Buzz
The annals of history are replete with moments of near-realized potential. Our contemporary reality has been shaped by audacious ideas, relentless ambitions, and decisive triumphs. Over the centuries, numerous proposals were put forward—some nearly implemented—that had the potential to drastically reshape the world as we know it.
10. The Grand African Lake
The bold futuristic vision of German engineer Herman Sorgel, previously highlighted on Mytour, extended far beyond his 1928 Atlantropa project. Indeed, the eccentric pioneer of macro-engineering couldn’t resist dreaming up even more extravagant ideas. Turning his gaze to the lands south of the Mediterranean, Sorgel conceived a plan that not only bolstered his Atlantropa vision but also stood as a daring endeavor in its own right.
The initial phase involved constructing a dam on the Congo River, resulting in an enormous inland lake surpassing the combined size of California, Nevada, and Oregon. This project would also expand Lake Chad and nearby rivers, connecting these newly formed vast lakes to the Mediterranean Sea.
Unlike Atlantropa, which never gained significant traction, the United States and the UN expressed interest in this ambitious plan. The Americans saw it as a strategic opportunity to access Africa's abundant resources. However, despite widespread approval, Herman Sorgel never secured the tangible backing he needed.
9. The Madagascar Plan
Madagascar, the massive island off Africa's eastern coast, became the focus of Adolf Hitler's scheme to resettle the Jewish population to what he considered an uninhabited territory. This idea continued the trend of German involvement in Africa.
The Madagascar Plan gained momentum even before World War II, particularly among European anti-Semites who frequently convened to address the “Jewish question.” One attendee of these meetings even had direct discussions with Hitler. At the time, Madagascar was under French control. The Polish foreign ministry, concerned about their own Jewish population, embraced the idea and engaged in talks with France. They were so enthusiastic that they dispatched a delegation to assess the feasibility. However, the findings were discouraging, leading to the plan's abandonment.
During World War II, the Madagascar Plan resurfaced as a potential solution. However, the Germans failed to achieve the naval dominance required to transport such a large population to the island. As the war shifted its focus to the Eastern Front, the plan was ultimately abandoned, becoming a footnote in history.
8. The Qattara Depression Project
The Qattara Depression, a vast sinkhole near the Egyptian-Libyan border, spans nearly 20,000 square kilometers (7,500 mi). As Africa's second-lowest point, its depth was so extreme that British forces had to recalibrate their instruments. This natural barrier played a pivotal role in Allied successes during World War II, as it was impassable for vehicles. Over the years, numerous proposals have aimed to flood the depression with Mediterranean water, transforming it into a lake and generating hydroelectric power for Africa.
The most significant push for flooding the Qattara Depression came from the CIA in 1957. They presented the idea to President Eisenhower, arguing it could foster peace in the Middle East. According to their report, the new lagoon would offer four key benefits: it would promote peace and profitability, improve the harsh desert climate, create jobs for Palestinians, and redirect the Egyptian president’s attention away from Soviet influence.
7. Flooding Lake Eyre
Australia's outback is infamous for its harsh, arid landscape. Lake Eyre, situated in South Australia, is the country's largest lake, typically remaining a dry basin except during periods of heavy rainfall. Since the late 1800s, there have been aspirations to flood the lake to enhance the region's environmental conditions. In 1883, the South Australian government reviewed a significant proposal to irrigate the area via a canal. However, the plan was dismissed and revisited in 1908, only to be rejected again due to impracticality and high costs.
John Bradfield, a young engineer known for his work on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, later entered parliament and was tasked with exploring the feasibility of diverting northern coastal rivers inland to irrigate the region. These ideas continued into the 21st century, with radio personality Alan Jones championing the redirection of rivers to combat severe droughts in the outback.
6. The Sahara Sea
The Sahara wasn’t always a barren wasteland, and in 1874, a French geographer named Francois-Elie Roudaire aimed to restore its fertility. Inspired by the success of the Suez Canal, he proposed building a canal from the Mediterranean to Algeria, targeting a low-lying region of the Sahara. Initially, Roudaire envisioned a 16-kilometer (10 mi) canal, but he later expanded the plan to 190 kilometers (120 mi) after realizing the intended area was actually above sea level.
