The Maldives
The Maldives is a nation of coral islands in the Indian Ocean, known for its luxury tourism industry and its status as one of the world's lowest-lying and most climate-vulnerable countries.
Sitting barely above sea level across nearly 1,200 individual coral islands, this luxury tourist destination also happens to be among the countries most existentially threatened by rising global sea levels.
A Nation of Coral Islands
The Maldives consists of nearly 1,200 individual coral islands organized into atolls, with only about 200 of these islands permanently inhabited.
The World's Lowest-Lying Country
The Maldives holds the distinction of being the world's lowest-lying country, with an average elevation of just a few feet above sea level, making it exceptionally vulnerable to rising sea levels.
A Luxury Tourism Destination
The islands have developed into one of the world's premier luxury tourism destinations, known for overwater bungalow resorts and pristine coral reef diving and snorkeling opportunities.
An Existential Climate Threat
Rising sea levels linked to climate change pose an existential threat to the Maldives, prompting the government to explore options including land reclamation and even potential relocation of its population.
