Tidal island

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Diagram of tidal island at low tide and high tide Tidal island diagram.svg
Diagram of tidal island at low tide and high tide
St Michael's Mount, Cornwall, at high tide, c. 1900 England-Saint-Michaels-Mount-1900-1.jpg
St Michael's Mount, Cornwall, at high tide, c. 1900
Cramond Island, Scotland, at high tide: the causeway is submerged, but the anti-boat pylons are still visible Cramond Island and causeway from air.JPG
Cramond Island, Scotland, at high tide: the causeway is submerged, but the anti-boat pylons are still visible

A tidal island is a raised area of land within a waterbody, which is connected to the larger mainland by a natural isthmus or man-made causeway that is exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide, causing the land to switch between being a promontory/peninsula and an island depending on tidal conditions.

Contents

Because of the mystique surrounding tidal islands, many of them have been sites of religious worship, such as Mont-Saint-Michel with its Benedictine abbey. Tidal islands are also commonly the sites of fortresses because of the natural barrier created by the tidal channel.

List of tidal islands

Asia

Hong Kong

Iran

Japan

Taiwan

South Korea

Europe

Denmark

Denmark/Germany

France

Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy Lun de Miel 443 (419901103).jpg
Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy

Germany

Guernsey

Iceland

Grótta in Seltjarnarnes, the Capital Region

Ireland

Italy

Jersey

Spain

United Kingdom

Rough Island opposite Rockcliffe, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland Rough Island from Tornat Wood - geograph.org.uk - 1305616.jpg
Rough Island opposite Rockcliffe, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
Worm's Head at the end of Gower, Wales Worm's Head (Rhossili).jpg
Worm's Head at the end of Gower, Wales
England
Northern Ireland
Gunns Island, connected to Ballyhornan Bay, Northern Ireland at low tide Guns Island from Ballyhornan Bay at low tide.jpg
Gunns Island, connected to Ballyhornan Bay, Northern Ireland at low tide
Scotland
Wales

43 (unbridged) tidal islands can be walked to from the UK mainland. [1]

North America

Canada

United States

Bar Island in Maine, U.S. Bar island 1.JPG
Bar Island in Maine, U.S.

Oceania

Australia

New Zealand

Rangitoto Island forms a backdrop to a wave-cut platform off Achilles Point, Auckland, New Zealand. Rangitoto from Achilles Point.jpg
Rangitoto Island forms a backdrop to a wave-cut platform off Achilles Point, Auckland, New Zealand.

See also

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References

  1. Peter Caton (2011). No Boat Required – Exploring Tidal Islands. Troubador Publishing Limited. ISBN   978-1848767-010.
  2. longpointisland.com Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine