Islands and their surrounding waters
Islands are areas of land surrounded by water, ranging from small rocky outcrops to large and varied landscapes. They occur in oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers. Although their isolation is an obvious feature, no island is completely separate from its surroundings. Water, air, weather, and the movement of organisms continually connect it with places beyond its shoreline. Islands can have different origins. Some are the exposed tops of volcanic structures, while others are parts of a larger landmass separated by water. Sediment can also accumulate into islands in rivers or...