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As we all know, Japan is an island nation that is often threatened by earthquakes and tsunamis due to its location in the Pacific Rim volcanic belt. Moreover, due to global climate change and rising sea levels, some of Japan's islands are also in danger of sinking and disappearing.
However, you may not know that there are also two places in China that are "sinking" or facing permanent disappearance. Both places are China's natural and cultural heritage and important bases for tourism and fishing. Why do they sink? How will the sinking affect them? How can we protect them?
1. Long Island County: The largest island in the North Sea
Changdao County, located above the East China Sea, is a county in Yantai, Shandong Province, and the largest island in the North Sea. Long Island County has a long history and rich culture, and was once an important coastal defense town in the Ming Dynasty, a naval base in the Qing Dynasty, and the seat of the Yantai Municipal Government during the Republic of China.
Long Island County is also known for its beautiful natural scenery and rich marine resources, known as the "Hawaii of the East". However, Long Island County faces many problems. Climate change and human activities are the main causes of Long Island's sinking.
Global warming has led to rising sea levels, and the emergence of various urban high-rises and industrial facilities has also overwhelmed Long Island County, and the formation has begun to sink. In addition, typhoon visits and persistent waves are constantly "wearing" the land edge of Long Island County. According to the study, Long Island County sinks about 2.8 millimeters per year.
The sinking of Long Island County has had a huge impact on the local area. First, subsidence has led to seawater erosion and salinization, resulting in losses in agricultural production. Second, the sinking caused silting of ports and narrowing of shipping channels, affecting the development of fisheries and tourism.
Subsidence also increases the risk of natural disasters such as floods, landslides, ground fissures, etc. Finally, the sinking threatens the safety of human life and property and the protection of cultural heritage. In response to this problem, the Long Island County Government has taken some steps.
These include strengthening the construction and maintenance of seawalls, controlling the amount of groundwater extraction, prohibiting indiscriminate fishing and excavation, promoting water-saving and energy-saving technologies, and raising public awareness of environmental protection. However, these measures only address the symptoms and not the root causes. Without more specific and important measures to address this issue and protect natural resources, Long Island County is still likely to continue sinking.
2. Luodosha Island: a nature reserve in the center of the South China Sea
Luodosha Island is a nature reserve in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, known for its deep vegetation, clear water and bird population. Luodosha Island is an alluvial island formed by the accumulation of sandy material, located in the heart of the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone, and is the largest sand island in southern China.
Rich in biodiversity, Rodosa Island is home to many rare flora and fauna, and an important resting place for migratory birds. However, Rodosa Island is also at serious risk of sinking. The sinking problem of Rodosa Island is mainly caused by two reasons.
First, environmental governance is improper, but industrialization is serious. Due to excessive sand mining, garbage littering and other behaviors, the land of Luodosha Island is constantly desertified, and it is easier to be washed away by the sea. Various industrial exhaust gases have also affected the waters of Luodosha Island, resulting in an accelerated sinking rate. According to studies, Rodosa Island sinks about 2.3 mm per year.
The sinking of Rodosa Island has had a huge impact on the local area. First, the subsidence led to seawater inundation and soil salinization, degrading vegetation and reducing fauna. The subsidence has also caused the receding coastline and the expansion of the lagoon, affecting the development of fisheries and tourism.
It also increases the risk of natural disasters such as storm surges, tsunamis, surges, etc. Finally, the sinking threatens the safety of human life and property and the construction of ecological reserves. In response to this problem, Rodosa Island has taken some measures. These include banning sand mining and dumping garbage, strengthening environmental monitoring and governance, promoting eco-tourism and fishery aquaculture, and raising public awareness of environmental protection.
epilogue
Long Island County and Luodosha Island are two sinking places in China, both facing the dual pressure of climate change and human activities, both suffering from the double blow of environmental degradation and economic losses, and both need our dual responsibility to pay attention to and protect.
We cannot turn a blind eye to these two places, nor can we remain indifferent to them. We must start from ourselves, save water and electricity, reduce carbon emissions, and classify garbage to slow down the speed of climate change. We should actively participate in environmental protection activities in the community and promote the dissemination and implementation of environmental protection concepts.