Description
Kitakyushu Airport, located on a man-made island in the Seto Inland Sea near Kitakyushu, Japan, is another notable example of floating infrastructure. The airport, completed in 2006, is built on a floating platform and was designed to combat land scarcity in the region, especially in the coastal areas prone to flooding. The project serves as an important transportation hub, handling both domestic and international flights.
The floating design ensures the airport’s resilience to earthquakes, storms, and rising sea levels. It incorporates advanced stormwater management and drainage systems, reducing the impact of water-related issues. Additionally, the project includes measures to promote biodiversity, with the surrounding waters supporting various marine species.
Samenvatting (Dutch description)
Kyushu's Floating Airports
Seto Inland Sea and Kitakyushu Airport in Japan daytime aerial view from airplane
Taro Hama/e-kamakura/Getty Images
The island of Kyushu is home to two of Japan's floating airports: Nagasaki (which was the aforementioned second one built); and Kitakyushu, which serves a city that only true Japan aficionados will—this flower-filled tunnel is a staple of many a Japanophile's bucket list.
Nagasaki Airport is unique on this list because at least part of the island it was built on existed prior to construction. Kitakyushu Airport, on the other hand, which like Kobe Airport opened in 2006, was built on an island made from scratch.
Both of Kyushu's floating airports have relatively low traffic. Kitakyushu's only scheduled service is to Tokyo and Nagoya, while passengers at Nagasaki Airport can travel to international cities like Seoul and Shanghai, in addition to cities throughout Japan.
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