Five of the World's Disappearing Destinations and How to Visit Them Responsibly

IndependentTraveler.com, a leader in online travel information, highlights five of the world's disappearing destinations and provides suggestions about how to visit them responsibly. Tourists should hurry to see the destinations most threatened by global warming -- but they must travel responsibly in order to keep from contributing to the problem.

Endangered Destinations

• Alaska, U.S. Due to its northern location, Alaska is warming five times faster than the rest of the planet. Glaciers are disappearing and remote villages are threatened as the ground literally melts out from under them.
• Venice, Italy The city has been sinking for centuries, but rising ocean levels due to global warming have accelerated the threat. Protective barriers currently being built by the Italian government may not be enough to save the city.
• Glacier National Park, Montana This famous park's name may soon be a misnomer. Its glaciers are projected to disappear within 30 years due to rising temperatures.
• Great Barrier Reef, Australia Its colorful corals have already suffered several mass bleaching events due to rising water temperatures, over-fishing and coastal land use. Few reef-building corals will be left by 2050.
• The Alps, France and Italy Scientists predict that most of the glaciers in the Alps could be gone as soon as 2037. Decreased snowfall levels have already put some local ski resorts out of business.

Go Responsibly

Before visiting any of these endangered destinations, or traveling at all, consider the environmental impact of the trip. IndependentTraveler.com offers five ways to travel responsibly in order to decrease the harmful environmental footprint a trip can leave behind.

1. Participate in a conservation project while on vacation in order to both enjoy and help save the local environment.
2. Fly direct to a destination if possible. Taking fewer flights decreases fuel consumption and air pollution.
3. Choose tour operators and hotels carefully. Look for companies that not only preach conservation, but practice it as well. Call and ask about an organization's recycling programs and sustainability policies.
4. Stay on marked paths when hiking and dispose of trash responsibly, recycling whenever possible.
5. Purchase carbon credits to help offset the emissions from flights.

Visit IndependentTraveler.com's comprehensive Green Travel Center to learn more about becoming a responsible traveler. Within the Green Travel Center, travelers can find information about:

• What green travel is
• Why travelers should "go green"
• Green travel tips
• Trip ideas: eco-destinations, tour operators, volunteer vacations