Tidal island

(Redirected from Tidal Islands)

A tidal island is a raised area of land within a waterbody, which is connected to the larger mainland by a natural isthmus or man-made causeway that is exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide, causing the land to switch between being a promontory/peninsula and an island depending on tidal conditions.

Diagram of tidal island at low tide and high tide
St Michael's Mount, Cornwall, at high tide, c. 1900
Cramond Island, Scotland, at high tide: the causeway is submerged, but the anti-boat pylons are still visible

Because of the mystique surrounding tidal islands, many of them have been sites of religious worship, such as Mont-Saint-Michel with its Benedictine abbey. Tidal islands are also commonly the sites of fortresses because of the natural barrier created by the tidal channel.

List of tidal islands

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Asia

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Hong Kong

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Iran

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Japan

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Taiwan

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South Korea

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Europe

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Denmark

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Denmark/Germany

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France

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Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy

Germany

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Guernsey

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Iceland

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Grótta in Seltjarnarnes, the Capital Region

Ireland

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Italy

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Jersey

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Spain

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United Kingdom

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Rough Island opposite Rockcliffe, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
 
Worm's Head at the end of Gower, Wales
England
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Northern Ireland
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Gunns Island, connected to Ballyhornan Bay, Northern Ireland at low tide
Scotland
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Wales
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43 (unbridged) tidal islands can be walked to from the UK mainland.[1]

North America

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Canada

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United States

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Bar Island in Maine, U.S.

Oceania

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Australia

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New Zealand

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Rangitoto Island forms a backdrop to a wave-cut platform off Achilles Point, Auckland, New Zealand.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Peter Caton (2011). No Boat Required – Exploring Tidal Islands. Troubador Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1848767-010.
  2. ^ longpointisland.com Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
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