A feature of Greece is a diverse natural landscape, the presence of interesting corners in the mountains and the sea, as well as stunning landscapes. And of course, the list of special places in Greece, famous for its uniqueness, cannot but include islands that can be reached literally on foot. Four of the thousands of Greek islands have roads that connect them to the mainland, offering another way to get to them without having to travel by sea.
Lefkada
Due to its accessibility, amazingly beautiful mountain landscapes, beautiful internationally awarded beaches, charming Mediterranean villages, and lush greenery in the hinterland, Lefkada has a special place of honor among the most popular summer destinations in the Ionian Sea and beyond.
Here you will find sandy beaches, bustling resorts with vibrant nightlife, crowded marinas with dozens of yachts. However, behind this tourist scenery lies another world, less pretentious, but just as interesting and charming. You can meet him on remote beaches, on emerald islets and in the rich, lush green interior of the island. One of the main advantages of the island, of course, is its location in close proximity to the shores of the main mainland of the country, so that it can be easily reached by car, bypassing the journey by sea.
Kukumitsa - Vonitsa
Just a few tens of meters east of the pier in Vonice, you can see the green island of Kukumitsa, which is connected to the mainland by a newly built stone bridge. The main attraction of the island can be called the temple of St. Nektarios, hidden in the greenery of huge eucalyptus and cypress trees. This little paradise makes visiting Vonitsa unforgettable.
Etoliko - Masolonghi
Aetoliko is often referred to as the little Greek Venice, as this area literally “emerges” from the sea. It can be reached by the road starting from Masolonghi and going further to the resort town of Astakos. Two stone bridges 250 and 300 meters long each connect the island to the mainland. If you get along the old road, then in the place on Finikia (gr. Φοινικιά), you will see the church of Panagia Finikias, standing in the shallow waters of the lagoon between the salt marshes. It was here that Lord Byron came by boat to rest.
Saint Achillios - Prespa
In order to visit the island of Agios Achillios, located in the area of Little Prespa, you need to cross a footbridge 200 meters long on foot and you will find yourself in a seaside village that bears the name of Agios Achillios. On the island, you can see traces of all civilizations that have successively changed in the course of history. Byzantine churches with ancient columns are scattered throughout the island. The Church of St. Achilles was built by the Byzantine emperor Vasily II the Bulgar-Slayer (gr. Βουλγαροκτόνος) as a sign of victory over the Bulgarian army of Tsar Samuil. The islet is so small that it can be walked around in an hour, but this walk around the island will bring many unforgettable experiences.
This proximity has long teased the imagination of enterprising people who put forward a seemingly crazy idea - to connect the mainland with Sakhalin. And in the future, it is possible to connect Japan through the island by rail with the mainland. And if the second part of this idea is still going through the science fiction department, the first part is already on the agenda.
Today, Russia on the Pacific coast is locked in by the limited capacity of several ports in Primorye and the Khabarovsk Territory. Three large transport hubs - Vladivostok, Nakhodkinsky and Vaninsky - have direct access to the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Baikal-Amur Mainline. This opens up wide opportunities for the transit of goods from the countries of the Asia-Pacific region to Europe and back.
The rest of the ports are either small or are freezing, so they are idle for at least a few months a year. However, it is not yet possible to use the full potential of the large transport catches of the Far East. Currently, their common problem is insufficient cargo capacity. The modernization of ports, port communications and railways alone will not solve this problem.
The capacity of transport hubs of the Far East will always lag behind the rapidly growing needs of both Russia and its neighbors in the Asia-Pacific region, who need the shortest route to Europe.
Thus, the conclusion suggests itself - the problem can be solved in a radical way by creating a new gate for Russia in the Far East. Where should they be? The answer is clear - on Sakhalin.
In the south of the island today there are two large ice-free ports - Kholmsk and Korsakov. They are connected to the railroad. At the same time, the capabilities of these ports are not used to their full potential. In order to use them one hundred percent in the interests of Russia and its partners in the Asia-Pacific region, it is necessary to implement a project that has been in the air for more than a hundred years.
