High Island Reservoir

The High Island Reservoir (Chinese: 萬宜水庫; pinyin: Wànyí shuǐkù; Jyutping: maan6 ji4 seoi2 fu3), located in the far south eastern part of the Sai Kung Peninsula, was opened in 1978 helping to alleviate water shortage problems in Hong Kong. Its water capacity is approximately 273 million cubic metres. The area it occupies was originally the Kwun Mun Channel (官門海峽), which separated High Island from the Sai Kung Peninsula.

History

Its history starts as a result of the water shutdown by mainland China during the Hong Kong 1967 riots, the government responded with the High Island Reservoir. It was expected to be the same size as Plover Cove. The construction, contracted by an Italian company cost more than HKD $400 million.

Design

The reservoir was designed by Binnie & Partners as a part of the High Island Water Scheme which included pipeworks and other supporting infrastructure as well as the reservoir itself. The reservoir was created by constructing two main dams. One was built at the west of High Island connecting it with the Sai Kung Peninsula at Yuen Ng Fan (元五墳). The other was built in the southeast of High Island, connecting it with the Sai Kung Peninsula near Po Pin Chau, a stack island. Three smaller dams were also constructed in valleys around the reservoir. Aqueducts totalling 5 miles in length were also constructed to transfer water from streams around Sai Kung Peninsula to the reservoir. Construction spanned 10 years from 1969 to 1979. Two roads were created as part of the scheme, crossing over the dams. This enabled visitors to access a very remote and unspoilt area for recreation. Many of the techniques and technology used, like grouting, was cutting edge at the time.

High island

In geology (and sometimes in archaeology), a high island is an island of volcanic origin. The term can be used to distinguish such islands from low islands, whose origin is due to sedimentation or uplifting of coral reefs (which have often formed on sunken volcanos).

Definition and origin

There are a number of "high islands" which rise no more than a few feet above sea level, often classified as "islets or rocks", while some "low islands", such as Makatea, Nauru, Niue, Henderson and Banaba, as uplifted coral islands, rise several hundred feet above sea level.

The two types of islands are often found in proximity to each other, especially among the islands of the South Pacific Ocean, where low islands are found on the fringing reefs that surround most high islands. Volcanic islands normally arise above a so-called hotspot.

Habitability for humans

The differences in geology and topography between high and low islands mean a lot in terms of habitability for humans: high islands above a certain size usually have fresh groundwater, while low islands often do not. This hampers or hinders human settlement on many low islands.

High Island

High Island may refer to:

See also

High Island (Queensland)

High Island, in North Queensland, Australia is part of the Frankland Islands, 30 km northeast of Babinda, and 45 km southwest of Cairns.

The Frankland Islands are teeming with permanent and migratory marine life, especially the Green Sea Turtle which nests on the island. Normanby Island, part of the Frankland Islands group, offers a comprehensive reef system with a tropical island.

The islands are very popular with reef tour operators working from Cairns.

The alternative name for this island is Caparra Island.

The island was used as a filming location in Ocean Girl.

References