The Earth is full of amazing natural wonders that inspire awe and wonder. However, many of these wonders are under threat from various factors, such as climate change, pollution, deforestation, and human development. Some of them may not survive this century, or even this decade. Therefore, it is important to appreciate and protect these natural treasures before they are gone forever. Here are 10 natural wonders that are under threat.
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, stretching for over 2,300 kilometers along the coast of Queensland, Australia. It is home to more than 1,500 species of fish, 400 species of coral, and countless other marine creatures, such as turtles, dolphins, whales, and sharks. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
However, the reef is facing a serious crisis due to global warming, ocean acidification, coral bleaching, overfishing, and coastal development. According to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the reef could lose up to 90% of its coral cover by 2050 if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced. Some scientists even predict that the reef could be completely gone by 2030.
How to help: You can help to save the reef by reducing your carbon footprint, choosing sustainable seafood, using reef-safe sunscreen, supporting conservation organizations, and visiting the reef responsibly.
Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
Glacier National Park is a stunning wilderness area in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, USA. It features majestic mountains, pristine lakes, diverse wildlife, and more than 700 miles of hiking trails. The park is named after its glaciers, which are the remnants of the ice age that shaped the landscape.
However, the glaciers are rapidly melting due to rising temperatures and reduced snowfall. In 1850, the park had about 150 glaciers, but now only 25 remain. According to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey, the glaciers could disappear completely by 2030, or even sooner. This would have devastating effects on the ecosystem, water supply, and tourism of the park.
How to help: You can help to preserve the park by reducing your energy consumption, recycling, donating to conservation groups, and visiting the park respectfully.
The Dead Sea, Israel/Jordan
The Dead Sea is a salt lake that lies between Israel and Jordan, at the lowest point on Earth. It is famous for its extremely high salinity, which makes it impossible for any life to exist in it, and allows people to float effortlessly on its surface. It is also rich in minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, and bromine, which have therapeutic and cosmetic benefits.
However, the Dead Sea is shrinking at an alarming rate, due to the diversion of water from the Jordan River, its main source, and the extraction of minerals by industries. The sea has lost about a third of its surface area and dropped more than 40 meters in the past 50 years. It is also plagued by thousands of sinkholes that form along its shores, posing a danger to people and infrastructure. If the current trend continues, the Dead Sea could dry up by 2050.
How to help: You can help to save the Dead Sea by conserving water, boycotting products that exploit its resources, supporting regional cooperation, and visiting the sea responsibly.
Maldives : The Natural Wonder
The Maldives is a tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean, consisting of more than 1,000 islands and atolls. It is renowned for its white sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons, coral reefs, and luxury resorts. It is also a popular destination for diving, snorkeling, surfing, and fishing.
However, the Maldives is also the lowest-lying country in the world, with an average elevation of only 1.5 meters above sea level. This makes it extremely vulnerable to sea level rise, which is caused by global warming and melting ice caps. According to the IPCC, the sea level could rise by up to one meter by 2100, which would submerge most of the Maldives. The islands are also threatened by coastal erosion, coral bleaching, and pollution.
How to help: You can help to protect the Maldives by reducing your greenhouse gas emissions, choosing eco-friendly accommodation, avoiding plastic waste, and supporting local communities.
Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA
Joshua Tree National Park is a desert park in southern California, USA, that covers more than 3,200 square kilometers. It is named after the Joshua tree, a distinctive plant that grows only in this region. The park also features other unique plants, such as cacti, yuccas, and wildflowers, as well as diverse animals, such as bighorn sheep, coyotes, bobcats, and desert tortoises. The park is also a haven for rock climbers, hikers, campers, and stargazers.
However, the park is in danger of losing its namesake, as the Joshua tree is struggling to survive in the changing climate. The tree is adapted to the cool and wet conditions of the past, but now faces hotter and drier conditions that limit its growth and reproduction. A study by the University of California, Riverside, found that the Joshua tree could disappear from 90% of its current range by 2070, if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced.
How to help: You can help to save the park by lowering your carbon footprint, planting native trees, volunteering for restoration projects, and visiting the park respectfully.
