Sinking Cities..................

Sinking Cities

With the growing threats due to climate change – rising sea levels, devastating storms and tidal flooding – it's no mystery why some of the world's most iconic cities and natural wonders are at risk. And while there's no clear-cut answer on the rate at which many cherished places the world over will be underwater, with the impending long-term effects of climate change – including the melting polar ice cap – we have a very narrow window before there will be dramatic repercussions, says Costas Christ, Chairman of the National Geographic World Legacy Awards and sustainable travel expert. "We have a window of 10 or 20 years at most before we set in motion the temperatures that we can't turn back," he says.

Happily, the outlook isn't all bleak. Our travel choices and actions make a difference, Christ says. "What can we do as travelers? We can choose those companies that are practicing and embracing sustainability," he explains. By rewarding companies that are substituting plastics, generating less waste, offsetting their carbon footprint, using renewable energy and supporting national parks and fragile ecosystems, among other sustainable practices, we can advance conservation efforts, travel responsibly and have a positive long-term impact. With that in mind, here are six cities starting to submerge, and expert-endorsed tips for limiting your carbon footprint and aiding conservation efforts on your next trip

Miami Beach, Florida

With frequent coastal flooding and high tides in vulnerable, low-laying areas, it's no surprise Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale and other areas across southern Florida are at risk of sinking into the ocean at a fast rate. At only about 3 feet above sea level, Miami is particularly susceptible to flooding. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects that sea levels could surpass 3 feet at the turn of the century and some studies suggest daily flooding could lead to a rise as high as 6 feet. And according to a 2015 report from the Risky Business Project, an estimated $15 billion in property across Florida could be threatened by accelerated sea levels. Undoubtedly, increasing sea levels and flooding will impact Florida, but on the upside, hundreds of millions of dollars have been funneled into the city of Miami to raise sea walls and elevate streets, among other forward-thinking preventative measures, to protect Miami Beach.