Recursive islands and lakes

A recursive island or lake, also known as a nested island or lake, is an island or a lake that lies within a lake or an island. For the purposes of defining recursion, small continental land masses such as Madagascar and New Zealand count as islands, while large continental land masses do not. Islands found within lakes in these countries are often recursive islands because the lake itself is located on an island.

Islands in lakes
Only a few notable examples are given.

Islands in lakes on islands


There are nearly 1,000 islands in lakes on islands in Finland alone.

Islands in lakes on islands in lakes on islands in lakes
Moose Boulder was claimed to exist in the seasonal pond of Moose Flats on Ryan Island in Siskiwit Lake on Isle Royale in Lake Superior in the United States. In 2020, an expedition to the island found that it is potentially a hoax, along with the aforementioned seasonal pond.

Lakes on islands
Only a few notable examples are listed.



Lakes on islands in lakes on islands in lakes
Only one such lake is known.