Ocean coasts and river banks have always been considered a desirable place to live.
This type of location offers a number of advantages such as much better trade opportunities.
Shores has always been attractive also because they provide an endless source of food.
Nowadays, these areas are also appreciated because they offer beautiful views as well as because of the good base for development of various kinds of tourism.
Today, some of the world’s largest and most famous cities are located on the seashore, and the territory of whole countries rises only a few meters above sea level.
This is quite worrying, given that the ocean level raised by about 20 centimeters throughout the 20th century.
According to scientists, by 2014, the speed is about 3.3 millimeters per year, which means about 33 centimeters per century.
The problem is that the sea level is rising with a constantly increasing speed, and the situation is getting more and more serious.
There are places around the world that except for being located at a very low altitude, are also affected by natural geological processes leading to sinking.
Whether or not the cause could be found in the process of sinking, or in rising of the global ocean level, or it is a combination of both, we would like to turn your attention to ten of the most interesting examples of places that are particularly vulnerable in this respect.
1. Maldives
The Maldives is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
If you visit every single corner of the planet, the landscapes of the island country will be the first spot to think of if you hear about a tropical paradise.
Unfortunately, this wonderful jewel in the midst of the waters of the Indian Ocean is one of the world’s most threatened to disappear as a result of the rising sea level.
The country rises just one meter above sea surface.
As a result, the most desirable tourist destination in the world will probably one day disappear completely.
2. The Netherlands
Approximately 26% of the Dutch territory is below sea level, and in addition, about 50% of the country is less than 1 meter above the surface of the ocean.
This is why the highly developed European country is considered the lowest-lying in the world.
The Netherlands boasts one of the most advanced and modern protective systems on the planet, which aims to protect the vast low-lying areas from flooding during bad weather conditions, high tides and large ocean waves.
3. Florida / USA
Florida is one of the most attractive states to live, work and spend your holidays in the United States.
However, it is also one of the most affected areas in the county by the rising level of the ocean.
Paradoxically, some of the most affected parts of the state are also among the most desired to live.
People like to live near the water, and obviously, this is more easily in the coastal areas with their numerous canals, lagoons and wetlands.
4. Cook Islands
Although some of the Cook Islands do not face this problem, others are severely affected by sinking and by the rising level of the ocean.
The population of some coastal villages has already completely moved to New Zealand.
The reason is that in some settlements sea water has already left the foundations of local residents’ huts under 30-40 centimeters of water, making it impossible to stay and live there.
5. Brazilian rainforest
The Amazon jungle in Brazil is heavily affected by intensive cutting, but that is far from being the only danger to its surviving.
The rainforest occupies one of the most extensive lowlands on the planet, and large parts of its territory rise just a few meters above sea level.
Territories larger than some European countries are lying not more than 2 – 3 meters above sea level, and almost the entire coastal region, including a large part of the river delta, is at an altitude of less than 5 meters.
The slope of the lowland barely exceeds 20 centimeters per kilometer, which turns this part of the world into one of the most vulnerable of the constantly rising waters of the ocean.
6. Louisiana / USA
The coastal parts of Louisiana are heavily affected by the process of sea waters’ rising.
The harsh reality became clearly visible to the world when, in 2004, the hurricane Katrina hit this part of the Gulf of Mexico.
The damages were colossal and left much of New Orleans (the main city in the area) under water.
Today, many people still refuse to return to their homes as they afraid that this could happen again one day.
7. Jakarta / Indonesia
Jakarta is considered the fastest-sinking large city in the world.
According to the BBC, large parts of the capital of Indonesia are likely to disappear under water by 2050.
This does not apply to the entire area of Jakarta because there are parts of the city, including to the north, which have a slightly higher altitude.
However, this will certainly affect the whole city and will affect the economic and social development of the area.
Nowadays, the sea shore suffers by frequent floodings and parts of coastal Jakarta regularly remain under water.
8. Venice / Italy
One of the most romantic cities in the world is strongly affected in several different ways.
On the one hand, Venice is built, for the most part, on a lagoon, which means it is situated on the very sea level.
Even raising the level of the ocean by one centimeter could lead to much more frequent floodings and much more problems in the city.
On the other hand, many of the buildings are built over massive wooden pillars.
Although they are designed to last for centuries, they are very slowly sinking into the mud beneath them, which makes the rising ocean level process even more evident.
9. Denmark
Although the situation couldn’t be compared to that in the Netherlands, Denmark is also threatened by sinking.
Parts of the country are located 7 meters below sea level, and the fact that these areas are in close proximity to the shore makes the situation even more serious.
Denmark is located in parts of Europe where strong storms hit frequently during the winter months.
They are often accompanied by high tidal waves, which puts vast coastal areas at risk.
10. Bangladesh
Home of more than 163 million people in 2016, Bangladesh is now one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
The problem is that, against the background of the steadily increasing number of the population, huge parts of the country are barely rising above sea level.
Located in the delta of the powerful and deep river Ganges, large parts of the country are cut by river sleeves and are covered with wetlands.
A slight increase in the level of the ocean could leave most of the country’s territory unusable and could force tens of millions of people to search for another home.
