floating island

{{short description|Island (natural or artificial) made of floating plants, mud, and peat}}

File:Uros-floating-islands-puno-peru-aerial.jpgs in Lake Titicaca]]

A floating island is a mass of floating aquatic plants, mud, and peat ranging in thickness from several centimeters to a few meters. Sometimes referred to as tussocks, floatons, or suds, floating islands are found in many parts of the world. They exist less commonly as an artificial island. Floating islands are generally found on marshlands, lakes, and similar wetland locations, and can be many hectares in size.

Natural occurrences

File:Isola galleggiante Posta Fibreno picc.jpg, Italy]]

Natural floating islands are composed of vegetation growing on a buoyant mat of plant roots or other organic detritus.

In aquatic regions of Northwestern Europe, several hundred hectares or a couple thousand acres of floating meadows (German Schwingrasen, Dutch trilveen) have been preserved, which are partly used as agricultural land, partly as nature reserves.

They typically occur when growths of cattails, bulrush, sedge, and reeds extend outward from the shoreline of a wetland area. As the water gets deeper the roots no longer reach the bottom, so they use the oxygen in their root mass for buoyancy, and the surrounding vegetation for support to retain their top-side-up orientation. The area beneath these floating mats is exceptionally rich in aquatic lifeforms. Eventually, storm events tear whole sections free from the shore, and the islands thus formed migrate around a lake with changing winds, eventually either reattaching to a new area of the shore or breaking up in heavy weather.

Some cenotes in northern Mexico have natural floating islands.{{cite web |url=http://www.iantd.com/articles/94-4kristovich.html/ |title=Zacaton. A History |last=Kristovich |first=Ann |date=2003-04-20 | publisher=International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers |access-date=2023-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030420191836/http://www.iantd.com/articles/94-4kristovich.html/ |archive-date=2003-04-20 |url-status=dead }}

In the Brazilian Amazon, floating islands form in lakes on the floodplains of white-water rivers and are known as Matupá and range in size from a few square meters to a few hectares.{{cite journal |last1=de Freitas |first1=Carolina T. |last2=Glenn H. |first2= Shepard Jr |last3= Piedade |first3=Maria T. F.|date=April 2, 2015 |title=The Floating Forest: Traditional Knowledge and Use of Matupá Vegetation Islands by Riverine Peoples of the Central Amazon |journal=PLOS ONE |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0122542 |pmid=25837281 |pmc=4383509 |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=e0122542|bibcode=2015PLoSO..1022542D |doi-access=free }}{{Open access}}

In Crow Wing County, Minnesota a floating bog over {{convert|4|acre|spell=in}} in size moved about the area resulting in docks and boat lifts being destroyed. As decaying mass decomposes it releases gases which keep the bog floating.{{cite web|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/floating-island-bog-crow-wing-county-minnesota|title=How Do You Solve a Problem Like a Giant Floating Bog?| first=Andrea|last=Appleton|date=6 March 2018|website=Atlas Obscura}}

=Pumice rafts=

Another type of natural floating island is the pumice raft, which is created by an explosive volcanic eruption, and can float on the ocean for months or even years before becoming fully saturated and sinking. They may assist in the migration of plants and animals.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-23/giant-pumice-raft-makes-its-way-to-great-barrier-reef/11444020 |title=Giant pumice raft from underwater volcanic eruption makes its way to Great Barrier Reef |first=Kate|last=McKenna |date=August 23, 2019 |website=abc.net.au |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=August 24, 2019}}

Artificial floating islands

File:Loktak Lake1.jpg, called athampum, were artificially built for fishing in Loktak Lake]]

Floating artificial islands are generally made of bundled reeds, and the best known examples are those of the Uros people of Lake Titicaca, Peru, who build their villages upon what are in effect huge rafts of bundled totora reeds. The Uros originally created their islands to prevent attacks by their more aggressive neighbours, the Incas and Collas.

The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, was surrounded with chinampas, small artificial islands used for agriculture known as "floating gardens" (though not really floating). Floating gardens on a large scale have been demonstrated with aquaponics{{cite web|url=http://www.aquabiofilter.com | title=Aquaponics floating biofilter grows rice on fish ponds| first=Tom |last=Duncan |website=Aqua BioFilter | access-date=2014-01-20}} systems in China growing rice, wheat and canna lily on islands.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.wme.com.au/categories/water/oct5_09.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025163619/http://www.wme.com.au/categories/water/oct5_09.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-10-25 |first=Tom |last=Duncan |title=Waste Management and Environment – Floating new ideas| magazine=WME Magazine |access-date= 2014-01-20}}

Spiral Island was a more modern one-person effort to build an artificial floating island, on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Modern artificial islands mimicking the floating reedbeds of the Uros are increasingly used by local governments and catchment managers to improve water quality at source, reducing pollutants in surface water bodies and providing biodiversity habitat. Examples include Gold Coast City Council{{cite web|url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/environment/floating-reed-beds-10086.html | title=City of Gold Coast Floating Reedbeds | publisher=Gold Coast City Council | access-date=2014-01-20}} in Australia. Artificial floating reedbeds are commonly anchored to the shoreline or bottom of water body, to ensure the system does not float away in a storm event or create a hazard.

