Maldives plans ‘floating city’ designed to cope with rising sea levels
The IndependentSign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Maldives government has unveiled plans for a “floating city” 10 miles from its capital, Malé, as part of plans to insure the country against rising sea levels. Designed by Netherlands-based Dutch Docklands, the Maldives Floating City project will be a collection of islands across a lagoon, with thousands of low-rise, waterfront local homes equipped with jetties for boats. In a statement, the government described it as “the world’s first true floating island city — a futuristic dreamscape finally poised to become reality”. “This Maldives Floating City does not require any land reclamation, therefore has a minimal impact on the coral reefs,” said former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed, now a Speaker of Parliament in the country.