amazing artificial islands around the world
24 Amazing Artificial Islands around the World
There are many natural islands which are known for their beauty. Likewise, there are artificial islands, created by man in oceans or seas, which are known for their amazing design and engineering. This Buzzle article outlines the most amazing artificial islands in the world.
Did You Know?
▸ The beach area where Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel are located was earlier known as Chicago Beach.
▸ The Star Island was initially owned by developer Carl Fisher, an American entrepreneur.
An artificial island is a landmass that has been built by man. Due to advancements in technology, man has acquired and developed the techniques and skills required for creating artificial islands. They are built by extending already existing islands, reefs, or merging a number of natural islands to create a bigger one.
Some of them were created to expand the cities or make airports or sea ports, while others were created for flood protection, tourism, or to serve as wildlife sanctuaries. Some wonderful and astonishing man-made islands have been and are still being created all over the world. Let us have a look at some of them.
Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah is a beautiful man-made island located on the coast of Dubai, in United Arab Emirates. It is one of the three sets of artificial islands, the Palm Islands (Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, and Palm Deira). Its construction began in 2001 and developments are still on. This archipelago was created by Nakheel, a company owned by the Dubai government. The palm tree-shaped island is made up of a long trunk, a crown, and a surrounding crescent. The island is home to five-star beachfront hotels, resorts, and villas.The World Islands, Dubai, UAE
World Islands
The World Islands in the Persian Gulf were built off the coast of Dubai. It is made up of a number of small islands which are roughly in the shape of the continents of the world. The islands lie about 4 kms off the coastline. Air or sea are the only ways to reach the islands. The archipelago was built by picking up sand from the coastal waters of Dubai. It is also a development by Nakheel. Developments have taken place only on two islands as of now. Its construction began in September 2003. The design of the island was conceptualized by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.Kobe Airport, Japan
Kobe Airport
Kobe Airport is built on an artificial island off the coast of Kobe in Japan. The construction of the airport began in 1999 and was completed in 2006.The Pearl-Qatar
Pearl Qatar
Another man-made island, Pearl-Qatar, is located off the coast of Doha's West Bay in Qatar. It is owned and was developed by the United Development company. The island, which extends over 4 million square meters, is the first place in Qatar which is available for freehold ownership by foreign nationals. There are over 5000 residents of the island.Hibiscus Island, US
Hibiscus Island
This artificial island was built in Biscayne Bay in the city of Miami Beach, Florida, United States. It lies in the north of Palm Island, another man-made island, and to the west of another artificial island, Star Island. It is a residential area and is accessible via MacArthur Causeway. It was constructed in the early 1900s.Star Island, US
Star Island
The Star Island is a man-made island, which is also built in Biscayne Bay in the city of Miami Beach, Florida, United States. It lies to the east of Palm and Hibiscus islands and to the south of Venetian islands. It was constructed in the early 1900s by the Army Corps of Engineers. It is accessible by islands through the MacArthur Causeway.Burj Al Arab, Dubai, UAE
Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab in Dubai, which is one of the tallest hotels in the world, stands on an artificial land mass, built 280 meters away from Jumeirah beach. The triangular island is linked with the mainland by a curving bridge. The construction of the island began in the year 1994. It took two years to build the island and another three years to erect the building. The building was completed in 1999.Donauinsel/Danube Island, Austria
Donauinsel/Danube Island
The Donauinsel is a man-made island built in central Vienna, Austria. The island is home to countless bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. There are also a number of sports opportunities. The Donauinsel was built mainly to improve the flood systems of Vienna between the 1970s and 1990s.Kansai International Airport, Japan
Kansai International Airport, Japan is an international airport located on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay, Japan. The airport is located off the Honshu shore and was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano.Venetian Islands, Florida, United States
One of the most prominent islands, the Venetian Islands, are a chain of artificial islands in Biscayne Bay in the cities of Miami, Florida. It is linked via bridges from the Miami mainland to the Miami Beach. The islands are Biscayne Island (Miami), San Marco Island (Miami), San Marino Island (Miami Beach), Di Lido Island (Miami Beach), Rivo Alto Island (Miami Beach) and Belle Isle (Miami Beach). The Flagler Monument Island is an unoccupied picnic island, which was built in 1920. The islands are connected by bridges from the Miami mainland to the Miami Beach.Willingdon Island
This island is India's largest man-made island in the city of Kochi in Kerala. Most part of the island was made by dredging soil from an existing natural island near the Lake of Kochi. It was constructed in the 1930s. The island is home to the Port of Kochi and the Kochi Naval Base of the Indian Navy and Central Institute of Fisheries Technology. There are also many hotels and business centers on this island. It was named after Lord Willingdon, a former British Viceroy of India, who gave the approval for this project. The island is linked to the mainland via road and the Venduruthy rail bridge.Kamfers Dam Island
