When the portuguese began their administration of Macau in the 16th century, it was a tiny island with an area of no more than 2.78 km~2. Land reclamation that began in the colonial period first connected Macau to the mainland, then eventually to the islands of Taipa and Coloane to its south. By 1994, Macau was over seven times its original size, at 21.3 km~2. In the fifteen years since it returned to China in 1999 and the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) was established, Macau's growth has continued unabated. Today, its territory stands at 30.3km2, recent increases being largely due to the creation of the Cotai area between Taipa and Coloane.
展开▼
