View source for Land reclamation

{{Short description|Creating new land from oceans, seas, riverbeds or lakes}}
{{about|land reclaimed from water bodies|land reclaimed from deserts|Desert greening|improvements to disturbed land|Land rehabilitation}}
{{redirect|Land fill|the disposal of waste material|Landfill}}
{{Redirect|Reclaimed||Reclaim (disambiguation){{!}}Reclaim}}

[[File:Perth1964.jpg|thumb|Reclaiming in [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Mounts Bay]], [[Perth]], Australia in 1964]]
[[File:Boeing 747-467, Cathay Pacific Airways JP10362.jpg|thumb|The [[Kai Tak Airport|former airport]] of [[Hong Kong]] (pictured) and [[Hong Kong International Airport|the current airport of Hong Kong]] were built on reclaimed land.]]
[[File:Xinghai Square .jpg|thumb|The [[List of city squares by size|largest city square in the world]], the [[Xinghai Square]] of [[Dalian]], China, was created entirely through land reclamation.]] 
'''Land reclamation''', often known as '''reclamation''', and also known as '''land fill''' (not to be confused with a waste [[landfill]]), is the process of creating new [[Terrestrial ecoregion|land]] from [[ocean]]s, [[list of seas|seas]], [[Stream bed|riverbeds]] or [[lake]] beds. The land reclaimed is known as '''reclamation ground''', '''reclaimed land''', or '''land fill'''.

==History==
In [[ancient Egypt]], the rulers of the [[Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt|Twelfth Dynasty]] (c. 2000–1800 BC) undertook a far-sighted land reclamation scheme to increase agricultural output. They constructed [[levee]]s and [[canal]]s to connect the [[Faiyum Oasis|Faiyum]] with the [[Bahr Yussef]] waterway, diverting water that would have flowed into [[Lake Moeris]] and causing gradual evaporation around the lake's edges, creating new farmland from the reclaimed land. A similar land reclamation system using dams and drainage canals was used in the Greek [[Lake Copais|Copaic Basin]] during the [[Middle Helladic period|Middle Helladic Period]] (c. 1900–1600 BC).<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2003 |isbn=9780192804587 |editor-last=Shaw |editor-first=Ian |pages=152–153}}</ref> Another early large-scale project was the [[Beemster|Beemster Polder]] in the Netherlands, adding {{convert|70|km2}} of land in 1612. In Hong Kong, the [[Praya Reclamation Scheme]] added {{convert|50 to 60|acre||0||order=flip}} of land in 1890 during the second phase of construction. It was one of the most ambitious projects undertaken during the era of [[colonial Hong Kong]].<ref name="Bard">Bard, Solomon.  [2002] (2002). Voices from the Past: Hong Kong 1842–1918. HK University press. {{ISBN|962-209-574-7}}</ref> Some 20% of land in the [[Tokyo Bay]] area has been reclaimed,<ref>{{cite web| last = Petry| first = Anne K.| title = Geography of Japan| publisher = Japan Digest, [[Indiana University]]| date = July 2003| url = http://iis-db.stanford.edu/docs/129/geo.pdf| access-date = 2009-07-30| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110928055810/http://iis-db.stanford.edu/docs/129/geo.pdf| archive-date = 2011-09-28}}</ref> most notably [[Odaiba]] artificial island. The city of [[Rio de Janeiro]] was largely built on reclaimed land, as was [[Wellington]], New Zealand.

==Methods==
Land reclamation can be achieved by a number of different methods. The simplest method involves filling the area with large amounts of heavy rock and/or [[cement]], then filling with clay and dirt until the desired height is reached. The process is called "infilling"<ref>{{Cite book|author=Lambi, Cornelius Mbifung|year=2001|title=Environmental issues: problems and prospects|location=Bamenda, Cameroon|publisher=Unique Printers|page=152|isbn=978-9956-11-005-6}}</ref> and the material used to fill the space is generally called "infill".<ref>{{cite web|title=Wisconsin Supplement Engineering Field Handbook Chapter 16: Streambank and Shoreline Protection|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|page=16–WI–36|date=February 2009|url=https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_024948.pdf|access-date=2018-03-22|archive-date=2021-07-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707022612/https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_024948.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Regional Road Maintenance ESA Program, Part 2: Best Management Practices|publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation|page=2.42|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/nr/rdonlyres/f70e7937-f4dd-4ecc-9909-0c108c97c37a/0/part2.pdf|access-date=2014-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611025636/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/F70E7937-F4DD-4ECC-9909-0C108C97C37A/0/Part2.pdf|archive-date=2014-06-11|url-status=dead}}</ref> Draining of submerged [[wetland]]s is often used to reclaim land for [[Agriculture|agricultural]] use. [[Deep cement mixing]] is used typically in situations in which the material displaced by either [[dredging]] or draining may be contaminated and hence needs to be contained. Land dredging is also another method of land reclamation. It is the removal of sediments and debris from the bottom of a body of water. It is commonly used for maintaining reclaimed land masses as sedimentation, a natural process, fills channels and harbors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/dredging.html|title=What is dredging?|last=Administration|first=US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric|website=oceanservice.noaa.gov|language=EN-US|access-date=2018-03-19}}</ref>

==Notable instances==
[[File:East Coast Park Panorama, Mar 06.jpg|thumb|[[East Coast Park]] in Singapore was built on reclaimed land with a human-made [[beach]].]]
[[File:Satellite image of Flevopolder, Netherlands (5.48E 52.43N).png|thumb|The [[Flevopolder]] in the [[Netherlands]], reclaimed from the [[IJsselmeer]], is the largest reclaimed [[artificial island]] in the world.]]
[[File:View from Nokia Beirut.jpg|thumb|Land Reclamation in the [[Beirut Central District]]]] 
[[File:Fontvieille harbour.JPG|thumb|The whole district of [[Fontvieille, Monaco]] was reclaimed from the sea]]

===Africa===
{{MOR}}
* The [[Hassan II Mosque]] is built on reclaimed land.
{{NGR}}
* The [[Eko Atlantic]] in [[Lagos]].
* [[Gracefield Island]] in [[Lekki]], [[Lagos]].
{{RSA}}
* The [[Foreshore, Cape Town|Foreshore]] in [[Cape Town]].
{{TAN}}
* [[Stone Town]] in [[Zanzibar]].

