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10 places to visit before *they* die
Titania (gone for lunch) Started conversation Oct 3, 2008
...or vanish. The Stockholm version of Metro (the free newspaper) had a list just the other day. It contains:
1. The glaciers of Europe, in the Alps
2. The snow on top of Mount Kilimanjaro
3. The orangutangs on Borneo
4. The salt marshes outside Louisiana
5. The cloud forests in Central America
6. Ice bears on the northern coast of Manitoba, Canada
7. The Great Barrier Reef
8. The lions of Africa
9. Taj Mahal, India
10. The Florida Everglades
More info to be found here:
http://www.concierge.com/ideas/activeadventure/tours/2113
10 places to visit before *they* die
Icy North Posted Oct 3, 2008
That's quite a poignant list, Titania, but are some of these dying because everyone want to visit them?
10 places to visit before *they* die
Titania (gone for lunch) Posted Oct 3, 2008
Let's see... the glaciers are melting because of the average temperature rising. I remember the French (or was it the Swiss) trying to protect one of the glaciers by covering it with tarpaulin.
Kilimanjaro - the rising temperature is considered to be one of the reasons for the disappearing snow.
The orangutans' habitat is being destroyed by loggers and palm farmers.
Salt marshes: mulch-manufacturing and ill-advised flood control projects.
The cloud forest is suffering from both the climate change and deforestation.
Ice bears: again, rising temperature, this time melting the nice - and also Bush allowing oil exploration in hitherto unexplorated areas.
Great Barrier Reef is dying from acidity and rising water temperature.
The lions are shot off by ranchers and poachers.
Taj Mahal: soot and acid rain from nearby factories damaging the building.
Everglades: irrigation, farming and development that drains water away.
All of the above according to the link I provided. This site also offers some eco-friendly ways of visiting these places.
And, while some of these places would suffer increased strain if visited by more people, there are some places where the locals might be persuaded to stop exploiting if they were offered alternative ways of making a living, for example tourism.
10 places to visit before *they* die
Icy North Posted Oct 3, 2008
Yes, you're right that eco-friendly tourism is the key. Air travel not only adds emissions, but makes Bush dig new oil wells.
It always upsets me when I see trips advertised to Antarctica. You would think that they could agree to leave one wilderness alone.
10 places to visit before *they* die
Pierre de la Mer ~ sometimes slightly worried but never panicking ~ Posted Oct 3, 2008
i've seen the aletsch glacier in switzerland - the greatest in mainland europe i believe
it was then i learned about tourism killing off a lot of stuff in the alps 
global warming was mentioned as well
and mind you, this was a dozen years ago or something like that
i would love to see the other places as well, but will prolly have to be content with the fact that my lack of tourism will help not spoil them 
10 places to visit before *they* die
Jackruss a Grand Master of Tea and Toast, Keeper of the comfy chair, who is spending a year dead for tax reasons! DNA! Posted Oct 3, 2008
11. my wallet after the missus has had a visit
10 places to visit before *they* die
Pierre de la Mer ~ sometimes slightly worried but never panicking ~ Posted Oct 3, 2008
reverend, that brightened my day 
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10 places to visit before *they* die
- 1: Titania (gone for lunch) (Oct 3, 2008)
- 2: Icy North (Oct 3, 2008)
- 3: Titania (gone for lunch) (Oct 3, 2008)
- 4: Icy North (Oct 3, 2008)
- 5: Pierre de la Mer ~ sometimes slightly worried but never panicking ~ (Oct 3, 2008)
- 6: Jackruss a Grand Master of Tea and Toast, Keeper of the comfy chair, who is spending a year dead for tax reasons! DNA! (Oct 3, 2008)
- 7: Pierre de la Mer ~ sometimes slightly worried but never panicking ~ (Oct 3, 2008)
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