00:00 Meet Hulamale, also known as the City of Hope.
00:05 This nickname makes total sense, since this artificial island is part of the Maldives'
00:08 big plan to avoid being completely submerged in the near future.
00:13 Hulamale was created by placing sand from the seafloor onto a submerged coral platform,
00:19 and it worked!
00:20 This city sits about 6 feet above sea level, which means it's twice as high as the Maldives'
00:26 capital, Male.
00:27 While more and more people are moving there to live, the island was also designed to serve
00:32 as a temporary evacuation site during dangerous storms and typhoons.
00:37 Seychelles is another gem in the Indian Ocean that's at risk of disappearing.
00:42 Unfortunately, coastal flooding is becoming a common issue there, especially during spring
00:48 tides and heavy rainfall.
00:50 The problem is that their main island, Mahe, hosts about 90% of the country's population.
00:57 Along the coast, it's only about 6 feet above sea level.
01:01 Fiji is the third tropical paradise on our list, and it's also a top pick for travelers.
01:08 But this nation is in a tough spot, since it's located right in the middle of the Pacific
01:12 Ocean, where huge storms can really turn things into chaos.
01:18 Take Cyclone Winston.
01:19 It hit Fiji back in 2016 and ended up costing them over a billion dollars in damage.
01:25 So one thing they're doing to protect themselves is planting mangroves along the coast and
01:30 preserving the ones that already exist.
01:33 These trees are awesome, since they help reduce wind speed during cyclone emergencies and
01:38 also combat erosion by trapping sediments.
01:42 Egypt might be in trouble too.
01:44 I mean, it's not like the whole country is going to be underwater and we'll only see
01:48 the tips of the pyramids in a few years.
01:51 But things could really change for them, as coastal cities are facing a serious risk.
01:57 Take Alexandria, for instance.
01:59 45% of its population already lives below sea level.
02:04 If the city is flooded, not only will everyone have to move, but Egypt in general will suffer
02:09 a major impact on its fish production.
02:13 In Europe, one of the most at-risk populations is in the Netherlands, where about half the
02:18 people live in areas below sea level.
02:21 In the future, planting a romantic gesture with tulips for your girlfriend could become
02:25 an impossible mission.
02:27 The Netherlands is responsible for two-thirds of the world's tulip production.
02:31 So if fields are taken over by saltwater, it's game over for the blooms.
02:36 But the good news is that the Dutch have centuries of experience dealing with water, so knowing
02:41 how to work with storm barriers and sea walls can prevent them from a doomsday scenario.
02:47 The risks of rising sea levels probably aren't higher anywhere else than here in Tuvalu.
02:54 This island chain, located halfway between Australia and Hawaii, could be the first state
02:59 to become uninhabitable.
03:02 Its stunning land is only about 9 feet above sea level.
03:06 And just by looking at it on the map, you can see how narrow it is.
03:11 In fact, the narrowest part in Fongafale is only about 65 feet wide.
03:17 So even before higher tides become a real problem, the country's limited farmland could
03:21 be flooded with saltwater.
03:24 The next country on our list is the Philippines.
03:28 This archipelago in Southeast Asia boasts some of the most stunning scenery, but it
03:32 faces the risk of flooding for two reasons.
03:35 First, due to rising sea levels, and second, because of crazy, unpredictable weather.
03:41 Since 1990, events like cyclones, earthquakes, and tsunamis have cost the country over $20
03:47 billion.
03:48 Have you ever heard of Vanuatu?
03:52 This chain of islands, spread out between Australia and Fiji, could be flooded soon.
03:57 Vanuatu was one of the first Pacific nations to relocate an entire community to a safer
04:02 spot.
04:03 Back in 2005, residents living in risky coastal areas of the northern island of Tegua moved
04:09 to higher ground.
04:12 Next up, the Marshall Islands, a country located in the central Pacific.
