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Vanishing Lands: Where the Earth Is Sinking
From eroding coastlines to sinking cities—see what’s at risk now.
Philip Saparov
December 04, 2025
In partnership with
Greetings, alert observer of a shifting planet!
The ground beneath us isn’t as steady as it seems. Cities are sinking. Islands are vanishing. Coastlines are crumbling.
This isn’t theory—it’s now.
If you’re thinking about where to live, invest, or simply understand the world better, these changes matter. Which places are disappearing? Which ones are fighting back? And which may not survive the century?
In this edition, we spotlight seven places where land is literally slipping away—and why it could shape your future.
Let’s dive in.
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Indonesia’s capital is sliding into the sea—at an alarming pace.
Jakarta is sinking by up to 11 inches per year in some neighborhoods, largely due to uncontrolled groundwater extraction. Add rising sea levels and a lack of proper drainage, and you’ve got a city in slow-motion collapse. It’s no longer a theoretical concern—Jakarta is already flooding regularly, displacing residents and threatening infrastructure.
The government is taking drastic action: they’re building a new capital, Nusantara, on the island of Borneo, slated to replace Jakarta by 2045.
🔍 Staggering stat: By 2050, one-third of Jakarta could be underwater if current trends continue.
Louisiana is literally washing away.
Since the 1930s, the state has lost over 2,000 square miles of land to the Gulf of Mexico. The causes are layered: sea level rise, oil and gas extraction, levee systems that disrupt natural sediment flows, and hurricanes that strip the land clean.
Entire towns like Isle de Jean Charles have been officially abandoned, becoming case studies in climate migration. Yet the rest of the world barely notices.
🔍 Sobering detail: Louisiana loses a football field of land every 100 minutes to the sea.
While others sink, the Dutch build.
Roughly one-third of the Netherlands lies below sea level—but you wouldn’t know it from looking. The country is a global model of flood control, with billions invested in dikes, storm surge barriers, and adaptive urban design.
Instead of fleeing the sea, the Dutch have learned to live with it, often building floating homes and “room-for-the-river” systems that use controlled flooding as a defense mechanism.
🔍 Fascinating insight: The Netherlands’ massive “Maeslantkering” flood barrier is so advanced it only closes a few times a decade—automatically.
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This island paradise is also an early warning signal.
The Maldives, a low-lying archipelago in the Indian Ocean, has an average elevation of just 1.5 meters (5 feet) above sea level. Rising seas, coral bleaching, and erosion make its very existence precarious. The government is actively buying land abroad and building floating city prototypes in case evacuation becomes necessary.
This makes the Maldives not just a travel destination—but a stark indicator of what other coastal nations may face.
🔍 Alarming forecast: At current sea rise projections, the Maldives could be uninhabitable by 2100.
Venice is sinking—about 2 millimeters per year—but that’s only half the story.
Increased flooding from both sinking land and rising tides has made “acqua alta” (high water) a regular event. Historic buildings are eroding, and tourism is being restructured to preserve the delicate infrastructure.
Italy has responded with MOSE, a system of 78 mobile gates designed to isolate Venice’s lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. It’s working—somewhat—but the challenge is long-term resilience.
🔍 Unexpected twist: MOSE protected Venice from record-breaking floods in 2021—but rising seas could render it obsolete by mid-century.
Few countries are as exposed to both river erosion and sea level rise as Bangladesh.
Home to one of the world’s largest river deltas, this country faces extreme erosion from the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers—displacing over 200,000 people each year. Meanwhile, the southern coast is retreating under encroaching tides and storm surges.
Yet Bangladesh is also innovating—floating schools, flood-resilient crops, and green embankments are offering hope in a region defined by water.
🔍 Devastating reality: Nearly 17% of Bangladesh could be submerged by 2050, displacing 20+ million people.
In parts of Alaska, the ground is literally collapsing.
As Arctic permafrost thaws due to warming temperatures, buildings crack, roads buckle, and entire landscapes sink—known as “thermokarst.” Native communities are being forced to relocate inland as coastlines erode and land gives way.
Even more concerning, thawing permafrost releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas, feeding the very crisis that caused it.
🔍 Unsettling trend: Over 30 Alaskan villages face imminent relocation due to erosion and land loss.
From Jakarta to Alaska, land is vanishing—and futures with it. Knowing where the ground is shifting is essential.
Whether you're planning your next move or just seeking clarity in a changing world, staying informed gives you an edge.
Stay sharp. Stay mobile. And above all, stay curious.
Warm regards,
Shane Fulmer
Founder, WorldPopulationReview.com
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