Massive Relocation

The entire nation of Maldives is looking for a place to relocate in advance of rising sea levels.

Surprisingly, the country, which is comprised of over a thousands small islands in the Indian Ocean, has been on the hunt for over twenty years. The clock is ticking faster now as the world's climate begins to undergo changes noticeable even to casual observers. Inhabitants of small islands will be the first to be displaced by rising oceans.

The capital city of Malé has one of the highest population densities in the world. Even though its citizens are spread across tiny atolls which all together are only about one and a half times the size of Washington, DC, Maldives has a population of about 400,000.

New York Times Magazine has the story.

Photo: NASA