The idea of connecting Sakhalin with the mainland was expressed back in the 19th century by the Far East explorer Gennady Nevelsky. At the beginning of the 20th century, a specific proposal had already appeared to build a dam, locks and a seaport in the strait named after him. But historical circumstances did not allow us to proceed to a concrete consideration of this project. At that time, the supply of Sakhalin and the reception of return cargo went through the ports of Primorsky Krai, where the Trans-Siberian Railway ended. During the Great Patriotic War, the railway was built to the coast of the Tatar Strait, where the construction and expansion of the Vanino Commercial Sea Port began. The transport scheme connecting the mainland and the island territory has improved markedly.
The most realistic attempt to connect the island to the mainland by a railway tunnel was made in the middle of the last century. In May 1953, the Council of Ministers of the USSR adopted a resolution on the start of construction of a railway line between Komsomolsk-on-Amur and Pobedino station on Sakhalin. The mainland Cape Lazarev on the shore of the Nevelskoy Strait was supposed to be connected by an underwater tunnel with the island Cape Perish.
120 kilometers of railroad tracks were laid on the mainland, it stretched along the right bank of the Amur from Selikhino station to Cherny Mys station. At Cape Lazarev, where the tunnel to Sakhalin was supposed to begin, a mine shaft was dug, and an artificial island was poured into the strait. However, after Stalin's death, work on the project was stopped.
Of course, Sakhalin was not left without contact with the mainland. The rapid development of the economy of both the Far East and Sakhalin required solving the transport problem. The answer to this challenge of the time was the creation of a ferry service on the Vanino-Kholmsk line. But today, no one has any doubts that the ferry complex has exhausted its capabilities and cannot provide stable communication between the island and the mainland. Moreover, it becomes clear that the modernization of the ferry crossing at very high costs for 10-20 years will reduce the severity of the transport problem only for Sakhalin, but will not help solve the much more important problem of integrating the Russian economy into the Asia-Pacific region.
The cardinal solution to the problem will be the construction of a 582-kilometer railway line from the Selikhino station in the Khabarovsk Territory to the Nysh station on Sakhalin. With the construction of a railway crossing across the Nevelskoy Strait.
According to specialists and experts, only this "option" will provide a sustainable transport link between Sakhalin and the mainland. This is an important socio-economic and geopolitical task. Its relevance is determined by three main reasons.
This, as already mentioned, is the practical exhaustion of the technical capabilities of the Vanino-Kholmsk ferry crossing. The Institute for the Design of Railway Transport "GIPROTRANS-TEI" - a branch of JSC "Russian Railways" has already developed a "Justification of investments in the construction of the railway line from the mainland - about. Sakhalin with a tunnel (bridge) passage through the Nevelskoy Strait and the development (modernization) of the railway network on. Sakhalin". The implementation of this project is provided for in the strategies for the socio-economic development of the Far East and the Baikal region for the period up to 2025 and the development of railway transport in the Russian Federation until 2030. The subprogram "Railway transport" of the Federal target program "Development of the transport system of the Russian Federation (2010-2015)" provides for the start of financing in 2015 for design work. The project implementation period is from 2015 to 2030.
True, according to many analysts dealing with this issue, such terms do not correspond to the existing need. According to forecast estimates, by 2015 the need for cargo transportation between Sakhalin and the mainland will increase to 6.8 million tons, and by 2025 - up to 9.2 million tons. At the same time, it is assumed that the largest volumes of cargo will go to the mainland - 4.5 and 6.2 million tons, respectively. The predicted growth in cargo traffic is mainly due to an increase in the production and sale of coal mined in the Uglegorsk district of the Sakhalin region, and the need to deliver cargo to the island for the construction of new large facilities for the electric power industry and the processing industry.
The second significant factor is the acceleration of the socio-economic development of the island and the high investment activity on the territory of the Sakhalin Region, which is rapidly becoming the largest oil and gas producing region in Russia and Northeast Asia, where leading foreign corporations have entered with their capital and technologies.
And the third important point, which is of great importance for Russia and all the countries of the Asia-Pacific region that need fast and cheap transport links with Europe: the creation of a transport link between Sakhalin and the mainland opens up huge opportunities for transcontinental transit.
