Ripley’s Round Trip: Bucket List Places To Visit Before They Disappear

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A Sinking Feeling

Italy is home to one of the most enchanting cities in the world, famous for its gondola rides, canals and carnival celebrations, this destination has made the lists of many travelers. But you might want to consider a visit sooner rather than later because well… what happens when you build a marble paradise atop a muddy lagoon? We get a sinking feeling, you can figure this one out!

The iconic city of Venice has also been submerging due to rising sea levels and consistent flooding, and it has been a long struggle for Italy to keep this city afloat, so if this dreamy city has been on your Bucket List for some time, you may want to move it to the top before it’s consumed by the sea. Venice, we’re gondola miss you.

Eroding Away

Now, let’s jet over to South America to a 15th-century Inca site perched in the mountains of Peru. You probably know the place I’m talking about. Built in 1450 AD, Machu Picchu is considered to be one of the most important heritage sites in the world, and ranked number 5 on the list of official world wonders.

The “Temple of Condor” in Machu Picchu. Via Shutterstock

Peru hosts a number of adventure travelers each year willing to ascend the treacherous landscapes and high mountain climbs to discover the mysteries of the hidden Incan Empire. However, this ancient citadel wasn’t built for millions of visitors each year and has been crumbling away due to the increased foot traffic, as well as natural erosion and landslides from heavy rainfall. In an effort to ensure its survival, the Peruvian government has instituted a daily cap of visitors as well as a half-day ticketing system that will hopefully help keep this site alive.

How can you help? Don’t forget to stick to the marked trails, this allows for better preservation around the compound and helps to avoid further destruction to the ruins.

Logging Let Down

It’s a short journey from the Andes mountains down to the dense jungles of South America, where our next endangered destination lies.

Spanning nine countries, the Amazon rainforest has tempted explorers and researchers for decades due to the myriad of breathtaking species and tropical wilderness. I myself was so caught up in the intrigue of the Amazon that I decided to catch a plane down to a small corner of Colombia where I could experience a piece of this bucket list place for myself.

After taking a boat up river to a remote village, I noticed an unusually large amount of logs and debris clogging up the Amazon river. I learned that because of a high demand for timber from these areas, legal and illegal logging has been a consistent threat to these lands for years, that combined with flooding, mining, and clearing fires has contributed to these disappearing jungles. You may want to book your Amazon adventure as soon as possible so you won’t miss out on the trip of a lifetime.

A Must-Sea

Here’s a place that’s in need of some “coral” support.

Off the coast of Australia lies the world’s largest coral reef. Because of its natural beauty, the Great Barrier Reef has become one of the worlds most sought after tourist destinations. Believe It or Not! The reef comprises nearly 3,000 individual reefs and stretches over thousands of kilometers!

Coral bleaching. Dead and dying coral killed by global warming, climate change. Via Shutterstock.

Unfortunately, the Great Barrier Reef has lost over half of its coral reef since 1995 due to global warming and the effects of warmer seas on the coral such which results in coral bleaching. So get out your snorkel gear soon because It’s worth making this one a high priority before more damage is done by the warming climate.

Well explorers, we hope you take these disappearing destinations into serious consideration as you plan your next trip! And let us know Until next time… happy adventuring!

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Source: Ripley’s Round Trip: Bucket List Places To Visit Before They Disappear

by Emily Harriss