In the past, these islands numbered well over 500, and were important summer residences for Native American people. Tangier Island is part of a vulnerable group of islands scattered across the Chesapeake Bay. According to most estimates made by environmental scientists, the entire island will be swallowed by the sea over the next 50 years… if the island keeps losing land at the current rate. The problem for the inhabitants of this island is that sea level is increasing every year, and at the same time, the land itself is sinking due to the residual effects of an ancient glacier. The island is sandy and sits at a very low-elevation most of the land is just 3-4′ above sea level. Today, Tangier Island is a fast-disappearing symbol of climate change and sea level rise.Īccording to the most recent census, 727 people make their homes on Tangier Island, which has an area of about one square mile. But in reality, Tangier Island is located off the coast of Virginia, and its primary claim to fame is not balmy beauty but the fact that the island has lost almost 70% of its land mass since the year 1850. When one hears the name, “Tangier Island”, pleasant thoughts of tropical vistas with swaying palm trees might come to mind.
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