For the Japanese side, this project opens up special prospects. The connection of Sakhalin with the mainland takes the bridge project between the Land of the Rising Sun and the Russian island out of fantasy. 43 kilometers between Sakhalin and Hokkaido is quite a bit. Especially when you consider that back in 1988, Hokkaido was connected by the world's longest 54-kilometer underwater tunnel, Seikan, to the main Japanese island of Honshu. So the matter will be “for small things” - to connect the Land of the Rising Sun with Russia. In this case, Japan, one of the largest economies in the world, will have direct access to the railway transport infrastructure of Eurasia.
Recently, answering questions from representatives of Russian and foreign media at a press conference held in the Moscow office of RIA Novosti, Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District, Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East Viktor Ishaev once again stated the need to build a railway and a bridge that will connect Sakhalin with the mainland. “It is imperative to build a bridge crossing to Sakhalin. This is a great project,” he said.
“If the project is implemented, it will not just be a “thread” that connects Sakhalin and the mainland, but a real “rope”. Freight traffic in both directions will grow significantly, while prices on Sakhalin will drop significantly,” said Alexander Khoroshavin, Governor of the Sakhalin Region.
“The idea of building a bridge between Sakhalin and the mainland has a right to exist. It would have changed life on Sakhalin in the most significant way,” Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev also said during his visit to Sakhalin in July this year.
A tidal island is a piece of land that is connected to the mainland at low tide, when it can be reached on foot. However, at high tide, it is completely cut off from the mainland and becomes a real island. Tidal islands are sometimes connected to the mainland by an artificial causeway providing easy access to visitors wishing to enter the island, but even this can be flooded by the sea. So before you decide to visit the island, inquire about the time of the tide or get ready to swim back.
1. Mount St. Michael, UK
St. Michael's Mount is a tidal island located 366 meters off the coast of Mount's Bay in Cornwall, UK. Connected to the city of Marazion by an artificial causeway built of granite paving stones, this parish is passable between mid-tide and low tide. 
Chapel of St. Michael is a building of the 15th century, which has a battle tower, in one of the corners of which there is a small turret, which served as a guide for ships. According to some reports, any rise in the water level in the world's oceans, as well as natural erosion, could threaten some of the coasts of Cornwall, including Mount St. Michael.
2. Modo, South Korea
Modo Island is a small island in Jindo, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, located near the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula. It is located southeast of Jindo Island and is 1.1 km long and 300 meters wide. 
The change in sea level associated with the tide leads to a local phenomenon ("Miracle of Moses"), when a piece of land 2.9 km long and 10-40 meters wide opens up for an hour between the islands of Modo and Chindo. This event occurs about twice a year, around April-June. The event has long been celebrated at the local "Sea Way Jindo" festival, but it was unknown to the world until 1975, when the French ambassador Pierre Randi described the phenomenon in a French newspaper. Currently, about half a million foreign and local tourists visit this festival every year.
3. Newquay Island, UK
Newquay Island in Cornwall is connected to the mainland by a suspension bridge. In fact, the huge 21 meter rocky outcrop only appears to be an island at high tide, but can be safely reached at low tide. The bridge, wide enough for a person to walk over, was built in 1900. Although not intended for people with acrophobia, this bridge is quite safe and is checked for damage every year. 
There is only one house on the tiny island, which operates as an expensive hotel, offering bed and breakfast. The house is surrounded by a beautiful garden, which, in turn, is surrounded by either the sands of Newquay Beach or the sea - depending on the time of day.
4. Mont Saint-Michel, France
Mont Saint-Michel is a rocky tidal island and also a commune in Normandy, France. It is located about a kilometer from the northwestern coast of the country, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near the city of Avranches. As of 2009, the population of the island is 44 people. Since ancient times, strategic fortifications have been present on the island, and since the 8th century AD, this island has been home to a monastery, from which it takes its name. Mont Saint-Michel and the bay adjacent to it are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Over 3 million people visit it every year. 
Mont Saint-Michel was previously connected to the mainland through a tidal dam, that is, through a path hidden at high tide and open at low tide. However, today, this island is connected to the mainland by a light suspension bridge that has been built over the past few years.
