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When you imagine an island nation or floating city,
you probably conjure up images of a peaceful, breathtakingly beautiful
paradise where locals lounge around in hammocks, frozen cocktails in
hand. But real-life artificial islands and floating communities are far
more interesting than that, from rickety abandoned oil industry
communities in the middle of the ocean to a fort-turned-floating-hotel
fit for a Bond villain. Of course, there’s luxury too, like
multi-million dollar oceanic condos that double as tax havens. Here are
12 of the world’s most amazing man-made island dwellings.
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Umi Hotaru (Japan)
Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line is one of the express-ways which connect
Kawasaki, Kanagawa and Kisarazu, Chiba. It is the crossing bay highway
made by the underwater tunnel and the bridge. The Aqua-Tunnel is 9.6 km
and starts in Kawasaki. At the connection of the tunnel and the bridge,
there is a huge artificial island called Umi Hotaru. |
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Spiral Island (Mexico)
If you can't afford to buy your own tropical island paradise, why not
build your own? That is exactly what Richie Sowa did back in 1998, using
over a quarter-million plastic bottles. His Spiral Island, destroyed
years later by a hurricane, sported a two-story house, solar oven,
self-composting toilet and multiple beaches. Better yet, he has started
building another one! What's his ultimate goal? He wants to make the
island bigger and bigger and finally float out to sea, traveling the
world from the comfort of his own private paradise. |
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Mexcaltitan (Mexico)
Mexcaltitán is a small man-made island-city off the coast in the Mexican
state of Nayarit. Legend has it that it was the Aztlan of the Aztecs,
their home city and birthplace from which they set out on their
pilgrimage in 1091 that led them to the founding of Tenochtitlan. This
island is now being promoted as a tourist attraction and has been
designated a "Pueblo Magico" by the federal government. It is accessible
by boat from La Batanza, which is the docking area located some 40
kilometers from Santiago, Ixcuintla. |
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The World Islands (UAE)
The World Islands project is a group of about 300 man-made islands, an
artificial archipelago constructed in the shape of a map of the world
located about 6 km off the coast of Dubai, UAE, covering an area of
about 55 sq km. The master developer is Nakheel Properties, a subsidiary
of the Dubai Government owned Dubai World conglomerate. The luxurious
"Royal Island Beach Club" was the FIRST island on the spectacular "The
World" project to open its shores to the public on Lebanon Island
recently, offering travelers and visitors an unimaginable and
unforgettable experience that is not to be missed, being among the first
to offer a most remarkable view of the skyline of the new and modern
Dubai from the World Islands. |
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Khazar Islands (Azerbaijan)
The Khazar Islands (Azerbaijani: Xəzər adaları), also known as the
Caspian Islands, are 41 artificial islands 25 km (16 mi) south of Baku,
Azerbaijan, extending 3,000 hectares (about 11.6 sq mi) over the Caspian
Sea. Avesta, the company responsible for the islands' development, is
constructing the city to house 1 million residents, contain 150 schools,
50 hospitals and daycare centers, numerous parks, shopping malls,
cultural centers, university campuses, a Formula 1 quality racetrack,
and the Azerbaijan Tower (expected to be the tallest in the
world).[2][3][5] The $2 billion tower is to be the centerpiece of the
Khazar Islands, a $100 billion city.
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No Man's Land Fort (Britain)
It's been called a “man-made island fit for a Bond villain,” and it's
easy to see why. No Man's Land Fort, located off the coast of Britain,
has a forbidding exterior with its towering armor-plated granite and
steel walls. The Victorian-era sea fort was originally built to fend off
attacks by the French navy, but is now a luxury hotel with 21 rooms, two
helipads and a heated indoor swimming pool. It was put up for sale in
2007 but the company collapsed, leading to some drama with its former
owner Harmesh Pooni, who barricaded himself inside in 2008. It still has
not been sold.
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Orsos Island (a $6 Million Island)
Do you crave the seclusion of your own private island, but hate being
tied down in one place? If so, an Austrian firm has developed the
solution to your troubles: a man-made floating "island," complete with
two small diesel engines for whenever you fancy a change of scenery. The
oval-shaped "Orsos Island" has been designed to combine the mobility of
a yacht with the comfort of a house. It offers six bedrooms, spread over
three floors and 1,000 square meters, and nearly four tennis courts -- a
worthy luxury living space. The price tag for all of this is certainly
more than you'd expect to pay for a mainland mansion but, at $6.5
million, it falls well below the average cost of the gigayachts and
Caribbean islands currently favored by the fabulously wealthy.
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Real Madrid Island (UAE)
In 2012, Spanish soccer super-team Real Madrid announced plans to
construct a $1 billion luxury resort in the United Arab Emirates – and
to ensure a truly unique location, the sports company plans to construct
an archipelago of artificial islands upon which it will be located. The
resort, which has also been described as a theme park for the soccer
obsessed, will include two high-rise hotels, luxury villas, a
10,000-seat ocean-side football stadium, a marina, and a hi-tech museum
devoted to the history of the Team. Real Madrid have announced that the
430,000 square meter project was designed by J+H BOIFFILS and will be
constructed in partnership with the UAE government. They hope to open by
2015.
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