23 disappearing places in the world that everyone should see

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Business Insider has listed places and objects that may soon disappear from the face of the Earth or change beyond recognition. The life hacker publishes this list so that you know where you urgently need to go on vacation.

1. Seychelles

The archipelago, located in the Indian Ocean, is under threat from beach erosion. Some experts do not exclude that the islands may be completely submerged in 50-100 years.

2. Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Kilimanjaro glaciers are melting before our very eyes. Between 1912 and 2007, the ice cover of Africa's tallest mountain fell by as much as 85%. Experts say: if climatic conditions do not change, then in a couple of decades we will not be able to see the snow-capped African peak.

3. Tikal National Park, Guatemala

The main attraction of the Tikal National Park is the ancient Mayan city of the same name. Unfortunately, due to looting, deforestation and erosion, the condition of the city and the park is deteriorating.

4. Sundarban, India and Bangladesh

Sundarban is the largest mangrove forest. It is located in the Ganges delta, in India and Bangladesh. This site is home to many rare and endangered species, including tigers, aquatic mammals, birds and reptiles. Alas, environmental pollution and destruction of trees pose a threat to the forest and its inhabitants.

5. Glaciers of Patagonia, Argentina

The most beautiful glaciers in South America are melting, as is the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. The reason for this is high temperatures and a decrease in the amount of precipitation.

6. Saara de la Sierra, Spain

This small town in Andalusia is famous for its verdant mountains, pastures and olive groves. However, global warming could destroy this beauty.

7. Outer Banks, USA

The 320-kilometer strip of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina is also threatened with extinction due to climate change. Together with it, the Cape Hatteras lighthouse, the highest in the States, is also endangered.

8. Forests of Madagascar

Due to the massive felling of trees from the unique forests of Madagascar, there may soon be almost nothing left.

9. Glacier National Park, USA

Once in this national park, located in the US state of Montana, there were 150 glaciers. Now there are less than 25 of them left. Due to warming, they may completely disappear by 2030, which will seriously damage the park's ecosystem.

10. Venice, Italy

Experts are sure that the most romantic city in the world is sinking and will continue to sink. Until Venice turns into Atlantis, you must definitely go there.

11. Machu Picchu, Peru

The ancient city of the Incas, recognized as one of the seven new wonders of the world, is very popular with tourists. They, together with landslides and erosion, are slowly destroying this remnant of an ancient civilization. The limit for daily visits to the attraction has already been officially set - 2,500 people per day. But this rule is regularly violated. So Machu Picchu is a vanishing antiquity that is not worth visiting. For the sake of its preservation.

12. Galapagos Islands

A large influx of tourists threatens the Galapagos Islands, located off the coast of Ecuador.

13. Basin of the Congo River, Africa

This place is home to the second largest rainforest in the world. It is also one of the most biologically diverse on the planet: there are thousands of plant species and hundreds of species of animals and birds. Alas, the UN does not rule out that two-thirds of the forest may die by 2040 due to the destruction of trees, poaching and other reasons.

14. Dead Sea

Over the past 40 years, the planet's most famous salt lake has decreased by a third. Experts suggest that in 50 years it may completely disappear. The reason for this is the countries that use the water of the Jordan River, the only source of the Dead Sea.

15. Everglades National Park, USA

The state of this natural complex in Florida is rated as the most depressing of any American national park. It is threatened by a large amount of water, introduced by humans, new species of animals and plants that disrupt the ecosystem of the park, as well as the growth of cities and industry in the region.

16. Alps, Europe

Bad news for winter sports enthusiasts: the snow cover of the Alps is melting too. The mountain range loses about 3% of its glaciers annually due to global warming. Thus, by 2050, they may disappear altogether.

17. Tuvalu

This small state, located on nine Pacific islands, can go under water. The highest point of the archipelago is 4.5 meters above sea level, so that even a slight rise in the water level can have a destructive effect on it.

18. Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The world's largest coral reef is gradually being destroyed due to environmental pollution and climate change. It is possible that it will completely disappear in the foreseeable future.

19. Pyramids, Egypt

The ancient pyramids and the Great Sphinx are also under threat. They are gradually destroyed by polluted air and waste water.

20. Amazon forests, Brazil

The largest tropical forest in the world, covering an area of several million square kilometers, is getting smaller every day. The blame is the massive felling of trees and the growth of industry.

21. Great Wall of China

This greatest building stood for more than two millennia, but now it is in a very deplorable state. The wall is gradually being destroyed by people and erosion. It is even possible that in the near future, significant areas of the symbol of China will turn into ruins due to sandstorms.

22. Maldives

Due to climate change, the famous resort located in the Indian Ocean may soon sink too. The water level in the Maldives region rises by about 1 centimeter annually. Considering that 80% of the islands' territory is located at an altitude of no higher than 1 meter above sea level, they may become uninhabitable in 100 years.

23. Mosques of Timbuktu, Mali

Three mosques, erected in the 14-16th centuries, are protected by UNESCO. But even that cannot protect them. Mosques are mostly made of clay, so an increase in temperature or rainfall can destroy them.