04:17 Studies show that 40% of the buildings in the capital city, Maduro, could end up underwater
04:23 in the future.
04:25 But this country isn't throwing in the towel just yet.
04:27 They've got a game plan.
04:30 They are fortifying the infrastructures of their low-lying airport, relocating key buildings
04:35 to higher ground, and putting up sea walls on rural islands.
04:40 Heading south, we've got Nauru.
04:43 This is actually one of the smallest countries in the world, covering just 8.1 square miles.
04:48 Today, it's home to 10,000 people, but it's on the brink of becoming uninhabitable.
04:55 Water levels are rising, about three times faster there than the global average.
05:00 The Buada Lagoon sparks special concern since it's the only surface freshwater resource,
05:06 and it's located only 16 feet above sea level.
05:11 Our next stop in the Pacific Ocean is the Republic of Palau.
05:15 Rising sea levels are no joke for them either, but protecting their crops, especially taro,
05:20 is a priority at this moment.
05:24 About halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand lies Samoa, and this country is dealing with
05:29 a unique situation.
05:31 Not only is the volume of water increasing there, but their land is also sinking.
05:37 You see, a couple of strong earthquakes and tsunamis hit Samoa back in 2009.
05:42 So as the crust bounces back to its original position, the overall land surface is actually
05:47 going down.
05:49 Because of this, their housing and main infrastructure could take a serious hit, especially since
05:54 all their airports are along the coast.
05:59 Let's head to Kiribati.
06:01 This Pacific nation has a big problem with frequent flooding because most of its people
06:06 and infrastructure are near the coast.
06:09 Apart from the volcanic island of Banaba, none of Kiribati's land is more than 6.5
06:14 feet above the ocean.
06:17 To tackle this situation and keep their population safe, they had this big idea of making a massive
06:22 floating platform, kinda like the ones oil companies have.
06:27 But the problem is that it would cost them a fortune, as the project is estimated to
06:31 be around $2 billion.
06:35 If visiting Vietnam is on your bucket list, you better hurry up.
06:39 The top 10 things to do there mostly involve cruising to jaw-dropping spots like down to
06:44 Ha Long Bay, also known as the Descending Dragons Bay.
06:49 But by 2050, the surrounding land over there might be underwater.
06:54 Another huge problem Vietnam is facing is that the main rice fields are getting salty.
07:00 And if you're into Vietnamese food, you know how important rice is for them.
07:05 Right now, they're especially concerned about the Mekong Delta region being vulnerable.
07:10 After all, this is a highly fertile area responsible for most of Vietnam's agricultural output,
07:16 with over 50% of it being, yep, rice.
07:20 This nation is really putting in the effort to adjust to this new reality.
07:25 They're flushing the rice fields in the Mekong Delta with fresh water to get rid of the saltiness.
07:30 Our next stop is in the Caribbean Sea.
07:33 Grenada is an island country, but you may know it as the Island of Spice since its tropical
07:39 climate is just perfect for cultivating things like nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger.
07:46 Unfortunately, Grenada and its incredible fertile soil also face an uncertain future
07:52 of being submerged.
07:54 Let's talk about the last country on our list, the Solomon Islands.
07:59 Five islands in this archipelago have already vanished beneath the waves, and six others
08:03 are submerged by 20%.
08:06 They include the Nusa Iveli Island, which was once a hotspot to go to for a picnic in
08:11 the early 2000s.
08:13 Even though the situation is complicated, it's important to note that more than 300
08:18 of the islands there are inhabited.
08:21 One thing about the Solomon Islands is that it seems like they're always in some kind
08:25 of recovery mode, since the country often gets hit by tropical cyclones and flash floods.
08:31 Their population is already working hard to save their homes from the rising seas by building
08:36 stone walls along the coast, planting mangroves, and constructing houses in higher areas.
08:43 That's it for today!
08:44 So, hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your
08:48 friends!
08:49 Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!
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