Have you ever wanted to visit a tropical sand island, but the thought of being stuck on one is not appealing? If so, then these top 10 biggest sand islands in the world are for you. I have taken it upon myself to find some of the most unique and beautiful islands that exist.
From Hawaii to Australia, this list has them all. So next time you want to go somewhere warm and sunny, check out one of these spots that will be sure to keep your attention.
I know what you’re thinking… “how can an island be made out of sand?” Well, trust me when I say they are very real destinations with lots more than just sand. Whether or not they may seem like mirages at first glance doesn’t matter because they
What is a sand island?
A sand island, also known as a sand bar, is a low-lying area on the ocean floor that is composed of layers of coarse sediment. The sediment was created by the deposition of loose particles from the surrounding areas which were carried by ocean currents or waves.
Sand islands typically accumulate on continental shelves and on continental margins that are not fronting on the open ocean. More common in tropical and subtropical regions, they may form anywhere in water with a depth of fewer than 100 meters.
The top 10 biggest sand islands in the world are:
- The world’s biggest sand island is “La Digue Island“- Seychelles: located in the Indian Ocean, about 275 miles south of Mahé, Seychelles. Area: 16 km2. It also includes smaller islands around it as well as a raised coral reef platform called Tertiary Reef Complex, which is the largest integrated living system on Earth. The vegetation on La Digue Island consists of coconut trees and mangrove trees.
- The second largest sand island in the world is “Koh Rong Island“- Cambodia: located in the Gulf of Thailand, about 32 miles west of Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Area: 100 km2. It has a length of 13 miles (21 km) northeast to southwest and several surrounding coral reefs. Koh Rong Island is also home to the Koh Tui Community-Based Ecotourism Area. There is no electricity on the island and most homes rely on solar power.
- The third largest sand island in the world is “Grande Terre“- New Caledonia: located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, about 855 miles north of Auckland, New Zealand. Area: 9,200 km2. The island is known for its long beaches and the Kone cave with its prehistoric drawings.
- The fourth largest sand island in the world is “Bora Bora Island“- French Polynesia: located in the South Pacific Ocean about 207 miles southeast of Tahiti, French Polynesia. Area: 8 km2. The sand island consists of several small surrounding coral reefs and a natural lagoon. Bora Bora Island is a popular tourist destination because of its amazing beaches, which are lined with palm trees. The island is also known for its great diving spots and scuba diving schools.
- The fifth largest sand island in the world is “Hvar Island“- Croatia: located in the Adriatic Sea about 41 miles south of Split, Croatia. Area: 177 km2. Hvar Island is situated near the city of Split on the Pakleni Islands, which are connected to the mainland by bridges.
- The sixth largest sand island in the world is “Mu Ko Lanta National Park“- Thailand: located in the Andaman Sea between Pattaya and Phuket, Thailand. Area: 7 km2 The park, which is made up of three islands, includes the largest beach of Thailand and has dense reef systems. There are also many underwater caves that can be explored by scuba divers.
- The seventh largest sand island in the world is “Pamalican Island“- Philippines: located north of Dumaguete in the Visayas about 9 miles off the coast of Negros Island, Philippines. Area: 3 km2. The island is surrounded by white sand beaches and also has a large protected lagoon.
- The eighth largest sand island in the world is “Eleuthera Island“- Bahamas: located in the Atlantic Ocean about 30 miles east of Nassau, Bahamas. Area: 40 km2. The island is known for its gorgeous pink sand beaches and is also home to many different species of animals and beautiful coral reefs.
- The ninth largest sand island in the world is “North Keeling Atoll“- Australia: located in the Indian Ocean about 3,351 miles south of Brisbane, Australia. Area: 2 km2. The island is part of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands which are closer to Indonesia than any other inhabited territory. There are four small islets and about 50 coral reefs surrounding the island.
- The tenth largest sand island in the world is “Kho Chang Ngam“- Thailand: located in the Gulf of Thailand, right off the coast of Pattaya, Thailand. Area: 9 km2. The island is part of a 1,800 km long causeway that was built by hand over 15 years. The sand island is surrounded by coral reefs and is about 70 meters wide.
Where can you find these sand islands?
There are many sand islands in the world. Some are found in the desert, others are found in coastal regions. They are natural islands that are created by wind and waves. They are composed of sand, silt, and salt. These islands continue to change due to the forces of nature.
There are many different types of sand islands, including
- Coastal Sand Island: found along coasts near the ocean
- Desert Sand Island: found in desert regions
- Mangrove Sand Island: found in mangrove forests
- Coral Sand Island: found off the coast of islands and composed of coral and sand
- Terrestrial Coral Sand Island: found on land and composed of coral and sand
- Beach Sand Island: found at coasts near oceans
- Wetland Sand Island: found in wetlands such as marshes and swamps
- River Sand Island: found along rivers such as the Nile
- River Delta Sand Island: found at river deltas such as the Nile Delta
- Seasonal Sand Island: found near oceans or rivers during times of high water or low water fluctuations
Conclusion
The islands mentioned above are the biggest sand islands in the world (according to size). La Digue Island is also known for its beautiful beaches, which attracts many tourists every year. North Keeling Atoll- Australia has the least amount of people on it with a population of just one.
