Islands

What is an island?An island is a piece of land surrounded by water. It may be in a

river, a lake or the sea.

Some islands arehuge, and are hometo millions of

people.But most islands

arevery small. They often lie ingroups in the sea.

Cut off by waterSome islands, likethe British Isleswere once joined tolarger pieces ofland calledcontinents. They were cut offwhen the sea levelrose.

Ferries carry passengers from Britain to the continent of Europe. This one has come from France.

St. Michael’s Mount in the UK is cut off from the mainland at high tides.

Some pieces of land

are islands only at high tide. People can walk tothem when the

tideis low.

How are islands made?

Some islands are madewhen a piece of landbreaks away from acontinent. 50 millionyears ago, a huge pieceof land broke awayfrom the continent ofAfrica. It became theisland of Madagascar.

Volcanoes in the sea

Other islands arethe top of volcanoeson the sea-bed.When a volcanoerupts, hot lavapours out and piles

uparound it. Slowly, thevolcano grows bigger.

After thousandsof years, someunderseavolcanoes grow sotall that theyreach the surface.They stick out ofthe sea. Thismakes new islands.

Coral islandsSome islands aremade of coral.Corals are tinyanimals that live inthe sea and makerocky reefs. Overmany thousands ofyears the reefs pileup to make islands.

Coral islands aresometimes

shapedlike a ring. They

lievery low in thewater, and areoften flooded instorms.

New island lifeThere are no plantsor animals on a

newisland. As timepasses, birds fly tothe island. Otheranimals swim thereor float on logs.

Seeds are blown tothe new island onthe wind or arewashed up by thesea. They start to growin the sand.

Hot islandsSome islands can befound in hot,tropical climates.They are oftencoral islands andmay have palm

treesand white sandybeaches.

Cold islandsOther islands are

incold climates. The Island of Coll, where MairiHedderwick grewup, is in a coldclimate.

What is the climate like on Struay?

Think about the KatieMorag stories.

What is the weatherlike in the stories?

What clothes do thecharacters wear?