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An archipelago is a landform which consists of a chain or
cluster of islands. Archipelagoes usually occur in the open sea; less commonly a large
land mass may neighbour them. Archipelagos are often volcanic, forming along ocean ridges or hot spots, but there are many other processes involved in their
construction, including erosion and deposition.
The word comes from the Aegean Sea (Italian Arcipelago), which literally means "chief sea", from Greek arkhi (leader) and pelagos (sea). The
Aegean Sea is located between Greece in the west and Turkey in the east. The Venetian Dukes of Arcipelago ruled from Naxos, 1210
- 1566.
List of archipelagoes
See also
Lists of islands:
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