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Nine islands -

Its nine islands comprise six small, thinly populated atolls and three reef islands with palm-fringed beaches.

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Small population -

There are only about 11,000 people in the country, which has an area of less than 10 sq mi (26 sq km), but they have established their own culture and way of life.

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It’s the fourth-smallest country in the world -

It's the smallest after Vatican City, Monaco, and Nauru, but Tuvalu has its own currency, the Tuvaluan dollar, and they also use the Australian dollar.

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Official languages -

Tuvaluans are Polynesian, and their language, Tuvaluan, is closely related to Samoan, according to Britannica. The language taught in schools and widely used, however, is English.

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Religion -

The majority of the population belongs to the Church of Tuvalu, or what was once the Ellice Islands Protestant Church.

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Culture -

According to The Guardian, the atmosphere on the island is sanguine, with residents coasting along the island roads on motorbikes, taking naps in hammocks in the afternoons, and frying fish on beach campfires at night.

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Sports -

Sports play a huge role in daily life in Tuvalu. When planes aren't expected, young people ride bikes and play volleyball, basketball, and soccer on the airstrip.

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A seeming paradise -

The brushes of sand amid turquoise waters, lush with dense coconut trees, provide a stunning backdrop to enjoy daily average temperatures from 80-85°F (27-29°C).

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World War II sites -

"Borrow pits" were created by the US military to build an airstrip during WWII, leaving scars on the land that were later filled with sand and populated by houses.

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In the British Commonwealth -

Tuvalu is an independent island nation within the British Commonwealth. Pictured you can see Queen Elizabeth II visiting in 1982.

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Still has a relationship with the monarchy -

Prince William and Kate Middleton also visited in 2012, and pictured they're drinking coconut milk from a tree planted by the late Queen during her visit in 1982.

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The capital -

Tuvalu's capital, Funafuti, is a small coral atoll where the airport is located. At its highest point, it is just 15 feet (4.5 meters) above sea level. Approximately one-third of the population lives in Funafuti.

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Diving and snorkelling -

The Funafuti Conservation Area, off the coast of the capital, offers calm waters for diving and snorkelling among sea turtles and tropical fish.

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Birdwatching -

There are also several uninhabited islets sheltering stunning sea birds.

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Agriculture -

Coconut palms thrive in Tuvalu, as well as breadfruit trees, pandanus, taro, and bananas. Pigs and chickens are raised on the islands, and fish and shellfish are caught for food too.

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Climate change -

The low-lying nation has been classified as "extremely vulnerable" to climate change by the United Nations Development Programme.

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Rising sea level threat -

The beautiful island nation is struggling to cope with climate change-related impacts, largely the rising sea levels of 0.2 in (5 mm) per year since 1993, which is well above the global average.

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Damage to crops and flooding -

The rising sea levels damage vital crops as the salt water rises through the coral atoll on the mainland and ruins taro and cassava plantations.

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Damaging self-sufficiency -

The salt water poisons the thin soil and makes growing crops very difficult, making the Tuvaluans increasingly dependent on expensive imports.

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Flooding -

Rising sea levels are also causing flooding in the low lying nation during high tides and in storm surges. Floods affect people's homes and threaten the airport runway access.

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Other harmful impacts of climate change -

Along with rising sea levels, the rising temperatures pose a threat to the nation, and the coasts of the coral atolls and islands are being eroded, shrinking the already small land.

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Increased storm activity -

With climate change, the severity of cyclones and droughts are predicted to worsen, creating even more wave erosion.

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Increased storm activity -

Trees are washed into the sea as the island is undercut, making it even easier for flooding and further erosion.

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Coral bleaching -

The coral reefs close to Tuvalu are also being affected by coral bleaching due to rising temperatures. This can poison the reef fish who have ingested micro-algae expelled by bleached coral, which in turn cause severe illness in people who eat these fish.

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Limited freshwater supply -

Only rain catchment and wells provided fresh water, but since the rising ocean contaminated underwater ground supplies, Tuvalu became totally reliant on rainwater, stored in large collection tanks. Climate change, however, is increasing the frequency of droughts.

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Less than 100 years left -

Some scientists have predicted that Tuvalu could become uninhabitable in 50 to 100 years or less if sea levels continue to rise at this rate.

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Under threat -

Many predict that Tuvalu will become the first country to disappear as a result of climate change.

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Still leading the climate change fight -

In an effort to curb pollution and set an example for larger nations, four of the outer islands are already 97% solar energy dependent, and the country's government is working to achieve 100% renewable energy from wind and solar by 2025.

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Potential plans -

Tuvalu is reportedly considering building an artificial island, to dredge and reclaim land at the south of Fongafale, raise the land 33 ft (10 m) above sea level, and build high-density housing. It is a plan that would reportedly cost US$300 million, but which has no funding.

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There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees -

But Tuvalu’s ex-prime minister, Enele Sopoaga, rejects this “defeatist” attitude. He says the government is concentrated on adapting to the changing weather patterns in order to stay put.

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There is talk of evacuation as climate change refugees -

Fiji has reportedly offered land to the Tuvaluan government to relocate their population 745 mi (1,200 km) south, though Tuvalu has not accepted. Former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd suggested Tuvalu’s citizens could be offered full citizenship in exchange for their country’s maritime and fisheries rights, but Sopoaga rejected the proposal as "imperial thinking."

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Some are heading to New Zealand -

More of the younger generations are coming to terms with migration, and New Zealand has been receiving Tuvaluans in increasing numbers.

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A lot at stake -

Much of the older population doesn't want to move as they fear losing their identity, culture, lifestyle, and traditions.

Sources: (Britannica) (The Guardian)

See also: The world's largest artificial islands.

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