Many of the world's natural wonders are endangered.
Many of the world's natural wonders -- state parks, geological features and wildlife habitats -- are in danger of disappearing due to alterations in the ecosystems which sustain them. Climate change, industry and the encroachment of human habitation put these places at risk. Conservation groups such as the Nature Conservancy continue to track the status of these sites, and a new kind of travel, ecotourism, allows a glimpse of endangered natural wonders before they vanish.
Endangered Wonders
Climate change and habitat destruction lead to the extinction of unique creatures in places such as the Galapagos Islands, Florida's Everglades and the Sonoran Desert of the U.S./Mexican border. Industry and human manipulation of waterways, such as the Colorado River, affect the evolution of geological features such as the Grand Canyon, and pollution and toxins in the oceans endanger the species living in Australia's Great Barrier Reef and other ocean habitats worldwide.
National Parks and Habitats
National parks and wildlife habitats are among the most vulnerable to changes in the ecosystem. As industries such as mining operations claim more open land, the habitats of numerous animals and birds are placed at risk. The United States' Appalachian Mountains face an extensive loss of habitat due to coal mining, while changes in the ozone layer and warming of northern waters affect not only wildlife, but the shape of the earth itself in Antarctica. Deforestation and the encroachment of industrial operations into South America's rainforests has long been a concern, with numerous bird and animal species facing extinction as a result.
Endangered Waters
The waterways and undersea habitats of the world face particular challenges due to climate change and human factors such as pollution and toxic dumping. Warming of the world's oceans affects not only the movement of birds and animals, but also food supplies and habitat. Dumping industrial waste and the siphoning of water for human use endangers such places as Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the Dead Sea, the Florida Everglades, and stretches of the Indian Ocean coastline.
Ecotourism and Sustainable Travel
Awareness of the fragility of the world's natural wonders leads to increased interest in visiting those areas before they disappear. Ecotourism, or geotourism, emphasizes travel for education and awareness of the natural world. National Geographic's Center for Sustainable Destinations supports ecotourism in endangered places such as the Sonoran Desert and California's Joshua Tree National Monument, and organizations such as the Nature Conservancy offer assistance in planning trips to vulnerable ecosystems around the world.
Tags: natural wonders, world natural, Australia Great, Australia Great Barrier, Barrier Reef, before they, Florida Everglades