5. Haji Ali Mosque, India
The Haji Ali Mosque is a mosque and shrine located on an islet off the coast of Worli in southern Mumbai. Situated close to the heart of the city, the mosque is one of Mumbai's most recognizable landmarks. 
Access to the mosque is directly dependent on the tides. Since the dam is not connected by a railing, it becomes inaccessible during high tides. Thus, the mosque is only accessible at low tide. This causeway walk, with the sea on both sides, is one of the highlights of the trip to the shrine.
6. Bumpy Island, UK
Bumpy Island is a tidal island between the Rough Firth and the Solway Firth, in Scotland. At its highest point, the height of the island is 24 meters. 
Since 1937, the island has been owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The island is a bird sanctuary, accessible at low tide via the Kippford causeway, however, access to the island is closed during May and June due to the nesting season of Oystercatchers and Ringed Plovers.
7. Eilean Donan Castle, UK
Eilean Donan is a small island in Loch Dech (Loch Duich) in the western mountains of Scotland. It is connected to the mainland by a footbridge and lies about half a mile from the village of Dornie. 
According to legend, Donnán founded a church here, although at the moment there is no trace of it left. There is a picturesque castle on the island, which is familiar to the world from many photographs. The castle was founded in the thirteenth century but was destroyed in the eighteenth century. The present building is the result of a 20th century renovation. 
Eilean Donan Castle is one of 40 sites in the Kintail National Reserve in Scotland. As of 2001, only 1 person lived on the island.
8. Manno, Denmark
Manno is one of the Danish Wadden Sea Islands. It is located on the southwestern coast of the Jutland peninsula, Denmark in the Wadden Sea, which is part of the North Sea. The island covers an area of 7.63 square kilometers and has 62 inhabitants. It is located about 12 km southwest of the ancient city of Ribe. 
It is difficult to get to Manno at high tide, only if you walk along the dirt surface of the dam, which is about four kilometers long and connects the island to the mainland. The island is surrounded by extensive muddy and tidal marshes, which provide a fertile environment for nesting birds and other species of wildlife. In past centuries, a large earthen dam was built around the entire perimeter of the island, albeit at a considerable distance from the coastline. This gimmick allowed conventional agriculture in the form of growing grains and herding sheep.
9. Lindisfarne, UK
Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the northeast coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and is a parish in Northumberland. Most of the island, and all adjacent intertidal areas, are protected as part of the Lindisfarne National Wildlife Refuge to help protect wintering bird populations of international importance. 
Lindisfarne is a popular tourist destination. Being on a tide-cut island, tourists can experience it at rest, as most day trippers leave before high tide. At low tide, you can walk through the sands along an ancient route known as the Pilgrim's Way. This path is marked with posts and provides refuge for those who decide to leave the island too late.
10 Burgh Island, UK
Burgh Island is a small tidal island off the coast of South Devon in England, close to the small seaside village of Bigbury-on-Sea. There are several buildings on the island, the largest of which is the Art Deco Burgh Island Hotel. Among other buildings are three private houses, the public house "Pilchard Inn" operated by the hotel. 
The island is located about 250 m from the mainland in Bigburi-on-the-Sea and can be reached on foot at low tide. At high tide, a marine tractor belonging to the hotel transports passengers back and forth. 
The first marine tractor was built in 1930 and the current third generation tractor was made in 1969. The tractor moves along the sandy bottom of the beach with the help of wheels immersed in water, and its driver and passengers sit on a high platform. Power from the Fordson tractor engine is transmitted to the wheels by hydraulic motors.
11. Cramond Island, UK
Cramond Island is one of several islands that lie in the Firth of Forth in eastern Scotland, near Edinburgh. Located about 1 mile (1.6 km) out to sea, the tidal island of Cramond only connects to the mainland at low tide. 
At low tide, a paved walkway appears, providing easy access to the island. On one side, this dam lies at the foot of a series of cement pillars that were built as a submarine defense rampart during World War II and are one of the most striking sights in the area. 
At high tide, the path is blocked by a few feet of sea water, which cuts the island off from the mainland. At low tide, it is safe to walk to the island on the raised causeway, but visitors should make sure they have enough time to get back to the mainland before the waters rise.
