10 Amazing Artificial Islands of the World: Peberholm, Denmark

Peberholm, Denmark

Öresund Bridge from Denmark to Sweden. On the right is the artifical island Peberholm and on the left Saltholm. (Wikimedia/Dpol)

The construction of the Oresund Bridge connecting Denmark with Sweden included the construction of Peberholm, an artificial island in the Danish side of the Oresund. The island was built to serve as a a crossover point between the tunnel and the bridge. The tunnel had to be built since a bridge spanning the entire link between Malmö, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark would have interfered with obstacle-free zones around Kastrup Airport. A tunnel would also allow large ships to pass the Oresund without worrying about the height of the bridge.
Officials built Peberholm with ecology preservation in mind. The location, for example, was chosen since it would ensure the freest flow of water through the sound. Scientists also predicted that nature would colonize the island, without any human interaction (only biologists are allowed beyond the freeway and railway routes). As of June 2007, scientists from the Biological Society of Lund had registered 454 species of plants on the island. The island is also home to 8-10 breeding species of birds and rare spiders, according to Birds-of-Denmark.

Aerial vew of the Peberholm (literally 'Pepper Islet'), a small artificial island between Denmark (bottom) and Sweden (top). It was created as part of the Oresund Bridge connecting the two countries. (Wikimedia/Sloyment and Alkarex)