5 Islands That Are Disappearing, Visit Before They Are Gone
Ritika | Sep 24, 2025, 11:11 IST
Scenic island
( Image credit : Unsplash )
Highlight of the story: The sea is slowly taking over some of the world’s most beautiful islands. These aren’t just dots on a map; they’re homes, culture, and life. People still live here, still laugh, cook, and sing. But every year, the water creeps in. Visiting now isn’t just ticking a list; it’s seeing a world that may vanish in our lifetime.
Islands always make you feel like in another world. You get off a tiny plane or boat, and you're somewhere else. Palm trees bend over the beach, waves extend in all directions, and the air smells differently, of salt and possibility.
But the dream is fading. The water is creeping in. Beaches are disappearing. Storms become stronger. Some islands have already lost the battle.
Scientists are warning that most small islands could be lost over the next several decades. But those statistics conceal the individuals who inhabit them. Their houses, their histories, their cultures, all connected to the ground. And once lost, they will be gone forever. Here are five of those islands where the clock is ticking.
Kiribati is not just one island, but a country made of coral atolls scattered across the Pacific Ocean. Most of its land rises barely two meters above sea level. That’s the problem. As sea levels rise, the saltwater seeps into drinking supplies and kills crops. Villages have already been moved, coconut palms have died standing, their roots drowned.This isn’t a “someday” scenario. The government of Kiribati has already bought land in Fiji as a backup. Imagine a whole nation planning to move its people elsewhere because their land is slipping underwater. For travelers, Kiribati still holds beauty, lagoon waters shining under the sun, traditional maneaba meeting houses, and quiet beaches. So, this island should be on the must-visit list, because it is definitely worth it.
The Maldives appear like paradise in all the brochures. White sand, blue waters, overwater villas. Holidaymakers drink cocktails beneath umbrellas, blissfully unaware. Locals know better, however. Some islands are just a meter high.
Storm surges engulf beaches. Coral reefs that used to protect islands whiten in warmer oceans. Sea walls and land reclamation attempt to stem it, but the battle is unequal.Go now, and the loveliness is nearly keener because you know it is fleeting. Every wave is a husky whisper of urgency: hold this as long as you can.
Tuvalu doesn't make the headlines very often. It's small, isolated, only a handful of flights a week. But here, the rising tide isn't only about land. Culture gets swept away, too. Songs, dances, stories, all rooted in soil that erodes with the sea.
King tides inundate houses. Crops die. People mend, rebuild, and hope. A lot of people say they want to go to New Zealand, Australia.
For a guest, Tuvalu is pristine. The airstrip in the capital is a playground when planes do not arrive. The ocean surrounds everything, infinite. Friend and foe, all at the same time. Each wave claims a little more of life on the island.
The Solomon Islands are green hills and open water. History is in every corner. But the sea is re-drawing maps. Some islands have already vanished. Villages are receding so rapidly that families have to relocate inland.
Mangroves that supported soil stand empty, roots visible. Elders recall broader beaches, gardens nearer the shore. Those memories disappear with the land itself.
Tourists are still able to view beauty: canoes, coral reefs, and unspoiled landscapes. But the reality is in the diminishing islands, the disappearing villages. Time is catching up, and this beauty is a must-see.
This is not the middle of the ocean; this is Louisiana. Isle de Jean Charles used to be broad, a home to a Native American tribe. Now nearly everything is gone. The roads are flooded, and the houses stand vacant. Families were resettled inland.
Walking here is not only about land. It is about seeing culture disappear underwater. Fishing, family, and history eroded inch by inch. Witnessing the island is like watching the water take over, slowly, until one day your footpaths would submerge like those of many who walked the land there.
The islands are vanishing. It's not decades into the future; it's now. Palm trees, villages, songs, reefs, all in danger of disappearing.
So much history, life, and culture that might just disappear too soon and forever. These aren’t usual scenic destinations; they are places with memories, cultures, and a rich life that might all become a thing of the past soon.
