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55-731: Willingdon Island is the largest artificial island in India, which forms part of the city of Kochi , in the state of Kerala . Much of the present Willingdon Island was claimed from the Vembanadu Lake , filling in dredged soil around a previously existing, but tiny, natural island. Willingdon Island is significant as the home for the Port of Kochi as well as the Kochi Naval Base , the Southern Naval Command of

110-820: A Kindergarten. Three of these schools belong to the Kendriya Vidyalaya groups of schools. Willingdon Island is connected to the mainland through the Mattanchery Bridge and Venduruthy Bridge . Many passenger boats operate daily to the island from Mattancherry , Fort Kochi , Vypin , and Marine Drive. The island can also be reached via national highway 47A , which is the shortest national highway in India. 9°57′N 76°16.5′E  /  9.950°N 76.2750°E  / 9.950; 76.2750 Artificial island In modern times, artificial islands are usually formed by land reclamation , but some are formed by flooding of valleys resulting in

165-399: 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

220-473: A conservation area for birds and other wildlife, the project started in 2016. 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

275-592: 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

330-712: 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. 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

385-660: A few hotels and business centers. The Cochin Port Maritime Heritage Museum is located in the island. The idea of developing a new port in Kochi was first felt by Sir Robert Bristow , who was appointed by Lord Willingdon , then-the Governor of Madras Presidency , to create a new modern port on the West coast of India at Kochi. The island was created during the construction of the modern port in 1936, with

440-488: A means to assert their territorial claims through the use of force. 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

495-670: Is a major port in India, and Willingdon Island is a landmark. The Island is connected to the mainland by Venduruthy Bridge , which has road and railway links. There are two railway stations on the Island - the Mattancherry Halt and the Cochin Harbour Terminus . The headquarters of the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy is located on the island. Cochin shipyard is also located near this island. It

550-478: Is also a major tourist center. Willingdon Island is also home to several hotels and offices of clearing agents. Apart from these, the Island has a dry dock , a fire station, tank farms, a hospital and places of worship. The Port Health Organisation functions on the Island and it works towards the prevention of entry of Quarantinable diseases. Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industries is strategically placed here, as

605-426: 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 designed by Bentley Systems which is being built on a 28 square kilometer artificial islands. Artificial islands negatively impact

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660-669: Is designed by the firm Atkins. It consists of a series of 15 large artificial islands covering an area of about 5 km2 (54,000,000 sq ft) and has six atolls, five fish-shaped islands, two crescent-shaped islands, and two more small islands related to the Marina area. In 1969, the Flevopolder in the Netherlands was finished, as part of the Zuiderzee Works . It has a total land surface of 970 km , which makes it by far

715-585: Is the Government of India Tourist Information Office in the vicinity of the airport. This island is a hub of international trade. A number of port offices, branches of national and international banks, travel agencies, souvenir shops, and warehouses. Employees of the Cochin Port and Custom House live on the island. For the benefit of these families and those on the Naval Base, there are five schools and

770-588: 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

825-493: 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

880-544: Is understood as a form of conflict that combines conventional and irregular tactics. 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

935-469: Is worth mentioning that artificial islands may include stationary oil rigs. 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

990-541: The Dubai Waterfront . Palm Islands ( Palm Jumeirah , Palm Jebel Ali , and Deira Island ) and the World Islands off Dubai are created for leisure and tourism purposes. The Burj Al Arab is on its own artificial island. The Universe, Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai Waterfront, and Palm Deira are on hold. China has conducted a land reclamation project which had built at least seven artificial islands in

1045-547: 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

1100-718: The Indian Navy , Plant Quarantine station, Custom House Cochin and Central Institute of Fisheries Technology , a constituent unit of Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The island is also home for other establishments associated with the port, namely, the Office of the Kochi Port Trust (that controls the Port of Kochi ), the Customs Office , the Mercantile Marine Department and more than two dozen export-import offices, warehouses,

1155-619: The South China Sea off the coast of Palawan totaling 2000 acres in size by mid 2015. 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. A largely touristic and commercial project is the Ocean Flower Island project on Hainan island. Kansai International Airport

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1210-665: 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

1265-561: 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

1320-688: 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. These reports are subject to ongoing political and diplomatic debates. The island-building activities of China have been the subject of close examination by experts, who suggest that they are driven by strategic objectives. The issue at

1375-579: The South China Sea. China began building islands in the 1980s, initially creating a series of minor military garrisons. 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

1430-539: The Vendurutti Bridge was an engineering challenge with no guarantee of success. Steel frames were imported from Britain to construct the bridge. Even at a depth of three hundred feet in the embankment there was no rock or solid surface in order to fasten the poles. The foundation was fixed by driving iron pipes into the mud and filling them with stone and gravel. The bridge was built at a time when iron and other metals were scarce. From Ernakulam railway station ,

1485-534: The amenities. Control of the transport hub was transferred from the British Empire to India in 1947 when the latter gained independence. During its short colonial tenure the island had handled at most one million tons of freight, by 1960 this had almost doubled. The island aerodrome was extensively developed and became the city's modern military-cum-civilian airport. When Kochi got an International Airport at Nedumbassery , 25 km (16 mi) north-east of

