Megan Bryant is a passionate writer and traveler who has combined her two loves to help others fulfill their traveling dreams. When she isn’t writing, she’s usually curled up with her 3 Dachshunds and a good book or planning her next adventure—wherever that may be.
We are lucky to live in a world with so many beautiful landscapes and landmarks; however, our children and grandchildren may not be so lucky.
As time goes on, erosion and climate change are whittling away at some of the world’s most popular attractions, and if you want to see them before it’s too late, you better get a move on as in the next 10 years, these 10 destinations may no longer be around.
Venice, Italy
It’s no secret that Venice is sinking—and at an incredibly rapid rate. The city of bridges, with its rich culture, famous architecture, and winding canals equipped with romantic gondola rides, will soon be underwater, thanks to a combination of reasons.
Venice in Italy was originally built on a muddy lagoon with inadequate foundations—ones that have crumpled over time. But the rise in sea levels and the fact that groundwater has been pumped out from under the city have only pushed Venice further underwater. Soon enough, Venice will be shut off to tourists indefinitely.
The Taj Mahal, India
One of the most beautiful palaces on Earth, the Taj Mahal in India, could collapse as the water levels from the nearby Yamuna River have affected the palace’s wooden foundation.
As erosion continues, the 400-year-old ivory-white mausoleum, which attracts over 8 million visitors each year, could crumble completely unless urgent action is taken upon its foundations. Let’s hope the UNESCO World Heritage Site lives to tell the tale.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Now don’t worry; one of Africa’s biggest tourist attractions, Mount Kilimanjaro, won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. But the snow that tops the mountain will be. Scientists predict that by 2030, the ice sheet that sits on top of the 5,000-meter mountain will be no longer as over the past 90 years, it has decreased by 85% as the planet continuously gets hotter and hotter.
Montana’s Glacier National Park, USA
The Glacier National Park in Montana’s Rocky Mountains has been made famous for several reasons. Not only does the National Park have breathtaking valleys, panoramic views, the Going-to-the-Sun Road, and countless hiking trails, but it has towering glaciers, which have given the park its name.
Climate change is destroying the world as we know it, and Glacier National Park is no exception. Once upon a time, you could spot 150 glaciers while exploring the National Park. But now, however, there are less than 25. If the temperature on the planet continues to increase, then the glaciers in Glacier National Park will simply be a thing of the past.
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Australia is home to the world’s largest coral reef—the Great Barrier Reef—and living amongst it is a plethora of fish species, marine life, and underwater flora and fauna that you can’t find anywhere else.
As the ocean temperatures around the Great Barrier Reef are rising, the coral inside is bleaching and dying, leaving the once vibrantly colored coral reef white. Decreasing by more than half its size in just 30 years, scientists predict that the reef will have completely vanished by 2023, causing serious life-threatening problems for the marine life in the area.
The Maldives, Indian Ocean
The Maldives is a dream destination for most people on Earth, so if you want to tick it off your bucket list, you better do it quickly.
The 26 atolls that make up the Maldives are just 1.4 meters above sea level, meaning if the ocean levels keep rising, this idyllic vacation destination with its white-sand beaches and luxury resorts will be completely underwater.
The Dead Sea, Israel
If you’ve ever wanted to float in the Dead Sea, then now is your chance because you might not get one in 10 years’ time.
The Dead Sea, also known as the Salt Sea, is the lowest place on Earth, sitting between the borders of Jordan and Israel. Thanks to the lake’s high salinity, millions of visitors flock to the waters in both Jordan and Israel to experience what it feels like to be weightless.
Each year, however, the Dead Sea shrinks by 3.3 feet as a result of global warming. And as the lake has already lost half of its surface area, in the next 10 to 20 years, it could completely lose it all.
Seychelles Islands, Indian Ocean
Scattered across the Indian Ocean are approximately 115 islands known as the Seychelles Islands. Home to luxury resorts, white sand beaches, and crystal clear waters, it’s no surprise that the Seychelles Islands are a popular tourist destination.
However, similar to the Maldives, the Seychelles Islands are falling victim to beach erosion, and in less than 100 years, the islands may no longer be there to visit.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site crumbling away due to erosion is Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains of Peru.
Machu Picchu attracts millions of visitors every year to marvel at the Inca citadel and its almost 600-year-old dry stone walls. But with mass tourism comes issues, and in the case of Machu Picchu, these issues have been landslides and erosion from heavy rain and tourists’ feet. If more isn’t done to preserve the historical site, then soon enough, the ruins will crumble down to nothing.
The Mosques of Timbuktu, Mali
The Mosques of Timbuktu date back to the 14th century and have gained the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although the mosques are regularly maintained, rising temperatures and rainfall are destroying the structures of mosques—ones that are completely made of mud.
With the natural elements threatening to destroy the mosques and dedicated volunteers working tirelessly to repair them, it’s an endless battle that could end in tragedy.
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