5 Popular tourist attractions threatened by global warming

Tune in to any weather news recently, and you will see that the earth is in severe danger. Climate change has resulted in us having four of our hottest years in recorded history in the last few decades alone. Sea levels are rising, there is a deadly increase in phytoplankton spreading through the oceans, and heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfall and floods are occurring more frequently and erratically, decimating our natural treasures along the way.

Check out our list of top destinations you should make plans to see at the earliest.

The Maldives

A popular destination for honeymooners and beach lovers, the white sand beaches and clear blue waters of the Maldives are in danger of being swallowed up by the sea. Climate change is causing the islands, which are only eight feet above sea level, are slowly sinking into the Indian Ocean.

Bordeaux Vineyards, France

You don't have to be an aficionado to know that some of the best red wines in the world come from this iconic little region in southern France. A place whose identity is so tied into its products, the Bordeaux valley's wine yield is falling disastrously. Erratic rainfall means vintners are dealing with needing to move to higher ground, trying to reorient the planting strategy to stop over-ripening of grapes by the sun and considering different varieties of grapes. While grape farmers have always been finely tuned into the weather and were usually able to predict weather changes, climate change has now made it impossible to do so.

The Dead Sea

Located at the lowest point on earth - at 1380 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is fed by the river Jordan. As the water's dead-end bowl, its extremely high concentration of salt and resulting buoyancy has fascinated people for decades. However, due to the diverting of the Jordan for drinking water and irrigation and the earth's hotter temperatures, the Dead Sea is drying up at an alarming rate.

Venice, Italy

Offering everything from amazing cuisine to intimate gondola rides through the city's historic canals, Venice has all the makings of the perfect vacation. With sea levels rising rapidly, Venice floods an average of 100 times a year and is at risk of sinking entirely in the next century.

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Home to thousands of species of sea life, Australia's Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in existence. Yet, in the last 30 years, it has shrunk to half its size due to overfishing, warmer sea waters, acid pollution that's bleaching coral and shipping. Scientists predict it disappearing entirely as soon as 2030.

While we might not be able to stop the ravages of climate change overnight, we can be more conscious of them if we do visit these places. Remember to minimise your impact on these fragile places by trying some sustainable or eco-friendly tourism.