Due to a dramatically changing environment, the more beautiful locations are either disappearing or their beauty is undeniably altered. Here is a list of locations you may want to visit before they disappear or change forever.
1. Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
Since the first survey of Kilimanjaro’s summit in 1912, a massive 82 percent decline in the glacial ice has occurred. Of the 82 percent decline, 33 percent occurred from 1989 onwards.
Reports suggest Mount Kilimanjaro will be ice free within the next two decades, losing an average of half meter of ice every year. It’s uncertain if climate change is to blame for Kilimanjaro’s erosion, but researchers are continuing to investigate the now critical situation.
2. Venice, Italy.
It goes without saying that Italy’s number one tourist attraction is one of the more breathtaking ones for its canals, romance and tradition. Unfortunately the rising waters which make for a spectacular seascape now show no signs of halting, and regular flooding has become an issue.
Reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have warned of rising sea levels threatening the medieval city’s survival.
3. Macchu Picchu, Peru.
An Incan Empire sits atop a mountain ridge some 2,430 metres above sea level. The UNESCO World Heritage site holds clues to the mysteries of the Andes, but due to landslides and erosion, the ruins are collapsing.
Regimented regulations are now being implemented to determine how many tourists should be permitted to visit the site on an annual basis.
4. The European Alps.
By 2050, a visit to the Alps will be wasted if you’re wanting a memorable ski trip. The glacial ice is now melting every year, declining 3 percent annually. Because of the lower altitudes, these stunning mountains are suffering from warmer temperatures at a faster pace than others.
It is foreseeable the Alps will be without snow in our lifetimes.
5. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
Still one of the greatest places to experience and explore, the Barrier Reef covers over 130,000 sq. miles. Unfortunately, the well documented challenges from rising ocean temperatures are fast destroying this wonder, with scientists estimating its utter destruction within the next century.
6. The Amazon, Brazil.
Few people get the opportunity to ever experience the grandeur of the world’s largest rainforest. Diverse species of trees and animals leave an impressionable memory. But even at 2.1 million sq. miles, the aggressive expansion of agriculture is destroying what is considered Mother Nature’s most precious gift. Land clearance, which is continuing unhindered, is utterly devastating this part of the world.
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