Chinese scientists are mulling over a plan to build two artificial islands off of the eastern Jiangsu province by utilizing the radial sand ridges unique to the areas, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The two islands are planned to cover a total area of 1,000 square kilometers.

As the specific tidal currents have given rise to the largest radial sand ridges worldwide in the central part of the maritime space off of the eastern part of the Jiangsu province, scientists have long been hoping to make full use of these precious resources, the report said.

The comprehensive utilization of radial sand ridges not only means an increase of land, but also marks a step forward in building a large-scale harbor for Jiangsu province, which it lacks, says the project leader, Gao Shu, who is dean of the School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences of Nanjing University.

Once approved, the whole project can be completed by the end of 2020, according to the report.

(Xinhua News Agency November 3, 2010)