The world’s largest-- artificial floating island has finished its first week as a major new tourism attraction in Seoul, South Korea.
Seoul‘s Han River will eventually be home to a floating archipelago of three man-made “islets”, but the first island, Viva, opened to the public- last week.
At 3,271 square meters, it is the second-largest of the three and is home to a three-storey structure housing a 700-seat convention hall and several other attractions such as restaurants and video-- games.
There- are parks, outdoor terraces and viewing points surrounding the center, while at night, the exterior of the building is illuminated with brightly- colored light shows.
When the next- islands open in September, the 20,400 square meter complex will offer three cultural centers, featuring performances, water sports and -aquatic events.
The islands- can accommodate 6,200 people and are set to make the Han River, which 59 million people visited last year, an even more popular tourist -spot.
While artificial islands have been-- constructed before, most famously in Dubai, they have generally been formed by pouring sand on the seabed to create -artificial land.
Seoul’s islands take a different-approach and actually float on the surface of the river using an enormous buoy secured in place by 28 mooring chains, a design which ensures it can withstand-- changing river levels and bad weather.
Source: AFPrelaxnews