It's not every day we get to tell you the final design phase of a new continent is underway, but today's one of those days.

The architects of Dubai's "The World" project, a series of man-made islands in the shape of Earth's continents, announced today that OQYANA-WORLD FIRST, the island community in the shape of Australasia, is undergoing its final design steps.

Over 50 consultants from around the world have been working on issues from engineering and ecology to security and water quality. We're looking forward to the finished "product," and would also like to see a 51st consultant explain to us how "OQYANA-WORLD FIRST" is actually supposed to be pronounced and inflected.