6 Places to Visit Before they disappear due to Global Warming

The idea that our planet is changing is scary and it affects everyone. Global warming is happening at alarming rates, affecting sea levels and endangering some very special places. Humans in general are destroying the planet we live on and if we aren’t careful, we will lose some pretty amazing things. So what does this mean to travel, well, some of our planet’s greatest treasures are slowly disappearing.

Oceans are overtaking islands, glaciers are melting, ancient ruins are being weakened by pollution and whole cities are sinking. If any of these 7 amazing locations are on your bucket list, you better hurry up and check them out, because you never know, soon they may be gone.

Venice, Italy

Long heralded as the most romantic city on the planet, Venice may soon be completely uninhabitable. The city is known for its interconnecting waterways that carve through the entire city and make it accessible by boat.  

Slowly sinking, the city has been reporting severe flooding more and more each year. Scientists theorize that the entire city may be under water like the mystical city of Atlantis by the end of the century.  Global warming is slowly killing this wonderful city.

The City has been trying to slow the sinking by shoring up structures and building underwater reinforcements, but these fixes won’t last forever.

If you want to take a romantic gondola ride through the canals of Venice, Italy, you had better get on it, because who knows how long it will be above water.

Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are some of the most untouched nature preserves on the planet but unfortunately the islands are dying through years of tourism and ecological dilapidation. Poaching of animals is a serious problem here where sea life is incredibly diverse but also delicate. The ecosystems are being destroyed and the environmental disaster is only beginning. Many of the islands are much worse off than they were just 10 years ago. The special bionetwork will never recover and may eventually be absolutely ruined.

The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is known for it’s high levels of salt and the waters have substantial rejuvenation properties. Many people visit here for relief for psoriasis and arthritis, but soon the entire Dead Sea may be gone. The bordering countries have been slowly borrowing water from the River Jordan, the Dead Sea’s main tributary.   Slowly shrinking, the Dead Sea has dropped 80 feet and its volume is down a third. Scientists believe the sea will be gone in 50 years. Book your flights soon, or else it may be literally the Dead Sea.

Taj Mahal

The great Taj Mahal, one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World, may soon be too dilapidated for visitors.   Built in the 17^th century by Emperor Shah Jahan as a gift to his wife, the Taj Mahal has 3 million tourists a year and this influx of people has seriously hurt the monument.   The building’s structural integrity has begun to be an issue due to air pollution, human traffic, global warming and poor maintenance. Soon the Taj Mahal will stop allowing guest inside and will all but kill the attraction.

Athabasca Glacier

The ancient glacier is a relic from the ice age and is the most visited glacier in North America. The spectacular glacier is quickly melting and has already receded almost a mile.  Global warming is the clear culprit in this iconic landmarks demise.  Scientists believe the glacier may fully disappear within 75 years. Located in Alberta, Canada, the glacier comes from the Columbia Ice Field and is simply one of the most beautiful natural sights.

The Seychelles

Possibly the most perfect beach location on the planet, The Seychelles Archipelago is a group of 115 island in the Indian Ocean. Often referred to as paradise on earth, these amazing islands are in real danger due to global warming. The rising sea levels and their coral reef destruction are making these islands vulnerable. Some scientists believe that the entire island chain could be fully submerged within 70 years. That’s a huge bummer as The Seychelles is at the top of my bucket list, as I want to see the island chains beauty before it’s too late.

Hurry up and see these amazing places before it’s too late.  Global warming is happening at alarming rates and if we don’t do something soon, our planet will be lost.  Make a change locally that affects everyone globally and be part of the solution and not part of the problem. 

 Photos courtesy of foundtheworld, pinterest, galapagosguide, atlastours, triphobo, theplanetD, africaPoint

Check out the original article at lifehack