10 places destroyed by tourism

More and more people are exploring the borders of their country in order to find the amazing beauty of the world. And it's true tourism Is one of the fastest growing industries in the world: in 2015, more than 1.1 billion people traveled around the world!

tourism definitely brings economic benefits by providing people with jobs, but it also has negative consequences. For these 10 natural wonders and historical sites, the flow of tourists has begun to threaten long-term conservation. If we are not careful, we can destroy these precious places forever.

10. Venice, Italy

It's no secret that Venice is sinking under water, and the hordes of tourists that flock to the city every year do not improve the situation. During the high season, the picturesque city on the water is visited by over 80,000 tourists a day, overcrowding it so that the main tourist attractions become inaccessible. And many of these tourists arrive on cruise ships that threaten the waterways and historic districts they travel through.

9. Great pyramids, Egypt

Among the original Seven Wonders of the World, only the Great Pyramid of Giza has survived. However, at the current stage of destruction, this pyramid, along with the Great Sphinx, may not be as durable. For many decades of the existence of mass tourism in this area of Egypt, the ancient buildings were irreparably damaged, and any attempt at restoration led only to further destruction.

8. Colosseum, Italy

The splendor of the Roman Colosseum has definitely changed since it opened in 80 AD. The building was spared neither 2,000 years of wear and tear, nor tourists caught trying to steal or move stones, or while graffitiing surviving columns. Although today this place is, in fact, a heap of stones, but it is a historical site from which there is still much to learn, so it must be preserved and treated with respect.

7. Stonehenge, UK

The inexplicable phenomenon of Stonehenge is that it attracts thousands of tourists every year. Unfortunately, due to tourists, prehistoric stones were damaged, their number was reduced, and restoration attempts did not return them to their historical accuracy. Also, the territory is threatened by the roads near the monument with heavy car traffic.

6. Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Proudly depicted on the flag of Cambodia, this ancient temple was built in the classical style of Khmer architecture and is one of the most important landmarks in the country. Tourism money is used to restore the structure, but tourism is one of the main reasons for the destruction of the temple: not only because of the pedestrian flow, but also because of the graffiti found on the walls. Unless the government takes action to restrict tourist traffic, this World Heritage site could suffer irreparable damage.

5. Antarctica

A once distant place is no longer so distant today. The increase in cruise ship traffic has increased water pollution, threatening the continent's coastline and species that inhabit it. Fortunately, the Atlantic Treaty limits the number of people on land to 100, and ships carrying more than 500 passengers are prohibited from landing near disembarkation points.

4. Phi Phi Islands, Thailand

Since the introduction of the islands as a secluded paradise in 2000's The Beach, Thailand's Phi Phi Islands have been on the wish list for many. The pristine beaches and clear waters of these pristine islands may not last long as the rise in tourism attracts resort developers. It seems Thailand is serious about preserving its land. Koh Tachai, another popular tourist island, was recently closed to allow the environment to recover.

3. Great Wall of China

Although the Great Wall of China was once stretched for 21,000 km, after years about two-thirds of the wall was destroyed. Most of this was due to tourists walking, hooliganism and graffiti painting every year, but also due to natural destruction and dismantled parts of the wall. The lack of government funding to defend the Great Wall means that these factors will continue to threaten its preservation in the future.

2. Machu Picchu, Peru

Located high in the Andean mountains in Peru, the ancient Inca village of Machu Picchu is a must see. Unsurprisingly, she sits at the top of a lot of people's wishlist. But such a huge influx of visitors threatens the preservation of this ancient archeology. UNESCO considered the issue of entering into the list of protected world heritage sites. The country's government currently limits the number of tourists to 2,500 a day, but even that number could be too much to prevent irreparable harm.

1. Galapagos Islands

The extremely diverse ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands helped Charles Darwin develop the theory of Natural Selection, but it is very fragile to outside influences. Fragile enough that UNESCO listed the islands as a World Heritage Site in 2007. To preserve the land and wildlife, many tourist restrictions have been enacted, including the requirement that all visitors to Galapagos National Park must be accompanied by a licensed guide.