In geography, "mainland" can denote the
continental (i.e. non-insular) part of any
polity or the main island within an
island nation. In
geopolitics, "mainland" is sometimes used interchangeably with terms like
metropole as an antonym to
overseas territories. In the sense of "
heartland", mainland is the opposite of
periphery. In some language a separate concept of "mainland" is missing and is replaced with a "continental portion".
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.
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.
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.
This is politically charged term in Ireland, mainly used by pro-UK unionists and generally avoided by
Irish nationalists.
Irredentist
This list denotes prominent usages of the term "mainland" to distinguish between distinct regions within an
irredentist region
The relationship between the de facto independent state of
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
PRC's territorial claim to Taiwan.[citation needed] This is highly controversial among supporters of
Taiwanese independence. Within Taiwan,
Pan-Blue politicians who support the ROC's constitutional territorial claim to the Chinese mainland have popularised this phrase as well.
In geography, "mainland" can denote the
continental (i.e. non-insular) part of any
polity or the main island within an
island nation. In
geopolitics, "mainland" is sometimes used interchangeably with terms like
metropole as an antonym to
overseas territories. In the sense of "
heartland", mainland is the opposite of
periphery. In some language a separate concept of "mainland" is missing and is replaced with a "continental portion".
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.
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.
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.
This is politically charged term in Ireland, mainly used by pro-UK unionists and generally avoided by
Irish nationalists.
Irredentist
This list denotes prominent usages of the term "mainland" to distinguish between distinct regions within an
irredentist region
The relationship between the de facto independent state of
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
PRC's territorial claim to Taiwan.[citation needed] This is highly controversial among supporters of
Taiwanese independence. Within Taiwan,
Pan-Blue politicians who support the ROC's constitutional territorial claim to the Chinese mainland have popularised this phrase as well.