The largest peninsula on earth is Arabian. Where is the largest peninsula located?

Arabian Peninsula

Sand... It seems to be everywhere here. Several palm trees. Or maybe a whole oasis, saving in this deserted desert. Bedouins saddled camels, and women in black clothes hurried about their business. Here comes the warm Red Sea. Its soft blue waves roll onto the lonely coast. Arabian Peninsula. Here, the religious peace and humility that reigns in the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina intersect with the idle fun and relaxation of tourists in Dubai. This is what it is, the largest peninsula in the world.

The Arabian Peninsula is located in southwest Asia. Its borders are washed by the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden in the south, the Red Sea in the west, and the Persian and Oman Gulfs in the east. The area of ​​the largest peninsula in the world is more than 2.7 million square meters. km. Such a vast territory could accommodate Italy 10 times, Germany 7 times or France 4 times.

Most of the Arabian Peninsula is occupied by Saudi Arabia, also known as the “land of two mosques.” Every year, pilgrims from all over the world perform the Hajj to the shrines of Islam - Mecca and Medina.

Saudi Arabia and climate

The capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, has grown from a small town with a population of 160 thousand people into a large metropolis over the past half century. Now 4.8 million people live in the “city of gardens” (this is how its name is translated from ancient Arabic). The rapid development of the capital occurred in the wake of the “oil boom”, because colossal deposits of “black gold” were discovered in Saudi Arabia. Oil exports turned the country into a wealthy modern state.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, the Arabian Peninsula is home to countries such as Bahrain, Yemen, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and one of the richest countries in the Middle East - the United Arab Emirates.

The climate of the Arabian Peninsula is not striking in its diversity. Most of Arabia is dominated by tropical air. Winter here is warm, the temperature rarely drops below +14 C. Only in the Far North, when cold winds rarely penetrate the peninsula, can the thermometer drop to 0. Summer is predominantly dry and hot. The air warms up to 35-45 C. Rains are expected on the peninsula in a way that can only be expected in the Sahara. There is very little precipitation: in the south - about 50 mm. per year (sometimes there is no rain for several years in a row), in tropical zones - about 100 mm. The southwest and southeast of the peninsula are a little more fortunate - here, on the mountain slopes, 500-700 mm falls. annual precipitation. Prolonged droughts and dust storms are common occurrences for the Arabians.

Oil and other resources of the peninsula

Oil is the main wealth of the Arabian Peninsula. It was the extraction of this valuable fuel that breathed life into the capital of Arabia and many other cities of the peninsula. Entire countries, such as Oman, Qatar, and the UAE, live on income from the sale of “black gold.” The largest oil fields are concentrated on the coast of the Persian Gulf.

Saudi Arabia and the peninsula states closest to it have huge reserves of natural gas. Qatar closes the top three leading countries with proven deposits of “blue fuel”. It is the third country in terms of gas supply after Russia and Iran.

In addition to oil and gas, potash and table salt, limestone, gypsum, marble and iron ore are mined on the Arabian Peninsula.

Facts about the Arabian Peninsula

The soils on the peninsula are predominantly sandy. In the south there are red-brown soils, in the lowlands there are saline soils. In some places there are gray soils and gray-brown soils. The flora here, despite the dominance of primitive sandy soils, is diverse. Food for livestock, aloe and euphorbia grow among the desert sands. In the mountains you can find forests of acacias and mimosa. At an altitude of 1500-1800 m, olive trees, pistachios and various shrubs feel great. Fruit, coffee and grain are grown on the mountain slopes. In the lowlands of the Red Sea there are numerous oases where the main plant is the date palm. In some places there are grapes and coconuts.

The fauna of the Arabian Peninsula is similar to that of Africa. Reptiles, rodents, ungulates and even predators - there was a place for everyone on the peninsula. The desert area is home to jerboas, lizards, chameleons, snakes and even antelopes and gazelles. In short, animals that can do without water for a long time. On the slopes of the mountains lives a small, rabbit-like animal - the hyrax. You can also find a baboon in the mountains. Of the large mammals, wolves, foxes, hyenas, panthers and leopards are widespread.

The most important animal for Arabs is the horse. Arabian horses are hardy, strong and fast. The camel is no less important on the peninsula. This “ship of the desert” transports people and heavy cargo, provides milk, meat and wool.

Fauna of the Arabian Peninsula

The bird world is represented by guinea fowl, partridges, larks, as well as plowshares, hawks and falcons. In the steppes and deserts you can find the ostrich, and on the coast - the stork and pelican.

