Top 10 Longest Coastlines in the World

#1: Canada (Length: 125,567 miles)

Canada’s coastline, at approximately 125,567 miles, is the world’s longest by a wide margin. Stretching from the rocky shores of Newfoundland and Labrador, along the labyrinthine passages of the Pacific Northwest, to the frozen fringes of the Arctic Archipelago, it encompasses a staggering diversity of environments. Early Norse sagas mention the rugged coasts of Newfoundland (Vinland), where Viking explorers first encountered North America around 1000 CE. Centuries later, European fisheries established seasonal outposts on Grand Bank, shaping coastal communities whose descendants still harvest cod along windswept headlands.

Hidden gems abound in Canada’s maritime realms: tidal rapids at La Have, Nova Scotia, where powerful currents funnel through narrow channels, and the remote granite fjords of Labrador, accessible only by expedition vessel. On the Pacific coast, the Great Bear Rainforest meets shoreline, where Spirit bears—rare white-coated black bears—fish salmon in glacial streams. Further north, Inuit communities on Ellesmere Island navigate ice floes and monitor beluga migrations in fiords carved by glacial melt.

Geological forces created intricate coastlines studded with thousands of islands—Canada has more lakes and islands than any other country. The Arctic Archipelago alone counts over 36,000 islands, each with its own microclimate and wildlife. Explorers like Martin Frobisher, searching for the Northwest Passage in the 16th century, charted these channels under perilous conditions, leaving cartographic legacies used by sailors centuries later.

Today, Canada’s coastal parks and marine protected areas preserve critical habitats for whales, seabirds, and intertidal life. Whale-watching excursions in British Columbia and Nova Scotia offer glimpses of orcas and humpbacks against a backdrop of fjords and forests. Remote eco-lodges on the West Coast Trail and the East Coast’s Cape Breton Highlands bring adventurers to dramatic cliffs and hidden coves. Canada’s immense coastline is more than a measurement—it’s a living tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty stretching from sea to ice.

#2: Norway (Length: 36,159 miles)

Norway’s coastline, measuring about 36,159 miles when including its fjords and islands, is a marvel of glacial carving. From the North Cape down to Stavanger, it weaves through deep inlets and jagged archipelagos, creating some of the world’s most dramatic maritime landscapes. Viking longships once navigated these narrow fjords, forging trading routes and settlements that shaped medieval Europe. The Nærøyfjord and Geirangerfjord, UNESCO World Heritage sites, showcase sheer cliffs plunging thousands of feet into emerald waters.

Hidden beaches like Ersfjord on Senja Island offer sweeping views, while Lofoten’s cod fisheries—active since the Viking era—support vibrant fishing villages and iconic rorbuer (fishermen’s cabins) painted in bold reds and yellows. Coastal roads like the Atlantic Ocean Road connect small islands via causeways and bridges, creating one of Norway’s most scenic drives.

Beneath the surface, kelp forests sway in cold currents, providing habitat for dozens of fish species. Puffins and sea eagles nest on steep crags, their calls echoing across the fjords. During winter, the northern lights dance above ice-filled arms of the fjords, reflected in still waters—an ethereal spectacle that draws photographers and dreamers alike.

Modern adventurers kayak along narrow straits once traversed by Vikings, tracing their ancestors’ routes. In summertime, the midnight sun bathes the coastline in perpetual light, while husky sled tours on coastal glaciers reveal layers of blue ice formed over millennia. Norway’s shoreline is a confirmation to the power of glaciers and the enduring legacy of seafaring cultures.

#3: Indonesia (Length: 34,000 miles)

Indonesia’s sprawling archipelago, with some 17,000 islands, boasts a combined coastline of roughly 34,000 miles. From Sumatra’s mangrove swamps to the crimson sands of Flores, its shores are as diverse as its cultures. Early Malay traders sailed these seas centuries before European colonization, establishing spice routes that drew Portuguese, Dutch, and British interests. The Banda Islands—once the world’s only source of nutmeg—saw fierce battles for control in the 1600s, leaving behind colonial fortresses still standing on volcanic cliffs.

Beyond history, Indonesia’s coasts harbor exceptional biodiversity. Raja Ampat’s carbonate reefs glow with colorful corals, while the Komodo National Park beaches host world-famous Komodo dragons that bask in the sun. Hidden lagoons like Laguna de Batu Bolong on Lombok are accessible only at low tide, revealing tidepools teeming with starfish and sea cucumbers. Java’s volcanic beaches—black as obsidian—contrast sharply with Bali’s ivory shores, where surfers chase rolling breaks.

