These popular tourist destinations are disappearing. When do scientists expect they’ll be gone forever?
The world is full of natural wonders, but many are bearing the costs of unsustainable tourism and human footprint. While millions may visit these places every year, some may be gone before the end of the century. Here are just a few of the wild places we risk losing if further protection is not granted.
Island Paradise — Republic of Maldives
The Maldives is more than just a honeymoon getaway — it’s a paradise of BIODIVERSITY. This collection of islands — nearly 1,200 of them! — and 26 natural atolls, boasts an array marine life: thousands of fish, . It is also home to the seventh largest coral reef system, stretching 8,900 square kilometers (3,400 square miles). Because of our warming planet, experts predict the Maldives could be submerged underwater by the end of the century.
Galapagos Islands — Ecuador
About 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador lies an otherworldly paradise — and Ecuador’s first national park. The Galapagos Islands, which are some of the most volcanically active areas in the world, hosts over 300,000 visitors each year. What do most come to see? Breathtaking biodiversity — most of which is endemic to the islands. This includes giant tortoises who can live to be over 100 and are capable of surviving one year without food. Nearly 100,000 of these gentle giants have disappeared, pushing the species to the brink of extinction. 23 other species face extinction or have already gone extinct.
Arctic Fjords & Glaciers — Greenland
Whether you are looking to hike, ski, wildlife watch, learn about Inuit traditions, or just go somewhere remote — really remote — Greenland provides it all. About one-third the size of Australia, there are a ton of places to explore in Greenland, including the largest national park in the world (Northeast Greenland National Park). Despite 80% of it being covered in ice, the island is home to an array of biodiversity, including: polar bears, humpback whales, musk oxen and reindeer. Recent studies show that Greenland’s largest ice sheet is melting three times as fast as it did 30 years ago.
Great Salt Lake — Utah, USA
Utah is truly one of the most spectacular places in the United States. Within five National Parks are famed canyons, breathtaking arches, and the largest salt water lake in the Western Hemisphere — the Great Salt Lake. Because of its salinity, the Great Salt Lake supports an array of biodiversity, including 338 species of birds which rely on the lake as a link in the Pacific Flyway. Climate change has fueled a megadrought in western USA, causing mountain streams which feed into the Great Salt Lake to dry up, resulting in the collapse of ecosystems within and around it. Scientists predict that without a massive emergency rescue, the Great Salt Lake may disappear in only five years.
Visiting responsibly
Over the last 20 years, we have lost over a tenth of our planet’s wild places. Preserving these places, support systems for our planet’s precious BIODIVERSITY, is vital for sustaining our own wonder — as well as for sustaining life. According to climate scientists, tour guides and conservation experts, sustainable tourism can make a difference — helping to establish protected places, support local communities, and inspire travelers to do more.
Let’s KEEP EARTH WILD. Do so by donating with VAKOVAKO. Sometimes, it’s good to go wild.