1540-445: 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. 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

1595-472: The city, the civilian enclave of the Island airport was shut down. The airport continued as the naval air station INS Garuda . The remaining space on the island was quickly utilized in the 1950s, and far from being an unnatural appendage of the picturesque and ancient city, the isle, left behind by the British so soon after its completion, became the commercial heart of the ancient metropolis of Cochin. Cochin

1650-549: The coastal state may authorize their construction (Article 60); 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. Over time, after World War II , several countries have been reported to have built artificial islands for strategic and military purposes. For instance,

1705-544: The construction of a new railway bridge started, which was opened in 2015. The old railway bridge was dismantled in March 2018. The new two-lane road bridge was opened in 2011, after the old road bridge was found to be too weak to carry heavy vehicles. The Venduruthy bridge was built under the supervision of the British engineer Robert Bristow . Plans to build bridges to connect Wellington Island with Ernakulam and Mattancherry began in 1935. According to Bristow, constructing

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1760-547: The continental shelf. 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

1815-705: 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

1870-500: The heavy iron was transported over land and backwaters to the bridge construction site. Rail transport to the Wellington Island became possible with the arrival of Venduruthy bridge. It was because of this bridge that the train reached the ship at Cochin port and loaded the goods. The construction of the bridge was completed in 1938 as per the records. The old railway bridge was hit by the dredger Kamal 28 in 2004. After

1925-472: The impact, the speed of freight trains on the bridge was reduced. But on 24 February 2007, the same dredger hit the bridge again causing the rail traffic to be stopped completely. With the completion of the new railway bridge in 2015, the Indian railways planned to dismantle the old railway bridge. Despite protests being raised against the move to demolish the bridge without considering its historic significance,

1980-514: 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. 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

2035-545: 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

2090-539: 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. 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). The construction of artificial islands also decreases

2145-408: The presumed invasion of Japan. In 1940 a passenger jetty and customs house were built adjoining the hotel, together with a passenger platform and rail siding. The Royal Air Force quickly found a use for this flat expanse of conveniently located virgin territory, and constructed a large aerodrome . The artificial island thus became a thriving military base. The Malabar Hotel provided quarters for all

2200-567: The project still stand as another development boom roared around them, 80 years later. 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

2255-407: The reef including Funaafou , Sulufou , and Adaege. 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. 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

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2310-614: The region. These actions contribute to the escalating tensions in the South China Sea . Venduruthy Bridge Venduruthy-Vikrant Bridge , also known as Venduruthy Bridge is a bridge in Kochi , Kerala , India. There are two bridges at present; one railway bridge and one road bridge, running parallel to each other, that connects the Ernakulam side of Kochi to the Willingdon Island . The old Venduruthy railway bridge

2365-519: 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

2420-484: The sea using EEZ as the basis of their claims. UNCLOS Article 60 stipulates that naturally formed islands can generate EEZs, while artificial islands cannot. 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

2475-412: 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. 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

2530-614: The soil dredged out while deepening the Vembanad Lake to accommodate the new port. It was named after The 1st Earl of Willingdon , the Viceroy of India at the time, who commissioned the project. Robert Bristow , the chief protagonist and engineer for the project, owned the first building on the island. The first liner, which belonged to the Bibby Line, arrived on the island on 9 March 1935. A port hostel, called Malabar Hotel,

2585-646: The still extant floating islands of Lake Titicaca . 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. The people of Langa Langa Lagoon and Lau Lagoon in Malaita , Solomon Islands, built about 60 artificial islands on

2640-515: The subaqueous area in surrounding waters, leading to habitat destruction or degradation for many species. 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). Artificial islands are also not considered islands for purposes of having their own territorial waters or exclusive economic zones , and only

2695-508: 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. One of the world's largest artificial islands, René-Levasseur Island , 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. The size of

2750-515: The wartime staff and the building gained a new administrative block next door to it. Taken over from the RAF by the Royal Navy on 1 October 1942, and recommissioned as HMS Garuda. It was a Royal Navy Aircraft repair yard with a capacity of 180 aircraft. Decommissioned on 1 April 1946. A new post office, an open-air swimming bath between the hotel and offices, and a branch bank adjoining both completed

2805-536: The waves and the structural integrity of the island play a crucial role in determining the maximum depth. 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

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2860-495: 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. 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

2915-518: Was built for passengers who wished to rest on the island. All the pre-planned basic port structure was completed in 1939, just in time for the Second World War . A deep wharf, a rail bridge, and a road bridge to the mainland provided valuable infrastructure for the local war effort. A naval works was also constructed on the adjacent Venduruthy Island to the south, where, by the end of the war, they were busily constructing landing craft for

2970-488: Was constructed in 1938 along with two parallel road bridges. The old railway bridge is one of the first bridges in India to be completely constructed from steel. It is a landmark in Kochi with historic significance as it played a major role in the transformation of Kochi into a major port city in India during the British era . In 2005, a dredger hit the railway bridge which led to its closure. Following this incident,

3025-535: Was inaugurated on May 12, 2004. 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

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