Поглед към едни от най-красивите, но застрашени от изчезване места на планетата.
Мачу Пикчу е хипнотичен, древен град на инките, скътан в планините на Перу и безмилостно тъпкан от хиляди крака, което го погубва. Национален парк „Глейсиър“ е отдавна познат със зашеметяващата красота на ледените си полета, но в рамките само на нашия живот ледниците в него ще изчезнат заради глобалното затопляне. В биозаливите на Пуерто Рико хората плуват в трептящото от биолуминисценция море, но утайката, причинена от строителството, убива динофлагелатите – микроорганизмите, които създават този загадъчен блясък. В басейна на Конго в Африка, където сред тучни, яркозелени дъждовни гори свободно бродят човекоподобни маймуни, всекидневно са изсичани пълни с живот дървета. И докато пишем тези редове, изброените места – заедно с много други – биват безвъзвратно променяни – от климата, от екологични фактори, от прекомерна експлоатация и по естествени причини.
От бореалната гора на Финландия до долината на река Яндзъ в Китай, „Изчезващите дестинации“ е съкровищница на географските чудеса и пътеводител в тези застрашени места, разказващ какво се прави за спасяването им.
Disappearing Destinations is more of an informational book than a coffee table book. It has a few black and white photos and maps scattered throughout but the history and science are the main thrust of the book. Good lord, I have so many places I need to see before they disappear (or I die). Thank heavens for books!
Good choice for learning which places in the world are "must sees" before they disappear...alarming to learn some of my best-loved places are in endangered; we take for granted they'll always be around. Haven't rated as yet because it is sitting on my table in California and I'm in Canada so haven't finished as yet for rating. I recommend it as an important book to read.
This book will make you depressed. It’s essentially a travel teaser for each of these 37 destinations, describing how wonderful they are, followed by a description of the specific environmental threats (usually of human origin) that threaten to destroy what makes these places unique. I found the writing better than expected for a survey book of this nature, and most chapters seemed to draw on on-the ground fieldwork, not just Internet research.
I read this book in 2021 and it was published in 2008 so at this point it’s kind of outdated. I have only visited 1 of the destinations featured in the book. So the book left me feeling sad because the rest I may never get to see in true glory. This book did educate me on things. But I’m feeling helpless. My small actions won’t do much - it clearly needs to come from a government across the world thing. Something has to change in the world.
Книгата описва последиците от глобалното затопляне върху едни от най-прекрасните кътчета на земята, в които през първите години на 21 век, те са станали катастрофални! Задължителна за всички еколози и любители на природата като мен!!!
Well written and informative. Slightly depressing, as you'd expect. Biggest problem for me is its journalistic style (e.g., detail on lots of early 2000s legislation), which makes it feel 15 years out of date. Would greatly benefit from an updated edition.
These chapters on different at-risk locations contain more rhapsody than actual travel information. If the authors had included websites and organizations at the end of each chapter, rather than in an index, that would have helped push the travel angle more. Still, I'm far more inspired to see Macchu Picchu before it gets trampled or the wait-listing starts - Casco Bay, Maine, before it gets fished out of existence - and my own neighbor, Mt. Rainier, before violent storms and volcanic explosions wash out all the trails.
I received "Disappearing Destinations" as a door prize at the Colorado Authors' League's awards dinner. The edition I have shows Kimberly Lisagor and Heather Hansen as co-authors. This book received the CAL award for creative nonfiction. It is a fascinating account of how some of the most wonderful places on earth, for example Machu Picchu, are at risk of disappearing due to excessive tourism, climate change or economic forces.
The authors take the reader on tours of some of the world's most beautiful and scenic places. Learn about the history, people, animals and geologic features of the locations. And then learn about the environmental threats posed to the areas, and the imminent, irretrievable changes that are taking place. This is a book you won't soon forget.
Not sure what to say about this. It's well written and well put togther, but also tragically depressing. I mean, this is possibly the most depressing book I've read in years.
Perhaps a worthwhile read for people who don't get out much - but if you're an outdoorsperson who spends time in the beauty of the outdoors on a regular basis, it's just profoundly sad.