View source for Earth:Peninsula

{{Short description|Landform surrounded more than half but not entirely by water}}
{{Multiple image
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| image1            = STS-95 Florida From Space.jpg
| alt1              = 
| caption1          = Floridian Peninsula
| image2            = Scandinavia M2002074 lrg.jpg
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = [[Place:Scandinavian Peninsula|Scandinavian Peninsula]]
| image3            = Arabian Peninsula dust SeaWiFS.jpg
| alt3              = 
| caption3          = [[Place:Arabian Peninsula|Arabian Peninsula]]
| image4            = Antarctic Peninsula satellite image.jpg
| alt4              = 
| caption4          = Antarctic Peninsula
| image5            = Horn of africa.jpg
| alt5              = 
| caption5          = [[Place:Horn of Africa|Somali Peninsula]]
| image6            = Phytoplanton Bloom in the Great Barrier Reef.jpg
| alt6              = 
| caption6          = Cape York Peninsula
| footer            = Satellite photos of some of the notable peninsulas on each [[Earth:Continent|continent]].
}}

A '''peninsula''' ({{etymology|la|{{wiktlat|paeninsula}}|}}; {{etymology||{{wiktlat|paene}}|almost||{{wiktlat|insula}}|island}})<ref>{{cite American Heritage Dictionary|peninsula |access-date=2016-05-01}}</ref>{{Sfn|Nadeau|2006|p=5}} is a [[Earth:Landform|landform]] that extends from a [[Earth:Mainland|mainland]] and is surrounded by water on most, but not all of its borders.{{Sfn|HMH|2004|p=216}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Definition of peninsula |work=Cambridge Dictionaries Online |publisher={{wipe|Cambridge University Press}} |url=http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/peninsula |access-date=1 May 2016}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kersey |first=Paul |date=23 July 2021 |title=What is a Peninsula? |url=https://www.infoplease.com/world/geography/what-is-a-peninsula |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=Infoplease |language=en}}</ref> A peninsula is also sometimes defined as a piece of land bordered by water on three of its sides.{{Sfn|HMH|2004|p=216}}<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=list of peninsulas |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-peninsulas-2024442 |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=Britannica |language=en}}</ref> Peninsulas exist on all continents.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Society |first=National Geographic |date=2011-01-21 |title=peninsula |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/peninsula/ |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=National Geographic Society |language=en}}</ref>{{Sfn|Nadeau|2006|p=5}} The size of a peninsula can range from small to very large.<ref name=":1" /> The largest peninsula in the world is the [[Place:Arabian Peninsula|Arabian Peninsula]].{{Sfn|Mis|2009|p=20}}{{Sfn|Niz|2006|p=19}} Peninsulas form due to a variety of causes.

== Etymology ==
Peninsula derives {{etymology|la|{{wikt-lang|la|paeninsula}}|}}, which is translated as 'peninsula'. {{Lang|la|Paeninsula}} itself was derived {{etymology||{{wikt-lang|la|paene}}|almost||{{wikt-lang|la|insula}}|island}}, or together, 'almost an island'.{{Sfn|HMH|2004|p=216}} The word entered English in the 16th century.{{Sfn|HMH|2004|p=216}}

== Definitions ==
A peninsula is usually defined as a piece of land surrounded on most, but not all sides, by water,<ref name=":0" /> but is sometimes instead defined as a piece of land bordered by water on three of its sides.<ref name=":2" />

A peninsula may be bordered by more than one body of water, and the body of water does not have to be an ocean or a sea.{{Sfn|Heos|2010|p=15}} A piece of land on a very tight river bend or one between two rivers is sometimes said to form a peninsula, for example in the New Barbadoes Neck in New Jersey, United States.<ref name=":0" /> A peninsula may be connected to the mainland via an isthmus, for example, in the Isthmus of Corinth which connects to the Peloponnese peninsula.{{Sfn|Heos|2010|p=9}}

== Formation and types ==
Peninsulas can be formed from [[Earth:Continental drift|continental drift]], glacial [[Earth:Erosion|erosion]], [[Earth:Meltwater|glacial meltwater]], glacial [[Earth:Deposition (geology)|deposition]], [[Earth:Marine sediment|marine sediment]], [[Earth:Marine transgression|marine transgression]]s, volcanoes, [[Earth:Divergent boundary|divergent boundaries]] or river sedimentation.{{sfn|Mis|2009|p=6}} More than one factor may play into the formation of a peninsula. For example, in the case of Florida, continental drift, marine sediment, and marine transgressions were all contributing factors to its shape.{{Sfn|Heos|2010|p=8}}

