The island named by a mistake on a Portuguese chart

Health · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Lamma Island is Hong Kong’s third-largest outlying island, but its name is a linguistic accident. A 1760s misinterpretation of a Portuguese note about seabed consistency transformed a simple description of mud into a permanent geographical identity, forever changing how this tranquil, car-free destination is known to the world.

The island's name is the result of a historical error made by Alexander Dalrymple in the 1760s. While studying a Portuguese chart detailing the entrance to the Pearl River, Dalrymple encountered the word "Lama." He misinterpreted this as the island's name, unaware that the Portuguese term "lama" was actually a description of the seabed's consistency for anchoring. This error became permanent, though the spelling eventually evolved from a single 'm' to the current double 'm' version.

Beyond its linguistic quirks, Lamma has a deep history of human presence. Archaeological evidence from Sham Wan, unearthed in the 1970s, reveals a significant Bronze Age settlement dating back to the Middle Neolithic phase, roughly 3800 to 3000 BC. This makes Lamma one of Hong Kong's most important archaeological sites. Other parts of the island show evidence of settlement as far back as 4000–3000 BC.

Today, the island is known for its tranquil, car-free atmosphere. Located a 30-minute ferry ride from Central Pier, it is a haven for artists and musicians, characterized by a prohibition on buildings higher than three storeys. While the population was estimated at 5,900 in 2014, future developments like a planned beach community in Sok Kwu Wan could see the population capacity double to 11,000 residents.

The island's landscape is marked by diverse features, from the 353-metre Mount Stenhouse to the unique 'kamikaze grottos'—caves dug by Japanese forces during the war to store munitions. It also serves as a vital ecological site; Sham Wan is the only existing nesting site for endangered green sea turtles in Hong Kong, with access restricted annually from 1 June to 31 October to protect the breeding process.

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