Tidal island

A tidal island is a raised area of land within a waterbody, which is connected to the larger mainland by a natural isthmus or man-made causeway that is exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide, making the land switching between a promontory/peninsula and an island depending on tidal conditions.

"Tide island" redirects here. Not to be confused with Tied island.
Diagram of tidal island at low tide and high tide
St Michael's Mount, Cornwall, at high tide, c. 1900
Cramond Island, Scotland, at high tide: the causeway is submerged, but the anti-boat pylons are still visible

Because of the mystique surrounding tidal islands, many of them have been sites of religious worship, such as Mont-Saint-Michel with its Benedictine Abbey. Tidal islands are also commonly the sites of fortresses because of the natural barrier created by the tidal channel.

List of tidal islands

Hong Kong

Iran

Japan

Taiwan

South Korea

Denmark

Denmark/Germany

France
Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy

Germany

Guernsey

Iceland

Grótta in Seltjarnarnes, the Capital Region

Ireland

Italy

Jersey

Spain

United Kingdom
Rough Island opposite Rockcliffe, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
Worm's Head at the end of Gower, Wales
England
Northern Ireland
Gunns Island, connected to Ballyhornan Bay, Northern Ireland at low tide
Scotland
Wales

43 (unbridged) tidal islands can be walked to from the UK mainland.[1]

Canada

United States
Bar Island in Maine, U.S.

Australia

New Zealand
Rangitoto Island forms a backdrop to a wave-cut platform off Achilles Point, Auckland, New Zealand.

See also

References
  1. Peter Caton (2011). No Boat Required – Exploring Tidal Islands. ISBN 978-1848767-010.
  2. longpointisland.com Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
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