Artificial island

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The Flevopolder in the Netherlands is 970 km (375 sq mi) and is the largest island formed by reclaimed land in the world. Flevoland by Sentinel-2, 2018-06-30.jpg
The Flevopolder in the Netherlands is 970 km (375 sq mi) and is the largest island formed by reclaimed land in the world.

An artificial island or man-made island is an island that has been constructed by humans rather than formed through natural processes. [1] Other definitions may suggest that artificial islands are lands with the characteristics of human intervention in their format process, while others argue that artificial islands are created by expanding existing islets, constructing on existing reefs, or amalgamating several islets together. Although constructing artificial islands is not a modern phenomenon, there is no definite legal definition of it. [2] Artificial islands may vary in size from small islets reclaimed solely to support a single pillar of a building or structure to those that support entire communities and cities. Archaeologists argue that such islands were created as far back as the Neolithic era. [3] Early artificial islands included floating structures in still waters or wooden or megalithic structures erected in shallow waters (e.g. crannógs and Nan Madol discussed below).

Contents

In modern times, artificial islands are usually formed by land reclamation, but some are formed by flooding of valleys resulting in the tops of former knolls getting isolated by water (e.g., Barro Colorado Island). There are several reasons for the construction of these islands, which include residential, industrial, commercial, structural (for bridge pylons) or strategic purposes. [4] One of the world's largest artificial islands, René-Levasseur Island, [5] [6] was formed by the flooding of two adjacent reservoirs. Technological advancements have made it feasible to build artificial islands in waters as deep as 75 meters. [7] The size of the waves and the structural integrity of the island play a crucial role in determining the maximum depth. [7]

History

Despite a popular image of modernity, artificial islands actually have a long history in many parts of the world, dating back to the reclaimed islands of Ancient Egyptian civilization, the Stilt crannogs of prehistoric Wales, Scotland and Ireland, the ceremonial centers of Nan Madol in Micronesia and the still extant floating islands of Lake Titicaca. [8] The city of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec predecessor of Mexico City that was home to 500,000 people when the Spaniards arrived, stood on a small natural island in Lake Texcoco that was surrounded by countless artificial chinamitl islands.

Reef Island off North Malaita Malaita.jpg
Reef Island off North Malaita

The people of Langa Langa Lagoon and Lau Lagoon in Malaita, Solomon Islands, built about 60 artificial islands on the reef including Funaafou, Sulufou, and Adaege. [9] [10] The people of Lau Lagoon build islands on the reef as this provided protection against attack from the people who lived in the centre of Malaita. [11] [12] These islands were formed literally one rock at a time. A family would take their canoe out to the reef which protects the lagoon and then dive for rocks, bring them to the surface and then return to the selected site and drop the rocks into the water. Living on the reef was also healthier as the mosquitoes, which infested the coastal swamps, were not found on the reef islands. The Lau people continue to live on the reef islands. [9]

Many artificial islands have been built in urban harbors to provide either a site deliberately isolated from the city or just spare real estate otherwise unobtainable in a crowded metropolis. An example of the first case is Dejima (or Deshima), created in the bay of Nagasaki in Japan's Edo period as a contained center for European merchants. During the isolationist era, Dutch people were generally banned from Nagasaki and Japanese from Dejima. Similarly, Ellis Island, in Upper New York Bay beside New York City, a former tiny islet greatly expanded by land reclamation, served as an isolated immigration center for the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century, preventing an escape to the city of those refused entry for disease or other perceived flaws, who might otherwise be tempted toward illegal immigration. One of the most well-known artificial islands is the Île Notre-Dame in Montreal, built for Expo 67.

The Venetian Islands in Miami Beach, Florida, in Biscayne Bay added valuable new real estate during the Florida land boom of the 1920s. When the bubble that the developers were riding burst, the bay was left scarred with the remnants of their failed project. A boom town development company was building a sea wall for an island that was to be called Isola di Lolando but could not stay in business after the 1926 Miami Hurricane and the Great Depression, dooming the island-building project. The concrete pilings from the project still stand as another development boom roared around them, 80 years later.

