Although this xkcd piece is meant as a joke, it does make me wonder: why are these landmasses not islands? They appear, on the face of it, to meet a basic definition of the word island.

To focus on a particular example:
Wollaston Lake is fed mainly by the Geikie River. It is a bifurcatory lake. Its two outflows are to the west (ultimately to the MacKenzie river system which flows into the high Arctic) and to the north (to the Churchill river system which drains to Hudson Bay).

These waters, combined with the Arctic Ocean, surround the pale yellowish landmass in the xkcd map.

Perhaps someone who knows more about hydrography than me can explain why it is not an island.

dv said:

Although this xkcd piece is meant as a joke, it does make me wonder: why are these landmasses not islands? They appear, on the face of it, to meet a basic definition of the word island.

To focus on a particular example:
Wollaston Lake is fed mainly by the Geikie River. It is a bifurcatory lake. Its two outflows are to the west (ultimately to the MacKenzie river system which flows into the high Arctic) and to the north (to the Churchill river system which drains to Hudson Bay).

These waters, combined with the Arctic Ocean, surround the pale yellowish landmass in the xkcd map.

Perhaps someone who knows more about hydrography than me can explain why it is not an island.

I’ve spent considerable time earlier today trying to discover the answer to you question. Nothing definitive has emerged. The closest I could find is the an island is defined by the highest elevation of the surrounding water all being at a lower elevation than the lowest part of the surrounded dry land-mass… but this is neither satisfying to me, nor have I been able to confirm your example doesnt meet this criteria.

esselte said:

dv said:

Although this xkcd piece is meant as a joke, it does make me wonder: why are these landmasses not islands? They appear, on the face of it, to meet a basic definition of the word island.

To focus on a particular example:
Wollaston Lake is fed mainly by the Geikie River. It is a bifurcatory lake. Its two outflows are to the west (ultimately to the MacKenzie river system which flows into the high Arctic) and to the north (to the Churchill river system which drains to Hudson Bay).

These waters, combined with the Arctic Ocean, surround the pale yellowish landmass in the xkcd map.

Perhaps someone who knows more about hydrography than me can explain why it is not an island.

I’ve spent considerable time earlier today trying to discover the answer to you question. Nothing definitive has emerged. The closest I could find is the an island is defined by the highest elevation of the surrounding water all being at a lower elevation than the lowest part of the surrounded dry land-mass… but this is neither satisfying to me, nor have I been able to confirm your example doesnt meet this criteria.

This does look like a cool “Sid Meir’s ‘Civilization’” map though.

esselte said:

dv said:

Although this xkcd piece is meant as a joke, it does make me wonder: why are these landmasses not islands? They appear, on the face of it, to meet a basic definition of the word island.

To focus on a particular example:
Wollaston Lake is fed mainly by the Geikie River. It is a bifurcatory lake. Its two outflows are to the west (ultimately to the MacKenzie river system which flows into the high Arctic) and to the north (to the Churchill river system which drains to Hudson Bay).

These waters, combined with the Arctic Ocean, surround the pale yellowish landmass in the xkcd map.

Perhaps someone who knows more about hydrography than me can explain why it is not an island.

I’ve spent considerable time earlier today trying to discover the answer to you question. Nothing definitive has emerged. The closest I could find is the an island is defined by the highest elevation of the surrounding water all being at a lower elevation than the lowest part of the surrounded dry land-mass… but this is neither satisfying to me, nor have I been able to confirm your example doesnt meet this criteria.

Well thanks for having a crack at it.

dv said:

esselte said:

dv said:

Although this xkcd piece is meant as a joke, it does make me wonder: why are these landmasses not islands? They appear, on the face of it, to meet a basic definition of the word island.

To focus on a particular example:
Wollaston Lake is fed mainly by the Geikie River. It is a bifurcatory lake. Its two outflows are to the west (ultimately to the MacKenzie river system which flows into the high Arctic) and to the north (to the Churchill river system which drains to Hudson Bay).

These waters, combined with the Arctic Ocean, surround the pale yellowish landmass in the xkcd map.

Perhaps someone who knows more about hydrography than me can explain why it is not an island.

I’ve spent considerable time earlier today trying to discover the answer to you question. Nothing definitive has emerged. The closest I could find is the an island is defined by the highest elevation of the surrounding water all being at a lower elevation than the lowest part of the surrounded dry land-mass… but this is neither satisfying to me, nor have I been able to confirm your example doesnt meet this criteria.

Well thanks for having a crack at it.

I’ve mostly concluded that geographers are a flaky bunch.

I would say an island has to be SURROUNDED by common water

An island on a river is land surrounded by common river water ie it doesn’t vary in its make up.

A island on the ocean is surrounded by common water- sea water