100 Places To Remember: Tuvalu, The Pacific Ocean
Geschreven op 24-2-2010 - Erik van Erne. Geplaatst in Natuur
The Fourth Smallest Country in the World. Between Australia and Hawaii, in one of the most remote areas of the Pacific Ocean, lies the nation of Tuvalu. At only 26 square kilometres, Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world, made up of tropical reef islands and narrow coral atolls encompassing blue lagoons.
Only 12,000 people inhabit the nine islands of Tuvalu. Theirs is a distinctive Polynesian culture with a traditional way of life, each family playing its own role in the community, such as fishing or house building.
The name Tuvalu means eight standing together, and originates from a time when only eight of the nine islands were inhabited. In future, not much might be left standing at all.
At five metres above sea level, Tuvalu has one of the lowest maximum elevations in the world, making it extremely vulnerable to storms and changes in sea level. With sea levels projected to rise by up to 60 cm by the end of the 21st century, parts of Tuvalu will be flooded, and the intrusion of salt water will damage important crops such as coconut and the staple taro.
Rising sea temperatures and acidification will have a devastating impact on the coral and may eventually kill it, destroying essential coastal protection and the very foundation for life on the islands. Tuvalu is also affected by what is known as King Tide a high tide that raises the sea level higher than normal. Combined with the expected rise in global sea levels, this could ultimately submerge the nation entirely, forcing the Tuvaluan people to move to neighbouring countries.
