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Artificial island facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Plattegrond van Deshima
In the Japanese port of Nagasaki, the artificial island of Dejima in the 17th century

An artificial island is a piece of land created by people. It is not formed by nature. These islands can be different sizes. People build them for many reasons.

History of Man-Made Islands

People have been building artificial islands for a very long time. Here are some famous examples:

  • 14th century: The Aztecs built their amazing city, Tenochtitlan, on a lake. This city is now where Mexico City stands.
  • 17th century: Dejima (also called Deshima) was made in the shape of a fan. It was in the bay of Nagasaki in Japan. It was used for trade during the Edo period.
  • 19th century: Ellis Island was built in New York City harbor. It was a very important place for immigrants coming to the United States.
  • 20th century: Kansai International Airport was built on an artificial island near Osaka, Japan. It is a major airport.
  • 21st century: The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai is a famous example. Some countries, like China, have also built new artificial islands recently.

Biggest Artificial Islands

Here are some of the largest artificial islands in the world:

# Name Size (km²) Country or Emirate What it's used for
1 Flevopolder 970 Netherlands towns, farming
2 Yas Island 25 Abu Dhabi Yas Marina Circuit (a race track)
3 Palm Jebel Ali 8 Dubai (planned for housing and tourism)
4 Chūbu Centrair International Airport 6.8 Japan Airport
5 Palm Jumeirah 6.5 Dubai housing
6 Kansai International Airport 4 Japan Airport

Rules for Artificial Islands

There are international rules about artificial islands. These rules are part of a treaty called the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

  • Artificial islands are not seen as part of a harbor.
  • If an artificial island is built close to a country's coast (within about 370 kilometers or 200 nautical miles), it is considered part of that country.
  • However, artificial islands do not get their own special ocean zones. Natural islands usually have their own "territorial waters" or "Exclusive Economic Zone" (EEZ). Artificial islands do not get these special zones.

Gallery

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Isla artificial para niños

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