Recursive islands and lakes

Island or lake that is itself within an island or lake From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A recursive island or lake, also known as a nested island or lake, is an island that lies inside a lake, or vice versa.[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 such as Australia do not. Islands found within lakes in these countries are often recursive islands because the lake itself is located on an island.

Recursive islands

Islands in lakes

Idjwi, in the central-southern region of Lake Kivu in South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo[2]
More information Island, In lake ...
Island In lake Country Area
(km2)
Coordinates Notes
Manitoulin Island Lake Michigan–Huron Canada 2,766 45°39′8″N 82°06′32″W Largest lake island in the world[1][3]
René-Levasseur Island Manicouagan Reservoir Canada 2,020 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.[4]
Soisalo spread across several lakes Finland 1,638 62°28′58″N 28°7′53″E The largest island in continental Finland. It has shores to four different lakes (Kallavesi, Unnukka, Suvasvesi and Kermajärvi), but they are not all at the same level.
Sääminginsalo Saimaa Finland 1,090 61°58′58″N 29°4′53″E Separated from one side by an artificial canal (Raikuu canal).
Olkhon Island Lake Baikal Russia 730 53°9′24″N 107°23′1″E
Isle Royale Lake Superior United States 535 48°0′0″N 88°55′0″W
Ukerewe Island Lake Victoria Tanzania 530 2°1′46″S 33°0′36″E
St. Joseph Island Lake Michigan–Huron Canada 365 46°13′11″N 83°56′47″W
Drummond Island Lake Michigan–Huron United States 347 46°0′0″N 83°40′0″W
Idjwi Lake Kivu DR Congo 340 2°9′58″S 29°3′21″E
Kotasaari Kallavesi Finland 285 62°52′52″N 28°0′23″E Separated from one side by an artificial canal (Summa canal).
Ometepe Lake Nicaragua Nicaragua 276 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 Lake of the Woods Canada ~200 61°07′45″N 116°45′24″W
Mercer Island Lake Washington United States 33.4[5] 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.
Duck Island Green Lake United States 2.4 47°40′45.9804″N 122°20′28.9098″W
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.[6]
Orba Co China 34°32′44″N 81°2′21″E Highest-elevation islands in the world. There are three islands of quite similar size.
Silcox Island American Lake United States 9.1 47°07′44″N 122°33′53″W There are residents that live on this island, there is no ferry service to them.
Preble Island Great Slave Lake Canada 1.61 A large recursive island with zero people living on it.
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Islands in lakes on islands

Samosir is in the middle of Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Indonesia[7]

There are nearly 1,000 islands in lakes on islands in Finland alone.[8]

More information Name, In lake ...
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.
Motutaiko Island Lake Taupō North Island New Zealand 0.11 38°51′17″S 175°56′36″E
Goodin Island Lake Campbell Fidalgo Island United States 0.09 48°26′18.33″N 122°37′0.73″W
Mokoia Island Lake Rotorua North Island New Zealand 1.35 38°04′50″S 176°17′05″E
Rahui Island Lake Waikareiti North Island New Zealand 38°42′45″S 177°10′30″E Largest of several islets in Lake Waikareiti
Mou Waho Lake Wanaka South Island New Zealand 1.2 44°33′10″S 169°04′50″E Largest of several islets in Lake Wanaka, including Stevensons Island
Pigeon Island Lake Wakatipu South Island New Zealand 1.7 44°55′30″S 168°23′50″E Largest of several islets in Lake Wakatipu, including Pig Island / Mātau and Hidden Island
Pomona Island Lake Manapouri South Island New Zealand 2.6 45°30′30″S 167°28′30″E Largest of several islets in Lake Manapouri; largest lake island in New Zealand
Motmot Island Lake Wisdom Long Island Papua New Guinea 0.04 5°21′8″S 147°7′2″E
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
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
Boa Island Lower Lough Erne Ireland United Kingdom 5.3 54.5241°N 7.79921°W / 54.5241; -7.79921[10] Largest lake island of the United Kingdom and inland island of Ireland
Sveta Marija Veliko jezero Mljet Croatia 0.017 42°46′8″N 17°21′37″E
Chikubu Island Lake Biwa Honshu Japan 0.14 35°25′20″N 136°8′37″E
Takeshima Lake Biwa Honshu Japan 0.6 35°17′47″N 136°10′41″E
Okishima Lake Biwa Honshu Japan 1.51 35°12′28″N 136°3′58″E Largest of the three islands located within Lake Biwa, which is Japan's largest lake.
Nakajima (Lake Kussharo) Lake Kussharo Hokkaido Japan 5.81 43°37′56″N 144°18′20″E Largest recursive island in Japan
Nakajima (Lake Toya) Lake Tōya Hokkaido Japan 4.84 42°36′07″N 140°51′11″E
Takeshima Lake Biwa Honshu Japan 0.6 35°17′47″N 136°10′41″E
Okinajima Lake Inawashiro Honshu Japan 0.07 37°30′33″N 140°02′15″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
Kasegalik Lake Flaherty Island Canada There are several other islands in that lake.
Isla Cabritos Lago Enriquillo Hispaniola Dominican Republic 16.67 18°29′21″N 71°40′55″W
Cat Ba Island Vietnam 0.0005 20°46′54″N 107°5′30″E There is a smaller one, right at the south of it.
Blöndulón Iceland Iceland There are nine other islands in this lake, all significantly smaller than this one.
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Islands in lakes on islands in lakes