Fishermen launch outrigger canoes from coral sand beaches, their woven nets cast in centuries-old patterns passed down through generations. On Sulawesi, the Bajau “sea gypsies” live aboard wooden boats, diving without gear to harvest fish and pearls. Each coastline reflects Indonesia’s regional traditions, from Toraja funerary rituals on Sumatran shores to ceremonial seaweed harvests in Lombok.

Indonesia’s government protects critical habitats through a network of marine reserves, preserving spawning grounds for tuna and manta rays. Eco-lodges on remote atolls offer visitors the chance to snorkel alongside whale sharks, a reminder that even vast coastlines pulse with delicate ecological interdependence.

#4: Greenland (Length: 27,394 miles)

Greenland’s coastline, stretching approximately 27,394 miles, is etched by polar ice into some of the most dramatic Arctic seascapes. From the ice-choked shores of Ilulissat Icefjord to the deep bays of Sermersooq, its fjords reveal towering ice cliffs that calve directly into frigid waters. Inuit communities have thrived on these shores for millennia, hunting seals on pack ice and navigating kayaks through narrow channels.

Hidden wonders include submarine glacial outlets where warm Atlantic currents undercut ice, creating geyser-like meltwater plumes. The Qaanaaq region hosts polar bears that traverse sea ice year-round, while helium-filled balloons launched near the Arctic Circle provide panoramic views of icebergs sculpted by tide and wind.

European whalers once roamed these waters in the 1800s, leaving behind wooden harpoons and tales of narrow escapes from ice floes. Traces of their relics are still found frozen in coastal moraines. Today, adventure travelers fly into ice-runways carved on frozen fjords, setting out on snowmobile expeditions to witness the midnight sun reflecting off towering seracs.

Greenland’s coastline is a frontline for climate research: scientists monitor retreating glaciers that feed into the sea, measuring contributions to global sea-level rise. Researchers camp on drifting ice islands to study microbial life thriving in subzero temperatures, providing clues to life’s resilience in extreme environments.

#5: Russia (Length: 23,396 miles)

Russia’s coastline, at about 23,396 miles, spans three oceans: the Arctic, Atlantic (via the Baltic and the Black Sea), and Pacific. From the Norilsk tundra to the Sochi resorts, it encompasses frozen polar shores, marshy northern deltas, and sun-kissed Mediterranean-like beaches. Norse sagas speak of Pomor traders navigating the White Sea, establishing trade links with Scandinavia as early as the 10th century.

Hidden along the Arctic coast, the Yamal Peninsula’s shale outcrops house ancient mammoth remains preserved in permafrost. On Kamchatka’s Pacific shore, steaming volcanic vents meet the sea, creating natural hot springs where coastal brown bears fish for salmon in billowing steam.

The Black Sea coast—once the cradle of ancient Greek colonies—boasts olive groves and Byzantine ruins near Sochi, Russia’s Olympic host city. On Lake Baikal’s southern shoreline, cliffs rise above the world’s deepest freshwater lake, while larches and pines whisper in breezes cooled by the lake’s icy depths.

Modern investment in Arctic ports aims to open northern shipping routes, but indigenous Nenets herders still seasonally migrate across tundra toward the Pechora River delta, echoing centuries-old patterns shaped by the coastline’s rhythms.

#6: Philippines (Length: 22,549 miles)

The Philippines’ coastline of roughly 22,549 miles winds through over 7,600 islands, revealing limestone cliffs, white-sand beaches, and mangrove forests. Early Austronesian settlers navigated by stars, spreading languages and crops across the archipelago. Spanish galleons later linked Manila to Acapulco, making the Manila Galleon trade route a vital artery in the 16th–19th centuries.

Hidden bays like El Nido on Palawan feature lagoon mazes carved from ancient coral reefs, while the Camiguin island coast hosts cascading waterfalls that tumble directly onto black-sand shores. Fishermen use bamboo rafts to set fish traps in Taal Lake, a volcanic caldera framed by scenic slopes.

On Mindanao’s southern coast, the Madjaas reef harbors rare giant clams and Napoleon wrasse, protected within the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park—declared a UNESCO World Heritage site for its pristine marine biodiversity.

From colonial-era lighthouses perched on rocky promontories to modern eco-resorts built on stilts above turquoise waters, the Philippines’ coastline blends history, culture, and nature in seamless harmony.

#7: Japan (Length: 18,486 miles)

Japan’s 18,486-mile shoreline curves around four main islands and thousands of smaller islets, offering everything from rugged northern fjords to subtropical southern beaches. Ancient Shinto belief reveres coastal rocks as kami (spirits), and shrines like Oarai’s Isosaki jinja stand on seaweed-slick boulders where tide meets temple.

Hidden coastal onsen (hot springs) on Kyushu bubble up beside shorelines, their mineral-rich waters facing open ocean. In the Izu Islands, black volcanic sands form natural saunas heated by geothermal vents beneath the sand. Fishermen in Okinawa’s northern reefs dive for sea grapes—a local delicacy—and harvest nutrient-rich seaweed for sushi.

