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Land reclamation is the most popular way to construct artificial islands, especially for cities with land shortages. Once upon a time, Ellis Island barely rose above the high tide mark. In Japan, Kobe Airport will soon become the country's fourth offshore airport and the third to be built on a man-made island. Artificial islands are quite literally a part of ancient history. Thousands of years ago in Scotland and Ireland, the locals built forts called Crannogs on artificial land. They drove wooden piles into the lakebed or sometimes piled tons of rock in the lake to
form islands. The ceremonial center of Nan Madol in Micronesia was created by piling coral rubble and stone boulders on coral reefs. The Aztecs constructed Tenochtitlan, their ancient capital in Lake Texcoco, on piles of canes covered by dirt and held in place by stakes. But the Uros Islands in Lake Titicaca are unique; the Uros Indians still live on their artificial islands, carefully made from reeds that grow naturally in the lake. Consider spending your imaginary lottery winnings on an artificial island located in Dubai -- The World. Scheduled
for completion in 2008 and constructed by the same company that made The Palm, The World will be a series of 300 man-made islands clustered together in the shape of a map of the world. Buying a piece isn't cheap, but on the plus side, you'll be able to say you own France!
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