The world's endangered places to visit for a once in a lifetime vacation
By
Staff, AccuWeather
Published May 4, 2020 7:59 PM EDT
It seems like vacation time each year becomes more sparse so why not use it as wisely as possible? The world around us is changing and many of the most incredible destinations may not exist in the future. There are bucket-list destinations that are endangered and deserve visiting while you still can before they close or disappear entirely. If you want to catch some of the best vacation destinations that are fading from view, you might need to act fast. Keep reading to discover which endangered places in the world make great getaways and why they're temporary.
Photo by Emile Guillemot
Emile Guillemot on Unsplash
Jordan's immense city, Petra, is carved out of rock. It is one of the most phenomenal man-made structures in the world. It sees around a million visitors each year but erosion puts it in danger of significant damage. Wind erosion and the tourist industry both make Petra endangered. When visiting Petra on vacation, it's important to take care and minimize your impact.
Photo by Kevin Charit
kevin charit on Unsplash
The climate is partly responsible for the drying out of the Dead Sea but it's human intervention that has caused much of its reduction. Due to pumping and evaporation, it continues to shrink. One of the world’s most endangered placesmay soon be gone forever so if you've always wanted to float in this salty sea, now's the time to visit.
Montana's Glacier National Park might be famous for its glaciers but not for much longer. This stunning park had 150 glaciers but climate change means there's now only 25. Within our lifetimes, this could fall to zero. To enjoy this endangered vacation destination, visit soon.
Photo by Francesco Ungaro
Francesco Ungaro from Pexels
The world's largest coral reef system is a heartbreaking example of climate change and human destruction. With the ocean's temperatures rising, this magnificent but endangered reef has lost half its coral since 2016. An area of ongoing conservation, head to the Great Barrier Reef on vacation and choose responsible tour operators for any trips.
Photo by Getty Images
Getty Imags
A Joshua tree can live for 300 years and those living in the Mojave Desert are some of the most amazing examples. Climate change is threatening their existence though and studies suggest they might be gone forever by 2070. Carbon emissions, increasing temperatures, and droughts could wipe out these endangered trees. It’s not always bone dry in Joshua Tree. It snowed there in December 2019!
Photo by Alex Azabache
Alex Azabache on Unsplash
The pyramids are a sandy color but originally they had a gleaming limestone cover. This was removed over the centuries and erosion is weathering the remaining blocks, albeit slowly. The Great Sphinx is more obviously eroding and the area surrounding it is at risk from heavy tourism traffic. Local pollution is also to blame for erosion of the endangered site. You should plan a vacation soon to take in the majesty of these natural wonders of the world while you can.
One of the truly amazing vacation destinations in the world, Venice is a car-free city perched out over the water. This unique place already floods each winter though, damaging buildings.
Photo by Alex Qian
Alex Qian from Pexels
Both natural erosion and human impact have had a frightening effect on the Great Wall of China and now a third or more has been eroded. This defensive wall is so huge it can be seen from space but much of it is poorly preserved. When you visit the Wall on vacation, take care to visit maintained sections. Visiting unpreserved sections increases erosion. If you vacation at The Great Wall of China in winter, you’ll be in store for a beautiful snowy backdrop.
Photo by Tiago Tins
Tiago Tins from Pexels
Patagonia is a region spanning southern Chile and Argentina and is home to some of the most impressive landscapes in the world. When you take a vacation here, prepare to fall in love with it. Unfortunately, Patagonia's glaciers are receding so if you want to see them, you should visit soon.
This extremely biodiverse area encompasses six countries but deforestation and poaching are severely damaging the basin. It's the second-largest rainforest in the world but is shrinking all the time. Visit this wonderful destination before it suffers further and support local tourism operators who engage in conservation.This is one of the world’s best vacation spots for ecotourism.
Often referred to as the “lungs of the planet,” it is estimated that around 20% of the Amazon rainforest is already lost and that continued deforestation may push it over the edge. As the Amazon helps keep the whole world healthy, its suffering damages the entire planet.The Amazon is still reeling from devastating fires during the summer of 2019.
Photo by Asad Photo Maldives
With rising sea levels and climate change, the Maldives may disappear for good in the future. Taking a vacation to these beautiful islands will be like entering paradise but at just 8 feet above the sea, they may soon be underwater.
Photo by Sergey Zhesterev
With the rising population of Madagascar, farmers and others need more land. This comes at the detriment of the incredible forests in the island nation and now less than 10% of Madagascar's forests remain. To see the country's wildlife and beautiful but endangered forests, you may need to vacation here within the next few years.
Photo by 1778011
1778011 from Pixabay
Each year the Outer Banks in North Carolina are shrinking due to coastal erosion. Visit this beautiful vacation destination now before it's too late. The rising sea levels are putting the residents and future tourism at risk.
