My opinion: the Dubai Islands had mistake written all over them

I predicted--and, I have to admit--even hoped these artificial "Dubai Islands" they created over there would fail.

It's not like I wanted to wish ill on anyone, either.  It's just that it made no sense. It goes against nature and it does so on far too grand a scale.

And here it is, proof positive, it seems:

According to evidence presented to a property tribunal, the World islands off the coast of Dubai are sinking.

The "Dubai World Tribunal" was set up to hear cases arising out of the multiple problems that the outlandishly ambitious scheme has faced since it started in 2003. Evidence brought by Richard Wilmot-Smith QC, representing Penguin Marine, the company holding the rights to provide transport to and from the islands,  showed "erosion and deterioration of The World islands." So, in a nutshell, "the islands are gradually falling back into the sea."  As well as the foundational sands of the islands sinking there is also evidence that the navigational channels between the islands are silting up.

The development, consisting of 300 islands, was designed to look like the countries of the globe when seen from above (or from the top of Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building onshore in the city). The islands were intended to become luxury hotel complexes and private properties, each tailor-made to suit its owners. According to the developer, Nakheel, 70% of the islands have been sold. However, only one of the islands has completed development: 'Greenland' is owned by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Emir of Dubai, and is a showpiece for the scheme.

Remember the old saying, the old advertisement?  "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature..."  BOOM

The Brush Creek Islands

I wrote of this some weeks ago, that there has developed, in Brush Creek, just East of the Plaza, a rather large and impromptu "island"--seriously, an island--in the middle of the creek and that it seems that the city will have to come up with a solution for this one of these days. I think they're going to have to eventually somehow scoop or dredge it out. It's growing rather healthily and quickly, it seems. In addition--and why I write today--is to say there are also, now, little and not-so-little peninsulas also extending out from the creek banks on both the North and South sides of the same creek. Finally, also, and additionally more surprising, is the fact that this last week, I noticed yet another "island" forming, and, again, rather surprisingly quickly, further East of the original island, just short of the large waterfall or drop-off in the creek. It seems Brush Creek is becoming very stagnant East of the Plaza, for whatever reason. I wonder if the city is paying any attention to this. I wonder if the Water Department has noticed. And if they've noticed, do they care? Does it matter? It seems it will, if even just eventually.