There is little doubt that climate change, economic upheaval, continued industrial and commercial development, and other factors are leaving an indelible mark on our planet. Things are changing, and if reports are to be believed, they are changing at a faster rate than we once thought. That means in the decades to come the world around us will start to look very different and some of the places that we cherish now might not be around in the future. To that end, the team at Men's Journal has put together a list of the 25 places you should see before they disappear.This list features a number of iconic and well known places, some of which are located on or near water, where rising sea levels will potentially reclaim them or alter our access. For instance, one such place is the Dry Tortugas off the coast of the Florida Keys. This 19th century fort located there is expected to be battered by increasing storms, stronger tides, and rising sea levels, putting the entire place at risk. The masonry that was put in place at the fortress was never intended to be submerged, yet rising water has already begun to encroach on its walls.
Other locations that earn a dubious spot on this list include the Dead Sea, which is shrinking in size dramatically, and the Alaskan Tundra, which is being altered by changing weather patterns which see the ice that typically covers it melt at a faster rate, altering the ecosystem there. Other places at risk include the Great Blue Hole in Belize, Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Each of the entires on the list includes an explanation as to why it appears there, outlining the threats to these places. There are also suggestions on how to get to these places yourself to witness them first hand. Of course, that begs the question as to whether or not our travel is actually contributing to the demise of these locations, some of which are already quite frail.
Check out the entire list here.
