specified islet.

Until 2020,[14] Vulcan Point was an island that existed in Main Crater Lake on Volcano Island in Lake Taal on Luzon in the Philippines. [15] Main Crater Lake evaporated during the 2020 Taal Volcano eruption,[14] but the water in Taal Lake has returned and has a new island. Vulcan Point became a peninsular.

Islands in lakes on islands in lakes on islands in lakes

Only one lake is known to have such islands.

Name In lake On island In lake On island In lake Country Size

(km²)

 Coordinates Notes
Unnamed Unnamed Unnamed Unnamed Unnamed Lake Yathkyed Canada 62°39′04″N 97°47′14″W [16]

Moose Boulder was claimed to exist in the seasonal pond of Moose Flats on Ryan Island in Siskiwit Lake on Isle Royale in Lake Superior in the United States.[17] In 2020, an expedition to the island found that it was a hoax, as apparently was the seasonal pond.[18]

Recursive lakes
Lake Alaotra region, Madagascar

Lakes on islands

Only a few notable examples are listed.

Name On island CountrySize (km2) Coordinates Notes
Nettilling Lake Baffin Island Canada 5,542 66°29′N 70°20′W
Lake Alaotra Madagascar Madagascar 900 17.5°S 48.5°E
Laguna de Leche Cuba Cuba 67.2 22°12′33″N 78°37′17″W
Lough Neagh Island of Ireland Northern Ireland/United Kingdom 392 54°37′06″N 6°23′43″W
Lough Corrib Island of Ireland Republic of Ireland 176 53°26′N 9°14′W
Loch Lomond Great Britain Scotland/United Kingdom 71 56°05′N 4°34′W
Lake Kawaguchi Honshu Japan 6.13 35°30′56″S 138°45′36″E The largest among the Fuji Five Lakes
Þingvallavatn Iceland Iceland 84 64°11′N 21°09′W
Lake Taupo North Island New Zealand 616 38°48′25″S 175°54′28″E
Lake Wakatipu South Island New Zealand 289 45°3′S 168°30′E
Lake Biwa Honshu Japan 670 35°20′N 136°10′E Largest lake in Japan
Lake Toba Sumatra Indonesia 1130 2° 40′ 48″ N, 98° 52′ 48″ E
Lake Ranau Sumatra Indonesia 126 4°51′45″S 103°55′50″E
Lake Singkarak Sumatra Indonesia 108 0°37′12″S 100°32′24″E
Lake Towuti Sulawesi Indonesia 561 2°45′0″S 121°30′0″E
Lake Poso Sulawesi Indonesia 323 1°55′28″S 120°37′0″E
Lake Matano Sulawesi Indonesia 164 2°29′7″S 121°20′0″E
Tourists on Laguna del Volcan Maderas on Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua

Lakes on islands in lakes
NameOn islandIn lakeCountrySize (km2)CoordinatesNotes
Lake ManitouManitoulin IslandLake Michigan–HuronCanada10645°46′42″N 81°59′30″W
Ylä-Enonvesi[8]SääminginsaloSaimaaFinland1262°3′7″N 29°0′12″EIf Sääminginsalo is considered an island, as it is separated from one side by an artificial canal (Raikuu canal). Includes Lake Saarijärvi that forms its southern part.
Kulkemus[8]PartalansaariPihlajavesi (Saimaa)Finland5.861°40′43″N 28°24′13″E
Saajuu-Palovesi[8]PartalansaariPihlajavesi (Saimaa)Finland4.161°41′55″N 28°19′34″E
Saravesi[8]KotasaariKallavesiFinland4.162°50′49″N 28°4′52″EIf Kotasaari is considered an island, as it is separated from one side by an artificial canal (Summa canal).
Oininki[8]ÄitsaariSaimaaFinland2.661°18′52″N 28°38′21″E
Malosenjärvi[8]ViljakansaariPihlajavesi (Saimaa)Finland1.461°31′58″N 28°16′11″E
Valkiajärvi[8]HurissaloSaimaaFinland1.461°30′27″N 27°49′29″E
Ruokojärvi[8]PartalansaariPihlajavesi (Saimaa)Finland1.361°38′1″N 28°23′39″E
Närtejärvi[8]ViljakansaariPihlajavesi (Saimaa)Finland1.261°34′31″N 28°31′8″E
Kylliönjärvi[8]ViljakansaariPihlajavesi (Saimaa)Finland1.161°33′47″N 28°22′59″E
Lapinjärvi[8]HurissaloSaimaaFinland1.161°29′33″N 27°48′30″E
Shara-Nur[19]Olkhon IslandLake BaikalRussia53°06′18″N 107°15′16″E
Siskiwit LakeIsle RoyaleLake SuperiorUnited States16.848°00′05″N 088°47′50″W
Lake Desor[20]Isle RoyaleLake SuperiorUnited States47°58′36″N 88°59′13″W
Lake Richie[21]Isle RoyaleLake SuperiorUnited States48°2′38″N 88°41′43″W
Lake MindemoyaManitoulin IslandLake Michigan–HuronCanada45°45′43″N 82°12′32″W
Lake KagawongManitoulin IslandLake Michigan–HuronCanada45°50′0″N 82°18′36″W
Little LakeWashington IslandLake MichiganUnited States0.1745°24′36″N 86°56′29″W
Lake WindigoStar IslandCass Lake (Minnesota)United States0.847°25′7″N 94°34′13″W
Fox LagoonPelee islandLake ErieCanada0.0241°43′57″N 82°40′18″W
Lake HenryPelee islandLake ErieCanada0.34541°49′32″N 82°38′20″W
Laguna del Volcan Maderas[22]OmetepeLake NicaraguaNicaragua0.03411°26′42″N 85°30′38″W
Laguna de Zapatera[23]ZapateraLake NicaraguaNicaragua 0.1911°45′59″N 85°51′25″W
Antoniyevskoye LakeValaamLake LadogaRussia0.02861°23′18″N 30°59′48″E
Ozero LeshchevoValaamLake LadogaRussia0.2761°21′35″N 30°55′58″E
Lake GeneserathBeaver IslandLake Michigan–HuronUnited States245°35′55″N 85°32′23″W
ÖsjönAmmerönRevsundssjönSweden0.5862°51′53″N 15°10′21″E
IgelvikenFäringsöMälarenSweden0.4759°21′53″N 17°42′13″E
ÄndsjönFrösönStorsjönSweden0.3263°10′34″N 14°34′24″E
GråtjønnaRøssvassholmenRøssvatnetNorway0.0565°41′46″N 13°59′47″E
Unnamed Unnamed Lake Chad Cameroon There is another, smaller lake on that island.

