Now is the time to see them before they become memories or legends... Our planet's natural and cultural wonders are priceless treasures, but unfortunately some of these iconic places are threatened by climate change, human activity or simply the passage of time. From the Great Barrier Reef in Australia to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, not forgetting Kilimanjaro, these unique destinations deserve to be seen while there's still time. Discover now our selection of the 10 must-see places before they disappear, and why it's important to visit them as soon as possible.
1- The Maldives
The Maldives are an archipelago of 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka and India. With its white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and coral reefs harboring a rich marine biodiversity, the Maldives is a dream destination for beach lovers, scuba divers and snorkelers. Visitors can also enjoy stays in luxury hotels on private islands, boat cruises and discoveries of local culture and cuisine. However, the Maldives is one of the countries most vulnerable to rising sea levels caused by global warming, with an average altitude of just 1.5 meters above sea level. So it's important to visit the Maldives as soon as possible to enjoy its unique natural beauty before it's threatened.
Read more: What to do in the Maldives 15 must-sees
2 - Machu Picchu
The Machu Picchu site© Fllipefrazao - istockphoto
Machu Picchu, located in the Peruvian Andes, is an ancient Inca city dating back to the 15th century and one of the most beautiful places to see in Peru. Perched at an altitude of 2,430 metres, this architectural marvel offers breathtaking views over the Urubamba valley. Built under the emperor Pachacuti, it comprises temples, agricultural terraces and palaces. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983, it attracts millions of visitors every year. However, erosion and mass tourism are threatening its preservation. To minimize the impact, measures have been put in place to control tourist flows. Machu Picchu remains a fascinating testimony to Inca civilization and its exceptional engineering.
3 - Venice
Venice's famous Rialto Bridge © sborisov - istockphoto
It could be described as the future Atlantis. Built on 1,118 islets and 416 bridges, Venice attracts 25 million visitors every year. Saint Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge, the Doge's Palace... If you want to enjoy all that Venice has to offer, you've got to get there fast. Venice is set to be swallowed up within the next 70 years. This is due to construction work that is subsiding the soil and the rising Mediterranean Sea. The MOSE project, launched by the city, should protect the beautiful Italian city from the waters for a century, but there's no doubt about it: Venice will end up drowned. Now is the time to plan a weekend getaway of 2 or 3 days, for example.
Read more before your visit: Mass tourism in Venice: visit the city differently and Venice launches a ticketing system to control mass tourism.
4 - The Dead Sea
The Dead Sea and its salt deposits © NickolayV - istockphoto
Located between Jordan and Israel, the Dead Sea is one of the most mysterious places on the planet. A gigantic salt lake 400 m below sea level, the Dead Sea is set to disappear by 2050. Over the past 50 years, its surface area has already been halved, with its level dropping by 8 metres a month. It is being replaced by craters. The 5,000 craters threaten tourism, the local population and agriculture. A project is underway to replenish this world-famous salt lake via a canal linked to the Red Sea.
5 - Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro dominates the surrounding plains © khanbm52 - istockphoto
This is one of the most beautiful places to see in Tanzania... The mythical roof of the African continent, Kilimanjaro is a massif famous for its eternal snows, which, alas, will not remain so. Since 2000, more than 32% of the glaciers on Africa's highest peak in Tanzania have been lost. The cause: global warming, which is having an ever-increasing impact on the planet. In the face of melting glaciers, Africa is likely to face another problem: water supply. Glaciers are an important reserve for the region. Kilimanjaro's glaciers could disappear by 2030.
6 - The Great Barrier Reef
Australia's Great Barrier Reef © John Carnemolia - istockphoto
Stretching over 2,000 km in northeasternAustralia, the Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef. Home to thousands of species of fish, the Great Barrier Reef is more threatened than ever with extinction. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, it has already lost more than half its coral. This is due to intense maritime activity, global warming and acanthasters, the starfish that destroy corals. Their degradation is leading to the disappearance of already highly endangered species.
Read more: How can you help save Australia's Great Barrier Reef?
7 - The glaciers of Glacier National Park
Grinnell Lak and the glaciers of Glacier National Park © IcemanJ - istockphoto
Located in the state of Montana, this majestic park is renowned for its immense glaciers and rich landscapes. Unfortunately, if you want to admire them, you'll have to wait no longer. These famous glaciers will disappear by 2030. The process has already begun, as only 26 of the original 150 glaciers remain. Global warming is to blame. If the park is left without a single glacier, its entire ecosystem will be turned upside down. Glacier National Park contains 200 waterfalls, 712 lakes, over a thousand plant species and some 60 mammals.
8 - The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal, India's jewel © amita pattel 066 - istockphoto
Built between 1631 and 1648 in Agra,India's most emblematic monument, the Taj Mahal is a world heritage jewel. Now 372 years old, the monument is ageing badly. The cause: the hordes of tourists (3 million every year) who come to admire its white marble facades. Added to this is the atmospheric pollution that browns its walls. What's more, the foundations are drying out due to the declining flow of the Yamuna River. The wood in the baseboards is disintegrating and being eaten away by termites. If nothing is done, this jewel of Muslim art could collapse in a few years' time. If you're planning a trip to see it, take a look at our article What to do in North India? 19 places to visit first!
9 - The Madagascan forest
The famous baobab trees are one of Madagascar's most endangered species. They are also threatened © Javarman3 - istockphoto
Madagascar, a small paradise, is home to one of the greatest biodiversities on the planet: its forest covers more than 20% of the territory, or 13 million hectares. It's the only place in the world where you can see lemurs in the wild. Unfortunately, the forest could disappear. The main threats are slash-and-burn maize cultivation and bush fires. Every year, 2,000,000 hectares of forest go up in smoke. An alarming situation, given that today only around 10% of Madagascar's original forest remains. In 20 years' time, this forest is set to disappear, bringing with it the extinction of lemurs. So don't delay, and set off to discover Madagascar and all its riches.
10 - The Alps
The Alps, between lake and mountains © Simon Dannhauer istockphotos
If global warming is melting glaciers, it's also melting mountains, starting with the Alps. This mountain range forms a 1,200 km barrier between the Mediterranean and the Danube. For the past 20 years or so, the Alps have been suffering from thawing permafrost, which is causing the mountain range to collapse. In the summer of 2015, over 150 collapses were recorded in the Mont Blanc massif. And the trend continues. Mountaineers, if you want to admire the peaks of the Alps, don't dawdle. Some routes have already been abandoned.
Read more: Top 13 hikes in the Alps
