As reported by Inhabitat.com, last week South Korea inaugurated the world's first solar-powered and largest floating island on Hangang River in Seoul. With two more islands slated to open in September, the recently opened Viva is already drawing crowds en masse with its first-rate entertainment complex. The stunning structure includes a 700 seat convention hall, restaurants and arcades - all powered by solar energy. When the development is completed, the trio of islands will be linked together by twenty-three weather-proof chains. Seoul's man-made islands differ from those common to Dubai, which are constructed by building up sand on the ocean floor. Viva, and its satellite islands, instead float, and are buoyant on the river's surface. Should there be a flood, the islands while rise and fall with the water levels, rather than be flooded over. A high tech tracking system will alert a controller should the islands float too far from their home site, due to changing water levels. Supported by 24 giant airbags, Viva weighs in at 2,000 tons, but can support building facilities up to 6,400 tons. The island will be harnessed by chains to a 500 ton concrete block to keep it in place. The three story building which holds all facilities is covered with 54 square meters of solar panels, which produced 6 kilowatts of energy each day, providing the facilities below with electricity, and also illuminating the facades at night. The $83.9 million dollar government project includes the 3.2 thousand square meters Viva, 1.3 thousand square meters Vista and nearly 371 square meters Tera. Combined, they will host international conventions, water sports events, restaurants, cultural performances and exhibitions. All three islands should be open by late August 2011.

As Inhabitat.com reported, the world's first floating golf course is planned to be built in the Maldives. "If you build it - they will come" is credo for developers. Located five minutes from the Maldives airport, the 18-hole golf course will include luxurious accommodations, which overlook the green fairways and the surrounding reef. The golf course is doubly groundbreaking as it will be built on floating platforms, making it the first floating golf course, and it is also designed to minimize its impact on the surrounding ecosystem. The artificial floating islands will incorporate technologies such as water cooling, water desalination, and the use of floating solar blanket fields. Underwater tunnels will connect the holes and facilities together, while allowing golfers to experience the reef. Koen Olthuis-led Waterstudio.NL is in charge of the conceptual design of the golf course, while the developer Dutch Docklands is working on the engineering to make the floating golf course possible. Troon Golf, leading developer of golf courses, is working as a technical adviser to the project, which is expected to cost $500 million. The state-of-the-art golf courses are expected to bring new wealth, investment and tourism to the country. Building such a novel tourist attraction will also likely help spur on new floating developments, which they country will likely need as sea levels rise.

Last year China passed a law that allows individuals or companies to hire uninhabited islands off the country's coast. In April China's Ocean and Fisheries Bureau announces the list of the 176 uninhabited islands, part of which can be offered for rent. These islands are to everyone's taste - most have an area of 500-1.000 square meters. There are islands at the north-eastern Liaoning province and by the tropical island of Hainan. The islands that are not classified as protected national areas and with the area more than 500 square meters can be rented for 50 years. There is no legal reason why foreigners or foreign companies cannot hire one for themselves. The prices for hiring an island has not been confirmed yet, most likely it will be set for each particular case and the closer the island to the shore the more it will cost. In case there are several bids for one island, the owner will be chosen through the auction by a high bidder. Those who wish to rent the island will need to submit a detailed plan for the future use. Officials are also interested in how the owner will decide the matter of waste disposal and landscaping of the island. Ocean and Fisheries Bureau continues an inventory of all the islands, which belong to China. According to data of 1998, China owns about 7 thousand islands with the area of more than 500 square meters. At the end of last year marine patrol services found more than 30 cases of illegal exploitation of the coastal islands. China's desire to use the offshore islands efficiently is quite logical and economically reasonable. However there are a lot of problems concerning with islands development, and first of all - high cost for the construction works (material supply and etc.), as well as providing drinking water, electricity and so on.

This New Year began with the news that artificial islands -The World are slowly sinking into the sea. The World consists of 300 islands, with 232 kilometers of coastline and a total area of 55 square kilometers. Things have not gone well for The World from the very moment of its creation; unlike another exclusive development project Palm Jumeirah, The World couldn't attract investments. Today the development of the events surprised everyone! Last week Google announced that it is going to buy those man-made troubled islands and rearrange it into the Google logo. According to Google report, after completion of the project the big "G" in Google, that will be formed from five islands, is going to be used as company's headquarter in Dubai and a staff private resort. The rest of Google- shaped islands will be sold through the auction the highest bidder. Among the reported implicit bidders on the remaining islands are Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio, who had already reserved part of The World. Google is well known for its green and sustainable lifestyle and The Google Islands will be not an exception; they will be equipped with wind turbines, photovoltaic panels and even tidal power in order to maintain self-sufficient and premium life on the islands. Google will also hire top engineers to define the damage that the islands have sustained and reinforce them.