Many states suffer from a shortage of territory. It is for this reason that artificial islands appear most often. They organize resort areas, build airports and residential areas.
Today's Top 5 includes the most famous artificial islands... Their creation took years of work, billions of dollars and millions of tons of soil.
5. Republic of Minerva, Tonga
The Republic of Minerva is a self-proclaimed mini-state located south of the Fiji Islands. Its founder was Michael Oliver, an American millionaire with Lithuanian roots. In 1972, he decided to found his own state, free from taxes, subsidies and benefits. According to his plan, tourism, fishing and light industry were to become the main forms of income for the inhabitants of Minerva. To carry out his idea, Oliver rented several barges, with the help of which he poured an artificial island on coral reefs, declaring it the Republic of Minerva. All would be fine, but the authorities of the state of Tonga considered these reefs their territory. The landing troops of the Tongan army raised their flag over Minerva.
4. Our Lady of the Rock, Montenegro
The fashion of building artificial islands is not at all a trend of recent decades. Back in 1452, a man-made island was poured in Montenegro by the forces of two fishermen brothers, and later a church was erected on it. Legend has it that in 1453, sailors found a miraculous icon of the Mother of God on a sea rock, which healed them of their illness. Over the next two centuries, the inhabitants of the city poured an entire island over a small cliff, and in 1630 the Church of the Virgin was built on it. To create the island, old sunken ships and stones were used, which were brought here by all passing ships. This tradition (throwing stones into the water) is preserved today as the Fashinad festival, during which a colorful sea regatta takes place.
3. Chek Lap Kok Airport, Hong Kong
Excessive congestion of the old Kai Tak airport pushed the Hong Kong authorities to build the most expensive building, a new modern airport on bulk land. As a result of the creation of the artificial island of Chek Lap Kok, the total area of Hong Kong has increased by 1%. At the ConExpo conference in 1999, airport construction was recognized as one of the Major Achievements in Construction of the 20th century. And the project was even listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most expensive airport in the world.
2. Phoenix Island, China
The People's Republic of China has already grown its own class of millionaires and billionaires. This elite island is intended for them. It is located south of Hainan Island and is connected to it by a 395 meter long bridge. Phoenix Island is oval in shape, measuring approximately 1100 meters by 370 meters, with an area of over 365,000 square meters. The island began to be poured in 2008, and currently there is an active development of the territory. Completion date - 2014. The total cost of the project is about $ 700 million.
1. The World Archipelago and Palm Islands, UAE
The 303 artificial islands scattered in the Persian Gulf in the waters of the United Arab Emirates are located in such a way that they form a map of the world.Each of these islands can be bought privately. The most famous Palm Islands in the world are located nearby. Each island is shaped like a palm tree and has its own name: Palm Deira, Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Jumeirah. Currently built up only Palm Jumeirah, where hotels, private households and shopping and entertainment centers are located.