Roudaire’s ambitious project aimed to flood nearly 8,000 square kilometers (3,000 mi) of land. He believed this would enable ships to traverse North Africa and improve the region’s harsh climate. Ferdinand de Lesseps, the mastermind behind the Suez Canal, endorsed the idea, garnering public support in France. The government even allocated 35,000 francs to kickstart the project. While the concept generated global excitement, escalating costs over eight years led to waning enthusiasm, and the Sahara Sea project was ultimately abandoned.
5. The North Sea Dam
In 1930, the magazine Modern Mechanix unveiled an audacious proposal by British scientists to drain the entire North Sea using dams, canals, and dikes. The goal was to reclaim over 260,000 square kilometers (100,000 mi) of land in Europe. The plan involved rerouting rivers, constructing a bridge across the English Channel, and building a massive 240-kilometer (100 mi) dam stretching from London to Antwerp.
The most staggering aspect of the North Sea drainage plan was an even larger dam—720 kilometers (450 mi)—connecting England to Denmark, forming an artificial coastline towering 27 meters (90 ft) above the sea. A colossal railroad was also proposed, linking London to Berlin, Moscow, and beyond. Despite the grand vision of dams, canals, and dikes, the project never materialized, and the North Sea remains intact.
4. Intermarium
Following the devastation of World War I, Polish leader Jozef Pilsudski envisioned a Greater Poland—Intermarium—uniting the territories between the Baltic and Black Seas. Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine would serve as satellite states under Polish protection, shielding them from German and Soviet threats.
Pilsudski initially achieved success in these regions, but the Soviets strongly opposed the idea and launched a short yet brutal and historically pivotal war. The Red Army disrupted British and French supplies via the Kiel Canal and advanced into Poland, reclaiming much of the newly acquired territory and reaching Warsaw. Against all odds, Pilsudski managed to stop the Soviet advance at the capital, securing a peace agreement that prevented Poland from becoming a Soviet Republic but dashed the Intermarium vision.
3. The Siberian Purchase
Similar to the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon, the United States had a chance to acquire parts of Siberia in the early 1990s. Boris Yeltsin disclosed that Russia was open to selling oil fields, factories, and land to stabilize its economy. Walter Russell Mead, an American academic, suggested in the Los Angeles Times that the U.S. could purchase all of Siberia for $2 trillion.
President George H.W. Bush declined the offer, stating he had no interest in acquiring Russia’s assets in a post–Cold War liquidation. Despite this, the idea of a Siberian Purchase didn’t fade away. It resurfaced in the late 1990s as Russia’s economy continued to struggle, and its population faced widespread poverty. The prospect of America becoming the world’s largest oil producer remained enticing, though the proposal was never formally presented to the Clinton administration. Had it been pursued, the U.S. would have nearly doubled in size.
2. The Bering Strait Bridge
The Bering Strait, the narrow body of water dividing Russia and North America, became the focus of a bold proposal in the 1890s by Joseph Strauss, the mind behind the Golden Gate Bridge. He envisioned a bridge linking the two continents, creating a land route that would connect five of the seven continents. This would allow uninterrupted travel from Chile to India, Belgium, and even South Africa.
In 1907, Tsar Nicholas II greenlit the project, estimated at $300 million. However, World War I halted its progress. The idea resurfaced in 2011, this time as a 105-kilometer (65 mi) tunnel beneath the Bering Strait, with a projected cost nearing $100 billion.
1. The Kimberley Scheme
The surge of anti-Semitism in late-19th-century Europe coincided with the emergence of Zionism—a movement aimed at establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Practical Jewish leaders sought alternative, less contested territories for a Jewish state. Despite exploring numerous global options, they found no success. In the 1930s, several groups approached Australia, proposing to utilize its sparsely populated land for a Jewish settlement. While various locations were considered, all were rejected until the “Kimberley Scheme” was introduced.
The Freeland League, based in London, suggested acquiring land in East Kimberley, Northern Australia. Dr. Isaac Steinberg was dispatched to assess the project’s viability. He remained in Australia throughout the war, garnering support from churches, influential political figures (including Western Australia’s premier), and Jewish leaders. Ultimately, the plan was abandoned due to concerns that settlers would migrate from Kimberley to urban centers. Additionally, 47% of the public opposed the idea, leading Prime Minister John Curtin to formally reject the proposal.