The main pest of these fields is locusts. It devastates lowlands and destroys crops. However, this insect can also become prey for the Arab. After all, the Bedouins eat locusts as food. Breeding in the deserts of Arabia, it migrates to other Asian countries.

Residents of the peninsula

The population of the entire Arabian Peninsula as a whole cannot be determined. Through basic calculations, one can obtain only an approximate value of 65 million people in 2010. Of these, the largest part lives in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The average life expectancy on the Arabian Peninsula is 74 years. The largest ethnic group is the Arabs. Also, Indians, Iraqis and South Asian peoples have found their home here. The language spoken on the peninsula is mainly Arabic, but English is also widely spoken.

The lifestyle of the people inhabiting central Arabia has changed little over time and the development of new technologies. Here the inhabitants are still engaged in cattle breeding, irrigated agriculture, and crafts. The same cannot be said about the coastal zones of the peninsula, where the main oil pipelines go and where there is active activity in the extraction of valuable fuel. Ports are being built on the coast, industry and construction are actively developing.

Ekaterina Katina, Samogo.Net

The first place is rightfully taken Arabian Peninsula.

The size of the Arabian Peninsula is about three and a half meters square. Saudi Arabia is located on most of its territorial part; the rest of the piece is occupied by the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and others. The huge peninsula located in the southwestern part is washed by seas such as the Red Sea and the Arabian, and gulfs such as the Persian and Oman. The sun on the peninsula never tires. Natural resources such as natural gas and oil deposits are also hidden here.

In second place West Antarctica.

This peninsula is the coldest among all. Its dimensions are slightly smaller than the previous one, it is the main region of Antarctica, separating the Trans-Artic mountains. This peninsula is not only very cold, but icy; the main part of it is covered with ice.

Third place. Indochina.

The space occupies a little more than two million kilometers squared. This peninsula is washed by the Andaman Sea and the South China Sea, and such gulfs as the Gulf of Thailand, Tonkin and Bengal. The peninsula has many rivers and a very humid climate.

On the fourth Hindustan.

Its size is not much, not little, but exactly two million kilometers square. It is located in Asia. There are, of course, India, Pakistan and, at the end, Bangladesh. There is one bay of Bengal, and one of the waters of the same ocean - the Indian.

Fifth place Labrador.

Refers to the American shores, more precisely North American, and to be completely reliable, to the shores belonging to the peninsula called Labrador. Occupies one and a half million square kilometers near the eastern Canadian border. Nearby are the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and there are a lot of rivers and, of course, lakes here. Animals such as lynxes and foxes live here, and quite interesting plants grow.

In sixth place is peninsula of Scandinavia.

The location of the peninsula is in the European North-West, its size does not exceed 800 thousand kilometers square. It includes Sweden, Norway, and a piece of Finland. There is a very interesting rock there called Troll's Tongue.

On the seventh is Somalia.

In parallel, Somalia is called the Horn of Africa, as its shape is reminiscent. It is washed by the ocean called the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. There are many parks and nature reserves on the peninsula, but nature still has to suffer from exhaustion. Many animal species here are at the level of extinction. Well, there are more reptiles here than in any other place.

Eighth place The Iberian Peninsula

It is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay. Previously, the Iberian peoples lived here, so the peninsula received another name - Iberian.

The penultimate position is occupied by Balkan Peninsula.

It occupies half a million square kilometers, on which Serbia, Turkey, Italy, Romania, Bosnia and many others are located. There are also the Balkan Mountains, and the peninsula was named after them. After Prince Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, the First World War began here.

In last, tenth place Asia Minor and Taimyr.

These two peninsulas split the last place in half.

Seas such as the Black, Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean wash Asia Minor. Türkiye takes over the entire peninsula.

Taimyr, located in Russia, is washed by the Laptev and Kara Seas. The territory contains large lakes and rivers. The weather conditions here are bad, summers are very short and not at all warm. Northern animals live that are adapted to frost. For a long time no one lived on the peninsula, but over time people got used to the harsh climate.

A peninsula is not just a piece of land that is adjacent to the mainland or some island, as is written in most encyclopedias. This is a great place to relax away from civilization, with a large number of beautiful places where you can relax both physically and mentally. There are a large number of different peninsulas on our planet; I would like to highlight the largest ones in area.