Largest artificial islands according to their size (reclaimed lands)

No.NameSize (km2)LocationYear builtUtilisation
1 Flevopolder
970
Flevoland, Netherlands
1955 (East) & 1968 (South)
Towns, agriculture
2 Hong Kong International Airport
20.64
Hong Kong
1998 (Airport Phase 1), 2017 (Border Control Point) & 2022 (Airport Phase 2)
Airport, border control point
3 The Pearl Island
13.9
Doha, Qatar
2006
Housing
4 Kansai International Airport
10.68 [13]
Osaka, Japan
1994
Airport
5 Port Island
8.33 [14]
Kobe, Japan
1980 (Phase 1) & 2009 (Phase 2) [14]
Housing
6 Chūbu Centrair International Airport
6.8
Tokoname, Japan
2005
Airport
7Ogizima[ citation needed ]
6.71
Yokohama, Japan
1975
Factory
8 Rokko Island
5.8
Kobe, Japan
1992
Housing
9 Fundão Island [15]
5.23
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
1983
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Modern projects

Bahrain

Bahrain has several artificial islands including Northern City, Diyar Al Muharraq, and Durrat Al Bahrain. Named after the 'most perfect pearl' in the Persian Gulf, Durrat Al Bahrain is a US$6 billion joint development owned by the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company and Kuwait Finance House Bahrain (KFH). The project is designed by the firm Atkins. [16] It consists of a series of 15 large artificial islands covering an area of about 5 km2 (54,000,000 sq ft) [17] and has six atolls, five fish-shaped islands, two crescent-shaped islands, and two more small islands related to the Marina area.

Netherlands

In 1969, the Flevopolder in the Netherlands was finished, as part of the Zuiderzee Works. It has a total land surface of 970 km2, which makes it by far the largest artificial island by land reclamation in the world. The island consists of two polders, Eastern Flevoland and Southern Flevoland. Together with the Noordoostpolder, which includes some small former islands like Urk, the polders form Flevoland, the 12th province of the Netherlands that almost entirely consists of reclaimed land.

An entire artificial archipelago, Marker Wadden has been built as a conservation area for birds and other wildlife, the project started in 2016. [18]

Maldives

Artificial island construction process in Kaafu Atoll of Maldives in February 2019 Artificial-Islands-Maldives-2019-Luka-Peternel.jpg
Artificial island construction process in Kaafu Atoll of Maldives in February 2019

Maldives have been creating various artificial islands to promote economic development and to address the threat of rising sea level. Hulhumalé island was reclaimed to establish a new land mass required to meet the existing and future housing, industrial and commercial development demands of the Malé region. The official settlement was inaugurated on May 12, 2004.

Qatar

The Pearl Island is in the north of the Qatari capital Doha, home to a range of residential, commercial and tourism activities. Qanat Quartier is designed to be a 'Virtual Venice in the Middle East'. Lusail & large areas around Ras Laffan, Hamad International Airport & Hamad Port. The New Doha International Airport is the second largest artificial island built in the world, with a size of 22km2. The Pearl-Qatar is the third largest artificial island in the world, with a size of 13.9km2. The island was built in 2006, by main contractor DEME Group.

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is home to several artificial island projects. They include the Yas Island, augmentations to Saadiyat Island, Khalifa Port, Al Reem Island, Al Lulu Island, Al Raha Creek, al Hudairiyat Island, The Universe and the Dubai Waterfront.[ citation needed ] Palm Islands (Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, and Deira Island) and the World Islands off Dubai are created for leisure and tourism purposes. [19] [20] The Burj Al Arab is on its own artificial island. [21] The Universe, Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai Waterfront, and Palm Deira are on hold.[ when? ]

China

Subi Reef being built by the PRC and transformed into an artificial island, May 2015 Subi Reef May 2015.jpg
Subi Reef being built by the PRC and transformed into an artificial island, May 2015

China has conducted a land reclamation project which had built at least seven artificial islands in the South China Sea off the coast of Palawan totaling 2000 acres in size by mid 2015. [22] One artificial island built on Fiery Cross Reef near the Spratly Islands is now the site of a military barracks, lookout tower and a runway long enough to handle Chinese military aircraft. [23]

A largely touristic and commercial project is the Ocean Flower Island project on Hainan island.

Airports

Kansai International Airport is the first airport to be built completely on an artificial island in 1994, followed by Chūbu Centrair International Airport in 2005, and both the New Kitakyushu Airport and Kobe Airport in 2006, Ordu Giresun Airport in 2016, and Rize-Artvin Airport in 2022

When Hong Kong International Airport opened in 1998, 75% of the property was created using land reclamation upon the existing islands of Chek Lap Kok and Lam Chau. Currently China is building several airports on artificial islands, they include runways of Shanghai international Airport Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport being built on a 21 square kilometer artificial island, Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport, Sanya Hongtangwan International Airport [24] designed by Bentley Systems which is being built on a 28 square kilometer artificial islands.

