B1 · 247 words · English

5 Vanishing Places to Visit Now

Lingard

Discover some of the world’s most beautiful places that face environmental pressures. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is threatened by rising temperatures and pollution. Venice, famous for its romantic canals, faces both land subsidence and rising sea levels. The Dead Sea, with its rich history and mineral-rich waters, is shrinking partly because neighboring countries withdraw water from the Jordan River, its main inflow. Learn more about these remarkable places and the threats they face.

Get started

Not sure about your level? English level test

1. Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef, covering more than 133,000 square miles (344,400 square kilometers). It has been a popular tourist attraction in Australia for many years. However, environmental issues such as rising ocean temperatures and pollution are causing damage to the reef. These problems are increasing, and the Great Barrier Reef may be destroyed within the next 100 years.

2. Venice, Italy

Venice is a beautiful Italian city famous for its romantic canals. However, with the number of floods increasing every year, it is slowly sinking. The floods are becoming more severe and could make the city impossible to live in by the end of this century.

3. The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is an ancient and salty lake with a rich history and healing properties. Unfortunately, the lake has shrunk by a third and sunk 80 feet in the last 40 years. Experts believe that it could disappear in just 50 years because neighboring countries are taking water from the River Jordan, the lake's only water source.

4. Maldives

The Maldives is a beautiful island nation and the lowest-lying country on Earth just around five feet above sea level. If sea levels continue to rise, the Maldives could go underwater within the next century. The government of Maldives is so concerned that they have bought land in other countries for their citizens who will need to move due to the rising sea levels.

5. Alps

The Alps is one of the most famous skiing resorts in the world. The mountains are located pretty low, which makes them vulnerable to climate change. Every year, around 3% of the glacial ice in the Alps melts away. Experts predict that the glaciers could disappear entirely by the year 2050.