Key learning points

1. Tuvalu is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean with 9 main islands including some atolls.
2. Some of the islands are made from coral, seawater bubbles up through the coral causing flooding.
3. Many Tuvaluans rely on subsistence farming, the saltwater is poisoning the soil.
4. Tuvalu experiences drought and water scarcity due to lack of natural freshwater.

Keywords

• Island nation - a country that does not share any land borders with other countries

• Coral (reef) - tiny marine organisms that accumulate to form coral reefs in tropical waters

• Atoll - a type of coral reef shaped like a ring with a water body in the middle

• Lagoon - the body of water in the middle of an atoll

• Subsistence farming - farming that is done to feed oneself and one’s family, not for profit

Common misconception