===Asia===
* Parts of the coastlines of [[mainland China]], [[Hong Kong]], [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]]. It is estimated that nearly 65% of [[Mudflat|tidal flats]] around the [[Yellow Sea]] have been reclaimed.<ref>Murray N. J., Clemens R. S., Phinn S. R., Possingham H. P. & Fuller R. A. (2014) Tracking the rapid loss of tidal wetlands in the Yellow Sea. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 12, 267–72 {{doi| 10.1890/130260}}</ref>
{{BHR}}
* The north of [[Bahrain]].
{{CHN}}
* Inland lowlands in the [[Yangtze]] valley, including the areas of important cities like [[Wuhan]].<ref>Brian Lander. State Management of River Dikes in Early China: New Sources on the Environmental History of the Central Yangzi Region . T'oung Pao 100.4-5 (2014): 325–362; Mira Mihelich, “Polders and Politics of Land Reclamation in Southeast China during the Northern Sung” (Ph.D. dissertation, Cornell Univ., 1979); Peter Perdue, Exhausting the Earth: State and Peasant in Hunan 1500–1850 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Council on East Asian Studies, 1987); Mei Li 梅莉, Zhang Guoxiong 張國雄, and Yan Changgui 晏昌貴, Lianghu pingyuan kaifa tanyuan 兩湖平原開發探源 (Nanchang: Jiangxi jiaoyu chubanshe, 1995); Shiba Yoshinobu, “Environment versus Water Control: The Case of the Southern Hangzhou Bay Area from the Mid-Tang Through the Qing,” in Sediments of Time: Environment and Society in Chinese History, ed. Mark Elvin and [[Ts'ui-jung Liu]] (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), 135–64</ref>
* [[Nanhui New City]] in [[Shanghai]]
* [[Haikou Bay]], [[Hainan Province]], where the west side of [[Haidian Island]] is being extended, and off the coast of [[Haikou]], where new land for a marina is being created.
* The [[Cotai]] area of [[Macau]], where many [[Casinos in Macau|casinos]] are located.
* Parts of [[Shekou]] in [[Shenzhen]], [[Guangdong]] province.
{{IND}}
* Much of the coastline of [[Mumbai]], India. It took over 150 years to join the original [[Seven Islands of Bombay]]. These seven islands were lush, green, thickly wooded, and dotted with 22 hills, with the [[Arabian Sea]]  washing through them at high tide. The original [[Isle of Bombay]] was only {{Cvt|24|km}} long and {{Cvt|4|km}} wide from Dongri to [[Malabar Hill]] (at its broadest point) and the other six were [[Colaba]], [[Old Woman's Island]], [[Mahim]], [[Parel]], [[Worli]] and [[Mazgaon]]. (See also [[Hornby Vellard]]).<ref name="Mumbai">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/mar/30/story-cities-11-reclamation-mumbai-bombay-megacity-population-density-flood-risk|title=Story of cities #11: the reclamation of Mumbai – from the sea, and its people?|last=Mumbai|first=Srinath Perur in|date=2016-03-30|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-02-25}}</ref>
{{IDN}}
* The shore of [[Jakarta Bay]]. Land is usually reclaimed to create new housing areas and real estate properties, for the rapidly expanding city of [[Jakarta]]. So far, the largest reclamation project in the city is the creation of Golf Island, north of [[Pantai Indah Kapuk]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Jakarta clears hurdle in reclamation project |last=Elyda |first=Corry |newspaper=The Jakarta Post |date=3 February 2017 |url= https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/02/03/jakarta-clears-hurdle-in-reclamation-project.html}}</ref>
* [[Giant Sea Wall Jakarta]]
{{JPN}}
* [[Chūbu Centrair International Airport|Nagoya Centrair Airport]].
* [[Kansai International Airport]], [[Osaka]].
* Much of [[Tokyo Bay#Land reclamation|Tokyo Bay]], including [[Port of Tokyo]], [[Haneda Airport]], and [[Tokyo Disneyland]].
{{LBN}}
* [[Beirut Central District]].
{{MDV}}
* [[Hulhumalé]] Island, one of the six divisions of [[Malé]] City.
* Addu Atoll, the southernmost atoll of the Maldives.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Maldives is racing to create new land. Why are so many people concerned? |url=https://www.nature.com/immersive/d41586-024-01157-7/index.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=www.nature.com |language=en}}</ref>
{{MYS}}
* [[Forest City (Johor)|Forest City]], an integrated residential and tourism district in [[Johor]], Malaysia, was controversial due to its reclamation of wetlands of international importance under the [[Ramsar Convention]] in a designated Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) Rank 1 area.
{{PAK}}
* Much of the coastline of [[Karachi]].
{{PHI}}
* The North Reclamation Area in [[Cebu City]].
* The whole {{Cvt|3|km2}} business district of [[South Road Properties|Cebu South Road Properties]] in Cebu City.
* The shore of [[Manila Bay]], especially along [[Metro Manila]], has attracted major developments such as the [[SM Mall of Asia|Mall of Asia]] Complex, [[Entertainment City]] and the [[Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex]].

[[File:Newly-reclaimed foreshore areas in Coron, Palawan, Philippines as seen from Mt. Tapyas.jpg|thumb|left|Reclaimed coastal area in [[Coron, Palawan]], Philippines. The bare, brown-colored reclaimed land stands out from the original vegetated coastside, as seen from atop Mt. Tapyas.]]

{{QAT}}
* A part of the [[Hamad International Airport]], around {{convert|36|km2}}.
* The entire [[The Pearl Island|Pearl Island]] situated in [[West Bay (Doha)]].
{{SGP}}
* The [[city-state]] of [[Singapore]], where land is in short supply, is also famous for its efforts on land reclamation.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YV7csgEACAAJ |title=DP Architects on Marina Bay: Designing for Reclaimed Lands|author=Collin Anderson |publisher=Oro Editions |year=2016|isbn=9781941806975 }}</ref>
* The size of [[Singapore]] has increased by 25% from 581.5 square kilometres in 1960 to 725.7 in 2019. This is part of the nation's plans to create more homes and common spaces in the land-scarce [[city-state]]. Upcoming projects include the Long Island project, involving the reclamation of three tracts of land (expected to span around 800 ha), which is set at a higher level to protect against rising sea levels. It will also enclose a body of water, acting as a reservoir, strengthening the nation's water resilience. Detailed technical studies are currently under way, lasting five years. This project would take a few decades to plan and implement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-28 |title=Land reclamation plan to create 800-ha 'Long Island' along Singapore's east coast, Singapore - THE BUSINESS TIMES |url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/land-reclamation-plan-create-800-ha-long-island-along-singapores-east-coast |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.businesstimes.com.sg |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CNA Explains: Why does Singapore want to build a 'Long Island'? |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/long-island-cna-explains-east-coast-reclamation-property-climate-3950566 |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=CNA |language=en}}</ref>
{{KOR}}
* [[Incheon International Airport]]
{{SRI}}
* [[Colombo International Financial City]]
{{UAE}}
* Some of the coastline of [[Saadiyat Island]] which is used for commercial purposes.<ref>{{Cite report|chapter-url=https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/analysis/depth-charges-land-reclamation-and-dredging-are-big-business|title=UAE: Abu Dhabi|year=2013|chapter=Depth charges: Land reclamation and dredging are big business|publisher=Oxford Business Group}}</ref>
* The [[Palm Islands]], [[The World (archipelago)|The World]] and hotel [[Burj al-Arab]] off Dubai.
* The [[Yas Island]] in [[Abu Dhabi]].

