Endangered Places: 30 Stunning Sites in Dire Need of Salvation
On a regular basis, the World Monuments Fund—an NGO dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and the cultural heritage sites—publishes an alarming survey of endangered places. And with the visible effects of climate change, the eligible locales seems to be growing at a significant rate. This list “spotlights 25 heritage sites of extraordinary significance, facing pressing challenges, and where World Monuments Fund’s partnership with local communities has the potential to make a meaningful difference,” explains the webpage. The latest iteration includes everything from temples to entire islands, all of which face varying threats such as those from mass tourism, global warming, or simple neglect. These hazards not only endanger historical knowledge but also the habitats of thousands of species of animals and plants. Below, AD surveys 30 destinations that are in dire need of salvation—some are included on the World Monuments Fund list while others have long been the focus of scientists, archeologist, and preservation activists.
Photo: Getty Images1/30Sumba, Indonesia
Not far from Bali, the archipelago of Nusa Tenggara is home to the paradisiacal island of Sumba. With 10 waterfalls, turquoise waters along its beaches, and lush forests, it is still relatively unspoiled by mass tourism. Its ancestral thatched-roof villages have remained unchanged for several centuries, but climate change poses an increasing threat. “The ability to repair, reconstruct, or build new houses depends on keeping alive a body of cultural knowledge and manual skills, as well as on the availability of traditional building materials,” explains the World Monument Fund. “These conditions are under threat due to environmental changes and a long-term trend towards urbanization. At the same time, existing houses are highly vulnerable to fire.”
Photo: Getty Images2/30Lamanai, Belize
This Maya archaeological site in northern Belize has been inhabited since the 16th century BCE, though the most prominent structures date from the 7th century CE. Lamanai is exceptionally well preserved, in part thanks to its late discovery (in the 1970s), it is accessible to visitors via boats that dock on the river that runs alongside it. According to the World Monuments Fund, the arrival of tourism threatens the site and the daily lives of the local inhabitants.
Photo: Luca Ladi Bucciolini/Getty Images3/30Jahangir Tomb, Pakistan
This magnificent 17th-century mausoleum is found in the Punjab region of Pakistan, alongside the Ravi River. Its architecture and elaborate interiors, richly decorated with frescoes and marble, as well as its garden and minarets, make it a masterpiece of Mughal art. However, the site, which will soon be celebrating its 400th anniversary, is in need of major restoration if it is to survive for another century.
Photo: Ian Stannard4/30Hurst Castle, United Kingdom
Built by Henry VIII between 1541 and 1544, this artillery fortress is one of the most advanced waterfront fortifications in the United Kingdom. Situated on an isolated and exposed pebble peninsula between the Isle of Wight and Great Britain, the castle is subject to immense wind and tidal forces. In 2021, part of a 19th-century addition collapsed when the sea destroyed its foundations. The castle is in peril, although teams are working to save it. Only time will tell if this will be enough.
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Photo: O. Alamany & E. Vicens/Getty Images5/30Socotra Archipelago, Yemen
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Socotra archipelago lies in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean. Its four rocky islets extend off the Horn of Africa by a few miles. Its biodiversity is exceptional, with many rare endemic species, the vast majority of which are found nowhere else in the world. The World Monuments Fund is alerting the public to the threats facing the archipelago, principally from global warming.
Photo: Majority World/Getty Images6/30Mosque City of Bagerhat, Bangladesh
At the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, this 15th-century city boasts many mosques and other ancient monuments—a total of roughly 360 structures, mostly in red brick. This remarkable density of buildings and ruins makes it one of the most important archeological sites in Bangladesh; it’s also been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. However, flooding from nearby rivers, exacerbated by climate change, puts Bagerhat at risk.
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Photo: Anuska Sampedro/Getty Images7/30Teotihuacan, Mexico
Less than an hour by car from Mexico City, this UNESCO-listed 1st-century CE city is one of the most impressive cultural centers of Mesoamerica. Its impressive monuments include a number of temples and pyramids dedicated to the sun and the moon. At its peak, the city was home to some 25,000 inhabitants and stretched over 14 square miles. For several years now, the World Monuments Fund has been warning of the damage being done to the site from tourism and the lack of resources to maintain the enormous ancient city.
Photo: Getty Images8/30Abydos, Egypt
Abydos, one of the oldest cities in Egypt, is home to several ancient archaeological sites. It was one of the main places dedicated to the worship of Osiris, the Egyptian god of agriculture and religion. The funerary temple of Seti I is one of Abydos’s most famous monuments. Even if it is less well known than other Egyptian worship sites it is remarkably well preserved. However, the rising water levels in the area threatens the survival of these monuments. There have also been many incidents of looting as the site lacks adequate protection.
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Photo: Hindustan Times/Getty Images9/30Tiretta Bazaar, India
In the heart of Kolkata, Tiretta Bazaar is the city’s first Chinatown (dating back to the 18th century). Every year, the area celebrates the Chinese New Year festivities. Despite its historic and current interest, the area has been neglected and a number of its historic sites, lacking any official protection, are endangered.
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Pohoto: Hans Birger Nilsen10/30Nuri, Sudan
More than a thousand years after the construction of Egypt’s famous pyramids, Sudan built its own in Nuri. According to the World Monuments Fund, major renovation measures are required to prevent the site from decaying to the point of no return.