During World War II, the British Project Habakkuk proposed the construction of aircraft carriers made of ice-like Pykrete. Its size and speed made it more of an artificial iceberg or island than a ship.

Commercial development of floating islands has begun taking place. Floating habitat islands were installed with salicornia salt marsh plants at Sydney Olympic Park Authority in 2011{{cite web |url=http://www.sopa.nsw.gov.au/resource_centre/park_news/2012_park_news/floating_islands_support_waterbird_populations |title=Floating islands support waterbird populations |publisher=Sydney Olympic Park Authority |date=2012-08-15 |access-date=2014-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012011227/http://www.sopa.nsw.gov.au/resource_centre/park_news/2012_park_news/floating_islands_support_waterbird_populations |archive-date=2014-10-12 |url-status=dead }} providing nesting sites for local and migratory birds including black swans, black-winged stilts, red-necked avocets, Pacific black ducks and chestnut teals, using the Aqua Biofilter product.{{cite web|url=http://www.aquabiofilter.com/guidecasestudies.html | title=Floating habitat islands |website=Aqua BioFilter | date=17 July 2011 | access-date=2014-01-20}} The world's largest vegetated floating islands {{convert|4|acre|order=flip}} in size were installed in 2004 using Aqua Biofilter product with canna at Lake Tai, China using materials including a combination of polyurethane open cell filter foam, closed cell polyethylene flotation foam, bamboo and coconut fibre filter foam mix with wicking ability to supply water to plant roots.{{cite web|url=http://permaculturenews.org/2014/10/14/worlds-largest-aquaponics-project-chinas-third-largest-aquaculture-lake/ |first=Tom |last=Duncan | title=World's Largest Aquaponics Project, in China's Third Largest Aquaculture Lake |publisher=Permaculture Research Institute |date=2014-10-14 |access-date=2014-10-28}}

A commercially produced floating island was installed in the river otter enclosure at Zoo Montana in 2007.{{cite web |url=http://floatingislandinternational.com/pdf/Zoo-otters.pdf |title=Zoo Montana installs a BioHaven in Otter enclosure |publisher=Floating Island International |date=19 September 2007 |access-date=2010-06-29 }}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 2009 and the beginning of 2010, a few larger islands were launched to provide nesting habitat for Caspian tern colonies. The largest of the islands, at a record-setting {{convert|44000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}, was launched into the water at Sheepy Lake. These islands are a collaboration between the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Oregon State University, and Floating Islands West, a Floating Island International license holder.{{cite web |url=http://www.birdresearchnw.org/Feature-Story/348002.aspx/ |first1=Stacy |last1=Moore |first2=Sarah |last2=Austing |title=Floating Island Constructed for Caspian Tern Nesting at Summer Lake Wildlife Refuge |publisher=Bird Research Northwest |date=1998-03-22 |access-date=2010-06-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725074836/http://www.birdresearchnw.org/Feature-Story/348002.aspx/ |archive-date=2011-07-25 }}

A US Army Corps of Engineers project was built in 2012 in The Hideout, Pennsylvania, as part of a watershed management project. The floating island was created to mimic nature; help improve water quality, including reducing phosphorus levels; and buffer habitats against surges in nutrients and pollution.{{cite news |url=http://www.wayneindependent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121012/NEWS/121019927/1001/NEWS |first=Kelly |last=Waters |title=Watershed management project |work=Wayne Independent |date=2012-10-16}}

Buoyancy in artificial floating reedbeds is commonly provided by polyethylene or polyurethane foam, or polyethylene plastic containing air voids. Growth media include coconut fibre; mats made of polyester or recycled PET bottles; synthetic geotechnical mat; jute; soil; and sand.{{Citation needed|date=January 2014}}

Artificial floating islands are sometimes made by planting cattails and other plants on floating plastic rafts in order to reduce phosphorus levels in the water.{{cite web|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/sep/02/clear-inspiration/ |first=Becky |last=Kramer |title=Floating wetlands clear inspiration |work=The Spokesman-Review}} In Cleveland's Cuyahoga River floating rafts were made to restore fish populations.{{cite web|url=http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/09/greening_the_cuyahoga_river_ma.html|title=Greening the Cuyahoga River: Man-made floating plant islands the latest scheme in recovery efforts|first=Michael|last=Scott|work=Metro News|location=Cleveland, Ohio|date=2011-09-03}}

Artificial floating islands have been sought out as structures for different habitational and industrial purposes,{{cite web | title=Floating islands to work and live on | website=CORDIS | date=2020-10-22 | url=https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/422445-floating-islands-to-work-and-live-on | access-date=2024-08-13}} e.g. floating oil rigs.

