See: Part 1
11. The Maldives
It’s the world’s lowest lying country. Unfortunately, it’ll soon be so low that it’s under water. So now’s your last chance to enjoy pristine beaches, stunning snorkelling spots and five-star luxury. The UN Environmental Programme has predicted that the Maldives could become the first nation to be lost to the ocean – potentially by the end of this century – if sea levels continue to rise at their current rate.
12. Madagascan Rainforest
A mecca for wildlife lovers, Madagascar is home to fifty species of lemur, two thirds of the world’s chameleons and the peculiar giraffe weevil. Nature documentaries and animated children’s films often depict a thickly forested idyll; however, the truth is far from that. Nearly 90 percent of the island’s original forests are now gone, and it is a tragedy that many of Madagascar’s unrecorded endemic species will be lost before they’re ever discovered.
13. Komodo Island, Indonesia
This Eastern Indonesian national park, established in 1980 to protect the endangered Komodo dragon, attracts divers and underwater photographers for its wealth of coral species and rare marine mammals. Today, the island and its surrounding waters are under threat. Coral bleaching and ocean acidification threaten to kill its spectacular reefs, while a rise in human population and backpacker tourism is quickly changing the face of this once untouched island.
14. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef is home to 2900 coral reefs, 600 islands and more than 1500 species of fish. It’s one of the most biodiverse places on the planet … for now. Australia’s beloved reef has lost about half of its coral coverage over the last 30 years as a result of increased tropical storms, coral bleaching and ocean acidification. If carbon pollution levels and sea temperatures continue to rise, experts predict that the coral communities could face irreversible damage by 2030.
15. Glaciers of the European Alps, Switzerland
At the end of the ‘Little Ice Age’, 150 years ago, the Alps started melting. Since the 1980s the rate of glacial retreat has risen dramatically. On a positive note, it means that hundreds of new crystal clear bodies of water have emerged in the Alps. This is little consolation for locals, who worry that snow avalanches may tumble into the lakes, causing high tidal waves to cascade through their villages.
16. The Door to Hell, Turkmenistan
In the depths of Turkmenistan’s Karakum Desert, the Door to Hell was set alight in 1971 after engineers feared it was emitting poisonous gases. Over 40 years later the gaping inferno continues to rage, drawing in the small number of tourists who venture to the country each year. It is hard to predict when the government might finally extinguish the methane-fuelled inferno, or how long it will take to burn out naturally, but it’s certainly a sight worth seeing while you can.
17. Dead Sea, Israel, Jordan & Palestine
The Dead Sea is finally dying. The high salt levels – which allow visitors to float without effort – and allegedly cure many ailments - have long attracted tourists and sunseekers from around the world. A mix of human and geological factors have contributed to the demise of this ancient sea, where the water levels are falling at a rate of around three feet per year. If you do visit, watch out for sinkholes – around 1000 have emerged over the last 15 years.
18. Choquequirao Archaeological Park, Peru
Machu Picchu’s forgotten archaeological cousin, or the “other Inca Trail”, is tricky to reach and still fairly unknown. However, with plans in place to lay a fast road link from nearby Cusco and a cable car being built across the Apurímac valley, it won’t be long until Choquequirao takes its cut of the thousands of visitors who visit Machu Picchu every day. Go now, before the ruins are well and truly ruined.
19. Bordeaux Vineyards, France
France’s wine-making industry is heading for a crisis of productivity. Bordeaux, France’s beloved wine-growing region, could be facing a two-thirds fall in production over the next 40 years due to subtle shifts in temperature, rain and sunshine. As a result, French wine producers are buying up land in Sussex and Kent, where acreage under vine has nearly doubled over the past ten years.
20. The Alaskan Tundra, Alaska, USA
In recent years, Alaska’s northern regions have seen a dramatic rise in temperature – faster than the average global rate – which has led to the thawing of the region’s permafrost. increased coastal erosion rates will have a direct impact on polar bears and the prey that keep them alive.
Title Image Credit: Selda Eigler (Image Cropped)