Benefits

Floating islands provide multiple benefits to human beings.[11]​.

This use is given to them in Niger (in Lake Chad), in India (in Lake Loktak) or in China.[1]​.

This use is given to them in India (in Lake Dal) in Malaysia (in Perak), in several lakes in China, in Burma (in Lake Inle) or in the chinampas near Mexico City.[1]​.

This use occurs in the artificial floating islands of the Urus of Lake Titicaca,[12]​ in the fishing villages of Ha-Long Bay (Vietnam), in several lakes in China, in Uganda (in Lake Kyoga), in Zaire (in Lake Kisale), in Iraq (in the swamps of the Euphrates River), etc.[1]​

An area where floating islands are common is the Amazon, for example in the Brazilian fishing villages or in some neighborhoods of Iquitos], Peru.[13]​.

Floating islands have also been built as a method of remediating contaminated waters, to serve as nesting sites for birds,[14]​ or to provide habitats for fish.[1]​.

Disadvantages

Floating islands, especially natural ones, can also cause some harm to humans. In the state of Massachusetts, the floating islands of Island Pond are often installed in front of houses located on the shore, obstructing views of the landscape that could be seen from them. Also in the United States, they cause problems in the state of Minnesota, which is why permits are granted to be removed.[1]​.

In some areas, floating islands contain suitable habitats for the multiplication of disease-transmitting mosquitoes, as occurs in Lake Victoria, in Africa, and in Lake Gatun, in Panama.[1]​.

Floating islands can affect port operations, as has happened in Kenya (in the port of Kisumu, on Lake Victoria), in Uruguay (with the port of Montevideo)[1]​ and in Argentina (with the port of Buenos Aires).[15]​.

They also change the ecological characteristics of the lakes, damaging both their ecosystem and the economy of the area. This has happened in India in Manipur (in Lake Loktak) and in the United States, in lakes in the state of Florida, such as Orange, Kissimmee, and Istakpoga).

natural origin

In the cases of natural floating islands, it is usually produced by a vigorous growth of certain hydrophytic plants, which intertwine their roots producing a framework that retains the plant remains, thus accumulating organic matter, which over time will provide greater support to the medium thus formed, allowing other plants to grow on it.[16] This process can occur not only in tropical areas, but also occurs in temperate zones. For example, the largest naturally occurring floating island was one observed in 1881, drifting in a medium-sized river, near Waterloo in the province of Quebec, Canada. It contained trees up to 15 meters high.[17][18]​.

Another mode of origin is when masses of peat that were deposited on the bed of a lake break away and reach the surface. Later they are populated by herbs, which consolidate and bind them.[19]​.

artificial origin

Of the floating type there are also islands originated by direct human action.[20]​ An example of these are the floating islands of the Urus, indigenous people of Lake Titicaca, who build them by tying bundles of reeds or dry reeds, until they form a form of raft "Raft (boat)") on which they build their homes and carry out multiple activities.[21]​[22]​.

The key to preventing these islands from sinking is their ability to float, which depends on whether their origin is natural or artificial, and in the latter case, on the materials used. Natural islands can do so on many occasions because they originate from floating plants, which shed their very light parenchymatous remains, later retained by the roots of other species.[23]​ The gases produced by the decomposition of plant remains also operate to elevate the structure above the waters. In other cases the medium is peat (formed in the past by moss communities) that for different reasons manages to rise to the surface.

In the case of artificial islands, these are built with light materials, such as dry cattails, wood of low specific weight and, the most sophisticated ones, were once supported by barrels, today replaced by drums "Drum (industrial)") made of metal or plastic with air inside and hermetically closed, on which a platform-type structure is raised.

• - Almadía.

• - Annex:Artificial islands.

• - Annex: Islands by area and population.

• - Batea (boat) "Batea (boat)").

• - Seasteading.

• - Transportation by boats in the Plata basin.

Benefits

Floating islands provide multiple benefits to human beings.[11]​.

This use is given to them in Niger (in Lake Chad), in India (in Lake Loktak) or in China.[1]​.

This use is given to them in India (in Lake Dal) in Malaysia (in Perak), in several lakes in China, in Burma (in Lake Inle) or in the chinampas near Mexico City.[1]​.

This use occurs in the artificial floating islands of the Urus of Lake Titicaca,[12]​ in the fishing villages of Ha-Long Bay (Vietnam), in several lakes in China, in Uganda (in Lake Kyoga), in Zaire (in Lake Kisale), in Iraq (in the swamps of the Euphrates River), etc.[1]​

An area where floating islands are common is the Amazon, for example in the Brazilian fishing villages or in some neighborhoods of Iquitos], Peru.[13]​.

Floating islands have also been built as a method of remediating contaminated waters, to serve as nesting sites for birds,[14]​ or to provide habitats for fish.[1]​.

Disadvantages

Floating islands, especially natural ones, can also cause some harm to humans. In the state of Massachusetts, the floating islands of Island Pond are often installed in front of houses located on the shore, obstructing views of the landscape that could be seen from them. Also in the United States, they cause problems in the state of Minnesota, which is why permits are granted to be removed.[1]​.

In some areas, floating islands contain suitable habitats for the multiplication of disease-transmitting mosquitoes, as occurs in Lake Victoria, in Africa, and in Lake Gatun, in Panama.[1]​.

Floating islands can affect port operations, as has happened in Kenya (in the port of Kisumu, on Lake Victoria), in Uruguay (with the port of Montevideo)[1]​ and in Argentina (with the port of Buenos Aires).[15]​.

They also change the ecological characteristics of the lakes, damaging both their ecosystem and the economy of the area. This has happened in India in Manipur (in Lake Loktak) and in the United States, in lakes in the state of Florida, such as Orange, Kissimmee, and Istakpoga).

natural origin

In the cases of natural floating islands, it is usually produced by a vigorous growth of certain hydrophytic plants, which intertwine their roots producing a framework that retains the plant remains, thus accumulating organic matter, which over time will provide greater support to the medium thus formed, allowing other plants to grow on it.[16] This process can occur not only in tropical areas, but also occurs in temperate zones. For example, the largest naturally occurring floating island was one observed in 1881, drifting in a medium-sized river, near Waterloo in the province of Quebec, Canada. It contained trees up to 15 meters high.[17][18]​.

Another mode of origin is when masses of peat that were deposited on the bed of a lake break away and reach the surface. Later they are populated by herbs, which consolidate and bind them.[19]​.

artificial origin

Of the floating type there are also islands originated by direct human action.[20]​ An example of these are the floating islands of the Urus, indigenous people of Lake Titicaca, who build them by tying bundles of reeds or dry reeds, until they form a form of raft "Raft (boat)") on which they build their homes and carry out multiple activities.[21]​[22]​.

The key to preventing these islands from sinking is their ability to float, which depends on whether their origin is natural or artificial, and in the latter case, on the materials used. Natural islands can do so on many occasions because they originate from floating plants, which shed their very light parenchymatous remains, later retained by the roots of other species.[23]​ The gases produced by the decomposition of plant remains also operate to elevate the structure above the waters. In other cases the medium is peat (formed in the past by moss communities) that for different reasons manages to rise to the surface.

In the case of artificial islands, these are built with light materials, such as dry cattails, wood of low specific weight and, the most sophisticated ones, were once supported by barrels, today replaced by drums "Drum (industrial)") made of metal or plastic with air inside and hermetically closed, on which a platform-type structure is raised.

• - Almadía.

• - Annex:Artificial islands.

• - Annex: Islands by area and population.

• - Batea (boat) "Batea (boat)").

• - Seasteading.

• - Transportation by boats in the Plata basin.