The Maldives is one of the countries most people want to visit. Unfortunately, those dreaming to do so can only visit within the next 30 years, before it sinks and becomes the next Atlantis.
As it turns out, those looking to visit the islands for some much needed R&R might want to book their trip sooner. Reports claim that the country is either doomed to vanish like the famous Atlantis or simply not look the same as it does now.
"Majority of the hundreds of islands in Maldives are less than a meter to two meters above sea level," Style Bible reports. "Which means its floating beauty is also the reason it could [be] wiped off the map soon."
A photo posted by Maldives (@maldives) on Mar 7, 2016 at 8:23am PST
The phenomenon is attributed to climate change: as sea levels rise, islands like the Maldives - along with the Arctic and Italy's Venice - could soon see an unfavorable fate. "For us, climate change is real," Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed told Costas Christ of National Geographic. "We are already relocating people from 16 islands affected by rising seas to other areas of our country."
Apparently, the December 2004 earthquake prompted a tsunami. Although Indonesia was left devastated, the Maldives was also badly affected after the disaster devoured two-thirds of the Indian Ocean archipelago, including the extinction of 20 "pristine islands."
A photo posted by Maldives (@maldives) on Feb 18, 2016 at 10:53am PST
In an effort to save the islands, local establishments have been pushing initiatives to make the archipelago more environment-friendly. In fact, tourism claims to be a big factor in helping save the country.
Spearheading this initiative is Sonu Shivadasani, the founder of Six Senses, which is behind the operations of "intelligent luxury" resorts and spas - two of which are in the Maldives: Soneva Fushi and Soneva Gili. Aside from sustainable tourism, the company aims to prove that the country is carbon negative, rather than settling for carbon neutral.
The eco-hotelier claims that they are removing more CO2 emissions in the air than they produce. "We have designed this to be a biodegradable resort," claims the eco-hotelier.
