Tangier, a sinking island
Tangier Island in Chesapeake Bay is slipping into the very waters that surround it. Two-thirds of its land have already been lost to rising seas and erosion. The story of a drowning island, in pictures.
Slightly elevated strips
The remaining habitable parts of the island are narrow elevated strips surrounded by marshes and connected to each other by several bridges.
Flat as a pancake
Even from a distance, it is easy to see the vulnerability of Tangier and the buildings on it. At its highest point, the island is just 1.2 meters (4 feet) above the water.
Blue gold
Blue crabs are one of the reasons that people have been living on this remote island for centuries. Many locals harvest them in Chesapeake Bay.
Not a lot to live on
After a massive loss of land over the past century, there are only about 3 square kilometers (1.1 square miles) of Tangier Island left. Much of that is uninhabitable marshland.
Nowhere to run
Since much of the island is so low lying, it is not uncommon for water to push up through the sewers at high tide. There is nowhere else for it to go.
Bury them high
The unusual geography of Tangier has also affected treatment of the dead. Far from being buried "six feet under," those interred on Tangier are laid to rest above ground.
Unique culture, far removed
Tangier has become increasingly popular with tourists. Some come because they want to experience the local culture, others want to see the rapidly disappearing island before it's too late.