===Europe===
{{BLR}}
* The southwestern residential area in [[Brest, Belarus|Brest]].
{{BEL}}
* The port of [[Zeebrugge]].
{{DEN}}
* Certain areas of [[Geography of Denmark#Land reclamation|Denmark]].
{{EST}}
* [[Paljassaare]], [[Tallinn]] is a peninsula consisting of two former islands connected to the mainland during the 20th century
* [[Port of Tallinn]] is largely built on land reclaimed over centuries.
{{FIN}}
* [[Helsinki]] (of which the major part of the city center is built on reclaimed land).
{{FRA}}
* [[Nice Côte d'Azur Airport|Airport]] of [[Nice]].
{{GRE}}
* A big part of [[Kavala]].
* [[Lake Copais]].
{{ROI}}
* Parts of [[Dublin]], including the [[North Wall, Dublin|North Wall]], [[East Wall]], [[Grand Canal Dock]] and [[Bull Island]].
{{ITA}}
* The [[Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport|airport]] peninsula, the industrial area of [[Cornigliano]], the PSA container terminal and other parts of the [[Port of Genoa|port]] in [[Genoa]].
* [[Venice]].
* Rione Orsini, part of [[Borgo Santa Lucia]], [[Naples]].
* [[Fucine Lake]].
{{MON}}
* Almost half of the [[microstate]] of [[Monaco]]
** Most of [[Fontvieille, Monaco|Fontvieille]], Monaco
** Parts surrounding [[Port Hercules]] in [[La Condamine]], Monaco
{{NLD}}
* [[Land reclamation in the Netherlands|Large parts of the Netherlands]].
{{NOR}}
* Parts of [[Bryggen]], [[Bergen]] including the Dreggekaien cruise terminal and other ship services.
{{RUS}}
* Parts of [[Saint Petersburg]], such as the [[Marine Facade]].
{{ESP}}
* Barceloneta area, [[Barcelona]].
{{TUR}}
* Airports of [[Trabzon]], [[Giresun]] and [[Rize]].
* Coastal parks and streets of [[Istanbul]]
* [[Yenikapı]].
{{GBR}}
* {{ENG}}
**[[Pier Head]], [[Liverpool]].
** [[Samphire Hoe]] in [[Kent]] was created using 4.9 million cubic metres of chalk marl from the nearby Channel Tunnel excavations from 1988 to 1994.
** Almost all of the [[Embanking of the tidal Thames|Thames estuary including large parts of London]]<ref>The references are given in the article on the topic.</ref>
** [[The Fens]] in [[East Anglia]].
*{{NIR}}
** Most of [[Belfast Harbour]] and areas of [[Belfast]].
*{{SCO}}
** The entire waterfront area of [[Dundee]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watching Brief {{!}} Canmore |url=https://canmore.org.uk/event/576926 |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=canmore.org.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dundee Esplanade - RAILSCOT |url=https://www.railscot.co.uk/locations/D/Dundee_Esplanade/#:~:text=The%20entire%20waterfront%20area%20is,to%20Perth%20line%20was%20reclaimed. |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=www.railscot.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Waterfront Place {{!}} Maritime Trail |url=https://www.dundeemaritime.co.uk/WaterfrontPlace |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=www.dundeemaritime.co.uk}}</ref>
{{JEY}}
* Waterfront Centre, [[St. Helier]]
{{UKR}}
* Majority of left-bank and some right-bank residential areas of [[Kyiv]] were built on a reclaimed fens and floodplains of the [[Dnieper]] river.

===North America===
{{BHS}}
*The Potter's Cay in [[Nassau, The Bahamas]] was connected to the island of [[New Providence]].
*The shore of [[Nassau, The Bahamas]] especially along East Bay street.
{{BER}}
* Much of [[Bermuda]]'s [[St David's Island, Bermuda|St David's Island]] are reclaimed; the island, the site of Bermuda's international airport, was formerly several smaller islands.
{{CAN}}
* [[Notre Dame Island]] in [[Montreal]]. In the [[St. Lawrence River|Saint Lawrence River]], 15 million tons of rock excavated from the [[Montreal Metro]] underground rail in 1965 to form an artificial island.
* [[Leslie Street Spit]], the downtown [[Toronto waterfront|waterfront]] south of Front Street, and sections of the [[Toronto Islands]] in [[Toronto]].
* Part of [[Nuns' Island]] in [[Montreal]].
* Infilling [[False Creek]], [[Burrard Inlet]] and various creekways of [[Vancouver]].
* [[Tsawwassen ferry terminal|Tsawwassen ferry terminal causeway]] in [[Delta, British Columbia|Delta]].
* [[Wreck Beach]], [[Metro Vancouver Electoral Area A]]
{{MEX}}
* [[Mexico City]] (which is situated at the former site of [[Lake Texcoco]]); the [[chinampa]]s are a famous example.
{{USA}}
* The [[Chicago]] shoreline.
* The [[Northwestern University Lakefill]], part of the campus of [[Northwestern University]] in [[Evanston, Illinois]].
* Several neighborhoods in [[Boston|Boston, Massachusetts]] are the result of landfill.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-06-13|title=How Boston Made Itself Bigger|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/Boston-landfill-maps-history|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302180855/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/Boston-landfill-maps-history|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 2, 2021|access-date=2021-07-21|website=Culture|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Battery Park City]], [[Manhattan]].
* Several islands in [[Biscayne Bay]] in the [[Miami metropolitan area]], including the [[Venetian Islands, Florida|Venetian Islands]], are the result of landfill.
* [[Brooklyn Bridge Park]], [[Brooklyn]].
* [[Liberty State Park]], [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]].
* Parts of [[New Orleans]] (which is partially built on land that was once [[swamp]]).
* Much of the urbanized area adjacent to [[San Francisco Bay]], including most of [[San Francisco]]'s waterfront and [[Financial District, San Francisco|Financial District]], [[San Francisco International Airport]], the [[Port of Oakland]], and large portions of the city of [[Alameda, California|Alameda]] has been reclaimed from the bay. The entirety of [[Treasure Island, San Francisco|Treasure Island]] was also reclaimed to cover over the shallow waters north of [[Yerba Buena Island]] that presented a navigational hazard.
* Large hills in [[Regrading in Seattle|Seattle]] were removed and used to create [[Harbor Island, Seattle|Harbor Island]] and reclaim land along [[Elliott Bay]]. In particular, the neighborhoods of [[SoDo, Seattle]] and [[Interbay, Seattle|Interbay]] are largely built on filled wetlands.

