![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/pages\/Tuvalu-1.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n
Where is Tuvalu<\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/pages\/Tuvalu-2.jpg\")
<\/a>Click image to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n
\n- The islands of Tuvalu lie just below the equator and west of the International Dateline.<\/li>\n
- With a total land area of only 26 km2 (11 square miles), Tuvalu is one of the smallest countries in the world, spread over half a million square miles of ocean<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Basic Facts<\/h2>\n\n- The name \u2018Tuvalu\u2019 means \u2018cluster of eight\u2019 although the group in fact consists of nine low-lying coral atolls.<\/li>\n
- The population is 12,300.<\/li>\n
- Both Tuvaluan and English are spoken. Funafuti is the capital.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Culture<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Destination-Tuvalu-1-flat.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n
\n- Tuvalu forms part of the Polynesian triangle that stretches from Hawaii in the north to New Zealand in the south<\/li>\n
- Traditional community life is still important, with the open-sided maneapa<\/em> the centre for important meetings and celebrations<\/li>\n
- Family and church are an important part of island life<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/pages\/Tuvalu-4.jpg\")
History<\/h2>\n\n- The first inhabitants arrived by sea about two thousand years ago<\/li>\n
- A society under the leadership of chiefs developed, and customs and traditions akin to Samoa remain today.<\/li>\n
- The first European sighting of the islands was in 1765.<\/li>\n
- The islands became part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony.<\/li>\n
- After a referendum in 1975, the Ellice Islands separated from the Gilberts and became Tuvalu, achieving independence in 1978.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/pages\/Tuvalu-5-2.jpg\")
Weather<\/h2>\n\n- Tuvalu lies within the tradewind zone, on the northern edge of the hurricane belt<\/li>\n
- Occasionally the islands are affected by cyclones such as Cyclone Pam in March 2015<\/li>\n
- Temperatures are high all year round<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Main Challenges<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/pages\/Tuvalu-6.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n
\n- Tuvalu is one of the nations on the front line of climate change.<\/li>\n
- The islands are threatened by sea level rise and more extreme weather caused by rising ocean temperatures.<\/li>\n
- Tuvalu\u2019s highest point is less than 4.6 metres (15 feet) above sea level<\/li>\n
- It is now predicted that all the islands will be submerged before the end of this century.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sea Level Rise \u2013 Causes<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/pages\/Tuvalu-7.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n
\n- A warmer ocean expands in volume (a process called thermal expansion)<\/li>\n
- Warmer sea and air temperatures increase the melting of Arctic and Antarctic ice which adds more water to the ocean<\/li>\n
- Sea levels rose by 20 cm since 1870<\/li>\n
- Cyclones can also produce a high rise in sea level, known as storm surges<\/em>.<\/li>\n
- Waves can also wash over the islands during king tides<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sea Level Rise \u2013 Effects<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/pages\/Tuvalu-8.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n
\n- Increased flooding of settlements and land used for agriculture<\/li>\n
- Flooding damages infrastructure such as roads and buildings<\/li>\n
- Salt water in the soil makes it harder to grow crops<\/li>\n
- Loss of fresh ground water for humans, animals and plants<\/li>\n
- Coastal erosion increases, damaging natural habitats on land and in the sea<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Solutions<\/h2>\n\n- The people and the government of Tuvalu are looking for solutions to these challenges<\/li>\n
- Tuvaluans are working with their fellow nations in the Pacific to come up with ways to meet the challenges of climate change<\/li>\n
- For example, increasing their use of renewable energy such as solar<\/li>\n
- And also, asking the rest of the world to do its bit to cut down on carbon emissions<\/li>\n
- Because if the seas rise, the people of Tuvalu will have to leave their homeland<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cThere are no boundaries to the effects of climate change. We are dealing with saving human lives – and therefore saving Tuvalu is also saving the world.\u201d
\u2014 Enele Sopoaga, Tuvalu Prime Minister<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Useful links<\/h2>\n\n- www.timelesstuvalu.com<\/a><\/li>\n
- www.alofatuvalu.tv<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nDownload this page as PDF<\/a> or PowerPoint<\/a> document<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Main threats and issues facing Tuvalu<\/p>\n
