17 destinations to visit while you still can
Disappearing destinations around the world

Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA

The namesake for Utah's capital city is a vast lake, so vast it could fill a space the size of Manhattan 75 times. There are plenty of waterborne activities to be enjoyed, from sailing to kayaking, as well as a variety of birds flitting about its surface, nesting in the surrounding landscapes. Antelope Island State Park also sits within the lake, offering hiking trails, horseback riding and mountain biking. It's fair to say, this is one of America's top outdoorsy destinations. But it might not be so for much longer.
Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA

Great Salt Lake has reportedly seen its volume drop by nearly half since the late 19th century. This is largely due to periods of drought and humans diverting the water from the streams that flow into it. As a result, there is significantly less food available for the birds, insects and animals who feed from the lake. Steps could be taken to encourage local residents to reduce their water consumption, but as the area's population is growing these moves are not expected to have a major impact. Add the common periods of drought to the mix and restoring the Great Lake's water levels becomes even harder.
The Everglades, Florida, USA

The Everglades, Florida, USA

The Sundarbans, India & Bangladesh

The Sundarbans, India & Bangladesh

The rising sea levels across the world are wreaking havoc in low-lying communities, and in the Sundarbans the struggle is intense. Tens of thousands of people have already had to relocate, losing their homes to rising tides and the resulting mudslides as the land is pulled into the ocean. The tigers are losing their mangrove habitat too, which could drive them further in land and put them at risk of being killed by local populations. There’s an estimated 100 tigers left, so if you want to see them you’d better book fast.
Venice, Italy

Imagine the beautiful canals and bridges of Venice entirely submerged under the ocean, the city an empty, lifeless shadow of its former bustling self. It might sound like a post-apocalyptic scene, but this could become a reality sooner than you think for Italy’s infamously popular city. Scientists are predicting that Venice will be under water within a hundred years if climate change doesn’t rapidly slow down. Venice is also under threat from humans with cruise ship traffic causing damage to the mudflats. Restrictions on ships over 55,000 tonnes entering the Giudecca Canal will be in place from 2021.
Venice, Italy

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

This record-breaking reef is a natural wonder of the world. As the largest reef on Earth – it covers an area equivalent to the size of Germany – it can be seen from outer space. It is one of the most important ecological sites in the world, home to 1,500 different species of fish, 30 types of whales, dolphins and porpoises, six species of turtle and even 215 different birds. Snorkelling or diving the reef is one of the top bucket list desires for travellers from all over, and two million people visit it each year.
Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA

Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA

They once thrived in the area, but today, thanks to climate change increasing temperatures across the state, the environment is becoming far less habitable. Scientists estimate up to 90% of the landscape suitable for the trees could be lost in the next 80 years. If you want to see them before they all disappear, head to the Black Rock Canyon area where there's a beautiful Joshua tree forest. Check out our feature too on other amazing things to see in the Golden State.
The Maldives

The Maldives

The archipelago is the world's lowest-lying country, meaning it'll be one of the first nations to go as sea levels continue to rise. Concerns are so severe that, in 2008, then-president Mohamed Nasheed announced he was going to buy land for the islanders elsewhere, as at some point the 380,000-strong population could become refugees as a result of climate change. For now, thankfully, the only thing submerged in the Maldives is the thousands of visitors who come to sunbathe, swim and snorkel here. But it's worth booking your trip to paradise now, before it becomes a modern Atlantis.
The Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands

At least five of the islands in the archipelago have already been submerged and the coastlines of many others have shrunk as a result of rising sea levels caused by climate change. Whole villages have been lost in this way and their communities have been forced to relocate. Not only does this affect the size of the land, but the encroaching ocean makes it harder for farmers to grow food because the soil becomes too salty. If the Solomon Islands aren't entirely submerged, its residents – and visitors – will likely have to leave when life becomes unsustainable.
The Dead Sea, Jordan, Israel & Palestine