===Oceania===
{{AUS}}
* Most of [[Barangaroo, New South Wales|Barangaroo]], a commercial and residential suburb in the [[Sydney central business district|central business district]] of [[Sydney]], New South Wales.
* Areas of [[Darling Harbour]], a locality west of the Sydney central business district.
* A large portion of the southern suburb of [[Sylvania Waters]] in Sydney.
* Runway 16L/34R and the southern half of runway 16R/34L at [[Sydney Airport]].
* Large portions of [[Brisbane Airport]], including the newest runway, 01L/19R.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014 |title=Brisbane Airport |url=https://www.bne.com.au/sites/default/files/docs/Chapter%203%20Brisbane%20Airport.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=8 June 2025 |website=Brisbane Airport Corporation}}</ref>
* Large portions of [[Port Botany]] in metropolitan Sydney.
* The majority of the [[Port of Brisbane]], formerly the Fisherman Islands archipelago.
* Large areas of the [[Docklands, Victoria|Melbourne Docklands]].
* Portions of the [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]] foreshore adjoining the [[Perth, Australia|Perth]] central business district in [[Western Australia]], including the entirety of [[Mounts Bay Road|Mounts Bay]] (pictured above).
{{FIJ}}
* My Suva park, a recreation park for the Greater [[Suva]] area.
{{NZL}}
* Considerable areas of [[Dunedin]], New Zealand, including the "[[Southern Endowment]]", stretching from the central city to the southeastern suburbs along the shore of [[Otago Harbour]]. 
* Prior to the [[1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake|Napier earthquake of 1931]], significant reclamation of the [[Ahuriri Lagoon|then-lagoon]] was undertaken in areas of Napier South and Ahuriri. There were also minor reclamation works undertaken after 1931 on the new low-lying lands brought up by the earthquake. 
* Areas around [[Wellington]] and [[Auckland]]'s harbours and airports have also been reclaimed.

===South America===
{{ARG}}
* The entire riverfront of [[Buenos Aires]], including the port and [[Aeroparque Jorge Newbery|an airport]].
{{BRA}}
* Large parts of [[Rio de Janeiro]], most notably several blocks in the new docks area, the entire [[Flamengo Park]] and the neighborhood of [[Urca]].
* Parts of [[Florianópolis]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ndonline.com.br/florianopolis/coluna/carlos-damiao/memoria-de-florianopolis-a-cidade-de-nossa-senhora-dos-aterros|title = MEMÓRIA DE FLORIANÓPOLIS - A cidade de Nossa Senhora dos Aterros &#124; ND Mais|date = 11 September 2016}}</ref>
* Parts of the [[Centro Histórico, Porto Alegre|Historic District]] of [[Porto Alegre]], including the docks of [[Port of Porto Alegre]] and the [[Beira-Rio Stadium]], were built on reclaimed lands of [[Lake Guaíba]] between the end of the 19th century and the 1970s.<ref name="poa">{{cite web |last1=Vargas |first1=Bruna |title=Porto Alegre dos aterros: saiba como a cidade avançou sobre o Guaíba ao longo das décadas |url=https://gauchazh.clicrbs.com.br/porto-alegre/noticia/2019/05/porto-alegre-dos-aterros-saiba-como-a-cidade-avancou-sobre-o-guaiba-ao-longo-das-decadas-cjvigba4p030h01pemaucrqkk.html |website=GZH |date=10 May 2019 |access-date=26 November 2020 |language=pt-br}}</ref>
{{CHL}}
* Parts of [[Valparaíso]].
{{COL}}
* [[Santa Cruz del Islote]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Guerrero|first=Natalia|date=2018-04-13|title=Cómo es vivir en Santa Cruz del Islote, la isla artificial más densamente poblada del mundo|language=es|work=BBC News Mundo|url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-43664528|access-date=2020-07-20}}</ref> in the [[Caribbean Sea]] of Colombia, one of the most densely populated islands in the world,<ref name=":0" /> was built in [[Artificial island|an artificial way]] gaining land from the sea.
{{PAN}}
* Parts of [[Panama City]] urban and street development are based on reclaimed land, using material extracted from [[Panama Canal]] excavations.
*The [[Cinta Costera]], in Panama City.
{{URY}}
* Parts of [[Montevideo]], Rambla Sur and several projects still going on in Montevideo's Bay.
{{VEN}}
* Parts of the [[Vargas (state)|Vargas State]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-04|title=Segundo lote de cisternas llegó al puerto La Guaira canjeadas por petróleo|url=https://diariolavoz.net/2020/05/04/segundo-lote-de-cisternas-llego-al-puerto-la-guaira-canjeadas-por-petroleo/|access-date=2020-07-17|website=La Voz|language=es}}</ref> in the north of Venezuela, parts of [[Los Monjes Archipelago]], the [[Isla Paraíso]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Alejandro Durán|date=2016-11-02|title="Isla Paraíso" en Venezuela, causa sensación {{!}} El Sumario|work=El Sumario |url=https://elsumario.com/isla-paraiso-causa-sensacion-en-venezuela/|access-date=2020-07-17|language=es}}</ref> (paradise island) in the [[Anzoátegui|Anzoátegui State]] and the La Salina island in the [[Zulia|Zulia State]], were built with land reclaimed from the sea.

==Agriculture==
[[File:Bingzhou Peninsula area - land reclamation - DSCF9204.JPG|thumb|Land reclamation in progress in Bingzhou (丙州) Peninsula (formerly, island) of the Dongzui Bay (东咀港). [[Tong'an District]], [[Xiamen]], China]]
Agriculture was a driver of land reclamation before [[industrialisation]].<ref>{{cite journal |first=Daniel R. |last=Curtis |title=Into the frontier: medieval land reclamation and the creation of new societies. Comparing Holland and the Po Valley, 800–1500 |journal=Journal of Historical Geography |year=2014 |volume=44 |pages=93–108 |url=https://www.academia.edu/1932594 |publisher=Academia.edu|doi=10.1016/j.jhg.2013.10.004 }}</ref>  In [[South China]], farmers reclaimed [[paddy field]]s by enclosing an area with a stone wall on the [[sea shore]] near a [[river mouth]] or [[river delta]].  The species of rice that are grown on these grounds are more [[salt]] tolerant. Another use of such enclosed land is the creation of [[fish pond]]s. It is commonly seen on the [[Pearl River Delta]] and [[Hong Kong]]. These reclaimed areas also attract species of [[bird migration|migrating birds]].