Download this page as PDF<\/a> or PowerPoint<\/a> document <\/p>\n Where is Tuvalu <\/a><\/p>\nClick image to enlarge<\/p>\n
The islands of Tuvalu lie just below the …<\/p>\n
<\/a>Click image to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n
- \n
- The islands of Tuvalu lie just below the equator and west of the International Dateline.<\/li>\n
- With a total land area of only 26 km2 (11 square miles), Tuvalu is one of the smallest countries in the world, spread over half a million square miles of ocean<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Basic Facts<\/h2>\n
- \n
- The name \u2018Tuvalu\u2019 means \u2018cluster of eight\u2019 although the group in fact consists of nine low-lying coral atolls.<\/li>\n
- The population is 12,300.<\/li>\n
- Both Tuvaluan and English are spoken. Funafuti is the capital.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Culture<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n- \n
- Tuvalu forms part of the Polynesian triangle that stretches from Hawaii in the north to New Zealand in the south<\/li>\n
- Traditional community life is still important, with the open-sided maneapa<\/em> the centre for important meetings and celebrations<\/li>\n
- Family and church are an important part of island life<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
History<\/h2>\n- \n
- The first inhabitants arrived by sea about two thousand years ago<\/li>\n
- A society under the leadership of chiefs developed, and customs and traditions akin to Samoa remain today.<\/li>\n
- The first European sighting of the islands was in 1765.<\/li>\n
- The islands became part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony.<\/li>\n
- After a referendum in 1975, the Ellice Islands separated from the Gilberts and became Tuvalu, achieving independence in 1978.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nWeather<\/h2>\n
- \n
- Tuvalu lies within the tradewind zone, on the northern edge of the hurricane belt<\/li>\n
- Occasionally the islands are affected by cyclones such as Cyclone Pam in March 2015<\/li>\n
- Temperatures are high all year round<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Main Challenges<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n- \n
- Tuvalu is one of the nations on the front line of climate change.<\/li>\n
- The islands are threatened by sea level rise and more extreme weather caused by rising ocean temperatures.<\/li>\n
- Tuvalu\u2019s highest point is less than 4.6 metres (15 feet) above sea level<\/li>\n
- It is now predicted that all the islands will be submerged before the end of this century.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sea Level Rise \u2013 Causes<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n- \n
- A warmer ocean expands in volume (a process called thermal expansion)<\/li>\n
- Warmer sea and air temperatures increase the melting of Arctic and Antarctic ice which adds more water to the ocean<\/li>\n
- Sea levels rose by 20 cm since 1870<\/li>\n
- Cyclones can also produce a high rise in sea level, known as storm surges<\/em>.<\/li>\n
- Waves can also wash over the islands during king tides<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sea Level Rise \u2013 Effects<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n- \n
- Increased flooding of settlements and land used for agriculture<\/li>\n
- Flooding damages infrastructure such as roads and buildings<\/li>\n
- Salt water in the soil makes it harder to grow crops<\/li>\n
- Loss of fresh ground water for humans, animals and plants<\/li>\n
- Coastal erosion increases, damaging natural habitats on land and in the sea<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Solutions<\/h2>\n
- \n
- The people and the government of Tuvalu are looking for solutions to these challenges<\/li>\n
- Tuvaluans are working with their fellow nations in the Pacific to come up with ways to meet the challenges of climate change<\/li>\n
- For example, increasing their use of renewable energy such as solar<\/li>\n
- And also, asking the rest of the world to do its bit to cut down on carbon emissions<\/li>\n
- Because if the seas rise, the people of Tuvalu will have to leave their homeland<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cThere are no boundaries to the effects of climate change. We are dealing with saving human lives – and therefore saving Tuvalu is also saving the world.\u201d
\u2014 Enele Sopoaga, Tuvalu Prime Minister<\/p><\/blockquote>\nUseful links<\/h2>\n
- \n
- www.timelesstuvalu.com<\/a><\/li>\n
- www.alofatuvalu.tv<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Download this page as PDF<\/a> or PowerPoint<\/a> document<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Main threats and issues facing Tuvalu<\/p>\n
Download this page as PDF<\/a> or PowerPoint<\/a> document <\/p>\n
Where is Tuvalu <\/a><\/p>\n
Click image to enlarge<\/p>\n
The islands of Tuvalu lie just below the …<\/p>\n
- www.alofatuvalu.tv<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- www.timelesstuvalu.com<\/a><\/li>\n
- Waves can also wash over the islands during king tides<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Family and church are an important part of island life<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n