Tidal islands are a type of Continental Island where land connecting the island to the mainland has not completely eroded, but is underwater at high tide. The famous island of Mont Saint-Michel, France is an example of a tidal island.
Typical examples include Jindo and Mondo in South Korea, St. Michael’s Mount in the United Kingdom, Cramond Island in Scotland and many others.
Tidal islands are usually connected to the mainland via an artificial causeway or naturally. The artificial causeways are particularly of an advantage as they enhance easy access to tidal islands while protecting tourists and visitors from dangers associated with high tidal waves.
Located in Mount’s Bay, Cornwall, England, the small tidal island of St Michael’s Mount serves as a civil parish. A human-made causeway, made up of granite setts, connect the island to Marizon town in Cornwall. People can cross between the two lands only in the mid or low tide. In modern popular culture, some films feature the island including Dracula in 1979, a James Bond film from 1983 called Never Say Never Again, and Johnny English in 2003. Some studies show that the Cornwall coast including the tidal island might be at risk from natural erosion and the rise of sea levels.
In the southwestern part of South Korea, there are two islands of Jindo and Mondo with a natural causeway connection caused by the extremely low tide. Twice a year, the land pass appears for about an hour, with a length of about two miles and a width of about 131 feet. Tourists from around the world visit this section to celebrate a festival dedicated to the natural wonder. The Jindo Sea-parting festival attracts many people each year with visitors from each island traditionally walking to the middle for the celebration.
Cramond Island in Scotland is a tidal island covering an area of 7.70 hectares. A paved path, across the Drum Sands, connects it to the mainland in low tide. There are anti-boat pylons, constructed during the Second World War, besides the human-made causeway visible even in high tide. Visitors need to be wary of rising waters and should, therefore, have enough time while crossing to avoid being stranded on the island. The United Kingdom has 43 tidal islands that can be accessed by walking from the mainland, including the Cramond Island.
Credit : World Atlas
Picture Credit : Google
