SouthBeachSurfskier
Tourist
Reged: 05/02/06
Posts: 9
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North of the Venetian Island ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venetian_Causeway ) called Di Lido Island in North Biscayne Bay ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscayne_Bay ) near Miami, there are the remnants of a failed construction project from the 1920's. The artificial island was intended to stretch from the Julia Tuttle Causeway to Di Lido Island, and apparently there were also other future islands planned. The construction project apparently ended when the 1926 Miami Hurricane ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Miami_Hurricane ) blew through town and ended the Miami real estate boom. The Great Depression ensued and the artificial island project was never completed.
To this day a ring of large concrete pilings still define the intended sea wall boundary of the island. The pilings sit in about 5-10 feet of water and extend about 5-10 feet above the water, depending on the tide. The pilings and the island's outline shape are clearly visible from the Julia Tuttle Causeway as well as from many of the tall buildings that overlook the bay. They present a clear hazard to boat navigation and the interior of the island is a peaceful place that remains free of boat and jet ski traffic for kayakers, dolphin, manatee, sting rays, manta rays, and many types of fish.
This island is a visible scar on the Miami landscape left by the irrational exuberance of past generations. It is also a lesson to present-day Miamians about dealing with megalomanical real estate developers bent on altering the landscape. Most Miamians have absolutely no idea that the island even exists and they really don't care, which possibly is also a lesson for real estate developers in dealing with Miamians.
I would really like to know the intended name for this island. I haven't been able to find it in any resource and nobody in Miami seems to know or have any curiosity at all. If you know what the original developers planned to name this island then please let me know so that I can mark it accordingly.
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SouthBeachSurfskier
Tourist
Reged: 05/02/06
Posts: 9
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I went out in my surfski kayak and shot some photos of this location. You're looking at the concrete pilings described above, which were to make up the sea wall at the outer perimiter of the island.
I shot the first photo from the East side of the East side of the island facing North-West, right on the Google Earth map pin. You can see the Julia Tuttle Causeway in the background of the image.
I shot the second photo from just inside the East boundary of the island on the other side of the map pin, facing South-East. Belle Island, Rivo Alto Island, and Di Lido Island are visible in the background of the image.
The last photo is a close-up from the same spot as the previous image, with Belle Island and the tip of Rivo Alto Island visible in the background.
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SouthBeachSurfskier
Tourist
Reged: 05/02/06
Posts: 9
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I did a bunch of research and learned all about this island. I condensed my notes in a Wikipedia article. It was to be called Isola di Lolando. The history of this feature is very interesting, as it relates to the bursting of the South Florida real estate bubble of the 1920's.
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TriumphSisyphus
Tourist
Reged: 09/10/07
Posts: 2
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You totally rock. You taught me everything I know about this subject. Thank you,
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