Historic ports like Kanazawa bear Edo-period merchant quarters facing serene estuaries, while Hiroshima’s Miyajima island, with its floating torii gate, frames tides against pine-clad hills in seasonal mists.

Modern marine parks protect dugongs and green turtles along the Kerama Islands, while surf towns on Shikoku’s southern coast attract wave riders chasing Pacific swells. Japan’s coastline is a living tapestry of mythology, industry, and natural marvels.

#8: Australia (Length: 16,007 miles)

Australia’s 16,007-mile coastline spans tropical reefs, temperate cliffs, and desert shores. The Great Barrier Reef—stretching over 1,400 miles off Queensland’s coast—is the world’s largest coral reef system, home to thousands of species from clownfish to dugongs. Early Aboriginal narratives speak of ancestral spirits creating the reefs and islands, a legacy still honored in traditional dances and rock art.

Hidden freshwater holes in the reef’s Lagoons—for example, the Devil’s Pools near Cape Tribulation—offer secret swimming spots among towering coconut palms. On Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef, whale sharks congregate seasonally, drawing snorkelers into peaceful encounters with the planet’s largest fish.

The Great Ocean Road along Victoria’s coast showcases Twelve Apostles limestone stacks, weathered by Southern Ocean storms into dramatic sea arches. Further north, the beaches of the Kimberley region display pink freshwater lakes perched above rugged red cliffs, a striking collision of colors.

Australia’s rugged coast also hides historic shipwrecks, like the 17th-century Batavia on the Abrolhos Islands, whose submerged ruins attract scuba divers seeking both history and marine life.

#9: United States (Length: 12,380 miles)

The United States’ 12,380-mile coastline stretches from the icy fjords of Alaska, where tidewater glaciers calve into the sea, to the subtropical mangroves of Florida’s Everglades. Early Native American tribes navigated these shores in dugout canoes, harvesting shellfish along sheltered bays. European colonists later established fishing hubs in New England, where lighthouses like Maine’s Portland Head Light guided mariners through foggy waters.

Hidden coves along California’s Big Sur coast reveal fern-lined grottoes fed by freshwater springs, while coastal dunes on Oregon’s coast host endangered shorebirds nesting among wildflowers. In the Gulf of Mexico, the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary shelters coral reefs more than a hundred miles offshore, a vibrant oasis in deep blue waters.

The Outer Banks of North Carolina, shaped by shifting sands and barrier islands, tell tales of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Farther south, the Keys’ coral cay archipelago connects via the Overseas Highway, weaving over azure seas to tropical islands where conch fishermen still use centuries-old harvesting methods.

Today, America’s coasts face rising seas and stronger storms, inspiring coastal resilience projects from New York’s storm surge barriers to Louisiana’s marsh restoration—testifies to human ingenuity in the face of changing shorelines.

#10: New Zealand (Length: 9,406 miles)

New Zealand’s 9,406-mile coastline encompasses two main islands and hundreds of smaller isles, offering dramatic contrasts: rugged southern fiords of Fiordland National Park, golden-sand beaches on the Coromandel Peninsula, and rolling cliffs along the West Coast. Māori legends name many coastal features—Cape Reinga marks the departing spirit’s leaping point, where ancestral journeys to Hawaiki begin.

Hidden sea caves like Cathedral Cove reveal cathedral-like arches carved in white sandstone, accessible only by boat or kayak. On Northland’s Bay of Islands, 144 subtropical isles rim the bay, their sheltered waters teeming with dolphins and acres of oyster beds.

The rugged Kaikōura coast—where the Southern Alps plunge into the Pacific—hosts sperm whales year-round, drawing whale-watchers aboard eco-friendly vessels. Surf breaks on Raglan’s black-sand beaches rank among the world’s best left-handed waves, attracting surfers from across the globe.

New Zealand’s shoreline is a living classroom: conservationists track nesting sea turtles on Far North beaches, while communities restore wetlands along estuaries to support birdlife and buffer storm surges. Each coastal stretch reflects the nation’s blend of Māori heritage, European settlement, and a fierce love for wild, untamed beauty.

From Canada’s Arctic archipelagos to New Zealand’s fiords and geothermal shores, the world’s longest coastlines showcase the interplay of geology, climate, and human history. These sprawling shores host ancient legends, thriving ecosystems, and hidden wonders—from ice-carved fjords and coral teeming reefs to volcanic sands and rain-forested cliffs. As global sea levels rise and coastal communities adapt, these majestic coastlines remind us of the dynamic forces shaping our planet’s edge and the enduring bond between land and sea.