A related practice is the [[drainage|draining]] of swampy or seasonally submerged [[wetland]]s to convert them to [[Farmland (farming)|farmland]]. While this does not create new land exactly, it allows commercially productive use of land that would otherwise be restricted to [[wildlife]] [[habitat (ecology)|habitat.]] It is also an important method of [[mosquito control]].

Even in the post-industrial age, there have been land reclamation projects intended for increasing available agricultural land. For example, the village of [[Ōgata, Akita|Ogata]] in [[Akita, Japan]], was established on land reclaimed from [[Hachirōgata|Lake Hachirōgata]] (Japan's second largest lake at the time) starting in 1957. By 1977, the amount of land reclaimed totalled {{convert|172.03|km2}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ogata.or.jp/english/history.html |title=The History of Ogata-Mura|website=Ogata-Mura|year=2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924055244/http://www.ogata.or.jp/english/history.html |archive-date=2015-09-24 }}</ref>

==Artificial islands==
[[Artificial island]]s are an example of land reclamation. Creating an artificial island is an expensive and risky undertaking. It is often considered in places with high population density and a scarcity of flat land. [[Kansai International Airport]] (in [[Osaka]]) and [[Hong Kong International Airport]] are examples where this process was deemed necessary. The [[Palm Islands]], [[The World (archipelago)|The World]] and hotel [[Burj al-Arab]] off [[Dubai]] in the [[United Arab Emirates]] are other examples of artificial islands (although there is yet no real "scarcity of land" in Dubai), as well as the [[Flevopolder]] in the [[Netherlands]] which is the largest artificial island in the world.

==Beach restoration==
{{Main|Beach nourishment}}
Beach rebuilding is the process of repairing [[beach]]es using materials such as [[sand]] or [[mud]] from inland. This can be used to build up beaches suffering from [[beach starvation]] or erosion from [[longshore drift]]. It stops the movement of the original beach material through longshore drift and retains a natural look to the beach. Although it is not a long-lasting solution, it is cheap compared to other types of [[Coastal management|coastal defences]]. An example of this is the city of Mumbai.<ref name="Mumbai"/>

==Landfill==
As [[overcrowding|human overcrowding of developed areas]] intensified during the 20th century, it has become important to develop land re-use strategies for completed landfills.  Some of the most common usages are for parks, [[golf course]]s and other sports fields. Increasingly, however, office buildings and industrial uses are made on a completed landfill. In these latter uses, [[methane capture]] is customarily carried out to minimize explosive hazard within the building.

An example of a [[Class A office space|Class A office building]] constructed over a landfill is the [[Dakin Building]] at [[Sierra Point, Brisbane, California|Sierra Point]], [[Brisbane, California]]. The underlying fill was deposited from 1965 to 1985, mostly consisting of [[construction debris]] from [[San Francisco]] and some [[municipal waste]]s. [[Aerial photograph]]s prior to 1965 show this area to be [[wikt:tideland|tideland]]s of the [[San Francisco Bay]]. A clay cap was constructed over the debris prior to building approval.<ref>Paul B. Awosika and Marc Papineau, ''Phase One [[Environmental Site Assessment]], 7000 Marina Boulevard, Brisbane, California'', prepared for [[Argentum International]] by Certified.  Engineering & Testing Company, Boston, Massachusetts, July 15, 1993</ref>

A notable example is [[Sydney Olympic Park]], the primary venue for the [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Summer Olympic Games]], which was built atop an industrial wasteland that included landfills.

Another strategy for landfill is the incineration of landfill trash at high temperature via the [[Plasma arc waste disposal|plasma-arc gasification process]], which is currently used at two facilities in [[Japan]], and was proposed to be used at a facility in [[St. Lucie County]], [[Florida]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-09-09-fla-county-trash_x.htm |work=[[USA Today]] |title=Florida county plans to vaporize landfill trash |date=2006-09-09 |access-date=2010-05-07 |archive-date=June 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628234445/https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-09-09-fla-county-trash_x.htm}}</ref> The planned facility in Florida was later canceled.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trashed: Plan to use plasma technology for garbage disposal |url=https://www.floridatrend.com/article/14356/trashed-plan-to-use-plasma-technology-for-garbage-disposal |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=Florida Trend}}</ref>

==Environmental impact==
[[File:bay area fill.jpg|thumb|Parts (highlighted in brown) of the [[San Francisco Bay]] were reclaimed from wetlands for urban use.]]
[[Converted wetland|Draining wetlands]] for ploughing, for example, is a form of [[habitat destruction]]. In some parts of the world, new reclamation projects are restricted or no longer allowed, due to [[environmental movement|environmental protection]] laws. Reclamation projects have strong negative impacts on coastal populations, although some species can take advantage of the newly created area.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Borzée|first1=Amaël|last2=Kim|first2=Kyungmin|last3=Heo|first3=Kyongman|last4=Jablonski|first4=Piotr G.|last5=Jang|first5=Yikweon|title=Impact of land reclamation and agricultural water regime on the distribution and conservation status of the endangered Dryophytes suweonensis|journal=PeerJ|date=4 October 2017|volume=5|page=e3872|doi=10.7717/peerj.3872|pmid=29018610|pmc=5631092 |doi-access=free }}</ref> A 2022 global analysis estimated that 39% of losses (approximately {{convert|5,300|km2|mi2|disp=or|abbr=on}}) and 14% of gains (approximately {{convert|1,300|km2|mi2|disp=or|abbr=on}}) of tidal wetlands ([[mangrove]]s, [[Mudflat|tidal flats]], and [[Salt marsh|tidal marshes]]) between 1999 and 2019 were due to direct human activities, including conversion to aquaculture, agriculture, plantations, coastal developments and other physical structures.<ref name="Murray et al. 2022">{{cite journal |last1=Murray |first1=Nicholas J. |last2=Worthington |first2=Thomas A. |last3=Bunting |first3=Pete |last4=Duce |first4=Stephanie |last5=Hagger |first5=Valerie |last6=Lovelock |first6=Catherine E. |last7=Lucas |first7=Richard |last8=Saunders |first8=Megan I. |last9=Sheaves |first9=Marcus |last10=Spalding |first10=Mark |last11=Waltham |first11=Nathan J. |last12=Lyons |first12=Mitchell B. |title=High-resolution mapping of losses and gains of Earth's tidal wetlands |journal=Science |date=13 May 2022 |volume=376 |issue=6594 |pages=744–749 |doi=10.1126/science.abm9583|pmid=35549414 |bibcode=2022Sci...376..744M |s2cid=248749118 |url=https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/337253 |doi-access=free |hdl=2160/55fdc0d4-aa3e-433f-8a88-2098b1372ac5 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