More information Name, In lake ...
NameIn lakeOn islandIn lakeCountryArea
(km2)
CoordinatesNotes
Kokkosaari[11] Kokkohauta Sääminginsalo Saimaa Finland 0.88 61°59′20″N 29°12′55″E Claimed to be the world's largest island in a lake on 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. Separated by an artificial canal, Sääminginsalo might not be considered an island.
Lake Chaunoy (Lac du Chaunoy)[12] 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 Island Lake Mindemoya Manitoulin Island Lake Michigan–Huron Canada 0.4 45°45′50″N 82°10′41″W Largest natural island on a lake on an island on a lake.
Kakawaie Island Lake Kagawong Manitoulin Island Lake Michigan–Huron Canada 0.24 45°48′45″N 82°18′22″W
Ryan Island[13] 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)
Second Lake Drummond Island Lake Michigan–Huron United States 0.044 46°03′2″N 83°35′55″W
[14] Mackaysee Lake Chambers Island Green Bay, Lake Michigan United States 0.009 45°11′41″N 87°20′43″W
Frith Lake Kelvin Island Lake Nipigon Canada 0.0013 49°52′29″N 88°40′53″W
Piiroonsaari[11] Saravesi Kotasaari Kallavesi Finland 0.22 62°50′41″N 28°4′36″E Separated by an artificial canal, Kotasaari might not be considered an island.
Suurisaari[11] Oininki Äitsaari Saimaa Finland 0.14
Ukonsaari[11] Kulkemus Partalansaari Pihlajavesi (Saimaa) Finland 0.12 61°40′9″N 28°23′43″E
Lake Cancy René-Levasseur Island Manicouagan Reservoir Canada 0.011 51°33′21″N 68°50′52″W
Lac des Pigamons Îlots Walcott Lake Mistassini Canada 0.0002 51°07′18″N 73°21′34″W
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
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 Ösjön Ammerön Revsundssjön Sweden 0.008 62°51′57″N 15°10′23″E
Tynnelsö Mälaren Sweden 0.0005 59°25′1″N 17°04′44″E
Lake Kovdozero Russia 0.0162 66°45′23″N 31°58′37″E
Shaganappie Island Wollaston Lake Canada 0.0066 58°22′22″N 102°57′51″W
Calder Lake Malcolm Island Reindeer Lake Canada 0.0154 56°58′24″N 102°8′1″W
Ispatinow Island Cree Lake Canada 0.00019 57°27′40″N 106°40′47″W
Blanchet Island Great Slave Lake Canada 0.01 61°59′40″N 112°30′56″W Several small islands in this lake
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.
Margaret Lake Elk Island God's Lake Canada 0.00095 54°39′32″N 94°10′44″W Several small islands in this lake
Margaret Lake Elk Island God's Lake Canada ~0.0006 54°39′29″N 94°10′37″W Several small islands in this lake
Margaret Lake Elk Island God's Lake Canada ~0.0002 54°39′29″N 94°10′34″W Several small islands in this lake
Margaret Lake Elk Island God's Lake Canada ~0.00015 54°39′29″N 94°10′33″W Several small islands in this lake
Margaret Lake Elk Island God's Lake Canada ~0.00002–5 54°39′29″N 94°10′39″W Several small islands in this lake
Margaret Lake Elk Island God's Lake Canada ~0.00004–10 54°39′26″N 94°10′44″W Several small islands in this lake
Margaret Lake Elk Island God's Lake Canada ~0.000015-50 54°39′27″N 94°10′31″W Several small islands in this lake
Margaret Lake Elk Island God's Lake Canada ~0.000005-20 54°39′32″N 94°10′25″W Several small islands in this lake
Margaret Lake Elk Island God's Lake Canada ~0.000005–20 54°39′36″N 94°10′36″W Several small islands in this lake
Margaret Lake Elk Island God's Lake Canada ~0.000005-20 54°39′43″N 94°11′03″W Several small islands in this lake
Margaret Lake Elk Island God's Lake Canada ~0.000005–20 54°39′42″N 94°11′05″W Several small islands in this lake
Margaret Lake Elk Island God's Lake Canada ~0.000001–5 54°39′43″N 94°10′57″W Several small islands in this lake
Ile Guillaume Couture Lac Mistassini Canada 0.0017 50°55′1″N 73°37′32″W
Ile Tchapahipane Lac Mistassini Canada 0.00125 51°4′34″N 73°25′25″W
Pie Island Lac Mistassini Canada 0.0086 48°13′58″N 89°3′26″W Two islands of similar size are in this lake
Muir Lake St Ignace Island Lake Superior Canada 0.00325 48°48′28″N 88°2′3″W
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
Williamson Lake St Ignace Island Lake Superior Canada 0.00425 48°48′4″N 88°1′39″W
Molinski Lake Simpson Island Lake Superior Canada 0.01 48°49′13″N 87°42′51″W
Caribou Lake Simpson Island Lake Superior Canada 0.00465 48°45′51″N 87°39′33″W
Veronica Lake Slate Islands Lake Superior Canada 0.0065 48°39′28″N 86°59′23″W
Michi Lake Michipicoten Island Lake Superior Canada 0.0037 47°44′28″N 85°54′29″W There are three islands in total in this lake
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.
Knielinger See Germany 0.0003 49°01′52.5″N 8°18′34.3″E
Wizard Island Crater Lake United States
Lac Civic Île Bronson Réservoir Cabonga Canada There are other islands in lakes on islands in Cabonga.
Dubawnt Lake Canada 63°15′36″N 101°08′08″W Viewable on Google Earth only. As of 10 July 2024 (according to Google Earth data), the island did not collide with its island.
Xishan Island Lake Tai China 31°8′31.25″N 120°20′30.17″E Two small islands. The unnamed lake and other two surrounding lakes are collectively called 无机坑 (wújīkēng), and is the site of a former quarry.
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Islands in lakes on islands in lakes on islands

