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Ground Report | New Delhi: Cities of the world disappear; Numerous people are frequent travellers or travel lovers who travel to different places in search of the unemployed. While you must have visited many places and experienced the never-ending wanderlust, have you ever seen the term doom tourism? It is a recently developed trend that travels to distressed destinations. Due to global warming and man-made disasters, there are many places on this planet that are on the verge of extinction! One should visit these places before they vanish.
- Great Barrier Reef, Australia
You must have heard about the world's largest coral reef - the Great Barrier Reef, but do you know that it is a threatened place? The turquoise blue waters of this reef are home to nearly 1500 varieties of fish, some of which are some of the most amazing in the world. It surrounds an area of 1680 miles and is a spectacle to behold. Sadly, 50% of the reef has vanished in the last 27 years due to global warming and coral bleaching. It is estimated that the Great Barrier Reef will be irreversibly damaged by 2030.
- 2. Franz Josef Glacier – South Island, New Zealand
Being one of the lesser-explored places, the Franz Josef Glacier is considered the gem of glaciers located on the west coast of New Zealand. Situated in the middle of a temperate forest, it descends from an altitude of about 11,500 feet above sea level to an altitude of 787 feet. This makes it the only alpine glacier that ends at the lowest elevation in the world. These glaciers have been sinking since 2000 and have shrunk by an average of 38% and lost 25% of their land area. According to environmentalists, it will simply disappear in the next 100 years
- 3. The Amazon Rainforest – South Africa
Being the largest tropical rainforest in the world, The Amazon Rainforest covers an astounding 1.4 billion acres. This rainforest is so huge that almost half of it falls in Brazil, but the remaining is spread out over countries like Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and Suriname. Almost 20% of the world’s bird species are found in the Amazon. You can imagine how huge it is! Believe it or not, this incredible rainforest could entirely vanish off of the face of the earth in the next 50 years. Deforestation, global warming, mining have all contributed to eroding it away.
- 4. Komodo Island – Indonesia
Are you a person who loves water sports? If your answer is yes, then you should visit this place. The sea around Komodo and its neighbouring islands offer some of the best diving spots in the world. It has a spectacular coral reef and fish of all shapes and sizes, bursting with colours. Although the corals here are still unaffected, according to environmentalists, increasing acidification and rising temperatures could eventually kill reefs. This will lead to excessive loss of beauty and natural diversity.
- 5. Glacier National Park – United States
The name of this park will give you an idea of the place full of glaciers, but sadly, one of the most beautiful gardens in the United States of America is rapidly missing one thing it is known for – glaciers! At the beginning of this park, about 150 glaciers were spread here, which has now reduced to 25. Yes, there are only 25 glaciers left in the park and according to scientists, there are zero glaciers left by the year 2030. This place is a must-visit for the unusual animals that are found here like elk, mountain goats, and brown bear
- 6. The Maldives
One of the leading destinations for honeymooners, this island country is a treat to visit. It boasts crystal blue waters coupled with colourful fish, white sand beaches and unique overwater bungalows! Not many people are aware that this group of islands will not be here for long. It is the lowest country globally and is quickly surrounded by the Indian Ocean. This beautiful country could be submerged entirely in the next 100 years.
- 7. Machu Picchu – Peru
Known by travel enthusiasts as "The Lost Country", Machu Picchu is located high in the Andes Mountains and has become a must-visit for travellers from all over the world. The place is a beautiful 15th century Inca ruin which gives it an earthy feel. Unfortunately, these ruins are being damaged by hordes of visitors who walk around in boots and climb and jump over the site's structure. This place has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's a place worth visiting but make sure not to ruin the ruins.
- 8. Mount Kilimanjaro – Tanzania
Mount Kilimanjaro is a very famous mountain that is known for its snow-capped peak, but as expected this beautiful snow cover is decreasing rapidly. Like many glaciers around the world, the glaciers of this mountain are also highly affected by global warming. Mount Kilimanjaro has been famous for its beautiful glaciers for centuries. Reaching the top of this mountain is a great challenge, but once at the top, the site of vast snow plains makes the journey worth all the effort.
- 9. Taj Mahal – India
One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal is visited by tourists from all over the world, and it may be ready to shut its doors forever. Yes, that is correct! The grand structure usually has 3 to 4 million tourists walking through its doors, and this huge influx of tourists is causing the building's destruction. According to the caretakers of this mausoleum, there are several factors that have reduced this world heritage- air pollution, river pollution and decay of the wood that supports the structure. It is presumed that visitors will have no more than four years to see this amazing architectural wonder.
- 10. The North Pole
The place which is unknown to most of the people and mostly visited by scientists and explorers- North Pole. You must have already heard about the state of change in this place, which the people of our world have never seen. The ice here is melting rapidly, which is opening a different world in the northern region. New land with new lakes is appearing. It is being speculated that the region may never go back to the way it has always been. Take a trip to the frozen wonderland while you still can!
These are just a few of the many places on the verge of extinction, but they are a good start. Visit these amazing destinations before it's too late!
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