Little is known about the seas of Maldives
The first picture that comes to mind when the name Maldives comes to mind is the beautiful overwater luxury villas, gorgeous beaches surrounded by white sand and amazing water sports activities. Maldives is one of the most coveted places in the world for vacations. People also reach Maldives in large numbers to do scuba diving. Despite such a large number of underwater sports activities, scientists say there is still a lot to learn about its underwater ecosystem.
Scientists will filter the ocean with hi-tech submersible
Now the Maldivian government and the UK Marine Research Institute Nekton have started marine research in unexplored areas. It has been named Nekton Maldives mission which will launch on 4 September. This includes the team of scientists from Maldives and abroad, which plans to conduct extensive research below 30 meters using two hi-tech submersibles. One of these submersibles can go to a depth of 1000 meters under the sea. It aims to help Maldives mitigate the impact of the global climate crisis.
Maldives will be destroyed if sea level rises
A statement from Nekton said that the Maldives is 99 percent ocean. It has only one percent of its total area, which has raised an average of 1.5 meters above sea level. In such a situation, if the sea level rises due to global warming, then the remaining area of Maldives will also be submerged in the sea. In such a situation, the Maldivian government has started efforts for a comprehensive rescue plan in time by collecting underwater information. By analyzing the data found in research, scientists can gather important information.
Maldives is strategically important for India
Maldives spread over 90 thousand square kilometers is a strategically important country for India in the region of the Indian Ocean. This is the reason why India’s first attempt is to make Maldives in its court. The Indian island of Minicoy, which is located closest to the waters of Maldives, is only 100 kilometers away. Which is about 400 km from Kavaratti, the capital of Lakshadweep. The distance of this island of Maldives from the southern point of Kerala is only 600 kilometers. In such a situation, if China’s presence in Maldives increases, then it can become a big threat to India.
China traps Maldives in debt trap
Frightened by India’s growing reputation at the global level, China has trapped many countries located in the Indian Ocean in its debt trap. It also includes Maldives. China has given massive loans to Maldives. Before the transition to power in the Maldives, the Chinese-backed government leased Feydhoo finolhu island to Beijing in 2016 for $4 million. The island is located just off the mainland of Maldives. To maintain its secrecy, China has also banned the arrival of outsiders.