12 Bar Island, USA
Bar Island is a tidal island located opposite Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA. The uninhabited island is covered with pine and birch forest and is part of the Acadia National Park. There are paths on the island. 
The sand and gravel bar only opens for a couple of hours at low tide, connecting Bar Island to Bridge Street in Bar Harbor. At low tide, visitors often walk or park their cars on the exposed shoal. However, from the side of the island, in front of the locked gate, only a small area is opened, bordered by dense bushes of sea roses, which is high enough to provide safe parking. There have been many cases of visitors returning from a hike to find their vehicles submerged, thus being imprisoned on the island until the next low tide.
13. Fort Lavoie, France
Fort Lavoie is a coastal fort built on a cliff between the islands of Oleron and Marin. It was built in 1691 - 1694. according to plans drawn up by Vauban, a famous military engineer who served under Louis XIV. 
With a horseshoe-shaped outer wall and a central tower protected by a drawbridge and a moat, this fortress resembles a medieval castle. 
Fort Lavoie was designed to protect the southern approaches to the mouth of the Charente by catching enemy ships in skirmishes from the citadel on Oleron. This prevented the enemy from sailing upriver to attack the naval shipyard at Rochefort. At low tide, the fort is connected to the mainland by a 400-meter causeway.
14. Hilbre, UK
Gilbre Island is the largest of a group of three islands at the mouth of the River Dee, which forms part of the estuary of the Site of Special Scientific Interest. Since 2012, there are no permanent residents on the island. 
At low tide, this tidal island can be reached on foot from the mainland. During the summer months, this walk is one of the main attractions for tourists. The route from Red Rock to Hoylake was open until the late 1970s, but has now been closed due to high tide hazards and visitors are advised to leave West Kirby. The neighboring islands of Little Eye and Middle Eye are uninhabited, but there are a few houses on Hilbre Island, some of which are privately owned. 
When it comes to shortening the path, transporting goods or crossing to the other side, bridges have no equal. And these 10 also unite different countries, making travel and trade between them much easier.
- Ambassador Bridge, USA and Canada
This suspension bridge across the Detroit River connects the cities of Detroit in the US and Windsor in Canada. Its length is 2300 m. The Ambassador is the busiest international bridge in North America: about 25% of all trade between the States and Canada is carried through it. And this is about $ 1 million in turnover daily.
Express info by country
The Earth is in third place in terms of distance from the Sun and in fifth place among all the planets in the solar system in terms of size.
Age– 4.54 billion years
Medium radius - 6,378.2 km
Middle circle - 40,030.2 km
Square– 510,072 million km² (29.1% land and 70.9% water)
Number of continents– 6: Eurasia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica
Number of oceans– 4: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic
Population– 7.3 billion people (50.4% men and 49.6% women)
Most populous states: Monaco (18,678 people/km2), Singapore (7607 people/km2) and Vatican City (1914 people/km2)
Number of countries: total 252, independent 195
Number of languages in the world– about 6,000
Number of official languages- 95; most common: English (56 countries), French (29 countries) and Arabic (24 countries)
Number of nationalities– about 2,000
Climatic zones: equatorial, tropical, temperate and arctic (basic) + subequatorial, subtropical and subarctic (transitional)
- Second Severn Bridge, England and Wales
The Second Severn is an automobile cable-stayed bridge across the Severn River. It connects the English city of Ost with the Welsh Boulevard. The bridge was opened in 1996 and has a length of 5128 m. The old (first) Severn Bridge was built in 1966 and is located 3.5 km upstream.
- Øresund Bridge, Denmark and Sweden
It is both a railway (two tracks) and a road (four lanes) bridge. It passes through the Øresund Strait and connects the Danish capital Copenhagen and the Swedish city of Malmö. The bridge has a length of 7845 m, which makes it the longest combined road in the world. In addition, it is also partly a tunnel: in a certain section, cars and trains literally “dive” under water.
- Bridge of three countries, Germany, France, Switzerland
The name of this bridge speaks for itself: it crosses the Rhine at the border between France, Germany and Switzerland. Well, well, the Swiss border is located a little further - 200 meters from the bridge, but you can close your eyes to this. The bridge is pedestrian.Its length is 248 m, and this is a record among arched suspension bridges.
