Editing Mainland

{{short description|Continental part of any polity or the main island within an island nation}}
{{Other uses}}'''Mainland''' is defined as "relating to or forming the main part of a [[country]] or [[continent]], not including the islands around it [regardless of status under territorial jurisdiction by an entity]."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/mainland|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720090300/http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/mainland|archive-date=2017-07-20|title=MAINLAND &#124; definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary}}</ref> The term is often [[human geography|politically, economically and/or demographically]] more significant than [[political geography|politically associated]] [[Outlying territory|remote territories]], such as [[exclaves]] or [[oceanic islands]] situated outside the [[continental shelf]].

In geography, "mainland" can denote the [[continent]]al part of any [[polity]] or the main island within an [[island nation]]. In [[geopolitics]], "mainland" is sometimes used interchangeably with terms like [[Metropolis#Metropolis as a mainland area|metropole]] as an antonym to [[overseas territories]]. In the sense of "[[wikt:heartland|heartland]]", mainland is the opposite of [[wikt:periphery|periphery]]. In some language a separate concept of "mainland" is missing and is replaced with a "continental portion".

The term is relative: in [[Tasmania]], [[mainland Australia|continental Australia]] is the mainland, while to residents of [[Flinders Island]], the main island of Tasmania is also "the mainland", though the [[geological]] [[Australian continent]] includes all the former plus the island of [[New Guinea]] and all the smaller islands (e.g. the [[Torres Strait Islands]]) in between.

==Prominent usages of the term mainland==

=== Continental ===
''This list denotes prominent usages of the term "mainland" to distinguish the islands of a continent from the mainland of a continent through a geopolitical lens.''

*[[Geography of Africa|Mainland Africa]], from the perspectives of [[Cape Verde]], [[Comoros]], [[Madagascar]], [[Mauritius]], [[São Tomé and Príncipe]] and [[Seychelles]], as well as [[Mayotte]] ([[France]]) and [[Réunion]] (France)
*[[Geography of Asia|Mainland Asia]], from the perspectives of [[Bahrain]], [[Brunei]], [[Cyprus]] (inc. [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia]] and [[Northern Cyprus]]), [[East Timor]], [[Indonesia]], [[Japan]] (inc. [[Okinawa Prefecture]]), the [[Maldives]], the [[Philippines]], [[Singapore]], [[Sri Lanka]], and [[Taiwan]] (inc. [[Kinmen]], the [[Matsu Islands]], and [[Penghu]]), as well as the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] ([[India]]), [[Christmas Island]] ([[Australia]]), the [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]] (Australia), [[Coloane]] and [[Taipa]] ([[Macau]]), [[East Malaysia]] ([[Malaysia]]), [[Hainan]] ([[China]]), [[Hong Kong Island]] ([[Hong Kong]]), [[Islands District]] (Hong Kong), [[Jeju Island]] ([[South Korea]]), [[Lakshadweep]] (India) and [[Sakhalin Oblast]] ([[Russia]])
**In the future, if the [[Salwa Canal]] is built, also from the perspective of [[Qatar]]
*[[Continental Europe|Mainland Europe]], from the perspectives of Cyprus, [[Iceland]], [[Ireland]], [[Malta]], the [[United Kingdom]] (inc. [[Guernsey]], the [[Isle of Man]], and [[Jersey]]), as well as [[Åland]] ([[Finland]]), the [[Faroe Islands]] ([[Denmark]]), [[Jan Mayen]] ([[Norway]]), [[Svalbard]] (Norway), [[Corsica]] ([[France]]), [[Sardinia]] ([[Italy]]), [[Sicily]] (Italy), [[List of islands of Denmark|Danish islands]] (Denmark), [[Azores]] ([[Portugal]]), [[Madeira]] (Portugal), [[Canary Islands]] ([[Spain]]), [[Balearic Islands]] (Spain), [[Gotland]] ([[Sweden]]), [[List of islands of Estonia|Estonian islands]] ([[Estonia]]), [[List of islands of Greece|Greek islands]] ([[Greece]]) and [[List of islands of Russia|Russian islands]] (Russia)
**Also note that several [[Europe]]an countries possess colonies or outposts all around the world (often small islands) in all other continental regions including [[North America]], [[South America]], [[Africa]], [[Oceania]], [[Asia]] and [[Antarctica]]
*Mainland Europe, from the perspective of [[Scandinavia]], a peninsula
*[[Mainland Southeast Asia]], from the perspective of [[Maritime Southeast Asia]]
*[[Geography of North America|Mainland North America]], from the perspectives of [[Cuba]], [[Greenland]] and [[Jamaica]]
*[[Geography of South America|Mainland South America]], from the perspectives of the [[Falkland Islands]]

=== Internal ===
''This list denotes prominent usages of the term "mainland" to distinguish between distinct regions within a single country based on an "islands-to-mainland" relationship. Note that the "mainland" can sometimes consist of a large island rather than a continental landmass.''

