How are islands defined in geographical terms?

Islands are defined in geographical terms as landforms that are surrounded by water on all sides. The correct choice states that they are small bodies of land surrounded by water, which accurately captures the essence of what constitutes an island. Islands can vary greatly in size, from large land masses like Greenland to smaller, less extensive landforms that may only cover a tiny area. The critical aspect of an island is its isolation, as it is entirely surrounded by water, distinguishing it from other land formations.

In contrast, the other choices mention aspects that do not accurately describe islands. Large expanses of land above water could refer to continents or large land masses, while floating land masses that change over time might imply geological or ecological phenomena not typically classified as islands. The option that describes regions of water enclosed by land refers to bodies of water such as lakes or bays, rather than the land itself. Thus, identifying islands strictly as small bodies of land surrounded by water is the most precise and widely accepted definition in geographical terms.