Last week we featured the Land of the Rising Sun (Japan). This week we go to the Land of the Rising Sea (Tuvalu).
Many people have never heard of the island nation of Tuvalu, so let’s start with some Fun facts:
- Tuvalu’s capital is Funafuti. That’s fun!
- Tuvalu has a population of 12,000. If they all wanted to go on vacation at the same time, they could all stay at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas with only 2 people per room.
- Tuvalu has a land area of 10 square miles. Salt Lake City airport (the 6th largest in the United States) is 12 square miles.
- Tuvalu has 2,000 tourists per year, the least of any country in the world. Disneyland in California gets more visitors than that every hour.
Now that you know a bit more about Tuvalu, let’s get to the not so fun facts:
- Rising sea levels threaten Tuvalu’s existence. Most of the land is less than 10 feet above sea level.
- Experts think that Tuvalu might be uninhabitable in the next 50-100 years. Locals feel like it might be sooner.
- Some crops that used to be popular on Tuvalu can no longer be grown because the soil has gotten too salty. Now 80% of the food is imported.
Even though the geography of their country is changing, Tuvaluans are committed to preserving their culture and way of life, which revolves around community and friendliness.
Thanks to Traveler Aaron (who got to experience Tuvaluan culture firsthand), Taaluma fans can now carry a piece of this unique culture on their backs and give back to the Tuvaluan community at the same time.
Here’s to carrying countries & to feeling good - because after all, it’s Friday.
-the Taaluma Team