Photo by Walkerssk
Walkerssk from Pixabay
These tropical islands in the Indian Ocean have witnessed catastrophic coral die-off and now sea levels are threatening the islands' safety. If you take a vacation to this amazing destination, you'll see the beach erosion for yourself. Some experts estimate the Seychelles islands could be underwater in less than 100 years.
On UNESCO's list of World Heritage in Danger, the Everglades may not be around for much longer. Urban development is a significant problem here, as is rising sea levels. As the Everglades National Park is flat, a slight water level rise will be disastrous. Their manatee population is also at risk. If you vacation now, you can still see them in the wild.
Wind and rain erosion mean Shibam, the ancient Yemeni city, won't be around forever. Cleverly designed to protect citizens from heat, enemies, and flooding, the city is now at risk of erosion. Yemen might not be your first thought for a vacation, but this incredible city is worth seeing with your own eyes.
Photo by Gabriel Santiago
Gabriel Santiago on Unsplash
Like Patagonia and Montana, Canada's glaciers are suffering too. The Athabasca glacier has lost half its volume in just over a century and continues to recede. Visit on vacation to the Canadian Rockies and see this endangered glacier before it's gone forever.
Photo by Nathalie Marquis
Nathalie Marquis on Unsplash
Possibly the most incredible place in the world for wildlife, the Galapagos islands are at extreme risk of destruction. Visitors and land excursions are tightly controlled to protect the environment but human impact still has a negative effect. Take a vacation to these islands now before visitor numbers see stricter limits.
The last stronghold of the Incas, Machu Picchu now receives half a million visitors each year. This beautiful ruin is jaw-dropping thanks to its mountaintop location but is suffering from tourist-caused erosion. A phenomenal day trip on a vacation to Peru, it's best to visit now and make the most of it because you may never be able to return.
Photo by Kalen Emsley
Kalen Emsley on Unsplash
It's sad to see some of the most beautiful destinations in the world disappear for good but all is not lost. When you go on vacation to endangered destinations, you can choose to support local conservation efforts and travel with as little impact as possible. Many destinations experience damage from climate change, so living mindfully of our impact helps, even if it feels like a drop in the ocean. Keep up with the latest from our blog to discover more about climate and how it shapes the world.
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News / Travel
The world's endangered places to visit for a once in a lifetime vacation
By Staff, AccuWeather
Published May 4, 2020 7:59 PM EDT
It seems like vacation time each year becomes more sparse so why not use it as wisely as possible? The world around us is changing and many of the most incredible destinations may not exist in the future. There are bucket-list destinations that are endangered and deserve visiting while you still can before they close or disappear entirely. If you want to catch some of the best vacation destinations that are fading from view, you might need to act fast. Keep reading to discover which endangered places in the world make great getaways and why they're temporary.
Photo by Emile Guillemot
1. Petra, Jordan
Jordan's immense city, Petra, is carved out of rock. It is one of the most phenomenal man-made structures in the world. It sees around a million visitors each year but erosion puts it in danger of significant damage. Wind erosion and the tourist industry both make Petra endangered. When visiting Petra on vacation, it's important to take care and minimize your impact.
Photo by Kevin Charit
2. The Dead Sea, Jordan
The climate is partly responsible for the drying out of the Dead Sea but it's human intervention that has caused much of its reduction. Due to pumping and evaporation, it continues to shrink. One of the world’s most endangered placesmay soon be gone forever so if you've always wanted to float in this salty sea, now's the time to visit.
3. Glacier National Park, USA
Montana's Glacier National Park might be famous for its glaciers but not for much longer. This stunning park had 150 glaciers but climate change means there's now only 25. Within our lifetimes, this could fall to zero. To enjoy this endangered vacation destination, visit soon.
Photo by Francesco Ungaro
4. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The world's largest coral reef system is a heartbreaking example of climate change and human destruction. With the ocean's temperatures rising, this magnificent but endangered reef has lost half its coral since 2016. An area of ongoing conservation, head to the Great Barrier Reef on vacation and choose responsible tour operators for any trips.
Photo by Getty Images
5. The Joshua trees in California, USA
A Joshua tree can live for 300 years and those living in the Mojave Desert are some of the most amazing examples. Climate change is threatening their existence though and studies suggest they might be gone forever by 2070. Carbon emissions, increasing temperatures, and droughts could wipe out these endangered trees. It’s not always bone dry in Joshua Tree. It snowed there in December 2019!
Photo by Alex Azabache
6. The Giza pyramids and Sphinx, Egypt
The pyramids are a sandy color but originally they had a gleaming limestone cover. This was removed over the centuries and erosion is weathering the remaining blocks, albeit slowly. The Great Sphinx is more obviously eroding and the area surrounding it is at risk from heavy tourism traffic. Local pollution is also to blame for erosion of the endangered site. You should plan a vacation soon to take in the majesty of these natural wonders of the world while you can.