Environmental impact

Artificial islands negatively impact the marine environment. The large quantities of sand required to build these islands are acquired through dredging, which is harmful to coral reefs and disrupts marine life. [25] The increased amount of sand, sediment, and fine particles creates turbid conditions, blocking necessary UV rays from reaching coral reefs, creating coral turbidity (where more organic material is taken in by coral) and increasing bacterial activity (more harmful bacteria are introduced into coral). [26] [27]

The construction of artificial islands also decreases the subaqueous area in surrounding waters, leading to habitat destruction or degradation for many species. [27]

Political status

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea treaty (UNCLOS), artificial islands are not considered harbor works (Article 11) and are under the jurisdiction of the nearest coastal state if within 200 nautical miles (370 km) (Article 56). [28] Artificial islands are also not considered islands for purposes of having their own territorial waters or exclusive economic zones, and only the coastal state may authorize their construction (Article 60); [29] however, on the high seas beyond national jurisdiction, any "state" may construct artificial islands (Article 87).

The unrecognised micronation known as the Principality of Sealand (often shorted to simply "Sealand") is entirely on a single artificial island.

Greyzone warfare strategies

Over time, after World War II, several countries have been reported to have built artificial islands for strategic and military purposes. For instance, the Philippines and China have been reported to have constructed artificial islands in the South China Sea, primarily to assert territorial claims over the disputed waters. Similarly, Russia has allegedly done so in the Arctic, both for strategic and military purposes. [30] These reports are subject to ongoing political and diplomatic debates.

China

The island-building activities of China have been the subject of close examination by experts, who suggest that they are driven by strategic objectives. [31] The issue at the heart of the matter revolves around China's claim that its historical entitlement justifies its actions in the area. This is opposed by the legal argument supported by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is noteworthy that UNCLOS serves as the primary legal framework that governs the use and control of maritime zones. This convention establishes regulations on how coastal states can exercise their sovereignty over territorial waters, contiguous zones, exclusive economic zones (EEZs), and the continental shelf. [32]

China's claim to the South China Sea dates back to the 1940s. At that time, China recovered islands in the name of the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, and there was no reaction from Vietnam or any other state against it. In 1947, China drafted the eleven-dash line (also referred to as the nine-dash line) to outline the geographical scope of its authority over the South China Sea. [33] China began building islands in the 1980s, initially creating a series of minor military garrisons. [34] However, the reason why China faces criticism is because some of the reclaimed islands fall within the EEZs of other countries, which raises concerns about China's compliance with UNCLOS. Vietnam has also made a historical claim, pointing to its rule over the islands in the 17th century. The Philippines argues for its rights based on geographical proximity. Meanwhile, Malaysia and Brunei claim parts of the sea using EEZ as the basis of their claims. [35] UNCLOS Article 60 stipulates that naturally formed islands can generate EEZs, while artificial islands cannot. [36] Therefore, China's construction of artificial islands raises questions about whether they can legitimately claim an EEZ around those islands. UNCLOS also enshrines the freedom of navigation and overflight in the EEZ of coastal states, which implies that all countries have the right to sail, fly, and conduct military exercises in those waters. Nevertheless, China has repeatedly challenged this principle by constructing artificial islands, imposing restrictions on navigation, and militarising the area.

The legal implications surrounding China's island construction efforts present complex challenges. A key issue revolves around determining the classification of land masses as either rocks or seabed, which holds significant importance in these disputed cases. Maritime law establishes a clear distinction between land masses eligible for expansion into new island groups and those that do not qualify. According to this legal framework, low-tide elevations are considered part of the seabed and do not generate a territorial sea, EEZ, or continental shelf. However, they serve as a reference point for measuring the entitlements of nearby rocks or islands. Rocks, unlike islands, lack the capacity to sustain human habitation or support economic activity. While they generate a territorial sea, they do not establish an EEZ or continental shelf. UNCLOS stipulates that both rocks and islands must be naturally formed and remain above water at high tide. [37] [38] [39]

