Turning Water into Land: Major Landfill Projects Around the World

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The idea of transforming water into land has captivated humanity for centuries. The Netherlands, for example, is a pioneering nation in this field, where approximately 20% of the territory has been reclaimed from the sea or lakes using dikes to control water flow and dry the surfaces. As technology has advanced, this practice has become more widespread. Today, China leads the way, joined by urban centers in the global south, such as cities in West Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East.

These megalomaniacal land reclamations are primarily undertaken in areas with extensive coastlines but insufficient landmass to meet their needs. In this regard, the newly reclaimed areas serve many purposes, ranging from the development of luxury residential complexes to an entertainment archipelago featuring hotels, restaurants, theaters, and shops.

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Cite: Ghisleni, Camilla. "Turning Water into Land: Major Landfill Projects Around the World" [Transformando água em terra: grandes projetos de aterros ao redor do mundo] 25 Jun 2025. ArchDaily. (Trans. Simões, Diogo) Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1016218/turning-water-into-land-major-landfill-projects-around-the-world> ISSN 0719-8884

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