Venetian Islands, Miami Beach, Florida

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An arial view of the Biscayne Bay artificial islands during their construction in 1927. Islands shown are (L-R): Sunset Island (top left); Belle Isle, Rivo Alto, Di Lido, San Marino, San Marco (along the Venetian Causeway); Hibiscus Island, Palm Island and Star Island (from the County Causeway). Shown stretching across the bay are the Venetian Causeway (left) and the County Causeway (right).

Two levelers and a steam roller, during construction of the Venetian Causeway, photo dated 1925

The Venetian Islands are a chain of artificial islands in Biscayne Bay near Miami Beach, Florida. The islands are, from west to east: Biscayne Island, San Marco Island, San Marino Island, Di Lido Island, Rivo Alto Island, and Belle Isle. Flagler Monument Island remains an uninhabited picnic island, originally built in 1920 as a memorial to railroad pioneer Henry Flagler.

Remnants of an incomplete artificial island also lie in Central Biscayne Bay between Di Lido Island and the Julia Tuttle Causeway. The island was to be called Isola di Lolando^[1]. The failed development marks the end of the Florida land boom of the 1920's. The Shoreland Company went bankrupt in 1927 due to objections to "further mutilation of the waterway", the 1926 Miami Hurricane, and the onset of the Depression^[2].

The islands are connected by bridges from the Miami mainland to Miami Beach. Today, the Venetian Causeway is a popular stretch for people to jog, ride bikes, walk dogs and stroll. The islands offer residents a suburb feel that is uniquely located between (and within minutes of) Miami Beach's famed South Beach and Miami's new Carnival Center of Performing Arts.