Pacific island nation of Kiribati - in pictures

Reuters photographer David Gray spent time documenting life in the central Pacific island nation of Kiribati (population: 1 lac), a chain of 33 atolls and islands that stand just metres above sea level, spread over a huge expanse of otherwise empty ocean. With surrounding sea levels rising, it's predicted the country will likely become uninhabitable in 30-60 years because of seawater inundation and contamination of its freshwater supplies

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2013/jun/14/pacific-island-nation-of-kiribati-in-pictures#





The permanent population is just over 100,000 (2011), and the nation is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, (1,351,000 square miles) straddling the equator, and bordering the International Date Line at its easternmost point... In June 2008, Kiribati officials asked Australia and New Zealand to accept Kiribati citizens as permanent refugees. Kiribati is expected to be the first country in which all land territory disappears due to global climate change. In June 2008, the Kiribati president Anote Tong said that the country has reached "the point of no return"; he added, "To plan for the day when you no longer have a country is indeed painful but I think we have to do that"  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiribati