The Colosseum and 7 Other Landmarks are in Danger of Vanishing

Find out what is threatening to happen to the famous Colosseum and seven other disappearing landmarks around the world. Find out what can be done to protect these priceless remnants of our history and culture, as well as the dangers they face. Continue reading to learn how you can prevent these priceless items from being lost forever.

One iconic representation of old Rome, the Colosseum, is in jeopardy of disappearing, but it's not the only one. Similar dangers, including those posed by urbanization, human carelessness, and natural disasters, are affecting numerous other important locations around the world. These recognizable buildings are more than just historical landmarks; they represent a symbol of our common cultural history and act as a time capsule for the past. We'll look at the Colosseum's predicament and that of seven other historic sites in this piece, as well as the difficulties they confront and what may be done to keep them around for future generations.

You might want to move quickly if you intend to see some of the most well-known tourist attractions around the globe within your lifetime. That is due to the possibility that they will vanish in the near future. Rust is engulfing the Eiffel Tower, which was only designed to last 20 years. The Colosseum is likewise deteriorating as a result of its yearly exposure to severe weather. The Taj Mahal might eventually fall victim to the growing pollution.

What if I told you that you've won a trip around the world on which you can visit the most well-known landmarks on the planet? That sounds great, but there's a catch: You might be visiting those landmarks for the final time ever since they're in danger of disappearing in your lifetime. Yikes, right? For modern eyes, Paris is the city of love. It's difficult to imagine the city without its most well-known landmark, the Eiffel Tower, but it wasn't always there.

Of course, Gustav Eiffel, the tower's architect, was hired to expose it during the 1889 World's Fair, but the so-called "iron lady" was only intended to stand for 20 years before being demolished. However, this plan was never carried out, and the tower was left standing because of an antenna that was built on top of it and conducts wireless communications. The Iron Lady is composed of iron, and with time and in poor weather—which Paris, unfortunately, experiences frequently—iron deteriorates, rusts, and becomes weak to the point where it can crack. If a tower made entirely of iron begins to split, you know what this means. No more munching croissants while taking pictures in front of the iconic Tour Eiffel. It appears that the French authorities are aware of this, but instead of fixing the entire tower, they're merely covering the rust.

Your next stop is a beautiful room. You are here to visit, you guessed it, the Coliseum, one of the world's most visited monuments. The Gladiators used to put on shows there, so you might as well say "arrivederci" to it while you can, like a lot of ancient monuments. The Coliseum is in danger of disappearing. It has survived for almost 2000 years since it was commissioned by Emperor Vespasian, but due to yearly exposure to harsh weather, the monument is getting weaker.

The problem here is mainly snow. When snow falls upon the Coliseum, the freezing water infiltrates the cracks of the rocks and makes them blow, you know, like when you put a soda can into the freezer and the bottom pops out. I know snow is a kind of infrequent visitor in Rome, but even rare below zero temperatures can damage the Coliseum seriously, and since we can't control the weather, who knows how long we'll get to see this beauty around?

After hopping on a red eye to India, you arrive at the unique Taj Mahal. It's even more mesmerizing in person than it is in pictures. The Taj is one of the seven wonders of the modern world, but why is it at risk of disappearing? The monument was finished way back in 1643. Imagine an open-air monument that has been there for more than four centuries. It was built with spotless white marble as a gift from Emperor Shah Jahan to his beloved wife, but if our white shirts get soiled merely by going outside, how much dirtier is it for this monument? The Taj Mahal is situated in the city of Agra, right next to the Yamuna River. Over time, the area has grown to be heavily polluted, and this pollution is causing the Taj to deteriorate.

The Taj Mahal Hall is allegedly turning green and brown, and the Indian Supreme Court has been hearing the case for many years. As a result, high officials have decided that either the local government completely restores the Taj Mahal Hall or they will shut it down or, worse yet, destroy it for the benefit of humanity. I hope they decide to restore it right away, because otherwise, there will only be six wonders left.

Now, you've finally arrived in South America, more specifically, the mountainous nation of Peru. If you're not accustomed to such high altitudes, you might feel a little lightheaded, but it's worth it to see the fascinating Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. The city is situated at a height of over 7,000 feet above sea level, and no one is sure how the Incas managed to construct such a sophisticated village. However, since regulations were put in place, with the increased number of visitors, whenever you watch any footage from the site on a typical day, it's extremely crowded, and although it's a stone town and stones are fairly durable, they do suffer from erosion caused by man-made or natural forces. As a result, Machu Picchu may be a victim of over-tourism. Can you guess which stone monument is the next one on your list that you need to visit?

Next, Stonehenge is situated in the serene Wiltshire Hills. England Since Stonehenge has existed for more than 5000 years, no one is certain of its exact construction date, but bear with me. If erosion were the only factor in the monument's disappearance, it would have taken millions of years. However, since 1995, British authorities have made a number of proposals to construct an underground tunnel that links southeast and southwest England. The tube runs underneath Stonehenge, which could shake the foundation of the monument. Anyway, since the project was suggested, local supporters of the monument have found a safe Stonehenge Alliance to keep the monument safe. They strongly believe that any enterprise such as this tunnel will severely harm the site.

In Egypt, to arrive at your destination, you travel in style, and by that, I mean camels just for the photo op, of course, but why are you here? You came to check out the Great Sphinx—you know, the one with a broken nose. The Sphinx was also built way back in the day, probably over 4000 years ago, where they had limestone at their disposal for construction. Now some researchers think that hazardous weather may be damaging the Sphinx's limestone. You see, they're very porous types of rock, so water easily infiltrates inside of them, making erosion stronger and faster, but water is also coming from below. Unlike the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx was carved directly from the bedrock, and right underneath the monument there's a riverbed that also infiltrates into the Sphinx, making it weaker. Keep your fingers crossed that Egypt doesn't get a lot of rainfall in the next few centuries.

It's time to dive deep into the Dead Sea except that you probably won't get too deep you know since there's so much salt in the water that you basically only float fun fact this sea is 10 times saltier than the ocean it may be a little ironic that the Dead Sea is at risk of actually perishing but it's true the lake level is dropping four feet every year it has to do with one of the Sea's main tributaries a tributary is a river that flows into a much larger body of water the thing is the region is not so rich in natural water so some of the local authorities ended up diverting small tributaries for basic human uses but since every action has a reaction the Dead Sea is now facing some difficulties.

Back in the USA, it's time to visit the city that never sleeps, and if you've understood this trip by now, you already know the landmark we're visiting. It's Lady Liberty. It may come as a surprise to some, but the famous Statue of Liberty was originally copper; it's turned green due to oxidation. I mean, maybe I would also turn green if I was constantly exposed to New York's harsh weather. Some researchers say that air pollution can also speed up oxidation processes, threatening the long life of Lady Liberty. Of course, New York City does its share of maintenance; hopefully it'll be enough for us to keep seeing the statue during our lifetime. Hey, it's time to head back home. I’m sure you enjoyed this trip. I hope you did too. Let's hope we can still visit these places in the future.

To sum up, the Colosseum and other rapidly disappearing structures are more than just historical sites; they are also a window into our past and a component of our cultural legacy. It is upsetting to see how urbanization, natural disasters, and neglect are endangering these natural treasures. To protect them for future generations, it is imperative that we act right away. To discover solutions and put policies in place that will protect these famous buildings for years to come, we must cooperate. It's important to spread awareness, promote preservation, and take action to safeguard these disappearing landmarks so they can be preserved for future generations.