===Environmental legislation===
[[File:Hong Kong Reclamation Map.png|thumb|A map of reclaimed land (grey area) in Hong Kong. Many of the urban areas of Hong Kong are on reclaimed land.]]
The [[California|State of California]] created a state commission, the [[San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission]], in 1965 to protect San Francisco Bay and regulate development near its shores.  The commission was created in response to growing concern over the shrinking size of the bay.

[[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Hong Kong legislators]] passed the [[Protection of the Harbour Ordinance]], proposed by the [[Society for Protection of the Harbour]], in 1997 in an effort to safeguard the increasingly threatened [[Victoria Harbour]] against encroaching land development.<ref name="bill">{{cite news|last=Wallis |first=Keith |title=Bill seeks to protect harbour |date=February 12, 1996 |publisher=[[The Standard (Hong Kong)|Hong Kong Standard]] |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=23201&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=19960212&sear_year=1996 |access-date=2007-03-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604140503/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=23201&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=19960212&sear_year=1996 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 }}</ref> Several large reclamation schemes at Green Island, West Kowloon, and [[Kowloon Bay]] were subsequently shelved, and others reduced in size.

==Dangers==
Reclaimed land is highly susceptible to [[soil liquefaction]] during earthquakes,<ref name=abag>{{cite web |url=http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/liquefac/Lq_rept.pdf |title=The REAL Dirt on Liquefaction|publisher=ASSOCIATION OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA GOVERNMENTS|date=February 2001|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723055040/http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/liquefac/Lq_rept.pdf |archive-date=2012-07-23 }}</ref> which can amplify the amount of damage that occurs to buildings and infrastructure. [[Subsidence]] is another issue, both from [[soil compaction]] on filled land, and also when wetlands are enclosed by [[levee]]s and drained to create [[polder]]s. Drained [[marshes]] will eventually sink below the surrounding water level, increasing the danger from [[flood]]ing.

== Land amounts added ==
=== Asia ===
{|class=wikitable
! width=160|Country or territory
! Notes
|-
| {{flag|Bahrain}}
| 76.3% of original size of {{convert|410|km2|abbr=on}} (1931–2007). {{citation needed|date=February 2018}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/bahrain/bahrain-parliament-wants-solution-to-land-reclamation-issue-1.567052|title=Bahrain parliament wants solution to land reclamation issue|last=Chief|first=Habib Toumi, Bahrain Bureau|date=2010-01-12|work=GulfNews|access-date=2018-02-04}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Bangladesh}}
| About {{convert|110|km2|abbr=on}} in total and has {{convert|12,000|km2}} potential (8% of total area) up to {{convert|12|m}} depth in the territorial sea area.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bangladesh Fights for Survival Against Climate Change |last1=Gravgaard |first1=Anna-Katarina |last2=Wheeler |first2=William |work=Pulitzer Center |date=18 October 2009 |url= https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/bangladesh-fights-survival-against-climate-change}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Hong Kong}}
| {{Main article|Land reclamation in Hong Kong}}

{{convert|67|km2|abbr=on}} of land was reclaimed up to 2013. [[Praya Reclamation Scheme]] began in the late 1860s and consisted of two stages totaling {{convert|50|to|60|acre|ha|order=flip}}.<ref name="Bard" /> [[Hong Kong Disneyland]], [[Hong Kong International Airport]], and its predecessor, [[Kai Tak Airport]], were all built on reclaimed land. In addition, much reclamation has taken place in prime locations on the waterfront on both sides of [[Victoria Harbour]]. This has raised [[environmental issues]] of the protection of the harbour which was once the source of prosperity of Hong Kong, traffic congestion in the [[Central, Hong Kong|Central District]],<ref name="court">{{cite news|title=Courts protect our imperiled waterway – at least for the time being |date=August 14, 2006 |publisher=[[The Standard (Hong Kong)|Hong Kong Standard]] |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=24977&sid=9273648&con_type=1&d_str=20060814&sear_year=2006 |access-date=2007-03-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019045859/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=24977&sid=9273648&con_type=1&d_str=20060814&sear_year=2006 |archive-date=October 19, 2012 }}</ref> as well as the collusion of the [[Government of Hong Kong|Hong Kong Government]] with the [[housing in Hong Kong|real estate]] developers in the territory.<ref>{{cite news|last=DeGolyer |first=Michael |title=Commentary: Just Looking for Answers |publisher=Hong Kong Standard |date=March 15, 2007 |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=15&art_id=40170&sid=12642159&con_type=1&d_str=20070315&sear_year=2007 |access-date=2007-03-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604140403/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=15&art_id=40170&sid=12642159&con_type=1&d_str=20070315&sear_year=2007 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Ng |first=Michael |title=Lawmaker warns of West Kowloon arts venue glut |date=October 5, 2006 |publisher=Hong Kong Standard |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=28758&sid=10237275&con_type=1&d_str=20061005&sear_year=2006 |access-date=2007-03-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604140414/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=28758&sid=10237275&con_type=1&d_str=20061005&sear_year=2006 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 }}</ref>

In addition, as the city expanded, [[new towns of Hong Kong|new towns]] in different decades were mostly built on reclaimed land, such as [[Kwun Tong]], [[Sha Tin]]-[[Ma On Shan (town)|Ma On Shan]], [[Tai Po]], [[Tseung Kwan O]], [[Tuen Mun]], and [[West Kowloon]].