The Dead Sea, Jordan, Israel & Palestine

But the water level of the Dead Sea is said to be dropping by around 1.4 metres (three feet) a year. Fifty years ago the lake covered an area of around 1,000 square kilometres (386 square miles), but it's nearly half that today. Ein Bokek has been a victim of this rapid shrinking – the waters that gently lap its beach are now supplied by a reservoir. Some believe the Dead Sea will be entirely empty by 2050, but new plans have recently emerged to rescue it. Whatever happens, it's still a spectacular sight today, and well worth a spot on your bucket list.
Europe's glaciers & ski resorts

It's not just the lowest places in the world that are at risk of disappearing. Some of the highest points in Europe are also being dramatically changed as a result of the shifting climate. The Hohe Tauern mountain range, set within the Austrian Alps, is home to the nine-kilometre-long (5.6 mile) Pasterze Glacier. The once-impressive body of ice is today losing five metres (16 feet) in height and 20 metres (65 feet) in length annually, all as a result of rising temperatures at the hands of climate change.
Europe's glaciers & ski resorts

The temperature of the Alps has reportedly risen by almost 2°C (3.6°F) over the past 120 years and it's predicted it could rise by a further 2°C (3.6°F) over the next few decades. But it's not just the ice that's melting. If you've ever been a thrill-seeking skier, you might want to get your fix soon. Officials say Alpine ski resorts could lose up to 70% of their snow cover by the end of the century, which would destroy the winter economies in places like Hintertux and Kitzbühel, Austria.
Patagonian Ice Fields, Argentina & Chile

Patagonian Ice Fields, Argentina & Chile

Thanks to climate change, the Patagonian Ice Fields are melting faster than ever before, as the ice can no longer stay solid in today’s rising temperatures. Some glaciers in the fields have lost up to half their length in just the past three decades, according to the Earth Observatory. There is a silver lining, though – scientists now have access to rock and soil never before seen by modern man, meaning the melting glaciers are giving up secrets about the Earth’s past, and could offer a window into the future of our planet.
The Seychelles

The Seychelles

Atsinanana Rainforest, Madagascar

The cheeky little lemurs that jump and swing in Madagascar’s forests are the main draw for visitors to these islands. The rare endemic species are found nowhere else in the world, and so a trip here is high on the bucket list of many wildlife lovers. The islands have far more to see too, with brilliant beaches, bustling cities and fascinating geological formations like the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. But a hike in the Atsinanana Rainforest is the highlight, where you’ll likely meet some of those leaping lemurs.
Atsinanana Rainforest, Madagascar

Antarctica

Antarctica

Around 98% of the Antarctic continent is made up of ice, averaging around 1,600 metres thick. But with rising temperatures in the ocean and in our climate, this could be set to change in the future. Flowing water has been found in areas where scientists once believed it wasn’t possible, and now there is concern that the entire ice shelf could melt. Find out how to book your Antarctic expedition before it’s too late.
The Arctic

The Arctic

But the Arctic as we know it today – an icy spectacle home to plenty of wildlife – could disappear sooner than you might think. It’s normal for most of the Arctic sea ice to melt in the summer and re-freeze in winter. But in recent years there has been unprecedented melting, leading to far less ice in both seasons. Since the 1950s, we have lost half a million square miles of winter sea ice. Scientists are now predicting, if temperatures continue to rise at the rate they are now, the Arctic ice will disappear entirely by 2050.
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The Kiribati Islands

The Kiribati Islands

“Water is a dominant feature in the lives of the I-Kiribati, and for all visitors” says the tourist board’s website. It’s true, but it’s perhaps not as romantic as it sounds. The rising sea levels have forced residents in the Kiribati islands from their homes. The land is growing smaller as the ocean takes over, and the main atoll of Tarawa is under immense pressure as its population is being crammed in by encroaching tides. There’s also immense fear of tsunamis – the archipelago is one natural disaster away from disappearing entirely.
Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

According to a study by the US Geological Survey and Portland State University, some glaciers in Montana have lost up to 85% of their mass in the last 50 years. The national park once had 150, but today there are fewer than 40. “Inexorably going into their final demise” is how one scientist described them, and so it seems this beautiful natural landscape will not be Glacier National Park for much longer.
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