Page 111 - A History of the World in 25 Cities

Many cities are also at risk from rising sea levels. Most in danger is Malé, the capital city of the Maldives, which is a country made up of
more than 1,000 islands in the Indian Ocean. The highest island in the Maldives is only just over two metres above sea level. A new island
is being created near Malé by pumping sand into the ocean to make a foundation to build on,
protected by three-metre-high walls.
Around the world, lots of other cities could be flooded as sea levels rise. The biggest is Shanghai in China, but there are many more: Miami in the United
States, Venice in Italy, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Jakarta in Indonesia and
Lagos in Nigeria are all in danger.
Growing cities have also meant fewer plants and places for animals to live, as the countryside makes way for more and more buildings.
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