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8 amazing destinations to visit before they disappear

The stunning tropical paradise that is the Maldives could be completely engulfed by water within the next 100 years. The chain of islands is considered the lowest-lying country on earth, making it extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels. The risk has become so real that the Maldivian government has purchased land in other countries for citizens who face displacement.

The striking, blindingly white Taj Mahal is rapidly becoming the stuff of legend (or serious Insta-filtering) due to heavy pollution that’s sending its marble façade a dirty yellow. Groundwater levels and general tourist traffic are also contributing to structural damage to the palace, which has led to whispers of public access being restricted in the near future.

Spanning nine nations and making up more than 50 per cent of the remaining rainforest in the world, the Amazon is one of the top places to travel for wildlife and tree lovers – but for how much longer? Climate change – and the resultant drought, wild fires and greenhouse gas emissions – and deforestation are causing an alarming loss of forest cover that have many wondering how long it will be until it’s destroyed completely.

It’s no secret that Venice is sinking – in fact, it has been for centuries. High tides, rising sea levels and boat traffic are the three main reasons why buildings are eroding and slowly being claimed by rising water levels. The effect is just a few millimetres a year, but look ahead a few decades and it’s clear it all adds up.

Whether you put it down to climate change or a combination of factors, Antarctica’s melting ice is a big problem. The issue extends beyond Antarctica, with the resulting rising water levels putting many coastal cities and islands worldwide at risk of flooding.

Cuba is known as a cultural gem in the Caribbean, but this is all expected to change now the US travel ban has been lifted. Tourism numbers have been manageable without the addition of American visitors for years, so now many are worried about how the impending influx of tourists will affect the island’s cultural integrity.

Coral bleaching, particularly in the northernmost sections of the Great Barrier Reef, has become scarily severe in recent months, with the full damage only now coming to light. Rising ocean temperatures and an influx of pollution could see Australia’s prized reef destroyed within the next century. It’s hard to believe, but every single piece of plastic ever created still exists today, much of it ending up in our oceans.

The literal death of the Dead Sea is something that has started to cause major alarm. The evaporation of water combined with declining water flow from the Jordan River into the sea (due to irrigation use) has resulted in seriously decreasing water levels. This loss of water has caused a sinkhole problem that also makes the surrounding area risky for lakeside strolls.

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Need help prioritising your bucket list? These holiday hotspots are here for a limited time only

Climate change, global warming, over-population and plastic pollution - not exactly a magic recipe for a pristine planet. While there are pockets of the globe that - thankfully - remain untouched by civilisation, some of the most breathtaking natural wonders are under serious threat of being lost forever. In honour of Earth Month, which is celebrating its 46th anniversary, Contiki has clued us up on the eight destinations to see now, or regret missing out on forever.

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Anna McClelland

Published

19/04/2016 4:07:07 PM

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