Arguably one of the most romantic destinations in the world, the Republic of Maldives lies in the Indian Ocean about 700 kilometers (435 miles) southwest of Sri Lanka. The nation is made up of more than one thousand coral islands. A number of these islands can be seen in the image, with the turquoise colors depicting clear, shallow waters dotted by coral reefs and the red colors highlighting vegetation on land. These beautiful islands draw more than 600,000 tourists each year. Like many low-lying island chains, the Maldives is particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise. In fact, it is reported to be the flattest country on Earth, with no ground higher than 3 meters (10 feet) above sea level and 80 percent of the land lying below 1 meter (3 feet). With satellite records showing that over the past five years the global ocean has risen, on average, 4.8 millimeters (3/16 inch) a year, rising seas are a real threat to these islands. August 26, 2015.