Image Credits: Reuters

This pinnacle of white sandy beaches and dreamy tropical vibes is quite literally vanishing before our eyes. Located on the Arabian Sea and close to India and Sri Lanka, this nation faces one of the biggest environmental threats in the world. Of it’s 1,200 islands, 80% are only less than 1 METER above sea level! It’s also being said that 200 of Maldives’ inhabited islands could be gone by 2100.

If submersion isn’t threatening enough, 70% of its infrastructure including utilities and homes are facing the possibility of coastal erosion. Bye, cute marine animals.

So, if you’ve always wanted to enjoy a romantic getaway, sooner might be the better option than later.

Fiji’s Islands

Image Credits: Businessinsider

You’re looking at Tuvalu. At the narrowest points, when tides are high, the island is only 20 meters wide. 

In 2012, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama mentioned plans to relocate 40 Fijian villages due to the threat of rising sea levels. That’s A LOT of people whose lives are affected. With islands gone down under, so do jobs and people’s livelihoods which leads to an estimated reduction of 5% of its GDP year on year. If rising sea levels isn’t enough of a concern, crazy storms and flooding have been causing many of Fiji’s islands to submerge. In 2016, when Tropical Cyclone Winston visited Fiji, it snatched 20% of its annual GDP.

Micronesia

Image Credit : Sciencetrends

This collection of islands, located in the Western area of the Pacific ocean and near New Guinea is in the midst of disappearing altogether. 2016 saw the submergence of FIVE of its uninhabited islands. While it's less concerning as there’s no human lifeform living on it, this just gives a glimpse into the future where inhabited islands can also sink into the Pacific.

The island of Nahlapenlohd, once so large it was the location where a huge, historical battle between rival kingdoms Kitti and Madolenihmw happened, has sunk a few years ago. While it’s disappearance was initially attributed to the battle which caused the island to be wiped clean of its vegetation and eventually get eroded away by the waves, today’s research points to the rising sea levels being the bigger possibility.

Did you know that if water levels continue to rise at the rate it currently is, 2100 different parts of the U.S. are expected to be engulfed? Fear is an understatement.

Image Credit : Metro.co.uk

The Seychelles, consisting of 115 islands, has experienced the worst coral die-off in the world to date. It’s been predicted that most of its islands WILL go underwater in the next 50 to 100 years. Before this, the islands have been said to be so beautiful that comparison to the Garden of Eden was a norm. 

What are some efforts done to prolong the precious time these islands have? Being granite-rich islands, granite-dumping along their beaches have been done. This is in hopes of the granites acting as anchors and preventing more sand from being eroded away by the waves. Problem solved temporarily, right? No. Seychelles is a location tourists used to flood to! But who wants to visit a beach filled with huge boulders? Everyone prefers white sandy beaches.

Image Credit : Time 

Sometime in January 2018, the protective sea wall which kept the waves away from the inhabitants of Yam Island broke down. The residents had to immediately grab whatever they could and leave their homes, which was made not easy by the floodwaters which started making its way in. Many houses were destroyed and there were 16 residents left homeless.

Labeled as Australia’s most vulnerable region to climate change, these 200 over islands are continuously seeing sea levels rise, more destructive waves and quick speed coastal erosion amongst many other issues such as structural damage done to their homes and roads.

Image Credit : Abc.net.au

As of November 2005, the Carteret Islands have been reported to be uninhabitable and were waiting for total submersion in 2015, making 20 years of islanders’ effort worthless. Yes, they were predicted to be underwater as you read this but have not! But this isn’t good news either, as its highest point is just 1.5 meters above sea levels. The atolls are simply awaiting a full submersion in time to come.

Image Credit : Earth.org

This one hits too close to home, doesn’t it? Don’t be too surprised, as even London, some parts of Italy, Mumbai, Shanghai and parts of the USA are also under the list of islands/countries expected to sink by 2050 if sea levels continue rising at a similar rate.

In fact, around 5 million people are already living on land set below annual flood levels. This is out of Manila’s total population of roughly 7 million people. You do the maths.

Conclusion

The sea levels have been rising over the past century and there’s no sign of it slowing down or stopping any time in the near future. Currently, it’s rising at a rate of roughly 0.3cm per year. Hold on, while that sounds like little, keep in mind that some islands’ highest peaks are only 1.5m above sea level. We ALL play a part so it's always the right time to step up!

Join us at Condo Swimming Lesson to polish your swimming skills, and find time to visit these Islands on the Verge of Sinking.

Hello everyone! I'm a gym enthusiast who gets very excited at the sight of dogs. Drinking teh tarik is my form of relaxation. I hope you share my passion for anything fitness-related through my writing!