The Spratly Islands have been a subject of contention among multiple countries, including Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and China. China's claim to the islands, despite entering the dispute relatively late, has been supported by arguments asserting historical presence and construction activities on the islands as a basis for their claim. [40] In terms of international law, land reclamation itself is not explicitly prohibited. There is no specific rule within international law that prohibits any country from engaging in land reclamation at sea. The legality of such activities primarily depends on their location in relation to adjacent land territories. Within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea, a country holds the right to reclaim land as it falls under its sovereign authority. However, beyond this 12 nautical mile limit, the country must consider whether its actions conform to the rights and jurisdictions recognised by UNCLOS. Reclamation activities conducted between 12 and 200 nautical miles are considered part of the process of establishing and utilising artificial islands, installations, and structures, governed by specific provisions within UNCLOS. It is worth mentioning that artificial islands may include stationary oil rigs. [41] Coastal states are permitted to undertake reclamation within designated areas as long as they fulfil their obligation to inform other countries and respect their rights, as outlined by UNCLOS rules. However, any artificial islands created through this process are restricted to maintaining a 500-meter safety zone around them and must not obstruct international navigation.

Hybrid warfare and China's Greyzone tactics

Hybrid warfare is understood as a form of conflict that combines conventional and irregular tactics. [42] Hybrid warfare may also be defined as a multifaceted strategy aimed at destabilising a functioning state and dividing its society. This comprehensive definition portrays hybrid strategy as a versatile and complex approach utilising a combination of conventional and unconventional means, overt and covert activities, involving military, paramilitary, irregular, and civilian actors across different domains of power. The ultimate objective of hybrid warfare is to exploit vulnerabilities and weaknesses in order to achieve geopolitical and strategic goals.

Some argue, that China's greyzone tactics mainly aim to improve its geopolitical position in a peaceful manner. In contrast to the greyzone tactics used by Russia in Crimea in 2014, China's approach differs significantly. One supporting argument is that the majority of the activities occur in uninhabited areas at sea, which contradicts a definition of hybrid warfare that suggests it is targeted at populations. Additionally, China's objective is not to destabilise other states, but rather to enhance its national security by gaining control over regional waters. Furthermore, China is not aiming to seize control from another power, but rather seeks to establish a dominant security and political position in the region. It is worth noting that China employs unarmed or lightly armed vessels deliberately, as they are unlikely to resort to deadly force. [31]

However, others argue that China's greyzone tactics can be classified as hybrid warfare. Some viewpoints contend that China's establishment of military bases on artificial islands serves as a means to assert their territorial claims through the use of force. [1] This approach is referred to as the Cabbage strategy, wherein a contested area is encircled by multiple layers of security to deny access to rival nations, ultimately solidifying their claim.

While there is no consensus on China's motives behind the creation of artificial islands, it is widely acknowledged that China aims to bolster its power and influence in the region. These actions contribute to the escalating tensions in the South China Sea.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea</span> International maritime law

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea Treaty, is an international treaty that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities. As of October 2024, 169 States and the European Union are parties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International waters</span> Water outside of national jurisdiction

The terms international waters or transboundary waters apply where any of the following types of bodies of water transcend international boundaries: oceans, large marine ecosystems, enclosed or semi-enclosed regional seas and estuaries, rivers, lakes, groundwater systems (aquifers), and wetlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Territorial waters</span> Coastal waters that are part of a sovereign states sovereign territory

Territorial waters are informally an area of water where a sovereign state has jurisdiction, including internal waters, the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, and potentially the extended continental shelf. In a narrower sense, the term is often used as a synonym for the territorial sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Law of the sea</span> International law concerning maritime environments

Law of the sea is a body of international law governing the rights and duties of states in maritime environments. It concerns matters such as navigational rights, sea mineral claims, and coastal waters jurisdiction. The connotation of ocean law is somewhat broader, but the law of the sea is so comprehensive that it covers all areas of ocean law as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exclusive economic zone</span> Adjacent sea zone in which a state has special rights

An exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as prescribed by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is an area of the sea in which a sovereign state has exclusive rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, including energy production from water and wind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Okinotorishima</span> Reef in the Philippine Sea

Okinotorishima, or Parece Vela, is a coral reef, geologically an atoll, with two rocks enlarged with tetrapod-cement structures. It is administered by Japan with a total shoal area of 8,482 m2 and land area 9.44 m2 (101.6 sq ft). Its dry land area is mostly made up by three concrete encasings and there is a 100 by 50 m stilt platform in the lagoon housing a research station. There is a third completely artificial tetrapod-cement islet.