Locations

=Africa=

Lake Victoria, Uganda
Lake Kyoga, Uganda
Lake Malawi, Africa{{cite journal |last=Oliver |first=Michael K. |url=https://www.academia.edu/2998745 |title=Floating islands: a means of fish dispersal in Lake Malawi, Africa |journal=Copeia |year=1982 |volume=1982 |issue=4 |pages=748–754 |access-date=2013-04-05|doi=10.2307/1444082 |jstor=1444082 }}
Lake Upemba, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Lake Chad, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon
Hartbeespoort Dam, North West, South Africa

=Asia=

File:Yüzen adalar.jpg in Turkey]]

Loktak Lake in Manipur state, India
Prashar Lake at Mandi in Himachal Pradesh state, India
Chamli gul, Takab, Iran
Maldives Floating City, Maldives
Inle Lake, Myanmar
Çat Lake, Çelikhan, Adıyaman, Turkey
Aksakal Lake, Solhan, Bingöl, Turkey

=Australia=

Lagoon of Islands, Tasmania, Australia{{cite web |url=http://www.apstas.com/Lagoon_of_Islands.html |first=Keith |last=Corbett |title=Lagoon of Islands |work=The Unique Flora of Tasmania |publisher=Hobart District Group of The Australian Plants Society – Tasmania Inc. |access-date=2013-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064919/http://www.apstas.com/Lagoon_of_Islands.html |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }}

= Europe =

Danube Delta, Romania
Lake Visitor, Montenegro
Marais Audomarois, France
Lago di Posta Fibreno, Italy
Vlasina Lake, Serbia
Semeteš Lake, Serbia
Sommen, Sweden
Das schwimmende Land, Waakhausen, Germany
Schwimmendes Moor, Jade, Germany
Waterland, The Netherlands
Lochan Saorach, Scotland
Swiebodzinka, Poland{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

=North America=

==United States==

Listed alphabetically by state

[https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?params=59_44_24_N_154_14_53.3_W Unnamed Lake], Alaska
Bolton Lakes, Bolton, Connecticut and Vernon, Connecticut{{Cite web|title=Bolton (Connecticut) Historical Society|url=http://www.boltoncthistory.org/rovingislands.html|access-date=2020-11-23|website=www.boltoncthistory.org|date=8 June 2004 }}{{Cite news|last=Belluck|first=Pam|title=And Sometimes, the Island Is Marooned on You |date=6 November 2005|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/06/us/and-sometimes-the-island-is-marooned-on-you.html|access-date=2020-11-23|issn=0362-4331}}
Lake Yarbo, Winter Garden, Florida
Lake Buckeye, Winter Haven, Florida
Lake Idyl, Winter Haven, Florida
Yoshi Island Lake Mary Jane, Orlando, Florida
Umbagog Lake, New Hampshire and Maine
Mill Pond, Alton, New Hampshire
Island Pond, Springfield, Massachusetts
Cranberry Island, Buckeye Lake, Ohio
Lake Sadawga, Whitingham, Vermont{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-all-afloat/142102409/ |title=All Afloat |newspaper=Evening Express |location=Portland, Maine |page=1 |date=June 17, 1969 |accessdate=February 25, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}
Kettle Moraine, Wisconsin
Prairie Lake, Barron County, Wisconsin{{cite news |last=Keen |first=Kevin |url=http://www.wqow.com/story/15222430/floating-island-on-the-verge-of-break-its-tethers |title=UPDATE: Floating island on the verge of breaking its tethers |work=WQOW TV |date=2011-07-30 |access-date=2011-08-09 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233548/http://www.wqow.com/story/15222430/floating-island-on-the-verge-of-break-its-tethers |url-status=dead }}
Duwamish River, Seattle, Washington{{cite web | url=https://livingshorelines.be.uw.edu/project-background/floating-wetlands-project/ | title=Duwamish Floating Wetlands – Living Shorelines }}
Shilshole Marina, Seattle, Washington{{cite web | url=https://greenfutures.be.uw.edu/2022/01/19/marine-floating-wetland/ | title=Marine Floating Wetlands | date=19 January 2022 }}

==Elsewhere==

El Zacaton, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Lake Ontario, Ontario, Canada and New York, United States

=South America=

Lake Titicaca, Bolivia and Peru
El Ojo, Argentina{{Cite news|url=http://www.infobae.com/tendencias/2016/09/05/el-ojo-la-isla-circular-que-se-mueve-sola-en-el-delta-del-parana/|title=El Ojo: la isla circular que se mueve sola en el Delta del Paraná|work=Infobae|access-date=2017-07-23|language=es}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20050515015215/http://alexuk.com/travel/inca/index_13.htm Inca Heartland]: A site with numerous pictures of floating artificial islands on Lake Titicaca.
[http://monolith.com.au/travel/peru.html Tourism Keeping Peruvian Islands Afloat] article by Roderick Eime
[https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/DRIFTING-INTO-A-DEBATE-Disagreement-on-whether-2597250.php "Disagreement on whether to tether island that floats free in Massachusetts pond"]: San Francisco Chronicle
[https://web.archive.org/web/20090506064836/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=114978 Floating on an island]

Category:Islands by type

Category:Islands of Uganda