Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat has unveiled plans for an artificial archipelago in the Black Sea, which is the shape of Russia.

The giant project will house a luxury leisure development housing 25,000 people.

Here is the press release from Erick van Egeraat Associated Architects:

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Erick van Egeraat presents plans for archipelago in Black Sea

23 September 2007

Erick van Egeraat presented his plans for Federation Island to the President of the Russian Federation, Mr Vladimir Putin.

The presentation was held at the International Investment Forum 2007 in the future Olympic host city Sochi.

 Federation Island is a 330 ha artificial archipelago, located off the coast of Sochi, in the Russian Black Sea.

The archipelago offers residences, hotels, cultural, leisure and recreational facilities. Federation Island will be built in the shape of the Russian Federation and reflects the country’s major geographical features. The Russian river network is used as a reference for the island’s waterlines; the big mountains inspire the island relief.

Federation Island comprises seven main, more than a dozen private and three breakwater islands. Sandy beaches, dunes, grasslands, bushes, small forests and riverside offer enough variety for accommodation ranging from beach residences, luxury villas and apartments to dune, river and cliff houses.

President Putin especially inquired about technical details and construction time. Erick van Egeraat assured that the Dutch experience in reclaiming land from water will benefit the project, which he considers to be unique among its kind.

Federation Island is located at around 15 km from Sochi and the regional Adler airport. City, marina, airport and the skiing resort of Krasnaya Polyana can be easily reached from the archipelago.

The region of Sochi has a humid subtropical climate with an average summer temperature of 25 to 28 degrees Celsius. Studies show that the archipelago will have a positive effect on the local climate.

The project is being developed by M-Industries of St. Petersburg and designed by Erick van Egeraat in co-operation with Dutch engineering companies Witteveen + Bos and Van Oord Dredging and Marine.