Kiribati
Equatorial island nation
Kiribati is an island nation in the central Pacific Ocean, comprising 33 coral atolls spread across a vast expanse of ocean.
Pronounced roughly "KIRR-ih-bass," the name derives from the local rendering of "Gilberts," from the former colonial name Gilbert Islands.
The country faces existential threat from rising sea levels: Kiribati may become uninhabitable within decades.
Ring-shaped reef island
- lagoonSheltered coastal shallows
- coralMarine skeletal formation
- oceanMassive saltwater body
- equatorMidpoint circle of rotation
tropical · marine · oceanic · fisheries · seafaring · canoe · outrigger · navigation
Tiny Pacific island nation
- NauruSmallest island nation
- FijiPacific island republic
- SamoaSouth Pacific island nation
- TongaSouth Pacific kingdom
Palau · Vanuatu · Micronesia · Marshall Islands · Solomon Islands · Papua New Guinea · Australia · New Zealand
Increasing ocean surface height
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
- coral bleachingStress-induced reef discoloration
- floodingOverwhelming water accumulation
- erosionGradual wearing away
adaptation · relocation · vulnerability · drought · typhoon · cyclone · El Niño · sustainability
State with elected leaders
- independenceFreedom from external control
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- governmentAuthority over a state
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
parliament · flag · anthem · citizenship · Commonwealth · United Nations · diplomacy · territory
Separated from others
- distantFar away or aloof
- scatteredSpread irregularly about
- inaccessibleCannot be reached
- farawayAt great distance
secluded · outlying · sparse · uninhabited · time zones · dispersed · peripheral · off-the-beaten-path
atoll
Ring-shaped reef island
equator · tropical · marine · oceanic · fisheries · seafaring · canoe · outrigger · navigation · currents
Tuvalu
Tiny Pacific island nation
Tonga · Palau · Vanuatu · Micronesia · Marshall Islands · Solomon Islands · Papua New Guinea · Australia · New Zealand · Polynesia
sea level rise
Increasing ocean surface height
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
- coral bleachingStress-induced reef discoloration
- floodingOverwhelming water accumulation
erosion · adaptation · relocation · vulnerability · drought · typhoon · cyclone · El Niño · sustainability · resilience
republic
State with elected leaders
- independenceFreedom from external control
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- governmentAuthority over a state
constitution · parliament · flag · anthem · citizenship · Commonwealth · United Nations · diplomacy · territory · statehood
isolated
Separated from others
- distantFar away or aloof
- scatteredSpread irregularly about
- inaccessibleCannot be reached
faraway · secluded · outlying · sparse · uninhabited · time zones · dispersed · peripheral · off-the-beaten-path
KiribatiNepal
South Asian mountain nation
Bhutan · Switzerland · Tibet · Bolivia · Lesotho
Kiribatilandlocked countries
States lacking coastal borders
Mongolia · Kazakhstan · Chad · Central African Republic · Uzbekistan
KiribatiUnited States
North American federal republic
China · Germany · Japan · United Kingdom