In the travel industry there is a desperate movement called last chance tourism. Between climate changes and political unrest, the iconic places of the past may remain exactly there, in the past. This has created an urgency amongst travelers to visit certain places before they vanish and are simply a thing of history.
In 2012 we spent a month in Israel, Jordan and Egypt. Over the last few weeks we have watched as areas that we once wandered like Banias Falls in the Golan Heights and Akko are now in the middle of a war zone.
Banias- Headwaters of the Jordan River- Israel- 2012
The Dead Sea- Israel- 2012
Scientists predict that by 2050, Venice, Italy will be under water. The Great Barrier Reef, one of the Natural Wonders of the World is in danger of becoming extinct by the end of the century.
Venice, Italy- 2013
In Glacier National Park, what were150 active glaciers were down to only 25 when we visited in 2022. Most scientists predict that all of the glaciers will be gone by 2030.
Glacier National Park, Montana- 2022
Last Christmas we spent time in Asheville, NC. We wandered the arts district and enjoyed a comedy show. Just a few months ago we went waterfall hiking throughout the Western North Carolina area. Years ago we spent an amazing weekend at the annual Dirty Dancing Festival in Lake Lure. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene it is hard to know what areas that we once toured will still be standing once the debris is cleared.
This summer we were saddened by the fires in Jasper National Park in Canada. Jasper has long been on our list of places in the world that we would love to see. We fear that the landscape will be forever changed by the fire which started by lightning.
Over the years, tourists have thrown coins and trash into the Morning Glory Pool at Yellowstone, treating it as a wishing well. This caused the color to change from a blue to a yellow green. The debris blocked the natural thermal flow and has altered the temperature of the pool which changed the bacterial growth.
As travelers, the trend of last chance tourism is controversial. In our haste to see and experience these amazing places, we threaten that which we adore. For us, so much of what we have learned has come from our experiences. However, we have to be careful that we balance our desire to see what God has created with a sense of stewardship that comes with being human.
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