Ten places to visit before they disappear

The world is witnessing an evolution now. Global warming remains an existential crisis. And half of these troubles are man-made. Are humans aware that their careless destruction of nature is causing a lot of harm to the world? Here we give a list of 10 such fatalities of nature because of humans. 

• European Alps

Haven’t we all dreamt of skiing in the alps? Then we suggest you do that right now because according to the latest scientific study, this highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe and which stretches over 1,200 km across eight Alpine countries is on the verge of destruction. Even the most experienced climbers are now struggling with increasingly perilous conditions in the Alps. Experts say that the problem is climate change. As temperatures rise and the peaks thaw, rocks that were previously held firmly in place by ice are coming loose. Higher temperatures will degrade the permafrost layers, causing slope instability and rockfalls and landslides. Experts are predicting that this will collapse in 2050.

• Florida Everglades

This National Park is a wetland preserve on the southern tip of the US state of Florida. It is said to resemble a lush, slow-moving river, and consists of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes, and pine Flatwoods that are home to hundreds of animal species. You can see a lot of wildlife like the endangered leatherback turtle, Florida panther and West Indian manatee. But sadly, it is the only natural World Heritage site in America to land on the critically in danger list due to human population growth, development, invasive species, and fertilizer drainage. Pythons are another menace here and they are said to take over the land and killing so many of the native species. Due to floods, this area is also under the threat of famines and other climate changes. 

• Venice, Italy

If you are surprised to see Venice on this list, you better believe it because this floating city is truly sinking. That too at an alarming rate of 1 millimetre per year. Not only is it sinking, but it is also tilting to the east and battling against flooding and rising sea levels. Last year’s unusual floods were proof enough. Though they are installing project mobile floodgates to combat floods, the weather forecast experts are not convinced about saving Venice from doom. The plan is to line the bottom of the Venetian lagoon's three entrances with a series of 79 hollow steel gates that would be raised to hold back the sea in times of aqua alta. But yes, the earlier you talk a walk through that city squares the better.

• Tuvalu

It is an island country in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and situated about midway between Hawaii and Australia. It is also a congregation of nine islands. Said to be the fourth smallest country in the world, Tuvalu is said to be on the verge of destruction. Scientists generally assume that as sea level rises, sand and gravel erode into the seabed as the shoreline recedes; accordingly, a place like Tuvalu will eventually disappear under a rising sea. Along with Tuvalu, a lot of other islands of the Pacific will also be under the sea. It is also said to be one of the poorest nations in the world, through education is free and compulsory for children between the age group of 6 and 13. Another interesting aspect of the country is that crime is virtually non-existent. 

• The Mosque of Timbuktu

Three mosques built between the 14th and 16th centuries remain the landmark of Timbuktu. The famous Djinguereber Mosque was established in the early 1300s under the reign of the Mali Empire. And they come under UNESCO’s World Heritage sites. The walls are made of mud and hay, making them susceptible to erratic weather. Perched as it is on the edge of the Sahara, relentless encroachment of the desert sands is also a threat to Timbuktu. In 2012, Timbuktu was once again placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger because of threats related to armed conflict. The two main threats facing it were desertification and human neglect. This situation has now been compounded by insecurity, vandalism, and the prospect of war. The country’s greatest contribution to Islam and world civilization was its scholarship.

• Patagonia 

Patagonia is a sparsely populated region at the southern end of South America. It is shared by Argentina and Chile, with the Andes Mountains as its dividing line. The Argentine side features arid steppes, grasslands, and deserts, while the Chilean has glacial fjords and temperate rainforests. In Patagonia, a different sort of atmospheric problem is critical. Deterioration of the Antarctic ozone layer has exposed both humans and livestock to dangerous UV radiation in summer. Though ozone depletion from aerosols is a global problem over which Argentines and Chileans have relatively little control, they suffer the consequences of the growing ozone hole.

• Galapagos Islands at Ecuador

Situated at the shores of Ecuador this island is a veritable treasure trove of exotic wildlife. Giant tortoises, Galapagos spiders, Darwin’s Goliath Centipede, Sally Lightfoot Crab, Great frigatebird, Rice Rat, Galapagos Sealion, Galapagos penguin, Marine iguana, Blue-footed booby etc are the must-see animals of the island which was dubbed by Charles Darwin as “little earth”. Unfortunately, the flow of tourists into this island remains a cause of worry for the islanders who fear they will destroy the natural habitat. Over 1,60,000 tourists are visiting the Galapagos yearly which will affect its ecosystem. Also, illegal Chinese fishing in the Island is a threat to its biodiversity.

• Olympia, Greece

The site of the Ancient Olympic Games, this small town in Elis on the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece, famous for the nearby archaeological site of the same is also a great tourist pilgrimage to visit their once-majestic temple columns. Other attractions include the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, the Archaeological Site, the Museum of the History of the Olympic Games in Antiquity, and the Museum of the History of Excavations in Olympia. But today it is in danger of being wrecked by forest fires. The scorching heatwave and low rainfall don’t help either. We suggest making that trip soon enough.

• Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa, and it's covered in snow. However, in the last 100 years, the snow has started to melt rapidly, and precipitation can't compensate for this process. Scientists predict that the snow will disappear by 2033, and the volcano will lose its current appearance completely.

• Madagascar

All Madagascar forests will supposedly be cut down by 2025 if they are not salvaged. There are animal species on the island that have still not been studied, and there is a chance they will become extinct before that happens.