Often touted as one of the most beautiful island destinations, Tuvalu is not just the least visited country but a nation that is also fast sinking. Climate experts warn that Tuvalu could be wiped off the map due to extreme climate change. Tuvalu’s case has triggered alarm bells, again drawing attention to the destructive effects of global warming.
Tropical paradise
Tuvalu is an island nation in the Polynesian Pacific region, spread midway between Australia and Hawaii. This beautiful country is composed of reef islands that encircle a lagoon. A small independent nation freed from Britain in 1978, Tuvalu is spread over nine atolls in the Southern Pacific Ocean. Even though Tuvalu is one of the five least visited countries in the world, it is known for many interesting trivia.
With just around 12,000 residents, Tuvalu is the second-least populated country. In terms of area, it is the fourth smallest country after Monaco, Nauru, and Vatican. Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellis Islands, even has its currency. Around two thousand tourists reportedly arrive annually to visit this beautiful archipelago. The only airport in Tuvalu was originally built by the American Military in 1943 during the Second World War. Meanwhile, Fiji Airways is the only international airline that flies to Tuvalu.
The beaches in Tuvalu are quite famous for their mesmerizing beauty; some of them have been specially developed for tourists. Only up to one hundred visitors travel through the Pacific islands in a year. The visitors could see the remains of the shipwrecks and the warplanes that were destroyed in the war on the beaches.
Victims of climate change
The entrance to Tuvalu is possible only through Fiji, another Pacific island nation. Even though there is a direct flight from Hawaii to Fiji, most are connecting flights from Australia. Tuvalu is not only a country that isn’t easily accessible, it is also one of the fast sinking nations. The habitable reefs in Tuvalu are just 2 metres above the sea level, making it extremely vulnerable. As per the reports, the sea level here rises to 3.9 millimetres annually. The sea level has been rising at an alarming rate, raising fears that Tuvalu would be swallowed up by the sea sooner than expected. Meanwhile, the people of Tuvalu who stare at displacement fear that the King Tides will one day wash them into the ocean.