Too many states suffer from a shortage of territory. They organize resort areas, build airports and residential areas.
Top 5 entered today 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 establish his own state, free from taxes, subsidies and allowances. According to his plan, the main forms of income of the inhabitants of Minerva were to be tourism, fishing and light industry. To carry out his idea, Oliver leased several barges, with the help of which he poured an artificial island on coral reefs, declaring it the Republic of Minerva. Everything would be fine, but the Tongan state authorities considered these reefs their territory. The landed troops of the Tongan army raised their flag above Minerva.
4. The Mother of God on the Rock, Montenegro
Fashion to build artificial islands is not a trend of recent decades. As early as 1452 in Montenegro, a man-made island was poured by the forces of two fishermen, and subsequently a church was erected on it. Legend has it that in 1453, on the sea rock, sailors found the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, which cured them of their illness. Over the next two centuries, the inhabitants of the city poured an entire island on top of a small cliff, and in 1630 the Virgin Church was built on it. To create the island, old flooded ships and stones were used, which all passing ships brought here. This tradition (throwing stones into the water) today is preserved in the form of the Fashinad festival, during which a colorful sea regatta takes place.
3. Cheklapkok Airport, Hong Kong
Excessive congestion of the old Kai airport So pushed the Hong Kong authorities to build the most expensive building, the new modern airport in the bulk territories. As a result of the creation of the artificial island of Cheklapkok, the total area of Hong Kong increased by 1%. At the ConExpo conference in 1999, airport construction was recognized as one of the Main Achievements in the 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 class of millionaires and billionaires has already grown in the People’s Republic of China. 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 has an oval shape measuring approximately 1,100 by 370 meters, and the area of the island is over 365,000 square meters. The island began to be poured in 2008, and is currently under active development of the territory. The deadline is 2014. The total cost of the project is about $ 700 million.
1. The World Archipelago and Palm Islands, UAE
303 artificial islands sprinkled 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. Not far from them are the Palm Islands, the most famous in the world. Each island is made in the shape of a palm tree and has its own name: Palm Deira, Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Jumeirah. Today, only Jumeirah Palm is built, where hotels, private households and shopping and entertainment centers are located.