Its total area is approximately 2,730 thousand square kilometers. It is difficult to calculate the exact area of ​​the peninsula, since part of the territory belongs to the mainland to which it is adjacent. It is impossible to say exactly where the territory of the peninsula begins, and where the mainland is, so it is almost impossible to calculate the exact area. But in this case, whatever one may say, the Arabian Peninsula occupies a large territory on which a dozen of the most ordinary European countries can be accommodated. But most of the Arabian Peninsula belongs to Saudi Arabia, and some small countries are located on its territory, these are Qatar, Kuwait, Yemen, Bahrain and the United Emirates. Accordingly, the peninsula is washed by the Arabian Sea and partly by the Red Sea. Also several gulfs: Aden, Oman and Persian Gulf. The sun shines here 365 days a year; in the middle of the day there is abnormal heat, making it almost impossible to be outside. It may not be the most picturesque peninsula, but it does have a large number of oil and gas fields.

In terms of its approximate area, this peninsula is just a little smaller than the Arabian Peninsula, but in terms of climate they are completely opposite. West Antarctica is rightfully considered the coldest peninsula. The main territory of Antarctica is covered with ice, which does not melt throughout the year. The sun appears quite rarely in this part of the world, as do humans. Only scientific expeditions are sent to West Antarctica; of course, some of the landscapes here are simply breathtaking, but the place is not intended for tourist tours.

After the cold Antarctica, we will return to Asia to the warmer Indochina Peninsula. By the name you can already guess where exactly this peninsula is located, which occupies a little more than two million square kilometers (2088 thousand kilometers). The peninsula is washed by the Andaman and South China Seas. Also, a large number of rivers flow through the territory of the Indochina Peninsula. The climate is quite humid, but due to this the area is very picturesque; it is on this peninsula that such famous resorts as Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam are located.

Most reference books and encyclopedias indicate that the area of ​​Hindustan is two million square kilometers. The territorial location is again in Asia, it is on this peninsula that India is powerfully located, as well as two other states of Bangladesh and Pakistan. There is no such humid climate as in Indochina, there is only one exit to the Indian Ocean. Despite the large territory of Hindustan, it is washed by only one Bay of Bengal. Accordingly, the climate here is dry and hot.

And finally, from Asia we move to North America to the shores of the largest peninsula in America - Labrador. In eastern Canada, the Lambrador Peninsula stretches over almost one and a half million square kilometers. A very picturesque peninsula, which people come to see and travel from different parts of the world. The following rivers flow here: Churchill, La Grande, Koksoak, George, Fay, Arno, and there are also a large number of lakes on the peninsula. Due to the abundance of different vegetation, the peninsula is home to many interesting animals, such as lynx, muskrat and various types of fox.

It is just a little smaller in territory than the previous peninsula by 50 thousand kilometers. But, despite its small area, it is considered the largest peninsula in Africa, just like the Scandinavian Peninsula in Europe. Due to its bizarre shape on the map, Somalia is nicknamed the Horn of Africa. A large number of reptiles and various rare species of animals live here. Due to frequent droughts, a large number of local species have already become extinct, and some are on the verge of extinction.

And we are transported back to Europe, here the Iberian Peninsula stretches over 582 thousand square kilometers. It is also called the Iberian Peninsula. Most of it is occupied by Spain and quite a bit by Portugal. Also, countries such as France and Great Britain pass through this peninsula quite a bit, but not so much that most Spaniards believe that the island belongs to them.

Proudly occupies third place in Europe, and penultimate in the general list with a total area of ​​505 thousand square kilometers. The Balkan Peninsula, one might say, was torn apart by the central European states. It managed to accommodate most tourist countries such as: Bulgaria, Türkiye, Greece, Montenegro, Italy. And even though this peninsula took the penultimate line in the TOP 10, it would have taken first place as the most visited and tourist peninsula.

The list is closed again by a peninsula from Asia, which has an area of ​​approximately 400 thousand square kilometers. This island is washed by the largest number of seas: the Black, Marmara, Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. Absolutely the entire territory of the peninsula belongs to Turkey. In the evening, you can see beautiful seascapes from any side of the peninsula.

Or an island, while others are surrounded by water. It is often difficult to determine the exact boundaries and area of ​​this geographical feature. There are detached, attached and accumulative peninsulas. This article provides a list of the ten largest peninsulas in the world with a brief description and location on the map.

10. Taimyr

Area 400,000 km². The peninsula is located in the north of central Siberia, between the mouths of the Yenisei and Khatanga. Located beyond the Arctic Circle, Taimyr is characterized by a harsh climate. Winter lasts 8 months. The landscape is presented and. Rocky lands with lichens and bushes give way to cedar forests. Taimyr is home to reindeer, musk ox, arctic fox, and sable. Walruses set up rookeries on the coasts. Internal and external reservoirs are rich in fish. The territory of the peninsula belongs to Russia.