*[[Geography of Argentina|Mainland Argentina]], as opposed to [[Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina|Tierra del Fuego Province]] (including [[Argentine Antarctica|Argentinian Antarctic claims]]), as well as other [[islands of Argentina]]
*[[Mainland Australia]], as opposed to the [[List of islands of Tasmania|island of Tasmania]] and other [[Australian islands]], especially [[territories of Australia|those not part of Australia proper]].
*[[Geography of Brazil|Mainland Brazil]], as opposed to [[Abrolhos Archipelago|Abrolhos]], [[Fernando de Noronha]], [[Ilhabela]], [[Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago|Saint Peter and Saint Paul]] and [[Trindade and Martim Vaz]].
*[[Great Britain|Mainland Britain]], as opposed to the many smaller [[islands of the United Kingdom]]. The largest islands within the [[Northern Isles]] are called [[Orkney Mainland]] and [[Shetland Mainland]], respectively.
*[[Geography of Canada|Mainland Canada]], as opposed to [[Islands of Canada|Canadian Islands]], particularly those in the [[Canadian Maritimes|Maritimes]] or in the [[Canadian arctic islands|Arctic]]
**the [[Mainland Colony]] was the mainland part of [[British Columbia]], prior to its merger with Vancouver Island; today, the term "[[Lower Mainland]]" refers the southernmost part of the [[coast of British Columbia]]
** the [[Geography of Nova Scotia|continental part of Nova Scotia]], as opposed to [[Cape Breton Island]] and other [[:Category:Islands of Nova Scotia|Nova Scotian islands]]
*[[Continental Chile|Mainland Chile]], as opposed to [[oceanic islands|remote islands]] of the [[Chilean Sea]], [[Tierra del Fuego Province, Chile|Tierra del Fuego Province]] and [[Chilean Antarctica|Chilean Antarctic claims]], as well as offshore [[islands of Chile]] such as the [[Chiloé Archipelago]] and [[Easter Island]]
*[[Mainland China]], a term that usually refers to all territories, irrespective of geography, that are administered by the [[China|People's Republic of China]] (PRC), aside from [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]], which are both administered by the PRC as [[Dependent territory|semi-independent]] [[Special administrative regions of China|special administrative regions]]
*[[Colombia|Mainland Colombia]], as opposed to the overseas [[Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina|archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina]].
* the [[Island of Cuba|Cuban Mainland]], as opposed to the [[Canarreos Archipelago]] and other [[islands of Cuba]]
*[[Geography of Denmark|Mainland Denmark]], as opposed to overseas parts of the [[Danish Realm]]; geographically, Denmark proper consists of a continental portion called [[Jutland]] and nearby [[islands of Denmark|Danish Isles]]
** the [[Geography of Greenland|main island is Greenland]], excluding [[Disko Island]] and other [[:Category:Islands of Greenland|islands of Greenland]]
*[[Regions of Ecuador|Mainland Ecuador]], as opposed to the [[Galápagos Islands]] and other [[islands of Ecuador]]
*[[Río Muni|Mainland Equatorial Guinea]], as opposed to the non-continental [[islands of Equatorial Guinea]].
*[[Geography of Estonia|Mainland Estonia]], as opposed to the [[West Estonian archipelago]] with two of the fifteen [[Counties of Estonia|counties]] and other [[islands of Estonia]]
*[[Mainland Finland]], as opposed to [[Åland]]; historically, [[Finland proper|Finland Proper]] made up the southwestern portion of the mainland
*[[Mainland France]], as opposed to [[Corsica]] and [[List of islands of France#Islands of metropolitan France|other islands]] within [[European France]]; also used loosely as an antonym of [[Overseas France]], despite the fact that the term [[Metropolitan France]] is more apt
** the [[Grande Terre (New Caledonia)|main island of New Caledonia]], as opposed to the [[Loyalty Islands]] and other [[List of islands of New Caledonia|islands of New Caledonia]]
* [[Geography of Greece#Mainland|Mainland Greece]] (including the island of [[Euboea]]), as opposed to the [[List of islands of Greece|Greek islands]]
* the [[Geography of Iceland|main island of Iceland]], as opposed to other [[islands of Iceland]]
*[[Mainland India]], as opposed to its insular [[Union Territory|union territories]] or any other [[List of islands of India|islands of India]]
*[[Mainland Italy]], as opposed to [[Insular Italy|its insular regions]] or any other [[islands of Italy]]
*[[Mainland Japan]], as opposed to the other [[Japanese archipelago|home islands]], or to remote [[islands of Japan]], such as the [[Nanpō Islands]]
*[[Korea|Mainland Korea]] as opposed to [[Jeju Island]] and other islands of [[list of islands of North Korea|North Korea]] or [[list of islands of South Korea|South Korea]]
* the [[Geography of Madagascar|main island of Madagascar]], as opposed to other [[:Category:Islands of Madagascar|islands of Madagascar]]
