Travel Bucket List: 10 Places to see before they vanish

Karen GEORGE 24 Aug 2015 updated the 6 October 2015 à 22:52

1/10
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The largest coral reef in the world, covering more than 133000 square miles is one of Australia’s top tourist attractions yet the Great Barrier Reef is suffering from rising ocean temperatures, water pollution and fishing which is causing erosion to the famed diving site. Scientists predict the 7000 year-old reef could be dead within the next 40 years! Hurry up and book your tickets to Queensland if you’d like to see a spectacular array of coral and marine life like no other.
2/10
Venice, Italy
Don’t wait for your honeymoon to take a romantic gondola ride down Venice’s picturesque canals as Italy’s floating city might go the way of Atlantis very soon. It turns out that water, the city’s very own charm is destroying it as severe flooding, which has increased over the years is sinking the charming city five times faster than previously thought. So while it’s still above ground, be sure to cruise the Grand Canal, take in the Basilica di San Marco and have a gondolier serenade you all throughout!
3/10
Madagascar
We all fell in love with the lemurs dancing to I Like to Move It in the animated film Madagascar but our beloved dancing lemurs, (of which there are only 20 species on the island) along with Madagascar’s forests are predicted to disappear in 35 years due to a multitude of fires and mass deforestation.
4/10
Taj Mahal, India
The world’s most elaborate mausoleum may be a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most iconic buildings in the world but that may not be the case soon as air pollution, erosion, shoddy restoration and the massive influx of tourists on a continuous basis have been eroding the structure’s magnificent exterior. Preservation groups have urged India to close the tourist spot to upkeep and preserve the place but to no avail. So, if you haven’t already, it’s time to visit Agra to take in the majestic site as its days may just be numbered.
5/10
Maldives
This beautiful tropical island, long a popular honeymoon spot with newlyweds also happens to be the lowest-lying country on earth, with an average elevation of five feet above sea level. This means that, soon, much like Venice, this dreamy island nation could be submerged in less than 100 years as sea levels continue to rise.
6/10
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The Pacific archipelago that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection is under threat by the constant throng of tourists as well as invasive species which wreck havoc on the existing ecosystem. Best known for unique animal wildlife like the giant tortoise and land iguana, the species on Galapagos Islands, which were only recently included on the World Heritage in Danger list are in danger of extinction unless the Ecuadorean government steps up to preserve the wildlife of the island and limit the number of tourists who visit the place.
7/10
The Alps, Switzerland
Grab your ski gear and head to the Alps before they disappear entirely by 2050. The picturesque European mountain range which has appeared as the backdrop in many Bollywood movies is located at an altitude lower than the Rocky Mountains, which means that, due to climate change, the glaciers in the mountain could melt faster than any other snow clad mountain ranges.
8/10
Machu Pichu, Peru
The ancient Mayans are sure to be rolling in their graves if they knew what was happening with their ancient city. The UNESCO World Heritage site has greatly been affected by development due to the recent boom in tourism. The historic ruins are rapidly being worn down by the thousands of tourists treading across its stones, irrevocably damaging the site, including the Inca Trail which leads to Machu Pichu itself. Hopefully, the recently built 3-mile cable car, made to ease the burden on the place will help the ancient city hold on for much longer!
9/10
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Once again, global warming is to blame for the threat on Mount Kilimanjaro. Africa’s tallest peak, immortalized in Hemmingway’s The Snows of Kilimanjaro, is said to melting at a steady pace, with a recent study stating that 85 percent of the ice cap has already disappeared during the last century. To experience the mountain Ernest Hemmingway wrote about, consider making a trip to Tanzania with a qualified mountain guide very soon!
10/10
The Dead Sea, Israel
The ancient and historic Dead Sea, situated between Israel and Jordan is quite literally –dying. In the last 40 years, the lake has shrunk by a third and sunk 80 feet below ground. Sinkholes the size of a baseball court have started appearing around the receding areas, creating a ghastly sight and threatening tourists safety. Scientists claim it could disappear altogether in as little as 40 years due lack of water coming in from the Jordan River, which is the Dead Sea’s only water source. Get here before it’s too late to enjoy a floating session with a good book in this sea!

You just might want to plan a trip to Venice or the Swiss Alps sometime soon because they just might not be around for much longer!

We all have our bucket list of places we’d like to see before we hit the bucket – be it the ancient ruins in Peru or the grand, historical monuments in Rome. Then there are some places which you should consider ticking off you list early or risk not seeing them at all.

Places, much like animals can become endangered, and thanks to climate change, global warming, increased development and human carelessness, more and more of the natural wonders on our beautiful planet are in danger of disappearing in the next 100 years – maybe even sooner!

So without further preamble, we’ve assembled 10 places you should consider visiting as soon as possible before they are changed forever! If you’ve not dived in the Great Barrier Reef or seen the Taj Mahal in person, it’s time to do so now because their days on Planet Earth are numbered!

You know what they say: better late than never!

Karen George

Photos: Shutterstock

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