Spurred by the threat of dwindling oil reserves in 20 years, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates has begun (and nearly completed) construction on two artifical islands in the Persian Gulf.

It is hoped that the islands, referred to as The Palm, will generate a burgeoning tourist industry to replace oil exports. The two islands, Jebel Ali and Jumeirah, required 130 million cubic years of rock and sand each and can be seen from space with the naked eye. The site boasts that "if all of the fill materials...were placed end to end, a wall two meters high and half a meter thick could circle the world three times."

It's an impressive project, but boy would I like to see the environmental impact assessment! The site suggests that the plams will stimulate aquatic life by "adding nutrient rich materials". Apparently the marine life of Dubai subsist on rock and sand for nourishment...?