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Photo: Getty Images11/30The House of the People, Burkina Faso
Created following independence from France in 1960, this building in Ouagadougou symbolizes the freedom of the Burkinabe people. Its architecture, typical of many buildings of its period in Burkina Faso, blends Brutalist and local influences—most notably with the whimsical lanterns on the roof and the building’s colors. “The finest example of modernist architecture in Burkina Faso and one of the most important examples of modernism in all of Africa,” is how the renowned Burkinabe architect Francis Kéré describes the building. Its advanced state of disrepair is of concern to the World Monuments Fund especially as the building is still used for public events.
Photo: Getty Images12/30The Dead Sea
Located at the lowest point on earth (1380 feet below sea level), the Dead Sea is a popular destination for its stunning desert views and legendary buoyant composition. However, it’s shrinking at an alarming rate as a result of climate change and the slowing of its main water source, the Jordan River.
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Photo: Getty Images13/30The Great Barrier Reef
Playing host to thousands of species off the coast of Australia is the largest coral reef in existence. Owing to threats such as climate change, overfishing, and ship traffic, the Great Barrier Reef is slowly deteriorating.
Photo: Getty Images14/30The City of Petra (The Rose City)
This massive archeological site is famous for being built by carving entire buildings out of a rock face. Sometimes called the “Rose City” for the natural color of the stone, Petra is receding because of a mixture of erosion and saltwater damage.
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Photo: Getty Images15/30The Great Wall of China
This east-to-west winding wall was built to protect China from enemy invasions, but today it stands as the nation's quintessential tourist destination. Though many efforts have been made to restore portions of the ancient wall, it is still being damaged by erosion and locals selling its bricks.
Photo: Getty Images16/30The Grand Canyon
Named as one of the 11 most endangered historical sites in the US by the National Trust of Historic Preservation in 2015, this American natural wonder is threatened by the effects of mining and tourism traffic.
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Photo: Getty Images17/30The Maldives
From its white-sand beaches to its miraculous glowing waters in the evening, the Maldives are the tropical paradise your travel plans have been missing. However, as a result of rising sea levels, the islands, which sit a mere 8 feet above sea level, are slowly sinking into the Indian Ocean.
Photo: Getty Images18/30Nauru
The Island of Nauru is the second-smallest country in the world, next to Vatican City. Nauru has been a victim of both climate change and irresponsible economic growth, literally being gutted by phosphorus mining.
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Photo: Getty Images19/30Patagonian Ice Fields, Chile
Spanning the border between Chile and Argentina, the Patagonian Ice Fields are the second-largest in the world. According to Cornell University researchers, the once massive ice fields of the Andes are diminishing 1.5 times faster than recorded in previous studies.
Photo: Getty Images20/30Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park originally housed around 150 glaciers, but because of the effects of climate change that number has dwindled to a mere 26.
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Photo: Getty Images21/30Venice, Italy
Offering everything from amazing cuisine to intimate gondola rides through the city’s epic 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 completely in the next century.
Photo: Getty Images22/30The Congo Basin, Africa
Spanning six countries, the Congo Basin, often referred to as the world’s “second lung,” is known for its incredible biodiversity among plant life and animal inhabitants. Because of its vast and fruitful lands, poaching and deforestation threaten the area.
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Photo: Getty Images23/30Cerro Rico Mountain, Bolivia
Home to the largest silver mine in the world, the city of Potosí was deemed a World Heritage Site in 1987 for its significant impact on the economy. Due to the overmining of the Cerro Rico Mine, which visitors can tour, the mountain is at risk of collapsing, endangering archaeological studies of the area forever.
Photo: Getty Images24/30Everglades National Park, Florida
The Everglades is among a very small portion of natural sites that are in critical danger, according to UNESCO. Due to water pollution and climate change, many native species, such as the American crocodile, are on the endangered and vulnerable species lists, and altered water flow is wiping out natural habitats.
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Photo: Getty Images25/30The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Darwin’s laboratory aside, the Galapagos Islands are a bucket-list destination for many avid travelers for the abundant wildlife and beautiful beaches. Overfishing and global warming threaten this once untouched paradise, causing coral reefs to die due to rising ocean temperatures. Habitats of native animals are also threatened by less than respectful tourists.
Photo: Getty Images26/30Shibam, Yemen
Known as the “oldest skyscraper city” in the world, Shibam is the longest-surviving example of buildings over five stories high. Because these structures are made of mud bricks and are believed to be dated back as far as the 16th century, they are extremely susceptible to erosion from natural elements.
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Photo: Getty Images27/30Tomb of Askia, Gao, Mali
Constructed completely of mudcakes, the Tomb of Askia was erected in 1495 and symbolizes a turning point in the culture of Mali, when Gao became capital of the Songhai Empire. Currently, this historic tomb is eroding at a rapid rate.
Photo: Getty Images28/30White Cliffs of Dover, Great Britain
The iconic White Cliffs of Dover are eroding nearly ten times faster presently than in the past thousand years due to heavy storms caused by climate change.
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Photo: Getty Images29/30Athabasca Glacier, Alberta, Canada
The Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park is one of the most frequented Glaciers in North America and has been shrinking for the past 150 years due to climate change. Scientists have suggested that this glacier could disappear completely in our lifetime should it continue to melt at this rate.
Photo: Getty Images30/30Bordeaux Vineyards, France
Affected by shifts in temperature and rainfall, the amount of wine yielded in the Bordeaux region is dropping yearly. Some predict that production will fall dramatically within the next half century, forcing vintners to find new land to plant viable vines.