Freedom of navigation (FON) is a principle of law of the sea that ships flying the flag of any sovereign state shall not suffer interference from other states when in international waters, apart from the exceptions provided for in international law. In the realm of international law, it has been defined as “freedom of movement for vessels, freedom to enter ports and to make use of plant and docks, to load and unload goods and to transport goods and passengers". This right is now also codified as Article 87(1)a of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baseline (sea)</span> Line from which the limits of a states territorial sea are measured;

A baseline, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is the line along the coast from which the seaward limits of a state's territorial sea and certain other maritime zones of jurisdiction are measured, such as a state's exclusive economic zone. Normally, a sea baseline follows the low-water line of a coastal state. This is either the low-water mark closest to the shore or an unlimited distance from permanently exposed land, provided that some portion of elevations exposed at low tide but covered at high tide is within 3 nautical miles of permanently exposed land. When the coast is deeply indented, has fringing islands or is highly unstable, straight baselines may be used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Territorial claims in the Arctic</span>

The Arctic consists of land, internal waters, territorial seas, exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and international waters above the Arctic Circle. All land, internal waters, territorial seas and EEZs in the Arctic are under the jurisdiction of one of the eight Arctic coastal states: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States. International law regulates this area as with other portions of Earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subi Reef</span> Disputed reef in the Spratly Islands

Subi Reef, also known as Đá Xu Bi ; Zamora Reef ; Zhubi Reef, is an atoll in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea located 26 km (16 mi) southwest of Thitu Island. It is occupied by China, and claimed by the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mischief Reef</span> Reef and atoll in the South China Sea

Mischief Reef, also known as Panganiban Reef, is a low tide elevation (LTE) reef/atoll surrounding a large lagoon in the southeastern region of Dangerous Ground in the east of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. It is located 250 kilometres (130 nmi) west of Palawan Island of the Philippines. Administratively, it belonged to the Kalayaan Islands municipality of the province of Palawan. It is also under the de facto jurisdiction of Nansha, Sansha City, Hainan province, China. Activities by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the mid-2010s have created a large artificial island on the atoll including an approximately 2,700-metre (8,900 ft) runway and associated airfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiery Cross Reef</span> Airport in Fiery Cross Reef

Fiery Cross Reef, also known as "Northwest Investigator Reef", Mandarin Chinese: 永暑礁; pinyin: Yǒngshǔ Jiāo; Kagitingan Reef ; Vietnamese: Đá Chữ Thập, is a militarized reef occupied and controlled by China (PRC) as part of Sansha of Hainan Province and is also claimed by the Republic of China (ROC/Taiwan), the Philippines and Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East China Sea EEZ disputes</span>

There are disputes between China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea over the extent of their respective exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in the East China Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabina Shoal</span> Atoll of Spratly Islands in South China Sea

Sabina Shoal, also known as Bãi Sa Bin ; Escoda Shoal ; Xianbin Jiao, is a disputed low-tide elevation atoll located in the northeast of Dangerous Ground in the Spratly Islands, South China Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exclusive economic zone of Somalia</span>

The exclusive economic zone of Somalia covers 830,389 km2 in the Indian Ocean. It extends to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines, from which the breadth of the nation's territorial waters is measured. In accordance with Law No. 37 passed in 1972, Somalia's EEZ falls under its territorial sovereignty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Wall of Sand</span> 2013–2016 Chinese land reclamation in the disputed South China Sea

The "Great Wall of Sand" is a name first used in March 2015 by U.S. Admiral Harry Harris, who was commander of the Pacific Fleet, to describe a series of land reclamation projects by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the Spratly Islands area of the South China Sea between late 2013 to late 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exclusive economic zone of Japan</span> Economic zone exclusive to Japan

Japan has the eighth-largest exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the world. The total area of Japan is about 380 thousand km2. Japan's EEZ area is vast and the territorial waters and EEZ together is about 4.47 million km2.

The exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, per the mandate of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), consists of four subzones. It covers 2,263,816 square kilometers (874,064 sq mi) of sea. The Philippines has 7,641 islands comprising the Philippine archipelago. The zone's coordinates are between 116° 40', and 126° 34' E longitude and 4° 40' and 21° 10' N latitude. It is bordered by the Philippine Sea to the east and north, the South China Sea to the west, and the Celebes Sea to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exclusive economic zone of Vietnam</span> Economic zone exclusive to Vietnam

Vietnam claims an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 1,395,096 km2 (538,650 sq mi) with 200 nautical miles from its shores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exclusive economic zone of Canada</span>

The exclusive economic zone of Canada is the area of the sea in which Canada has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, as prescribed by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

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