*[[Peninsular Malaysia|Mainland Malaysia]] as opposed to [[East Malaysia]] or to any [[List of islands of Malaysia|islands of Malaysia]]
*[[Malta Island|Mainland Malta]], as opposed to [[Gozo]] and other [[Geography of Malta#Islands|islands of Malta]]
*[[European Netherlands|Mainland Netherlands]] as opposed to the [[Dutch Caribbean]]; the Netherlands proper contains numerous [[Dutch islands|offshore islands]]
*[[Mainland New Zealand]], is the two islands, the north and south islands. The [[South Island]] of New Zealand is sometimes jokingly called the Mainland or the main island, especially by South Islanders themselves. Though it has a far smaller population, it is larger than the [[North Island]]. "Mainland New Zealand" more commonly refers to the [[islands of New Zealand|archipelago made up of the North and South Island and smaller nearby islands]], often excluding more outlying islands such as the [[Chatham Islands]], and always excluding remote insular parts of the [[Realm of New Zealand]].
*[[Mainland Norway]], as opposed to [[Svalbard]] and other [[islands of Norway]], including [[Dependencies of Norway|its overseas dependencies]]
**[[Spitsbergen|the main island of Svalbard]], as opposed to [[Nordaustlandet]] and other [[:Category:Islands of Svalbard|Islands of Svalbard]]
* the [[New Guinea|mainland part of Papua New Guinea]], as opposed to the [[Islands Region]] or to any other [[:Template:Islands of Papua New Guinea|islands of Papua New Guinea]]
*[[Mainland Portugal]], as opposed to [[Autonomous Regions of Portugal|its insular regions]], or more broadly to any [[List of islands of Portugal|islands of Portugal]]; until 1975, the term "mainland" was used loosely as an antonym of [[Overseas province|overseas Portugal]]
*[[Peninsular Spain|Mainland Spain]] as opposed to the [[Balearic Islands|Balearic]] and [[Canary Islands]] and other [[plazas de soberanía|lands under Spanish sovereignty]]; cf. the colonial-era term ''[[peninsulares]]''
* the [[Geography of Sri Lanka|main island of Sri Lanka]], as opposed to other [[islands of Sri Lanka]]
*[[Mainland United States]], as opposed to nearby islands belonging to a certain [[U.S. state]], the [[Hawaiian Islands]],<ref>Edles, Laura Desfor (2003). [https://books.google.com/books?id=aAdzAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA241 "'Race,' 'Ethnicity,' and 'Culture' in Hawai'i: The Myth of the 'Model Minority' State"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528044957/https://books.google.com/books?id=aAdzAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA241 |date=2023-05-28 }}. In Loretta I. Winters and Herman L. DeBose (ed.) ''New Faces in a Changing America: Multiracial Identity in the 21st Century''. SAGE Publications. p. 241. {{ISBN|9780761923008}}.</ref> and to U.S. [[Insular area|island territories]] in the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] or [[Caribbean Sea|Caribbean]]. The terms "[[contiguous United States]]" (48 adjoining states in the continent of [[North America]] which does not include [[Alaska]]) or "[[continental United States]]" (any U.S. state that is part of the North American continent which includes Alaska) are widely used instead, despite including adjacent islands on the [[continental shelf]] in both definitions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unitedcargo.com/help/glossary.jsp?pageIndex=C |title=United Airlines |access-date=April 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402170349/http://www.unitedcargo.com/help/glossary.jsp?pageIndex=C |archive-date=April 2, 2012 }}</ref>
**[[Geography of Alaska|Mainland Alaska]] (which is a part on the North American continent and a component of the U.S. mainland), as opposed to the approximately 2,670 named [[List of islands of Alaska|offshore islands]] (many of which are part of the [[Alexander Archipelago]] or [[Aleutian Islands]] chain).
**[[Point Roberts, Washington|Point Roberts]] (a [[pene-exclave]] of [[Washington state]]) views [[Bellingham, Washington|Bellingham]] as "the mainland".<ref>[https://www.chronline.com/stories/stuck-at-the-border-point-roberts-residents-may-get-this-help-getting-to-the-mainland,1888 Stuck at the Border, Point Roberts Residents May Get This Help Getting to the Mainland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181909/https://www.chronline.com/stories/stuck-at-the-border-point-roberts-residents-may-get-this-help-getting-to-the-mainland,1888 |date=2021-07-09 }} - Centralia Chronicle 17 Aug 2020</ref> The closure of international borders due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] has rendered it (de facto) an island in all but name.
* Main or Big Land—in [[Russia]]—as opposed to Minor Land, islands, or other isolated territories that are connected by water or air travel but not by paved road.
* Mainland Tanzania [[Tanzania]]-as opposed to Zanzibar the semi autonomous islands off the coast of Tanzania when the two countries merged in 1964 between Tanganyika(Now known as Tanzanian Mainland) and Zanzibar.

