The islands of Shanghai are those under the jurisdiction of the Shanghai municipal government. They comprise three large inhabited islands and a shifting number of smaller, uninhabited ones. They are all alluvial islands in the Yangtze River Delta in China.
The Yangshan area of the Port of Shanghai is also located on two islands, Greater and Lesser Yangshan in Hangzhou Bay, but these are administered as part of Zhejiang's Shengsi County.
Chongming Island
Chongming Island 31°37′06″N 121°33′12″E / 31.61833°N 121.55333°E lies against the northern shore of the Yangtze River and is an alluvial island formed by silt carried along the river. It gives the name to Chongming County, the only county of Shanghai. It is the third largest island[citation needed] in Greater China after Taiwan and Hainan Island.
The other two inhabited Shanghai islands are Changxing Island at 88.54 km2 (34.19 sq mi), and Hengsha Island at 55.74 km2 (21.52 sq mi).[1] The 25.5 km (15.8 mi) Shanghai Yangtze River Tunnel and Bridge joining the island to Shanghai opened on 2009-10-31.[2] The island will be connected to Jiangsu Province via Chonghai Bridge which has not been built yet and Chongqi Bridge which will be finished in 2012.[3]
Jiuduansha Island
Jiuduansha Island (31°10′N 121°55.5′E / 31.167°N 121.9250°E; total area: 423.2 square kilometres (163.4 sq mi), 114.6 square kilometres (44.2 sq mi) above sea level) has the national nature reserve, Jiuduansha Wetland.[4] It is an intertidal wetland which consists of three parts, Shangsha, Zhongsha and Xiasha.[5]
Dajinshan Island
Dajinshan Island (Big Jinshan Island), Xiaojinshan Island (Small Jinshan Island), and Fushan Island in Jinshan District are nature reserves under city jurisdiction.[6] Dajinshan has the highest point in Shanghai with an elevation of 103.4 metres (339 ft).
Some alluvial islands are relatively young and the number varies over time. For example, Jiuduansha emerged in the 1950s.[4] In 2006, the city had 19 uninhabited islands covering 226.27 square kilometres (87.36 sq mi), with a total coastline length of 309 kilometres (192 mi).[6]
References
- ^ Shanghai Statistical Bureau Yearbook 2007
- ^ Bridge-tunnel linking Chongming Island opens to traffic, Shanghai Daily, 2009-10-31, accessed 2009-11-03
- ^ Major construction completed on Chongqi Bridge, People's Daily, 2011-09-21, accessed 2011-10-19
- ^ a b Fudan's Site - Jiuduansha Island
- ^ CJE.net.cn
- ^ a b China Daily