Nameless isle within Victoria Island in Nunavut Territory, Canada[15]
More information Name, In lake ...
Name In lake On islandIn lake On island Country Area
(m2)
Coordinates Notes
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 Sometimes unofficially referred to as "Inception Island", as it is a third-order island within an island.[16]
Aek Natonang (locally Sidihoni Lake[17]) 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.
King William Island Canada 12,000 69°27′39″N 97°35′43″W One circular island, which is around 120m in diameter
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
Baffin Island Canada 3,000 64°47′32″N 75°25′11″W One circular island, which is around 60m in diameter
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.
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
Ostrov Litvinova Ozero Nevskoye Sakhalin Russia 50 49°19′17″N 143°37′30″E There is (at least) one smaller island in the same lake
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.
Vulcan Point[18][19] Main Crater Lake Volcano Island[20] Lake Taal Luzon Philippines 1.2 14°00′35″N 120°59′54″E
Hatchet Lake Adak Island United States 51°43′49.1″N 176°45′31.2″W
Victoria Island Canada 944 71°42′16.8″N 115°25′41.4″W
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Islands in lakes on islands in lakes on islands in lakes

More information Name, In lake ...
Name In lake On island In lake On island In lake Country Size (km2) Coordinates Notes
Lake Yathkyed Canada 62°39′05″N 97°47′15″W [21][22]
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Recursive lakes

