Three new artificial islands to be built off Istanbul’s Pendik district
ISTANBUL
The islands will reportedly feature activity areas including water sports, sailing, boat tours, resting and food areas, parks and bicycle tracks.
The total coastal length of the islands, which will be connected to each other, will reach 7,460 meters, and a suspension bridge will be built between the island and the mainland, as well as between the islands.
The bridge will be closed to traffic but a marina port, teleferic station and water taxi terminal will be constructed in order for visitors to reach the islands.
The first island is planned to have a total surface area of 372,000 square meters and feature a wide picnic area as well as a water sports center where visitors will be able to do sailing, windsurfing, rowing, rafting, and beach volleyball. The plan also includes the establishment of a beach and a pool, rafting track, lighthouse and boathouse.
The water sports center will include water polo and underwater sports, Olympic-sized open and closed pools, rowing, underwater hockey, underwater rugby and a diving school.
The second island will be 125,000 square meters and will also include water sports areas, in addition to a mini golf course, skating park, climbing walls, basketball, football and tennis courts, walking and bicycle tracks.
The third island is planned to be designed as a “greeting island” with an area of 106,000 square meters, featuring a greeting tent, restaurants, a boat rental facility, running and bicycle tracks, landing stages, show areas and parks.
A sheltered water area will be constructed in the middle of all three islands for touring and sports. This area will reportedly include electric boat renting, rowing-boat tours, water bicycles and pedaled vehicles, water skiing, water acrobatic shows, and sailing activities, as well as an “imperial caique” for tours.
It was previously reported that artificial islands were planned to be built in the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea using the land excavated from the construction of the controversial Kanal Istanbul project.
Some 2.7 billion cubic meters of excavated land will be moved during the construction of Kanal Istanbul, effectively a “second Bosphorus” cutting across the city that is expected to go out on tender this year.
Kanal Istanbul was among the “crazy projects” that then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced ahead of the 2011 general election.