Miami, known as The Magic City, is going to open an 11km-long underwater sculpture garden and artificial reef.
Miami beach is famous for its white sand and blue waters.
The project, known as ReefLine, will open in 2021. It will allow snorklers, divers and free divers alike to explore submerged sculptures and a snorkel trail.
ReefLine will be situated off Miami Beach and the artificial reef will act as a marine habitat for endangered organisms, essentially promoting and sustaining biodiversity in these waters. It will also play a role in enhancing costal resilience.
The project is the brainchild of art director Ximena Caminos and architect Shohei Shigematsu, who worked together to design the innovative project, according to Lonely Planet.
The pair worked with researchers, marine biologists, coastal engineers and a number of field experts.
The project will take a while to complete and will be opened in phases, with the first launch in December next year.
The reef will be created using concrete and limestone.
In an Instagram post, Caminos said: ‘Yesterday the City of Miami Beach unanimously voted to support The ReefLine, the first underwater public sculpture park and artificial reef of its kind in the world. Announced by Ximena Caminos, founder of BlueLab Preservation Society in collaboration with Coral Morphologic and the University of Miami Researchers – The ReefLine’s masteplan will be designed by Shohei Shigematsu/ OMA and function as an artificial reef to help protect and preserve Miami Beach’s marine life and enhance coastal resilience.’
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Picture: Unsplash
