Some of the world’s most famous places are gradually shrinking or changing, and scientists warn that several could look dramatically different within our lifetimes.
1. Venice, Italy
Venice has battled flooding for centuries, but rising sea levels and the gradual sinking of its foundations have made high-water events more frequent.
The city has invested billions in flood barriers, yet experts say protecting Venice will remain an ongoing challenge as sea levels continue to rise.
2. The Dead Sea
Bordered by Jordan and Israel, the Dead Sea is shrinking by roughly a metre each year in some areas.
Water from the Jordan River is heavily diverted for agriculture and drinking water, causing the lake to recede and leaving behind thousands of dangerous sinkholes along its shoreline.
3. Tuvalu
This Pacific island nation sits only a few metres above sea level.
Higher tides, coastal erosion, and saltwater intrusion threaten homes, farmland, and freshwater supplies, making Tuvalu one of the countries most vulnerable to rising oceans.
4. The Great Barrier Reef
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has experienced repeated coral bleaching events caused by unusually warm ocean temperatures.
While parts of the reef continue to recover naturally, scientists say long-term warming remains its greatest challenge.
5. The Aral Sea
Once one of the world’s largest inland lakes, the Aral Sea has largely disappeared after rivers feeding it were diverted for irrigation during the twentieth century.
Large areas that were once underwater are now dry desert.
6. Louisiana’s Coastal Wetlands
Southern Louisiana continues losing marshland because of erosion, subsidence, hurricanes, and reduced sediment flowing down the Mississippi River.
These wetlands provide important protection against storm surges and support wildlife, fisheries, and local communities.