Near island in the sparkling Alpine sun (9)
I believe the answer is:
peninsula
'near island' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both natural objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'sparkling alpine sun' is the wordplay.
'sparkling' indicates an anagram (I've seen this in other clues).
'alpine'+'sun'='alpinesun'
'alpinesun' anagrammed gives 'PENINSULA'.
'in the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for peninsula that I've seen before include "9 [WHATS THE POINT] of land" , "Scandinavia, perhaps" , "War-zone" , "historic war zone" , "land project" .)