Amazon Rainforest, Brazil
The Amazon rainforest is the largest and most biodiverse tropical forest in the world, covering more than 5.5 million square kilometers across nine countries. It is home to more than 10% of the world’s species of plants, animals, and insects, many of which are endemic and endangered. It is also a vital source of oxygen, carbon storage, and water cycle regulation for the planet.
However, the Amazon rainforest is under severe threat from deforestation, logging, mining, agriculture, and fires. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the forest has lost more than 17% of its original area in the past 50 years, and could lose another 27% by 2030. This would have catastrophic consequences for the climate, biodiversity, and indigenous peoples of the region.
How to help: You can help to save the Amazon rainforest by reducing your meat consumption, buying certified wood and paper products, supporting conservation organizations, and raising awareness.
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, rising to 5,895 meters above sea level. It is also one of the most iconic and scenic natural wonders, with its snow-capped peak contrasting with the surrounding savanna. It attracts thousands of climbers and trekkers every year, who enjoy the diverse landscapes and wildlife of its three volcanic cones.
However, Kilimanjaro is losing its snow and ice cover at an alarming rate, due to global warming and reduced precipitation. According to a study by the University of Massachusetts, the mountain has lost 85% of its ice cap since 1912, and could lose the rest by 2033. This would affect the beauty, tourism, and water supply of the mountain and its surroundings.
How to help: You can help to preserve Kilimanjaro by lowering your greenhouse gas emissions, choosing eco-friendly travel options, donating to conservation projects, and visiting the mountain responsibly.
Venice, Italy
Venice is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world, famous for its canals, bridges, palaces, and art. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a cultural and historical treasure. It attracts millions of tourists every year, who enjoy its unique charm and atmosphere.
However, Venice is also one of the most vulnerable cities in the world, as it is slowly sinking into the water. The city is built on a lagoon that is affected by tides, floods, and subsidence. The rising sea level, caused by climate change, is also threatening to drown the city. According to a study by the University of Padua, Venice could be submerged by 2100, if no effective measures are taken.
How to help: You can help to save Venice by reducing your carbon footprint, supporting sustainable tourism, avoiding cruise ships, and respecting the local culture and environment.
Great Wall of China, China
The Great Wall of China is the longest and largest man-made structure in the world, stretching for more than 21,000 kilometers across northern China. It is also one of the oldest and most impressive engineering feats, dating back to more than 2,000 years ago. It was built to protect the Chinese empire from invaders, and also served as a symbol of power and culture. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven wonders of the world.
However, the Great Wall of China is facing serious damage and decay, due to natural erosion, human vandalism, and urban development. According to the China Great Wall Society, more than 30% of the wall has disappeared, and another 20% is in poor condition. The wall is also threatened by climate change, which could increase the frequency and intensity of storms, droughts, and landslides.
How to help: You can help to protect the Great Wall of China by respecting its history and heritage, avoiding graffiti and littering, supporting restoration efforts, and visiting the wall responsibly.
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The Galapagos Islands are a group of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean, about 1,000 kilometers west of Ecuador. They are famous for their unique and diverse wildlife, such as giant tortoises, marine iguanas, penguins, and finches. They are also the place where Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution by natural selection, based on his observations of the island’s species. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a natural laboratory for science and conservation.
However, the Galapagos Islands are also under threat from various factors, such as invasive species, tourism, fishing, and climate change. According to the Galapagos Conservancy, more than 1,400 alien species have been introduced to the islands, either intentionally or accidentally, and have disrupted the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Tourism, which brings more than 200,000 visitors every year, has also increased the demand for resources, services, and infrastructure, and has contributed to pollution and waste. Fishing, both legal and illegal, has depleted the marine resources and endangered some species, such as sharks and sea cucumbers. Climate change, which causes changes in ocean currents, temperatures, and rainfall, has also affected the biodiversity and health of the islands.
How to help: You can help to preserve the Galapagos Islands by supporting responsible tourism, avoiding bringing or buying invasive species, donating to conservation organizations, and learning more about the islands’ history and ecology.
