57. The Maldives • The Indian Ocean
Wehave selected 100 unique places on Earth that are projected to undergo profound changes within the next few generations. We based our selection of the 100 places on the 4th Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Simply by drawing attention to the beauty of these places, 100 Places to Remember Before they Disappear creates an argument to preserve them. The 100 Places we have chosen to highlight, and the people who live in them, are in serious danger because of rising sea levels, rising temperatures and extreme weather events triggered by climate change. Among ambassadors are Joss Stone, Desmund Tutu for more info visit www.100places.com. A Tropical Paradise just above Water Famous for its 1200 tropical islands, snow-white beaches, swaying palm trees and richly coloured coral reefs, the Maldives has become a tourist paradise. This island nation, officially called the Republic of Maldives, consists of 22 atolls with many small islands scattered in circles. It stretches almost 1000 kilometres from north to south in the Indian Ocean, south-west of the Indian subcontinent. Only 198 of the islands are permanently inhabited, although many others have been developed into tourist resorts. For the 360000 inhabitants, tourism has become the biggest industry, accounting for almost 30% of national income and more than 60% of foreign currency. With 80% of the country less than one metre above sea level, climate change poses a serious threat to the …
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Posted June 30, 2010
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