|-
| {{flag|India}}
| [[Mumbai]] – An archipelago of originally [[Seven Islands of Bombay|seven separate islands]] were joined by land reclamation over a span of five centuries. This was done to develop Mumbai as a harbour city.
|-
| {{flag|Indonesia}}
| [[Jakarta]] – [[Giant Sea Wall Jakarta]] is part of a massive coastal development project at [[Jakarta Bay]].
|-
| {{flag|Japan}}
| 
* [[Tokyo Bay]] – {{convert|249|km2|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web| title = Japan Fact Sheet| publisher = Japan Reference| url = http://www.jref.com/society/japan_fact_sheet.shtml| access-date = 2007-03-23 }}</ref> including the entirety of [[Odaiba]] artificial island.
* [[Kobe]] – {{convert|23|km2|abbr=on}} (1995).
|-
| {{flag|Macao}}
| 170% of the original size or {{convert|17|km2|abbr=on}}<ref>[http://www.gov.mo/ gov.mo]</ref>
|-
| {{flag|North Korea}}
| In the 1980s, North Korea commenced a "find new land" program to reclaim 300,000 hectares of land (3,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> or 1,160&nbsp;mi<sup>2</sup>) in order to expand the country's supply of [[arable land]]. The project was unsuccessful and only reclaimed 20,000 hectares (200&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> or 70&nbsp;mi<sup>2</sup>) by the time it was cancelled after the [[Death and state funeral of Kim Il-sung|death of Kim Il-sung]] in 1994. It also contributed to the collapse of the [[Economy of North Korea|North Korean economy]] and the subsequent [[North Korean famine|famine]] in the 1990s. Land reclamation efforts resumed in the 2010s under [[Kim Jong-un]] with more success. North Korea constructed artificial islands in the [[Yellow Sea]] containing [[Korean People's Army]] bases, possibly inspired by [[Chinese artificial islands in the South China Sea]] and possibly as bases for [[long-range ballistic missiles]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cha |first=Victor D. |url=http://archive.org/details/impossiblestaten0000chav_j2c1 |title=The Impossible State: North Korea, Past and Future |publisher=Ecco |others=Internet Archive |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-06-199850-8 |location=New York |pages=119 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Makowsky |first1=Peter |last2=Town |first2=Jenny |last3=Kae |first3=Michelle Y. |last4=Pitz |first4=Samantha J. |date=2021-12-22 |title=North Korea's Tideland Reclamation Efforts - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea |url=https://www.38north.org/2021/12/north-koreas-tideland-reclamation-efforts/ |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=38 North |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaiman |first=Jonathan |date=2017-05-03 |title=North Korea is building mysterious artificial islands that would be perfect for missile launches |url=https://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-north-korea-islands-20170503-story.html |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Philippines}}
| 
* [[Manila Bay]]
{{Main article|Land reclamation in Metro Manila}}
: Additional 626 hectares along the eastern coast of Manila Bay created in the 1990s<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pea.gov.ph/programs-and-projects/reclamation|title=Philippine Reclamation Authority|website=pea.gov.ph|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506062959/http://www.pea.gov.ph/programs-and-projects/reclamation|archive-date=2016-05-06|url-status=dead}}</ref> to the 88-hectare [[Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex]]. The shore road of [[Manila]] ([[Roxas Boulevard]]) is actually reclaimed land, as well as its extension road to Cavite ([[Manila–Cavite Expressway|Manila-Cavite Expressway / Aguinaldo Boulevard]]).
* [[South Road Properties|Cebu South Road Properties]], [[Cebu City]], Philippines - Artificial island which is 300 hectares was built along the sea between Mainland Cebu and Kawit Island. This was done to address the increasing need of urban and residential development in [[Cebu City]] due to its very progressive economy.
* [[New Manila International Airport]], [[Bulakan]], Philippines
|-
| {{flag|Singapore}}
| {{Main article|Land reclamation in Singapore}}

20 percent of the original size or {{convert|135|km2|abbr=on}}. {{as of|2003}}, plans for {{convert|99|km2|abbr=on}} more are to go ahead,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Singapore Finds it Hard to Expand Without Sand |author=Koh Gui Qing |website=PlanetArk |via=Wild Singapose |date=12 April 2005 |url= http://www.wildsingapore.com/news/20050304/050412-1.htm}}</ref> even though disputes persist with Malaysia over Singapore's extensive land reclamation works.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/singapore/| title= Singapore| date= 1 September 2010| work= [[The World Factbook]]| publisher= [[CIA]]| at= section Transnational issues| access-date= 1 October 2010| quote=disputes persist with Malaysia over […] extensive land reclamation works}}</ref> Parts of [[Changi Airport]] are also on reclaimed land.

|-
| {{flag|South Korea}}
| As of 2006, 38 percent or {{convert|1,550|km2|abbr=on}} of coastal wetlands reclaimed, including {{convert|400|km2|abbr=on}} at [[Saemangeum Seawall|Saemangeum]]. [[Songdo International Business District|Songdo International Business district]], the largest private development in history, is a large-scale reclamation project built entirely on tidal mudflats.
|-
| {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
| {{Main|Land reclamation in the United Arab Emirates}}

Dubai has a total of four reclaimed islands (the [[Palm Jumeirah]], [[Jebel Ali|Jebal Ali]], The [[Burj al Arab]] Island, and [[The World (archipelago)|The World Islands]]), with a fifth under construction (the [[Palm Deira]]). There are several human-made islands in [[Abu Dhabi]], such as [[Yas Island]] and [[Al Lulu Island]].

|}

=== Europe ===
{|class=wikitable
! Country
! Notes
|-
| {{flag|Monaco}}
| {{Main|Land reclamation in Monaco}}

{{convert|0.41|km2|abbr=on}} out of {{convert|2.05|km2|abbr=on}}, or one fifth of Monaco comes from land taken from the sea, mainly in the neighborhoods of Fontvieille, [[La Condamine]], and [[Larvotto|Larvotto/Bas Moulins]].

|-
| {{flag|Netherlands}}
| {{Main article|Land reclamation in the Netherlands}}

About {{frac|1|6}} (almost 17%) of the entire country, or about {{convert|7,000|km2|abbr=on}} in total, has been reclaimed from the sea, lakes, marshes and swamps. The province of [[Flevoland]] has almost completely been reclaimed from the [[Zuiderzee]].

|}

=== Other countries ===
{|class=wikitable
! width=110|Country
! Notes
|-
| {{Flag|New Zealand}}
| Significant areas of land totaling several hundred hectares have been reclaimed along the harbourfronts of [[Auckland]], [[Dunedin]], and [[Wellington]]. In Dunedin – which in its early days was nicknamed "Mudedin" – around {{convert|2.5|km2|abbr=on}}, including much of the inner city and suburbs of [[Dunedin North]], [[South Dunedin]], and [[Andersons Bay]] is reclaimed from the [[Otago Harbour]], and a similar area in the suburbs of [[St Clair, New Zealand|St Clair]] and [[St Kilda, New Zealand|St Kilda]] is reclaimed swampland. The international airports serving [[Auckland Airport|Auckland]] and [[Wellington International Airport|Wellington]] have had significant reclamation for runway use.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://contractormag.co.nz/contractor/heritage-nz/auckland-international-airport/|title=Auckland International Airport: A work in progress|author=Charles Fairbairn|date=2017-04-04|publisher=Contractor Magazine}}</ref><ref>[https://wellington.govt.nz/about-wellington/history/throwbackthursday/the-airport Wellington City Council — Off to a flying start with Wellington Airport]</ref>
|-
| {{Flag|Nigeria}}
| [[Eko Atlantic]],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Omotosho|first=Jimmy|chapter=New Cities and Real Estate Markets- A focus on the Eko Atlantic City Project |date=2013|title=Proceedings of the 13th African Real Estate Society Conference|publisher=African Real Estate Society|doi=10.15396/afres2013_109}}</ref> [[Lagos]] – 25 square kilometers
|}