There are a few more islands in Lake Chad that have a lake on them.

Süvähaud Pirrissaar Peipus Estonia
Unnamed Unnamed Thac Ba Reservoir Vietnam 0.05 21°50'24.7"N 104°58'02.5"E There are some extremely tiny islets in that lake.

Lakes on islands in lakes on islands
Name On island In lake On island CountrySize (km2) Coordinates Notes
Unnamed Unnamed Nettilling Lake Baffin Island Canada 1.55 66°23′15″N 69°38′41″W
Unnamed Glover Island Grand Lake Newfoundland Canada 1.40 48°48′9″N 57°39′41″W
Arethusa Pool Mou Waho Lake Wānaka South Island New Zealand 0.05 44.5541°S 169.0838°E / -44.5541; 169.0838
Unnamed lake unnamed island Jubilee Lake Newfoundland Canada 0.025 48°3′50″N 55°10′24″W
Unnamed lake unnamed island Mölnorträsk Fårö Sweden 0.00006 57°55′45″N 19°08′29″E Extremely small
Unnamed lake Unnamed island Unnamed lake Baffin Island Canada small 70°41′14″N 80°34′18″W
Molemole Motu'a'ali Motu Si'i Niuafo'ou Tonga 0.02 15.594888°S 175.649157°W / -15.594888; -175.649157

Lakes on islands in lakes on islands in lakes

Only one such lake is known.

Name On island In lake On island In lake Country Size (km2) Coordinates Notes
Unnamed Not Specified Not Specified Not Specified Lake Yathkyed Canada 0.013 62°39′5.8″N 97°47′11.8″W There is, even further, an island in that lake, making it the only such island in the world that has been discovered so far.

See also

Notes
  1. Was a peninsula until 1906 when a canal was dug, separating it from the mainland.[6]

References
  1. Records, Guinness World (August 28, 2018). 2019 Guinness World Records. pp. 40–41. ISBN 978-1-912286-43-0.
  2. January 2012, Natalie Wolchover 24 (January 24, 2012). "World's Largest Island-in-a-lake-on-an-island-in-a-lake-on-an-island Seen on Google Earth". livescience.com.
  3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  4. "Crater Lake, Oregon". NASA Earth Observatory. September 18, 2006.
  5. "Suomen saaristo- ja vesistömatkailusta" (PDF). valtioneuvosto.fi / Julkaisut.
  6. "Samosir Island - Everything you Need to Know about Samosir Island".
  7. "Volcano Island | volcano, Philippines". Encyclopedia Britannica.
  8. Shoreline - lakes (Ranta10), 2020. Finnish Environment Centre, ELY centres. Released under CC-BY-4.0.
  9. "Lac Du Chaunoy, Quebec Map". geodata.us.
  10. "GNIS Detail - Ryan Island". geonames.usgs.gov.
  11. "Islands within Chambers Island's Lake Mackaysee Now Protected by Door County Land Trust". November 8, 2018.
  12. "Island in a Lake on an Island in a Lake on an Island". earthobservatory.nasa.gov. February 22, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  13. "Aek Natonang Lake – A Sub-Lake of Pangururan". www.toba.indonesia-tourism.com. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  14. Freedman, Andrew; Meko, Tim; Karklis, Laris (January 17, 2020). "Taal volcano's crater lake is nearly empty". Washington Post.
  15. "Some interesting islands and lakes". Topografisch Verbond Elbruz. Archived from the original on September 19, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  16. , 62°39′04″ N, 97°47′14″ W
  17. "Largest island on the largest lake in the world". Albert Lea Tribune. July 21, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  18. Taub, Matthew (March 10, 2020). "The Intrepid Mother and Son Who Unraveled a Geographic Hoax". Atlas Obscura.
  19. "Shara-Nur lake". BaikalNature Tour Operator. May 11, 1975. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  20. "GNIS Detail - Lake Desor". geonames.usgs.gov.
  21. "GNIS Detail - Lake Richie". geonames.usgs.gov.
  22. Valenzuela, Orlando. "Puerta laguna misteriosa [Door to mysterious lagoon]". El Nuevo Diario (in Spanish).
  23. "Global Volcanism Program | Zapatera". Smithsonian Institution | Global Volcanism Program.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.