=== Glaciers ===
In the case of formation from glaciers (e.g., the Antarctic Peninsula or Cape Cod), peninsulas can be created due to glacial [[Earth:Erosion|erosion]], [[Earth:Meltwater|meltwater]] or [[Earth:Deposition (geology)|deposition]].{{Sfn|Heos|2010|p=31}} If erosion formed the peninsula, softer and harder rocks were present, and since the glacier only erodes softer rock, it formed a basin.{{Sfn|Heos|2010|p=31}} This may create peninsulas, and occurred for example in the Keweenaw Peninsula.{{Sfn|Heos|2010|p=31}}

In the case of formation from meltwater, melting glaciers deposit sediment and form [[Earth:Moraine|moraine]]s, which act as dams for the meltwater.{{Sfn|Heos|2010|p=31}} This may create bodies of water that surround the land, forming peninsulas.{{Sfn|Heos|2010|p=31}}

If deposition formed the peninsula, the peninsula was composed of [[Earth:Sedimentary rock|sedimentary rock]], which was created from a large deposit of [[Earth:Drift (geology)|glacial drift]].{{Sfn|Nadeau|2006|p=6}}{{Sfn|Heos|2010|p=32–33}} The hill of drift becomes a peninsula if the hill formed near water but was still connected to the mainland, for example during the formation of Cape Cod about 23,000 years ago.{{Sfn|Nadeau|2006|p=9}}{{Sfn|Wyckoff|1999|p=328}}

=== Others ===
In the case of formation from volcanoes, when a volcano erupts [[Biology:Magma|magma]] near water, it may form a peninsula (e.g., the [[Earth:Alaska Peninsula|Alaskan Peninsula]]).{{Sfn|Nadeau|2006|p=6}} Peninsulas formed from volcanoes are especially common when the volcano erupts near shallow water.{{Sfn|Heos|2010|p=44}} [[Earth:Marine sediment|Marine sediment]] may form peninsulas by the creation of [[Earth:Limestone|limestone]].{{Sfn|Heos|2010|p=21–23}} A rift peninsula may form as a result of a [[Earth:Divergent boundary|divergent boundary]] in [[Earth:Plate tectonics|plate tectonics]] (e.g. the [[Place:Arabian Peninsula|Arabian Peninsula]]),{{Sfn|Nadeau|2006|p=10}}{{Sfn|Heos|2010|pp=43–44}} while a [[Earth:Convergent boundary|convergent boundary]] may also form peninsulas (e.g. [[Place:Gibraltar|Gibraltar]] or the [[Earth:Indian subcontinent|Indian subcontinent]]).{{Sfn|Heos|2010|p=40}} Peninsulas can also form due to [[Sedimentation|sedimentation]] in rivers. When a river carrying sediment flows into an ocean, the sediment is deposited, forming a delta peninsula.{{Sfn|Nadeau|2006|p=13}}

[[Earth:Marine transgression|Marine transgression]]s (changes in sea level) may form peninsulas, but also may affect existing peninsulas. For example, the water level may change, which causes a peninsula to become an island during high water levels.{{Sfn|Niz|2006|p=7}} Similarly, wet weather causing higher water levels make peninsulas appear smaller, while [[Earth:Arid|dry weather]] make them appear larger.{{Sfn|Niz|2006|p=13}} [[Earth:Sea level rise|Sea level rise]] from global warming will permanently reduce the size of some peninsulas over time.{{Sfn|Nadeau|2006|p=21}}

== Uses ==
Peninsulas are noted for their use as shelter for humans and [[Biology:Neanderthal|Neanderthal]]s.{{Sfn|Heos|2010|p=45}} The landform is advantageous because it gives hunting access to both land and sea animals.{{Sfn|Heos|2010|p=45}} They can also serve as markers of a nation's borders.{{Sfn|Heos|2010|p=48}}

== List of the largest peninsulas in the world ==
{{Further|Earth:List of peninsulas}}