=== Internal (disputed) ===
''This list denotes prominent internal usages of the term "mainland" that are disputed.''

* [[Geography of Taiwan|Mainland Taiwan]], as opposed to [[Kinmen]], [[Matsu Islands|Matsu]], [[Penghu]] and other [[List of islands of Taiwan|islands of Taiwan]]
** The cause of the dispute is [[Political status of Taiwan|Taiwan's uncertain sovereignty]]. Nevertheless, if the [[Taiwan|Republic of China]] on Taiwan is regarded as an independent country, it is geographically one large island surrounded by several smaller islands. Politically, Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu are ''[[de facto]]'' top-level [[Administrative divisions of Taiwan|subdivisions within Taiwan]], classified as [[County (Taiwan)|counties]].
* [[Regions of Ukraine|Mainland Ukraine]], as opposed to [[Crimea]], which is nonetheless [[:Category:Peninsulas of Europe|geographically part of the European mainland]].<ref name="Crimean channel ATR resumes broadcasting in mainland Ukraine">{{in lang|uk}} [http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2015/06/17/7071564/ Crimean channel ATR resumes broadcasting in mainland Ukraine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617190429/http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2015/06/17/7071564/ |date=2015-06-17 }}, [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (4 June 2015)</ref>
** The cause of this dispute is the [[annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation]]. From a [[Russia]]n perspective, Russia is the mainland to Crimea.
* [[Great Britain|Mainland Britain]], as opposed to [[Northern Ireland]]
** This is politically charged term in Ireland, mainly used by pro-UK unionists and generally avoided by [[Irish nationalism|Irish nationalists]].

=== Irredentist ===
''This list denotes prominent usages of the term "mainland" to distinguish between distinct regions within an [[irredentism|irredentist]] region''

*The relationship between the ''[[de facto]]'' independent state of [[Taiwan|Republic of China]] (ROC; commonly called Taiwan) and the PRC as that of an island to its mainland. This is done in order to tacitly support the [[Taiwan Province, People's Republic of China|PRC's territorial claim to Taiwan]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} This is highly controversial among supporters of [[Taiwan independence movement|Taiwanese independence]]. Within Taiwan, [[Pan-Blue Coalition|Pan-Blue]] politicians who support the ROC's constitutional territorial claim to the Chinese mainland have popularised this phrase as well.
* [[Geography of Greece#Mainland|Mainland Greece]] as opposed to the Greek part of [[Cyprus]]

==See also==
* "[[Province of Tierra Firme|Mainland Province]]", the southern portion of the [[Spanish Main]]
* [[Maine#Etymology|Etymology of the toponym "Maine"]]
* [[Cartographic generalization]]
* [[Political status of Taiwan|Inclusion of Taiwan in maps of "China"]]
* [[Omission of Tasmania from maps of Australia]]
* [[Mainlander (disambiguation)]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Metropolitan or continental parts of states| ]]
[[Category:Enclaves and exclaves]]