500 Places to See Before They Disappear enables passionate travelers and the eco-conscious to learn about and plan a visit to see rare cultural, historic, and natural places before they are irrevocably altered or even gone forever. Here are one-of-a-kind landscapes, fragile ecosystems, rare bird habitats, places to see the last remaining species of big game in the wild, cityscapes in peril, vanishing cultural kitsch, petroglyphs, and more—500 thoughtfully-chosen treasures that will inspire and enlighten travelers of all ages.
Each entry explains why it's been included, gives its history, the nature of the threat against it, brief practical information on how to visit, and what visitors can to do protect it. A Geographical Index allows travelers to locate attractions across the world. Photos throughout the book help bring destinations to life.
Chapter 1 Big Pictures.
One-of-a-Kind Landscapes.
Islands.
Ecosystems in Transition.
10 Places to See the Last Healthy Coral Reefs.
Chapter 2 Sea & Stream.
At Water’s Edge . . . 66
10 Disappearing Beaches.
A River Runs Through It.
Denizens of the Deep.
Chapter 3 From the Mountains to the Prairies.
Flowers.
Into the Woods.
10 Places to See North American Prairie.
Mountain Dwellers.
10 Places to Sight Big Game.
It’s a Jungle.
Run Wild, Run Free.
10 Places Where the Bighorns Still Climb.
Chapter 4 Big Skies.
Flying High . . . 201
10 Places Where the Sky’s Still Dark at Night.
10 Places to See Piping Plovers Nest.
Waterfowl.
Chapter 5 Going to Ruins.
Ancient Mysteries.
10 Places to See Petroglyphs.
10 Prehistoric Mounds to Visit.
Crumbling Classics.
10 Magical Stone Circles.
Chapter 6 City & Town.
Cityscapes in Peril.
Neighborhoods in Transition.
10 Last-of-Their-Kind Towns.
Chapter 7 Where History Was Made.
Historic Haunts.
Making America.
10 American Battlefields to Fight For.
Literary Landmarks.
Chapter 8 Tarnished Gems of Architecture.
Iconic Designs.
10 Ideas of a House.
Places of Worship.
10 All-American Lighthouses.
Chapter 9 Disposable Culture.
10 Classic Movie Palaces.
10 Signs That Go Blink in the Night.
Resource Index.
Geographical Index.
Alphabetical Index.
"...the first guidebook of 'last chance saloon' holidays...for travellers who want to visit the most endangered tourist destinations..."(The Observer, October 26th 2008)
A Celebration of the World's Most Fragile Wonders
This guidebook leads you around the globe to visit cultural, historic, and natural treasures at risk—from red Routemaster buses in Englandand red-footed boobies in the Cayman Islandsto Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
You'll learn why these attractions are important,why they need protection, and how you can explore them responsibly, preserving them for future generations. Details on airports andaccommodations, geographical and subjectindexes, Web sites, and other service informationwill help you make the most of your trip.
See Them Now
The Cedars of Lebanon
Pompeii, Italy
Sherwood Forest, England
Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia
Ancient Temple of Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, United States
The giant pandas of Wolong, China
And hundreds of other marvels
Find great deals and book your trip at Frommers.com
Frommer's. The best trips start here.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Distributor: John Wiley & Sons
Publication Date: 10-20-2008
Pages: 480
Measurements: 203.2mm X 129.5mm X 22.799mm X 14.4oz
