Journey to the world’s flattest countries, nations where mountains are conspicuously absent. These low-lying landscapes offer a compelling study in geography, highlighting distinct environmental challenges and benefits.
Vatican City, the world’s smallest independent state, boasts an elevation so minimal that mountains cannot form. The Maldives, an island paradise in the Indian Ocean, is crowned the flattest country globally. With its highest natural point at a mere 2.4 meters above sea level, it stands as a stark example of vulnerability to climate change and rising oceans.
Kiribati, another island nation straddling the equator, faces similar perils. Its coral atolls rarely extend more than a few meters above the sea. Denmark, while characterized by rolling landscapes, does not technically possess mountains, its highest point being a hill. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and The Gambia also fall into the category of primarily flat, low-lying nations.
Environmental experts point out that these countries are at the forefront of climate change impacts, facing threats like sea-level rise and increased flooding. However, their lack of mountainous terrain provides advantages in transportation, agriculture, and construction, making development more straightforward in these unique global regions.