{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! rowspan=2 | Rank
! rowspan=2 | [[Earth:List of peninsulas|Peninsula]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Earth:Continent|Continent]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Earth:Subregion|Subregion]]
! rowspan=2 | Part of
! colspan=2 | Area
! rowspan=2 | [[Earth:Nation|Nation(s)]]
! rowspan=2 | Source
|-
! class="unsortable" | (km<sup>2</sup>)
! class="unsortable" | {{nowrap|(sq mi)}}
|-
| 1
| [[Place:Arabian Peninsula|Arabian Peninsula]]
| [[Earth:Asia|Asia]]
| [[Place:West Asia|West Asia]]
| [[Place:Arabian Peninsula|Arabia]]
| 3,100,000
| {{cvt|3,100,000|km2|disp=number}}
| {{flag|Iraq}} (southern region)<br />{{flag|Jordan}} (southern region)<br />{{flag|Kuwait}}<br />{{flag|Oman}}<br />{{flag|Qatar}}<br />{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}<br />{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}<br />{{flag|Yemen}}
| <ref>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Arabia-peninsula-Asia Encyclopædia Britannica: Arabia]</ref>
|-
| 2
| [[Place:Mainland Southeast Asia|Indochinese Peninsula]]
| [[Earth:Asia|Asia]]
| [[Place:Southeast Asia|Southeast Asia]]
| [[Place:Mainland Southeast Asia|Mainland Southeast Asia]]
| 2,000,000
| {{cvt|2,000,000|km2|disp=number}}
| {{flag|Cambodia}}<br />{{flag|Laos}}<br />{{flag|Malaysia}} (western region)<br />{{flag|Myanmar}}<br />{{flag|Thailand}}<br />{{flag|Vietnam}}
| <ref>[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372622427_Polytheistic_and_Syncretic_Religious_Beliefs_in_Southeast_Asia_-_Nature_Features_and_Geographical_Distribution Polytheistic and Syncretic Religious Beliefs in Southeast Asia - Nature, Features, and Geographical Distribution]</ref>
|-
| 3
| Deccan Peninsula
| [[Earth:Asia|Asia]]
| [[Place:South Asia|South Asia]]
| [[Earth:Indian subcontinent|Indian Subcontinent]]
| 1,900,000
| {{cvt|1,900,000|km2|disp=number}}
| {{flag|India}} (southern region)
| <ref>[https://ibm.gov.in/writereaddata/files/09182018162439Mineral%20Scenario%20pdf.pdf Government of India - Ministry of Mines: Explore India]</ref>
|-
| 4
| Labrador Peninsula
| [[Earth:North America|North America]]
| [[Place:Northern America|Northern America]]
| –
| 1,400,000
| {{cvt|1,400,000|km2|disp=number}}
| {{flag|Canada}} (eastern region)
| <ref>[https://www.worldatlas.com/peninsulas/labrador-peninsula.html WorldAtlas: Labrador Peninsula]</ref>
|-
| 5
| [[Earth:Anatolia|Anatolian Peninsula]]
| [[Earth:Asia|Asia]]
| [[Place:West Asia|West Asia]]
| [[Earth:Anatolia|Asia Minor]]
| 755,688
| {{cvt|755,688|km2|disp=number}}
| {{flag|Turkey}} ([[Earth:Anatolia|Asian part]])
| <ref>[https://www.columbia.edu/~sss31/Turkiye/geo.html Turkey at a Glance]</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2 | 6
| [[Place:Scandinavian Peninsula|Scandinavian Peninsula]]
| [[Earth:Europe|Europe]]
| [[Place:Northern Europe|Northern Europe]]
| Fennoscandia
| 750,000
| {{cvt|750,000|km2|disp=number}}
| {{flag|Finland}} (northern region)<br />{{flag|Norway}}<br />{{flag|Sweden}}
| <ref>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Scandinavian-Peninsula Encyclopædia Britannica: Scandinavian Peninsula]</ref>
|-
| [[Place:Horn of Africa|Somali Peninsula]]
| [[Earth:Africa|Africa]]
| [[Place:East Africa|East Africa]]
| [[Place:Horn of Africa|Horn of Africa]]
| 750,000
| {{cvt|750,000|km2|disp=number}}
| {{flag|Ethiopia}} (eastern region)<br />{{flag|Somalia}}
| <ref>[https://articlebay.medium.com/africas-largest-peninsula-has-always-been-on-the-target-of-world-powers-9364c1f29b8e Africa’s largest peninsula has always been on the target of world powers. Where is it actually located?]</ref>
|-
| 8
| [[Place:Balkans|Balkan Peninsula]]
| [[Earth:Europe|Europe]]
| [[Place:Southern Europe|Southern Europe]]
| [[Place:Southeast Europe|South-eastern Europe]]
| 666,700
| {{cvt|666,700|km2|disp=number}}
| {{flag|Albania}}<br />{{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}<br />{{flag|Bulgaria}}<br />{{flag|Croatia}} (southern mainland)<br />{{flag|Greece}} (mainland)<br />''{{flag|Kosovo}}''<br />{{flag|Montenegro}}<br />{{flag|North Macedonia}}<br />{{flag|Romania}} (coastal region)<br />{{flag|Serbia}} (central region)<br />{{flag|Slovenia}} (south-western region)<br />{{flag|Turkey}} (European part) 
| <ref>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Balkans Encyclopædia Britannica: Balkans]</ref>
|-
| 9
| [[Place:Iberian Peninsula|Iberian Peninsula]]
| [[Earth:Europe|Europe]]
| [[Place:Southern Europe|Southern Europe]]
| [[Place:Iberian Peninsula|South-western Europe]]
| 583,256
| {{cvt|583,256|km2|disp=number}}
| {{flag|Andorra}}<br />{{flag|France}} (French Cerdagne)<br />{{flag|Gibraltar}} ({{wipe|United Kingdom}})<br />{{flag|Portugal}} (mainland)<br />{{flag|Spain}} (mainland)
| <ref>[https://www.worldatlas.com/peninsulas/iberian-peninsula.html WorldAtlas: Iberian Peninsula]</ref>
|-
| 10
| Antarctic Peninsula
| [[Earth:Antarctica|Antarctica]]
| [[Place:West Antarctica|West Antarctica]]
| –
| 522,000
| {{cvt|522,000|km2|disp=number}}
| –
| <ref>[https://www.antarcticglaciers.org/antarctica-2/antarctic-peninsula-2/ Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheet]</ref>
|-
| 11
| Taymyr Peninsula
| [[Earth:Asia|Asia]]
| [[Place:North Asia|North Asia]]
| North Siberian Lowland
| 400,000
| {{cvt|400,000|km2|disp=number}}
| {{flag|Russia}} ([[Place:Krasnoyarsk Krai|Krasnoyarsk Krai]])
| <ref>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Taymyr-Peninsula Encyclopædia Britannica: Taymyr Peninsula]</ref>
|-
| 12
| Kamchatka Peninsula
| [[Earth:Asia|Asia]]
| [[Place:North Asia|North Asia]]
| [[Place:Russian Far East|Russian Far East]]
| 370,000
| {{cvt|370,000|km2|disp=number}}
| {{flag|Russia}} (Kamchatka Krai)
| <ref>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Kamchatka-Peninsula Encyclopædia Britannica: Kamchatka Peninsula]</ref>
|}

