The First Independent Floating Nation in the World in the Middle

The first floating country in the world will be launched in 2020 on the Pacific Ocean off the island of Tahiti in the Pacific. This will be an independent nation with its own laws.

Key Facts About Floating Cities

This floating country is a project of Seasteading Institute, a non-profit organization. This special country will have full housing, hotels, restaurants, offices and many other amenities. Buildings will use local materials such as bamboo, coconut fiber, wood, recycled plastic, metal, and roofs covered with trees.

Joe Quirk, Seasteading Institute chairman, said he hopes there will be thousands of floating cities by 2050, each with different administration.

Why Floating Cities Matters

The project was first published in January and adopted by the French Polynesian and overseas territorial authorities. They gave 40 hectares of sea surface to Seasteading Institute to build the project.

In order for a floating country to operate under its own commercial law, Polynesia is establishing a special economic zone. This floating nation will have a population of over 200,000 people, living on 18 islands in the South Pacific. The floating islands will have medical research, health care facilities, power plants that provide sustainable energy and aquaculture farms.

The first floating city with a capacity of 250-300 people, will be built on a network of 11 square floors and pentagonal made of reinforced concrete. They are strong enough to be the foundation for three-storey buildings such as apartments, townhouses, offices and hotels for up to 100 years. Each floor will be 50 m long and 50 m high wall to protect buildings and residents.

Economically, the project is feasible because the price of each floor (less than $ 15 million) is equal to the price of land in London or New York. Expected, the first floating city construction cost is 167 million USD.