Mainland

Mainland is defined as 'relating to or forming the main part of a country or continent, not including the islands around it .' The term is often politically, economically and/or demographically more significant than politically associated remote territories, such as exclaves or oceanic islands situated outside the continental shelf. Mainland is defined as 'relating to or forming the main part of a country or continent, not including the islands around it .' The term is often politically, economically and/or demographically more significant than politically associated remote territories, such as exclaves or oceanic islands situated outside the continental shelf. 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. The term is relative- in Tasmania, continental Australia is the mainland, while to residents of Flinders Island, the main island of Tasmania is also 'the mainland'.