The Maldives is a small island nation in the Indian Ocean. The islands of the Maldives have very low elevations and not much usable land. In the late 1990s, the government began building artificial islands and sustainably planned communities. One example is the island of Hulhumalé.
Based on your knowledge of geography, what likely motivated the government to begin the island-building program?
A.
Continuous volcanic activity has been threatening the stability of the islands and dropping the atoll into the sea.
B.
Rising sea levels have been reducing the country's habitable land area and forcing people from their homes.
C.
Significant pollution of the country's largest islands has been rendering much of the atoll uninhabitable.
D.
Rapid population growth has been causing the country to require additional territory to expand into.
1 answer
The most likely motivation for the Maldives government to begin the island-building program is:
B. Rising sea levels have been reducing the country's habitable land area and forcing people from their homes.
The Maldives is particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels due to its low elevation, and this issue poses a significant risk to the country's livability and sustainability.