== List of reclaimed land by country and territory ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Country or territory
! Reclaimed land<br>(km<sup>2</sup>)
! Notes
|-
| {{Flag|China}}
| 13,500+
| [[Land reclamation in China]]
|-
| {{Flag|Netherlands}}
| 7,000
| [[Flevoland]], [[de Beemster]], [[Afsluitdijk]]<br />[[Land reclamation in the Netherlands]]
|-
| {{Flag|South Korea}}
| 1,550
| 
|-
| {{Flag|United States}}
| 1,000+
| [[:Category:Artificial islands of the United States|Artificial islands of the United States]]
|-
| {{Flag|Japan}}
| 500+
| 
|-
| {{Flag|United Arab Emirates}}
| 470
| [[Land reclamation in the United Arab Emirates]]
|-
| {{Flag|Bahrain}}
| 410
| 
|-
| {{Flag|Singapore}}
| 135
| [[Land reclamation in Singapore]]
|-
| {{Flag|Bangladesh}}
| 110
| 
|-
| {{Flag|Hong Kong}}
| 67
| [[Land reclamation in Hong Kong]]
|-
| {{Flag|Qatar}}
| 35
| 
|-
| {{Flag|Macao}}
| 17
| 
|-
| {{Flag|Philippines}}
| 9.26
| [[South Road Properties|Cebu South Road Properties Central Business District]] and<br> [[Land reclamation in Metro Manila]]
|-
| {{Flag|New Zealand}}
| 3.3
| [[Reclamation of Wellington Harbour]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/67623142/150-years-of-news-how-reclamations-shaped-wellington|title=150 years of news: How reclamations shaped Wellington|website=Stuff|date=6 April 2015|access-date=2017-12-13}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flag|Sri Lanka}}
| 2.33
| [[Colombo International Financial City]]
|-
| {{Flag|South Africa}}
| 1.94
| [[Foreshore, Cape Town|Cape Town Foreshore]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sahris.sahra.org.za/sites/default/files/heritagereports/CTICC%20AIA%2025_10_2012.pdf|title=ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPOSED CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE 2 ON ERWEN 192 , 245, 246 AND THE REMAINDER OF ERF 192, "SALAZAR SQUARE", ROGGEBAAI, CAPE TOWN FORESHORE|last=Halkett|first=D.J.|date=October 2012|website=sahra.org.za|page=18|access-date=26 August 2019}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flag|Maldives}}
| 0.62
| [[Velana International Airport]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dredgemag.com/May-June-2017/UAE-Dredging-Company-Gulf-Cobla-Delivers-Maldives-Airport-Land-Reclamation-for-Expansion-Project/|title=UAE Dredging Company Gulf Cobla Delivers Maldives Airport Land Reclamation for Expansion Project - International Dredging Review - May-June 2017|website=dredgemag.com|date=26 July 2017|access-date=2017-12-13}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flag|Monaco}}
| 0.41
| [[Land reclamation in Monaco]]
|}

==See also==
* [[Artificial island]]
* [[Great wall of sand]]
* [[Marine regression]] – the formation of new land by reductions in sea level
* [[Drainage system (agriculture)]] – [[drainage]] for land reclamation
* [[Land improvement]]
* [[Land recycling]]
** [[Society for Protection of the Harbour|Hong Kong Society for Protection of the Harbour]]
* [[Mine reclamation]]
* [[Polder]] – low-lying land reclaimed from a lake or sea
* [[Reclamation of Wellington Harbour]], New Zealand
* [[River reclamation]]
* [[Water reclamation]]
* [[Rainbowing]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|35em}}

==References==
* {{cite news|title=Land-grabbing titans who changed HK's profit for good |first=Jason |last=Wordie |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=27127&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=19990418&sear_year=1999 |newspaper=[[The Standard (Hong Kong)|The Standard]] |location=Hong Kong |date=18 April 1999 |access-date=1 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522042337/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=27127&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=19990418&sear_year=1999 |archive-date=May 22, 2011 }}
* {{Citation |first1 = J. |last1 = MacKinnon |first2 = Y.I. |last2 = Verkuil |first3 = N.J. |last3 = Murray |year = 2012 |title = IUCN situation analysis on East and Southeast Asian intertidal habitats, with particular reference to the Yellow Sea (including the Bohai Sea) |series = Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission No. 47 |page = 70 |publisher = IUCN |place = Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK |isbn = 9782831712550 |url = http://www.iucn.org/asiancoastalwetlands/ |archive-url = https://archive.today/20140624015227/http://www.iucn.org/asiancoastalwetlands/ |url-status = dead |archive-date = 2014-06-24 }}
* {{Citation |last1  = Murray |first1 = N.J. |last2 = Clemens |first2 = R.S. |last3 = Phinn |first3 = S.R. |last4 = Possingham |first4 = H.P. |last5 = Fuller |first5 = R.A. |year = 2014 |title = Tracking the rapid loss of tidal wetlands in the Yellow Sea|journal = Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment |volume = 12 |issue = 5 |pages = 267–272 |doi = 10.1890/130260 |bibcode = 2014FrEE...12..267M |url = https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60169/1/130260.pdf }}
* http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/bahrain/bahrain-parliament-wants-solution-to-land-reclamation-issue-1.567052

==External links==
{{Commons category|Land reclamation}}
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/hilton-t/sets/72157623774559774/ The Cape Town Foreshore Plan 1947]
* [http://www.clra.ca/ The Canadian Land Reclamation Association]
*[http://swaminomics.org/the-case-for-offshore-airports/ The case for offshore Mumbai airport]

{{land use}}
{{Geotechnical engineering}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Land Reclamation}}
[[Category:Land reclamation| ]]
[[Category:Coastal construction]]
[[Category:Riparian zone]]
[[Category:Environmental issues with water]]
[[Category:Environmental soil science]]