Going there is not about sightseeing. It's observing life struggling to exist and experiencing the vulnerability of the world. The sea provides, but it also takes away. And on these islands, the tide is claiming everything quicker than ever.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Spiritual, Travel, Life Hacks, Trending, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!
But the dream is fading. The water is creeping in. Beaches are disappearing. Storms become stronger. Some islands have already lost the battle.
Scientists are warning that most small islands could be lost over the next several decades. But those statistics conceal the individuals who inhabit them. Their houses, their histories, their cultures, all connected to the ground. And once lost, they will be gone forever. Here are five of those islands where the clock is ticking.
1. Kiribati – The Drowning Nation
Kiribati island
( Image credit : Pixabay )
Kiribati is not just one island, but a country made of coral atolls scattered across the Pacific Ocean. Most of its land rises barely two meters above sea level. That’s the problem. As sea levels rise, the saltwater seeps into drinking supplies and kills crops. Villages have already been moved, coconut palms have died standing, their roots drowned.This isn’t a “someday” scenario. The government of Kiribati has already bought land in Fiji as a backup. Imagine a whole nation planning to move its people elsewhere because their land is slipping underwater. For travelers, Kiribati still holds beauty, lagoon waters shining under the sun, traditional maneaba meeting houses, and quiet beaches. So, this island should be on the must-visit list, because it is definitely worth it.
2. Maldives – Paradise on Borrowed Time
Maldive islands
( Image credit : Pixabay )
The Maldives appear like paradise in all the brochures. White sand, blue waters, overwater villas. Holidaymakers drink cocktails beneath umbrellas, blissfully unaware. Locals know better, however. Some islands are just a meter high.
Storm surges engulf beaches. Coral reefs that used to protect islands whiten in warmer oceans. Sea walls and land reclamation attempt to stem it, but the battle is unequal.Go now, and the loveliness is nearly keener because you know it is fleeting. Every wave is a husky whisper of urgency: hold this as long as you can.
3. Tuvalu – Small, Isolated, Disappearing
Tuvalu island
( Image credit : Unsplash )
Tuvalu doesn't make the headlines very often. It's small, isolated, only a handful of flights a week. But here, the rising tide isn't only about land. Culture gets swept away, too. Songs, dances, stories, all rooted in soil that erodes with the sea.
King tides inundate houses. Crops die. People mend, rebuild, and hope. A lot of people say they want to go to New Zealand, Australia.
For a guest, Tuvalu is pristine. The airstrip in the capital is a playground when planes do not arrive. The ocean surrounds everything, infinite. Friend and foe, all at the same time. Each wave claims a little more of life on the island.
4. Solomon Islands – Fading Villages
Solomon islands
( Image credit : Pexels )
The Solomon Islands are green hills and open water. History is in every corner. But the sea is re-drawing maps. Some islands have already vanished. Villages are receding so rapidly that families have to relocate inland.
Mangroves that supported soil stand empty, roots visible. Elders recall broader beaches, gardens nearer the shore. Those memories disappear with the land itself.
Tourists are still able to view beauty: canoes, coral reefs, and unspoiled landscapes. But the reality is in the diminishing islands, the disappearing villages. Time is catching up, and this beauty is a must-see.
5. Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana, USA – A Home Slipping Away
Isle de Jean Charles
( Image credit : Pixabay )
This is not the middle of the ocean; this is Louisiana. Isle de Jean Charles used to be broad, a home to a Native American tribe. Now nearly everything is gone. The roads are flooded, and the houses stand vacant. Families were resettled inland.
Walking here is not only about land. It is about seeing culture disappear underwater. Fishing, family, and history eroded inch by inch. Witnessing the island is like watching the water take over, slowly, until one day your footpaths would submerge like those of many who walked the land there.
Wrapping Up
So much history, life, and culture that might just disappear too soon and forever. These aren’t usual scenic destinations; they are places with memories, cultures, and a rich life that might all become a thing of the past soon.
Going there is not about sightseeing. It's observing life struggling to exist and experiencing the vulnerability of the world. The sea provides, but it also takes away. And on these islands, the tide is claiming everything quicker than ever.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Spiritual, Travel, Life Hacks, Trending, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!