Did You Know?

• An oceanic island is the most isolated land on earth, surrounded on all sides by vast stretches of water.
• Because ocean temperatures stay much the same year-round, most islands do not undergo extreme temperature variations that the interior of continents do.
• Most oceanic islands are formed as a result of volcanic activity on the ocean floor.
• Coral islands develop from reefs that form around the volcanic island.
• Because islands are so inaccessible, they do not have the great variety of plants and animals found on the mainland, however, they usually have species unique to that island.
• The coconut is a common tree on oceanic islands in the tropics.
• Seabirds such as gulls and terns frequently colonize oceanic islands.
• Islands typically have insects that do not fly.
• Oceanic islands have few reptiles, but those that are here become unusually large.
• The Komodo dragon found only on Komodo Island is the world's largest lizard, growing to nearly eight feet long.
• The giant tortoises of Aldabra and the Galapagos Islands grow to gigantic sizes.