The Kamfers Dam is located on a man-made island in the north of Kimberley in South Africa. It is shaped in the form of a giant "S". It is a major breeding ground of lesser flamingos. It was constructed in September 2006 by Ekapa Mining.Balboa Island
Balboa Island in Newport Beach is a chain of three artificial islands in California, United States. The three islands are Balboa Island, Little Balboa Island, and Collins Island. The Balboa Island is linked to the mainland via a bridge and ferryboats. It was constructed in the early 1900s. It is one of the favorite residential and recreational areas in Newport Harbor, and is one of the densest communities in Orange County according to the 2000 US Census.Kansai International Airport, Japan
Kansai International Airport is an important international airport in Japan. It is situated on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay. It was opened in September 1994. The airport was designed by Italian architect, Renzo Piano. The airport has two terminals. The main terminal serves domestic and international flights. The other terminal serves low-cost airlines. It has a few bus connections with the mainland.Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong
This main international airport in Hong Kong has been built on a man-made island of Chek Lap Kok. It is also colloquially called Chek Lap Kok Airport. The airport has been commercially operational since 1998. The airport has two terminals and buses, ferries, and coaches are available. It is now the world's busiest cargo gateway and one of the world's busiest passenger airports.Port Island, Japan
Port Island is an artificial island located in Chuo-ku, Kobe, Japan. It was constructed in the period between 1966 and 1981. It officially opened with an exposition known as "Portopia '81." The island is home to a heliport, numerous hotels, a large convention center, the UCC Coffee Museum, Japan's 3rd IKEA store, and several parks. The Port Liner automated guideway transit system links Port Island to Sannomiya Station and to Kobe Airport.Pampus
Pampus is an artificial island located in the IJmeer, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. A sea fort was built on the island in the late 1890s. The construction of the island began in 1887. The fort was constructed by the Dutch in eight years. The fort is of an oval shape and the main building has three floors. It now belongs to the municipality of Muiden and is open to visitors. The entire defense line was designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1996.Durrat Al Bahrain
Durrat Al Bahrain is the largest artificial island in Bahrain next to Amwaj Islands. It is still under construction and will consist of a series of 15 large artificial islands including six atolls, five fish-shaped islands, and two crescent-shaped islands. It will span an area of more than 20,000,000 square meters once completed. The island will be home to five-star hotels, a golf course, bridges, and a marina, which will span three of the islands. The marina is a joint venture between Durrat Khaleej Al Bahrain and Tameer, one of the GCC region's leading developers.Amwaj Islands, Bahrain
Amwaj Islands are a collection of artificial islands in the Persian Gulf located in the northeast of Bahrain. The new waterside development is home to residents, commercial centers, hotels, retail buildings, and a circular marina. It spans an area of about 2,790,000 square meters. The Amwaj Islands was a pioneering project in Bahrain for being the first to offer 100% freehold land ownership to expatriates living in Bahrain.Thilafushi, Maldives
Thilafushi is a man-made island is located to the west of Male in Maldives, between the Kaafu Atoll's Giraavaru and Gulhifalhu. In the beginning, the island was a lagoon known as Thilafalhu, composed of shallow coral reefs. It was built after numerous discussions and efforts to resolve Male's garbage plight during the early 1990s. It is today a dumping ground for over 300 tons of garbage.Peberholm, Denmark
Peberholm, Denmark's newest island, is a small island made artificially in the Danish part of the Øresund. It forms a part of Öresund Bridge which links Denmark with Sweden. The island was built near the small natural island, Saltholm (Salt Islet). It was named as Peberholm to complement the name of the natural island. The island was built to have a crossover point between the bridge and the tunnel that had been built for an obstacle-free link between Sweden and Denmark. Peberholm has become a peaceful dwelling place for animals and birds.Spiral Island, Mexico
Spiral Island is an artificial island built in Mexico by the British artist Richart Reishee Sowa in 1998. It was constructed using nets and empty plastic bottles to support a structure of plywood and bamboo, and pouring sand in it. It was ravaged by hurricane Emily in 2005. However, Sowa rebuilt the island and since 2008, a replacement island called Joyxee Island has been made open for tourists.Khazar Islands, Azerbaijan
The Khazar Islands also known as the Caspian Islands, are 41 artificial islands being developed to the south of Baku in Azerbaijan. They will span an area of 3,000 hectares over the Caspian Sea. The company, Avesta is responsible for its development. The island will be home to residents, schools, hospitals, daycare centers, numerous parks, shopping malls, cultural centers, university campuses, a Formula 1 quality racetrack, and the Azerbaijan Tower. The new development is estimated to be completed between 2020 and 2025.Île aux Cygnes, France
Île aux Cygnes which means Isle of the Swans in English, is a small artificial island in Seine in Paris, France. It was built in 1827 to protect the port of Grenelle. There are three bridges crossing it, and a tree-lined walkway. One of the prominent features of this island is the one-fourth scale Statue of Liberty replica, which faces in the direction of the original Statue of Liberty in New York.