- Rainbow Bridge, USA and Canada
The Rainbow Bridge was built in 1941 across the Niagara River, a few hundred meters from the famous waterfall. It connects America and Canada. The 440 m long bridge is designed for both traffic and pedestrians. It got its name due to the almost constantly hanging rainbow here. This place also attracts tourists with breathtaking views.
- Bridge "New Europe", Bulgaria and Romania
"New Europe" is a combined road and rail bridge across the Danube. It connects the cities of Vidin in Bulgaria and Calafat in Romania. Put into operation in 2013, total length - 3598 m.
- Victoria Falls Bridge, Zimbabwe and Zambia
This bridge is one of the most beautiful in the world due to its location: it is located next to the magnificent Victoria Falls.The arch bridge over the Zambezi River connects Zambia and Zimbabweand is both road, rail and pedestrian. Its length is 198 m. The Victoria Falls Bridge was opened in 1905, and it was built in just a year.
- King Hussein Bridge, Israel (Palestine) and Jordan
This bridge crosses the Jordan River and connects the Palestinian city of Jericho with Jordan. It has a long and very interesting history. The first bridge on this site was built by the Ottomans in 1885. Then, in 1918, the British replaced it with a new one, which, however, was destroyed in 1946 during the Arab-Israeli war. In its modern form, the King Hussein Bridge appeared here in the late 1990s, after the conclusion of peace between Jordan and Israel.
- Bridge of No Return, North Korea and Republic of Korea
On the border of the DPRK and South Korea is one of the symbols of the Cold War between these states - the Bridge of No Return. During the Korean War, prisoners were exchanged here. The bridge was last used for this purpose in 1968. It has been closed since 1976, but even today there are checkpoints on both sides.
- Friendship Bridge, Tajikistan and Afghanistan
The Friendship Bridge across the Pyanj River connects Tajikistan and Afghanistan. It is interesting that the money for its construction - about $500 thousand - was given by the United States of America and Norway. The length of the structure is 135 m.
We returned from our trip to Krabi the other day, so now I have time to write about it on the blog page. The trip turned out to be very eventful and interesting. We went to Krabi, but I will write about this later.
This article will focus on the bridge connecting Phuket with the mainland of Thailand, the Sarasin Bridge. This was our first stop on our way to Krabi.
A little background:
The Sarasin Bridge is a bridge that connects Phuket and the mainland. It was built in the mid-sixties of the last century. Its official opening took place on July 7, 1967. On one side of the bridge is the strait, and on the other - the ocean. The Sarasin Bridge also has a second name - the “suicide bridge”. Every year more than thirty people commit suicide here. There are several inexpensive restaurants at the foot of the bridge. They serve fresh, freshly caught seafood delicacies.
By the way, I just found out about the second name of the bridge). I can say that in appearance it does not produce any sinister impression.
The road to the Sarasin bridge.
As everywhere in Phuket, the road to the Sarasin Bridge is excellent. We drove from the Nai Harn area, so if you look at, you will see that we had to drive through the whole of Phuket. One point about the road deserves attention. To get to the Sarasin Bridge, you have to essentially leave Phuket. And this means that you need to pass the check point, this is something like a border point. We were driving without a license and only found out about the checkpoint when we saw it. Fortunately, we did not have time to get scared, as we passed it.
Nevertheless, people were there both when we left Phuket and when we returned back. In our case, no one slowed anyone down, and we did not see anyone stop there at all, but keep in mind.
Also, on the way to the Sarasin Bridge from Phuket, you will drive right along the Mai Khao beach - very long and almost deserted. There you can slow down and take some cool photos.
Where to park near Sarasin Bridge.
If you are driving from Phuket, as we did, then it is most convenient to drive over the bridge and turn left at the first exit. And not just turn around, but drive a little back straight to the Sarasin bridge. We didn’t understand on the go and drove a little further, parked and walked to the bridge on foot. Later, when we were approaching, we saw a parking lot right by the bridge.
Sarasin Bridge