9. Balkan Peninsula

Area 505,000 km². The peninsula is located in the south. The mountainous terrain dominates here, the climate is humid and cool. Pine and oak forests grow in the south, while the north is represented by broad-leaved forests. The fauna is diverse, there are many representatives of, and. Among the mammals you can find wild boar, roe deer, deer, and bear. The peninsula is shared by 13 countries, including Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria.

8. Iberian Peninsula

Area 582,000 km². The territory is located in southwestern Europe, washed by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Thanks to the Pyrenees, the climate in different parts of the peninsula has its own characteristics. The north and west are dominated by peat bogs and broad-leaved forests. To the south the flora takes on a Mediterranean character. There are groves of cork oak and dwarf palm trees here. In the interior, the landscape resembles a semi-desert. There are 25 species of birds. There are many reptiles and few have survived. You can meet deer, wild boars, mountain goats, and bears. The lands of the peninsula belong to Spain, France, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar.

7. Somalia

Area 750,000 km². The peninsula is located in the northeast. This area has an arid climate. Summer temperatures are +34˚C, which is why the flora is not very diverse. Tropical forests grow along the banks of water bodies. The rest of the land is covered with grass and bushes. The animal world has many faces, but some species are on the verge of extinction. Crocodiles, hyenas, lions, and buffalos live here. The peninsula belongs to the Federal Republic of Somalia and Ethiopia.

6. Asia Minor

Area 756,000 km². The land lies in the west. It is washed by the Black, Aegean, Marmara and Mediterranean seas. Most of the territory is occupied by mountains and plateaus. Climate, January temperatures average +10˚C. Evergreen and broad-leaved forests grow on the mountain slopes, which merge into the zone of alpine meadows. The fauna is rich in reptiles, birds and fish. The peninsula belongs to Turkey.

5. Scandinavian Peninsula

The area is approximately 800,000 km². The territory is located in the northwestern part of Europe. The north and west of the peninsula are famous for their fjords, which form many islands and archipelagos. In the south and east there are dangerous underwater rocks. The climate is mostly temperate. Almost half of the territory is occupied by forests. There are coniferous, mixed and broad-leaved forests. The fauna is represented by deer, elk, foxes and hares. There are bird colonies on the coasts. Sea waters are rich in fish. The peninsula is home to Norway, Sweden and Finland.

4. Labrador

Area 1.4 million km². The lands are located in eastern Canada. On one side it is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the other by several bays. Mountain ranges rise in the east. The climate is cool, average summer temperatures do not exceed +18˚C. Most of the territory lies in the forest-tundra zone. The flora is represented by firs, larches, and white spruces. Labrador is home to martens, foxes and muskrats. The peninsula belongs to Canada.

3. Hindustan

The area is more than 2 million km². The territory is located in the southern part of Asia. Hindustan lies in the equatorial monsoon belt. 90% of the annual rain falls during the summer. The inland areas, covered by mountains, have a dry climate. The flora is alternating with light forests. It is observed along the banks of rivers. Most of the tropical forests have been cut down, and the area is occupied by plantations. There are many representatives in Hindustan: tigers, spotted leopards. Amphibians, birds and reptiles are common. The peninsula is shared by India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

2. Indochina

The area is about 2.4 million km². The peninsula is located in southeast Asia, between the Pacific and Indian water basins. The terrain of the territory is varied: mountainous areas give way to plateaus and lowlands. Indochina is located in the climatic zone. Tropical forests coexist with mangroves, but most of the natural vegetation has been replaced by cultivated plants. Animals include monkeys, tigers, rhinoceroses, and wild cats. Indochina is home to Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Cambodia.

1. Arabian Peninsula

The area is about 3.25 million km². The peninsula is located in southwest Asia. Influenced by continental tropical air, the peninsula has low rainfall all year round. The relief is represented by deserts, lowlands, plateaus and mountain ranges. There are no permanent bodies of water here. The main plant crops are date palm and coffee tree. Savannah-type vegetation appears on the mountain slopes. The fauna is similar to the fauna of neighboring regions of Europe and Africa. Here you can meet jackals, antelopes, gazelles, fennec foxes, and leopards. The world of reptiles is diverse. The Arabian Peninsula is home to Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, UAE, Yemen, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

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