== See also ==

* [[Earth:Barrier island|Barrier island]]
* [[Earth:Cape (geography)|Cape]]
* [[Earth:Headland|Headland]]
* [[Earth:Promontory|Promontory]]
* [[Earth:Salient (geography)|Salient]]
* [[Earth:Spit (landform)|Spit]]
* [[Earth:Tidal island|Tidal island]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{refbegin}}
*{{Cite book |last=Heos |first=Bridget |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/277466133 |title=The creation of peninsulas |date=2010 |publisher=Rosen Pub |isbn=978-1-4358-5301-0 |edition=1st |location=New York |oclc=277466133}}
*{{Cite book |last=Mis |first=Melody S. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/230802567 |title=Exploring peninsulas |date=2009 |publisher=PowerKids Press |isbn=978-1-4358-2711-0 |edition=1st |location=New York |oclc=230802567}}
*{{Cite book |last=Nadeau |first=Isaac |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/57068647 |title=Peninsulas |date=2006 |publisher=Rosen Pub. Group's PowerKids Press |isbn=1-4042-3125-0 |edition=1st |location=New York |oclc=57068647}}
*{{Cite book |last=Niz |first=Ellen Sturm |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/57366483 |title=Peninsulas |date=2006 |publisher=Capstone Press |isbn=0-7368-4308-6 |location=Mankato, Minn. |oclc=57366483}}
*{{Cite book |year=2004 |title=Word Histories and Mysteries: From Abracadabra to Zeus |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=978-0547350271 |oclc=55746553 |page= |last= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cZ88p_bSt1EC&pg=PA216 |ref={{harvid|HMH|2004}}}}
*{{Cite book |last=Wyckoff |first=Jerome |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/43274886 |title=Reading the earth : landforms in the making |date=1999 |publisher=Adastra West, Inc |isbn=0-9674075-0-8 |location=Mahwah, NJ |oclc=43274886}}
{{refend}}

==External links==

{{Earth's landforms}}


[[Category:Landforms]]

{{Sourceattribution|Peninsula}}