A group or chain of many interconnected islands together is known by which geographical term?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Archipelago

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Basic geographical terms that describe landforms and water bodies are frequent in general knowledge exams. Understanding the correct term for groups of islands, narrow sea passages, and coastal features is important for correctly interpreting maps and descriptions of world regions. This question specifically asks for the term used to describe a group of interconnected islands, such as those found in many parts of the world's oceans and seas.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The feature consists of many islands grouped together.
  • These islands are geographically related and often close to each other.
  • Options include strait, peninsula, archipelago, and lagoon.
  • Standard textbook definitions of these landforms apply.


Concept / Approach:
An archipelago is defined as a chain, cluster, or group of islands, often formed by volcanic activity, tectonic processes, or rising sea levels around higher ground. A strait is a narrow water passage connecting two larger water bodies, not a group of islands. A peninsula is a piece of land almost surrounded by water but connected to the mainland on one side. A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from a larger sea or ocean by a barrier such as a sandbar or coral reef. Therefore, when the question mentions a group of interconnected islands, the correct term is archipelago.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the key phrase in the question: a group of interconnected islands. Step 2: Recall the definition of an archipelago as a group or chain of islands, such as the Indonesian archipelago or the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Step 3: Compare this with a strait, which is a narrow water channel connecting two larger water bodies. Step 4: Distinguish a peninsula as land extending into water on three sides but attached to the mainland. Step 5: Remember that a lagoon is a shallow coastal water body, usually separated from the ocean by a barrier. Step 6: Conclude that only archipelago correctly matches the description of many interconnected islands.


Verification / Alternative check:
Think of well known world examples: the Japanese Islands, the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Maldives are all often referred to as archipelagos. This everyday usage and textbook definition support the selection of archipelago. None of the other options commonly describe countries or regions that consist primarily of many islands grouped together, which further verifies the answer.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Strait: Indicates a narrow passage of water between two land masses and does not describe a cluster of islands.
  • Peninsula: A landform almost surrounded by water but still attached to larger land on one side, not a collection of separate islands.
  • Lagoon: A shallow, often enclosed or partially enclosed body of seawater near the coast, not a collection of land units.


Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse archipelagos with peninsulas because both involve land extending into the sea, but the crucial difference is that islands are completely surrounded by water. Another pitfall is mixing up straits and archipelagos, especially in regions where narrow channels run through island groups. Keeping each term clearly defined in memory and practicing with world map examples helps avoid such confusion.


Final Answer:
A group of many interconnected islands together is known as an Archipelago.

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