Five places to go before global warming changes them forever

by Amy Judd | February 17, 2009 at 11:51 am

1003 views | 28 Recommendations | 19 comments

If you are looking to travel this year and want to go somewhere a little bit special, perhaps you could go to a place that may not be around much longer due to the fact that they are being ruined by climate change.

For those who want to head out, CNN got advice on the best pre-warming travel destinations from Bob Henson, author of "The Rough Guide to Climate Change" and a writer at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado.

The first one is the Great Barrier Reef, which is suffering heavily from warming temperatures and climate change and is undergoing coral bleaching which is irreversable damage.

Second is New Orleans, Louisiana, which as sea levels rise could cause the city to be underwater, as it already sits below sea level, and even if the city itself doesn't disappear underwater, the ability to travel there will just become too difficult.

Third is Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, where thousands of pine beetles are destroying the forests there and due to the warming winters, it is not cold enough to kill the beetles off anymore. The trees cannot grow quickly enough to recover and so the forests are now a mass of red and dead trees - no longer lush wilderness.

The Alpine Glaciers in Switzerland are next on the list as they sit at a much lower elevation than the Rocky Mountains and are therefore melting quicker. It is predicted that the glaciers will be gone between 2030 and 2050.

Lastly, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil continues to fall prey to deforestation and it is not re-planted quickly enough to replenish itself. The warmer and drier air also makes it hard for the forests to grow back.

Have you been to any of these, or do you plan to go?

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Karenke4

at 12:35 on February 17th, 2009

They are all on my list... and the ones I've seen I would like to see again.

mrnimbus1

at 13:31 on February 17th, 2009

I'm from Kansas City, and am here on business. During a 3 week period, Saturday, February 14th was my only day off. I drove up to Rocky Mountain National Park for some shots. I was disappointed that it was such a cloudy day, but that seems to have given the sun a faint glow. Enjoy!

mrnimbus1 has contributed a photo to this story.

bjcolo

at 13:40 on February 17th, 2009

Here are some photos of Rocky Mountain National Park on Presidents day. This is one of the most beautiful places in Colorado. I love RMNP, I have a yearly pass and visit throughout the year, during all seasons.

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ASHBERT

at 13:43 on February 17th, 2009

This is THE place to be if you're looking for a crazy time. Bored of your routine? Feel like going crazy ? Dont mind partying days in a row ? This is it. The people are great, food is awesome, everyone is like-minded. Go with an open heart and an open mind and you'll have the time of your life !

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Nata

at 14:05 on February 17th, 2009

What I saw was unsettling and irrefutable physical evidence that global warming is no joke given the once massive Rhone glacier now looks like a shell of its former self by the looks of the dated photos available for viewing on site. The glacier is disappearing at an alarmingly rapid rate.

Nata has contributed a photo to this story.

efou222

at 14:15 on February 17th, 2009

That's an interesting article...I've only been to the Swiss Alps and since I live in Greece, I'm not sure if I will ever make it to visit any of the other places aforementioned, especially if global warming anticipates me...It's really sad that such beautiful places will be long gone, and even sadder are the consequences of those losses...

Leigh Trefny

at 14:44 on February 17th, 2009

Love RMNP such a majestic place to visit... definitely a must-see!

Leigh Trefny has contributed a photo to this story.

car1edb

at 15:36 on February 17th, 2009

I read someone that the coral reef is getting ruined by mass-tourism? and pollution. Seems to be happening on other reefs also.

Couldn't find much on the global warming aspects?, bar this 1994 piece.

- Anyone have more info bar CNN?

phil martins railway photos

at 15:51 on February 17th, 2009

Taken during a cross of the east and west bound glacier express this image shows Matterhorn Gottard Bahn No107 hauling the west bound service through the swiss alps on its way to Saint Moritz

phil martins railway photos has contributed a photo to this story.

cbanck

at 16:06 on February 17th, 2009

National Geographic had an article a while back about how to protect NOLA from stronger hurricanes and a projected sea level rise. Basically the conclusion that they came to was the it was simply beyond human engineering capability to create a levee system that will protect New Orleans in the long run (100) years.

So enjoy it while it last and pray they find a way to save Nawlins.

The model in both the photos I took in New Orleans is Lauren Adams, and all the props go to her.

Pythiian1

at 16:31 on February 17th, 2009

Cool piece and photos to combat the winter blahs ...especially the Great Barrier Reef. The Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is definitely a must see ...

Thanks Amy.

cocha pechocha

at 16:30 on February 17th, 2009

The Amazon forest is one of the most breathtaking places on earth, especially as seen from the Venezuelan border, at a location called Tepuy del Abismo - miles and miles of virgin forest in front of you seen from 3,000 feet above sea level. The path to the summit is a magical adventure, with flowers and plants that I had never seen before. the view of the Amazons is a unique experience.

cocha pechocha has contributed a photo to this story.

Y Mucho Mas

at 16:54 on February 17th, 2009

The Amazon rainforest is breathtakingly beautiful and filled with surprises. I'm pretty sure this photo is of the lake where we saw the pink dolphin family.

These photos were taken by Patrick Smith and me while we stayed at the Heliconia eco-lodge In Brazil. It's located just off the Javari River, a tributary of the Amazon, near where the borders of Colombia, Brazil and Peru meet. Just getting there was part of the adventure!

Y Mucho Mas has contributed a photo to this story.

sablephae

at 17:05 on February 17th, 2009

The Rocky Mountains are incredibly beautiful but are under siege from the Mountain Pine Beetle which is killing trees on the western slopes and the beetles continue to move eastward. The brownish trees are a result of this infestation. At first, the trees look like the color of leaves is changing until one realizes that they are really dying. It is a difficult sight to see.

sablephae has contributed a photo to this story.

Paschen

at 20:03 on February 17th, 2009

No, If we go they will be more likely to be changed and have less of a chance to survive. Further the Jet fuel burned will add to the Global warming.

Pirmin Näf

at 00:03 on February 18th, 2009

View from Eggishorn, with Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in the background.

The Great Aletsch glacier, the largest stream of ice in the alps (length 23 km/75,000 feet), is located in the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn area, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2001. The catchment area lies at about 4000 m above sea level; the glacier terminus is about 2500 m lower. Retreating by up to 50 m (164 feet) a year, the Great Aletsch glacier has been dramatically affected by ablation in recent years.

Pirmin Näf has contributed a photo to this story.

addedentry

at 01:44 on February 18th, 2009

This photo shows the Alpine village of Andermatt seen from the Glacier Express, a mountain railway that crosses Switzerland as the 'world's slowest express train'.

addedentry has contributed a photo to this story.

Barry Artiste

at 07:22 on February 18th, 2009

Im going to the Mayan Riviera, before my money goes into Global Meltdown!

Elsie Ye

at 21:35 on February 26th, 2009

I have been to the Whitsunday, south part of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Those photos were taken while I flied in helocopter.Although the weather was so nice on that day, there were still many things to be stunning. It's most highlight for the heart reef.

Elsie Ye has contributed a photo to this story.