Places You Must Visit Before They Disappear

Found in southern Florida, the Everglades are a natural region of tropical wetlands that provide natural habitats for numerous fauna and flora species including the extremely rare Florida panther. Human expansion, pollution and farming have already taken over and destroyed more than half of this unique and fragile ecosystem. Fortunately, efforts have been made to save the Everglades so hopefully, next generations will also get to see this amazing piece of land.

With a length of about 6,300 kilometers (almost 4,000 miles), Yangtze is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world. The river basin is the main source of water for hundreds of millions of people and countless animal and plant species but the Chinese government has used the river for the megalomaniac dam projects, cutting hundreds of nearby lakes off the river. The shrinking lakes have been seriously affecting local ecosystems.

Occupying a total area of 3.7 million sq km (1.4 million sq mi), the Congo Basin is home to some of the world´s largest tropical rainforests that produce up to 40% of world´s oxygen. However, almost 10 million acres of the forests are lost due to mining, agriculture, illegal logging, and wars every year. It is estimated that up to 2/3 of the forests will be gone by 2040.

Covering an area of about 400 sq km (155 sq mi), the Ranthambore National Park is one of the largest national parks in northern India. The park itself also struggles with some environmentalist issues but it’s the tiger, the park´s most famous inhabitant, who may vanish soon. Due to poaching, the numbers of these amazing cats have drastically dwindled in the park and biologists say if immediate action is not taken, they might die out within the next 15 years.

Situated on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island, the Franz Josef Glacier is major tourist site of the region, attracting about 250,000 visitors annually. The glacier was growing until as late as 2008 but since then it has entered a very rapid phase of retreat and, according to some estimates, it can disappear for good within a hundred years.

Located in the Indian Ocean, Madagascar is a Southeast African island country and home to tropical rainforest and numerous animal species 90% of which are endemic. But the unique ecosystem has been endangered by logging, poaching and pollution. Since the arrival of humans, the island has lost more than 90% of its original forest. If appropriate actions are not taken to save the nature, the forest and its unique inhabitants are expected to vanish in three decades.

The Twelve Apostles is a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park in Victoria, Australia. Although it’s still known as the Twelve Apostles, there are currently just eight stacks remaining. The wave erosion has caused them to erode by 2 cm (0.8 inch) per year, forcing four apostles to collapse.

Found on a 21 sq km (8 sq mi) oval-shaped island in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, just 42 kilometers (26 mi) south of the Equator, Nauru is the second smallest country in the world, after the Vatican. Similarly to some other little island countries in the Pacific Ocean, Nauru is threatened by rising ocean levels. With the highest point of the country standing just 71 meters (233 ft) tall, the island could soon be washed away.

Located at the edge of the Sahara Desert, Lake Chad is one of numerous large lakes that might dry out soon. A source of water for about 70 million people living in the surrounding countries, the lake has already lost as much as 95% of its volume from 1963 to 1998. Over-usage by the locals, changes in rainfall patterns and deforestation are the primary reason for the lake drying, however recent studies have shown some improvement.

In the case of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, a bell tower famous for its striking tilt, the reason of why it might disappear soon is obvious. With the top of the tower displaced horizontally 3.9 meters (12 ft 10 in) from the center, the tower may follow the destiny of the bell tower in Pavia, northern Italy, which was also tilted and collapsed in 1989.

Covering an area of 344,400 sq km (133,000 sq mi) in the Coral Sea off the coast of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world. Climate changes, pollution and overfishing are among the main reasons why this breathtaking structure composed of billions organism lost more than half of its corals in just about 27 years and some scientists say it can COMPLETELY die out in just 40 years.

Located in the middle of the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan, Derweze is a small village where Soviet geologists drilled the land in 1971 for natural gas but their rig collapsed, creating a giant hole. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, they ignited the gas, hoping it would burn in a few days, but the gas is still burning today. It is not known exactly how much longer the crater, dubbed as “The Door to Hell” will burn but it might not last long.

Located in northwestern Czech Republic, the Pravcicka Brana is the largest natural sandstone arch in Europe. During the time when this unique rock formation was accessible to tourists, the upper part of the arch eroded by 80 centimeters (32 inches). Since 1982, visitors have not been allowed on the arch but the process of disintegration continues and geologists suggest the arch might collapse within decades.

A white marble mausoleum in Agra, India and one of the most iconic structures of the country, Taj Mahal has also been facing serious threats. Attracting over 3 million visitors per year, the site has been permanently damaged by numerous factors including air pollution, acid rain, disintegration of the construction materials etc. In 2010, first major cracks appeared in some parts of the structure and they have kept extending since then.

But it’s not just natural wonders that can soon be lost forever. Rising ocean levels has put numerous cities in danger as well. Situated in northeastern Italy, Venice, a picturesque city famous for its romantic atmosphere, is one of them. The exact time period in which the city might get COMPLETELY flooded is not known but some experts suggest Venice can sink in just 50 years.

Located in the Madre de Dios region, Peru, the Tahuamanú Rainforest is one of the largest supplies of mahogany in the world. A natural habitat for many rare animal species such as giant armadillos, jaguars and parrots, the rainforest has constantly been depleted by illegal logging. The unique local ecosystem has also been damaged by gold mining companies that have polluted the waters in the region.

Naturally, it is not the entire Mountain Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa that is about to vanish soon but its iconic feature – the picturesque snow cap. Scientific studies have shown that about 85% of the snow has already disappeared and it is estimated that the rest of the ice cap will be gone within just a few decades.

A part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the world´s second largest coral reef system, the Belize Barrier Reef is the country´s top tourist destination, popular for scuba diving and snorkeling. Home to numerous animal species including whale sharks, manatees, and sturgeons, the area has suffered from severe coral bleaching, oceanic pollution, and uncontrolled fishing. It is estimated that about half of the corals have already been lost

Found in the Middle East, the Dead Sea holds several impressive primacies. It is Earth’s lowest-elevation spot on land, one of the world’s first health resorts, the world´s deepest hypersaline lake and one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water. But to enjoy a bath in it, you shouldn’t postpone the trip. Since 1930, the Dead Sea has shrunken by half, currently recessing by a rate of 1 meter (3 feet) every year.

Located in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the Magdalen Islands are a small archipelago and a popular tourist destination, known for white sand beaches and spectacular sandstone cliffs. But the coast has been constantly vanishing. Exposed to harsh weather and strong winds, the cliffs currently erode by a speed of up to 1 meter (40 inches) per year.