1. The Maldives
Time remaining: Less than 100 years
Threat: Sinking
Even though Maldives is the smallest country in Asia, its beauty is irresistible. Maldives is made up by 1,200 small islands, each holds a very distinctive charm. This is the perfect destination for travelers who admire stunning white-sand beaches and luminous blue ocean. You will embrace the unforgettable experience of exploring the diversity of the underwater world through exciting activities such as scuba-diving and snorkeling. A peaceful moment admiring the sunset on the calm Pacific Ocean will be one of the most memorable events in your life.
However, due to global warming and the rising levels of water, Maldives is facing the risk of sinking (80% of Maldives lands are less than 3.3 feet above sea level). In the past few year, Maldives have been struggling with the threat of 90% of coral reefs lost because of coral bleaching.
2. Great Barrier Reef
Time remaining: Less than 100 years
Threat: Coral bleaching
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s most famous and largest coral reef system consisting over more than 3,000 individual reef systems and corals cays altogether. It is home to countless species of fish, dolphins, molluscs and starfish, sharks and turtles. Every year, the Great Barrier Reef attracts millions of visitors, all who are captivated by the spectacles of mother nature. There is no experience that can be compared to the excitement of swimming with the sea turtles and finding Nemo(s) amidst the lively soft corals. You are not just scuba-diving in the Great Barrier Reefs; you are actually exploring the underwater kingdom.
Recently, the Great Barrier Reef is suffering from the effects of global warming. According to the annual report of The Australian Greenhouse Office System, the temperature of water is increasing at dangerous levels and threatening the lives of the coral reef systems. It is predicted that by 2070, the temperature of water would increase as much as 6.0 degrees Celsius (42.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
3. Venice
Time remaining: 70 years
Threat: Sinking
Known as the city of love and romance, Venice never fails to amaze tourists with its simple yet luxurious beauty. Venice is sited on a group of 117 small islands of northeastern Italy, separated by canals and linked by bridges. Tourists are easy to be overwhelmed by the magnificent charms of the city where the sea, land and sky come together. Venice is the heaven for the minds of art. Everything is like a canvas: the romantic ancient architecture of the 1890s blend in perfectly with the calming river; the unique boats and gondoliers add in a sense of liveliness to the painting; and the pinkish purple color of the sky in the afternoon emphasizes the miraculous effects. The beauty and cultural heritage here will leave you speechless.
Venice is slowly sinking, and the effects of rising sea levels dramatize the situation. Every year, Venice is suffering from the increasing number of floods, with the height of water increases significantly: In November 6, 2000, the calculated height of flood is 144 cm (56 inch), while in November 16, 2002, the height is 147 cm (58 inch). The fact that sea levels rise by 4-6 mm per year has been a big concern for Venice.
4. The Dead Sea
Time remaining: Less than 50 years
Threat: Shrinking
The Dead Sea, also known as the Salt Sea, is the lowest and the saltiest spot on Earth. Because of its significant concentrations of sodium chloride and other mineral salts (33.7% of salinity), a density of 1.24 kg/L makes swimming similar to floating. The high density of salts prevents macroscopic aquatic organisms to survive, even though there is a significant amount of bacteria and microbial fungi that are present. Every year, thousands of visitors come here for the unique “swimming” experience at the Dead Sea. Moreover, the breathtaking landscape and the historical elements of the Dead Sea will make your trip memorable.
The Dead Sea is facing the threat of shrinking. The water level drops 4 feet per year, and in the last 40 years, it has shrunk by 1/3. The effects of global warming has made water from the Jordan River evaporates faster, and the Dead Sea receives less water every year.
5. Taj Mahal
Time remaining: 5 years
Threat: Closing to public
Taj Mahal is one of India’s greatest tourist attractions, not only because of its marvelous architecture but also the rich history associated with it. It was commissioned in 1631 by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who passed away after giving birth to their 14th child. Taj Mahal was constructed using three special types of stones: (1) Semi-precious stones such as Aqiq, Lashunia, and Yasheb, etc.; (2) Rare and scarce stones such as Ajuba, Abri, and Nakhod, etc.; and (3) Common stones such as sang-i-Rukhan, sang-i-Surkh, and sang-i-Gwaliari. Every year, the palace attracts 3-4 million tourists, including more than 200,000 from overseas.
Because the large crowds of tourism and the air pollution has contributed greatly to the deterioration of the white marbles, tourism officials are considering closing down the 17th-century landmark, leaving it only visible from afar.
jmf6058 says
The locations you wrote about in your blog seem really neat and I’m sure that they would definitely be fun to visit. I remember after learning about the Black Sea I thought that I would be fun to visit it and see how well I could float and swim. Learning about the other locations you discussed gets me excited for summer vacation and traveling. Although I don’t think I will be traveling quite far enough over the summer to see the places you mentioned, the thought of traveling is still exciting. Maybe I will be lucky enough to get a chance to visit some of the locations you discussed sometime in the future.
Han Yu says
Again this piece really make me want to pack up and just hop on a train or whatever–in a sense that travel is never just an experience about pleasure and enjoyment, but also for something in depth, either for the preservation or for the acquisition and advancement of knowledge, that humanities are not at all bound within the realm of books and dated greek books, but also in the real presence of the nature itself: facing the fact that nothing is ever built to last forever itself shall be the best way to learn to live properly, a mindset that many of us have already lost to maintain. Keep up the good work!