Lakes on islands

Lake Alaotra region, Madagascar

Lakes on islands in lakes

Tourists on Laguna del Volcan Maderas on Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua
More information Name, On island ...
NameOn islandIn lakeCountrySize (km2)CoordinatesNotes
Lake Manitou Manitoulin Island Lake Michigan–Huron Canada 106 45°46′42″N 81°59′30″W
Lac Observation René-Levasseur Island Manicouagan Reservoir Canada 13.5[23] 51°21′42″N 68°49′12″W
Ylä-Enonvesi[11] Sääminginsalo Saimaa Finland 12 62°3′7″N 29°0′12″E Includes Lake Saarijärvi that forms its southern part. Separated by an artificial canal, Sääminginsalo might not be considered an island.
Kulkemus[11] Partalansaari Pihlajavesi (Saimaa) Finland 5.8 61°40′43″N 28°24′13″E
Saajuu-Palovesi[11] Partalansaari Pihlajavesi (Saimaa) Finland 4.1 61°41′55″N 28°19′34″E
Saravesi[11] Kotasaari Kallavesi Finland 4.1 62°50′49″N 28°4′52″E Separated by an artificial canal, Kotasaari might not be considered an island.
Oininki[11] Äitsaari Saimaa Finland 2.6 61°18′52″N 28°38′21″E
Malosenjärvi[11] Viljakansaari Pihlajavesi (Saimaa) Finland 1.4 61°31′58″N 28°16′11″E
Valkiajärvi[11] Hurissalo Saimaa Finland 1.4 61°30′27″N 27°49′29″E
Ruokojärvi[11] Partalansaari Pihlajavesi (Saimaa) Finland 1.3 61°38′1″N 28°23′39″E
Närtejärvi[11] Viljakansaari Pihlajavesi (Saimaa) Finland 1.2 61°34′31″N 28°31′8″E
Kylliönjärvi[11] Viljakansaari Pihlajavesi (Saimaa) Finland 1.1 61°33′47″N 28°22′59″E
Lapinjärvi[11] Hurissalo Saimaa Finland 1.1 61°29′33″N 27°48′30″E
Shara-Nur[24] Olkhon Island Lake Baikal Russia 0.75 53°06′18″N 107°15′16″E
Siskiwit Lake Isle Royale Lake Superior United States 16.8 48°00′05″N 088°47′50″W
Lake Desor[25] Isle Royale Lake Superior United States 4.3 47°58′36″N 88°59′13″W
Lake Richie[26] Isle Royale Lake Superior United States 2.162 48°2′38″N 88°41′43″W
Lake Mindemoya Manitoulin Island Lake Michigan–Huron Canada 38.7 45°45′43″N 82°12′32″W
Lake Kagawong Manitoulin Island Lake Michigan–Huron Canada 55.6 45°50′0″N 82°18′36″W
Little Lake Washington Island Lake Michigan United States 0.17 45°24′36″N 86°56′29″W
Lake Windigo Star Island Cass Lake (Minnesota) United States 0.8 47°25′7″N 94°34′13″W
Fox Lagoon Pelee island Lake Erie Canada 0.02 41°43′57″N 82°40′18″W
Lake Henry Pelee island Lake Erie Canada 0.345 41°49′32″N 82°38′20″W
Laguna del Volcan Maderas[27] Ometepe Lake Nicaragua Nicaragua 0.034 11°26′42″N 85°30′38″W
Laguna de Zapatera[28] Zapatera Lake Nicaragua Nicaragua 0.19 11°45′59″N 85°51′25″W
Antoniyevskoye Lake Valaam Lake Ladoga Russia 0.028 61°23′18″N 30°59′48″E
Ozero Leshchevo Valaam Lake Ladoga Russia 0.27 61°21′35″N 30°55′58″E
Lake Geneserath Beaver Island Lake Michigan–Huron United States 2 45°35′55″N 85°32′23″W
Ösjön Ammerön Revsundssjön Sweden 0.58 62°51′53″N 15°10′21″E
Igelviken Färingsö Mälaren Sweden 0.47 59°21′53″N 17°42′13″E
Ändsjön Frösön Storsjön Sweden 0.32 63°10′34″N 14°34′24″E
Gråtjønna Røssvassholmen Røssvatnet Norway 0.05 65°41′46″N 13°59′47″E
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 Piirissaar Peipus Estonia
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.
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Lakes on islands in lakes on islands

View across Arethusa Pool (foreground) on Mou Waho Island to Lake Wānaka, New Zealand
More information Name, On island ...
Name On island In lake On island CountrySize (km2) Coordinates Notes
Nettilling Lake Baffin Island Canada 1.55 66°23′15″N 69°38′41″W
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°33′15″S 169°05′00″E
Rahui Island Lake Waikareiti North Island New Zealand 0.003 38°42′45″S 177°10′22″E
Jubilee Lake Newfoundland Canada 0.025 48°3′50″N 55°10′24″W
Mölnorträsk Fårö Sweden 0.00006 57°55′45″N 19°08′29″E Extremely small
Baffin Island Canada 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
Sandey Þingvallavatn Iceland Iceland
Gatter Lake Lake Hazen Ellesmere Island Canada Northernmost lake of its kind in the world.
Teinholmen Vestrevatnet Osterøy Norway 60.536628°N 5.627209°E / 60.536628; 5.627209
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Lakes on islands in lakes on islands in lakes

More information Name, On island ...
Name On island In lake On island In lake Country Size (km2) Coordinates Notes
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.[22]
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See also

Notes

  1. Was a peninsula until 1906 when a canal was dug, separating it from the mainland.[9]

References

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