Photo by Pixabay
7. Venice, Italy
One of the truly amazing vacation destinations in the world, Venice is a car-free city perched out over the water. This unique place already floods each winter though, damaging buildings.
Photo by Alex Qian
8. The Great Wall of China
Both natural erosion and human impact have had a frightening effect on the Great Wall of China and now a third or more has been eroded. This defensive wall is so huge it can be seen from space but much of it is poorly preserved. When you visit the Wall on vacation, take care to visit maintained sections. Visiting unpreserved sections increases erosion. If you vacation at The Great Wall of China in winter, you’ll be in store for a beautiful snowy backdrop.
Photo by Tiago Tins
9. Patagonian Glaciers, Argentina
Patagonia is a region spanning southern Chile and Argentina and is home to some of the most impressive landscapes in the world. When you take a vacation here, prepare to fall in love with it. Unfortunately, Patagonia's glaciers are receding so if you want to see them, you should visit soon.
Photo by Pixabay
10. Congo Basin, many countries
This extremely biodiverse area encompasses six countries but deforestation and poaching are severely damaging the basin. It's the second-largest rainforest in the world but is shrinking all the time. Visit this wonderful destination before it suffers further and support local tourism operators who engage in conservation.This is one of the world’s best vacation spots for ecotourism.
Photo by Minke Wink
11. Amazon rainforest, Brazil
Often referred to as the “lungs of the planet,” it is estimated that around 20% of the Amazon rainforest is already lost and that continued deforestation may push it over the edge. As the Amazon helps keep the whole world healthy, its suffering damages the entire planet.The Amazon is still reeling from devastating fires during the summer of 2019.
Photo by Asad Photo Maldives
12. The Maldives
With rising sea levels and climate change, the Maldives may disappear for good in the future. Taking a vacation to these beautiful islands will be like entering paradise but at just 8 feet above the sea, they may soon be underwater.
Photo by Sergey Zhesterev
13. The forests in Madagascar
With the rising population of Madagascar, farmers and others need more land. This comes at the detriment of the incredible forests in the island nation and now less than 10% of Madagascar's forests remain. To see the country's wildlife and beautiful but endangered forests, you may need to vacation here within the next few years.
Photo by 1778011
14. The Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA
Each year the Outer Banks in North Carolina are shrinking due to coastal erosion. Visit this beautiful vacation destination now before it's too late. The rising sea levels are putting the residents and future tourism at risk.
Photo by Walkerssk
15. Seychelles islands
These tropical islands in the Indian Ocean have witnessed catastrophic coral die-off and now sea levels are threatening the islands' safety. If you take a vacation to this amazing destination, you'll see the beach erosion for yourself. Some experts estimate the Seychelles islands could be underwater in less than 100 years.
Photo by Skeeze
16. Everglades, Florida
On UNESCO's list of World Heritage in Danger, the Everglades may not be around for much longer. Urban development is a significant problem here, as is rising sea levels. As the Everglades National Park is flat, a slight water level rise will be disastrous. Their manatee population is also at risk. If you vacation now, you can still see them in the wild.
17. Shibam, Yemen
Wind and rain erosion mean Shibam, the ancient Yemeni city, won't be around forever. Cleverly designed to protect citizens from heat, enemies, and flooding, the city is now at risk of erosion. Yemen might not be your first thought for a vacation, but this incredible city is worth seeing with your own eyes.
Photo by Gabriel Santiago
18. Athabasca Glacier, Canada
Like Patagonia and Montana, Canada's glaciers are suffering too. The Athabasca glacier has lost half its volume in just over a century and continues to recede. Visit on vacation to the Canadian Rockies and see this endangered glacier before it's gone forever.
Photo by Nathalie Marquis
19. The Galapagos, Ecuador
Possibly the most incredible place in the world for wildlife, the Galapagos islands are at extreme risk of destruction. Visitors and land excursions are tightly controlled to protect the environment but human impact still has a negative effect. Take a vacation to these islands now before visitor numbers see stricter limits.
20. Machu Picchu, Peru
The last stronghold of the Incas, Machu Picchu now receives half a million visitors each year. This beautiful ruin is jaw-dropping thanks to its mountaintop location but is suffering from tourist-caused erosion. A phenomenal day trip on a vacation to Peru, it's best to visit now and make the most of it because you may never be able to return.
Photo by Kalen Emsley
Go on vacation to these endangered places before they disappear forever
It's sad to see some of the most beautiful destinations in the world disappear for good but all is not lost. When you go on vacation to endangered destinations, you can choose to support local conservation efforts and travel with as little impact as possible. Many destinations experience damage from climate change, so living mindfully of our impact helps, even if it feels like a drop in the ocean. Keep up with the latest from our blog to discover more about climate and how it shapes the world.
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