As the earth’s temperature rises, some of the most beautiful places in the world are changing forever.  A warmer planet means fewer glaciers and rising sea levels, both of which endanger certain famous tourist destinations. Here are five spots that are particularly threatened-get a fast passport to see them before it’s too late!

Venice, Italy

Many of the buildings in this ancient Italian city were built on wooden piles sunk into the Venetian lagoon. The city has been slowly sinking for years, and rising sea levels pose an increasing threat to the Serenissima‘s famous art and architecture.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef is a delicate, complex ecosystem built on the skeletons of colonies of living creatures called coral. Coral is extremely sensitive to changes in water temperature and water chemistry, which can cause a phenomenon known as bleaching. When this happens, the colorful living coral die and leave ghostly white skeletons behind. The Great Barrier Reef has already experienced some bleaching, and its expected to get worse in the decades to come.

Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Mt. Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa. A dormant volcano covered by a glacier, it is a favorite destination for climbers around the world. However, the famous “snows of Kilimanjaro” may soon exist only in memory. The ice cap on top of Kilimanjaro is melting, although scientists disagree as to whether this is due to increased temperatures or less precipitation. Either way, the glaciers are disappearing, and may be gone completely as early as 2015 or 2020.

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galapagos Islands, famous for the remarkable biodiversity that helped inspire Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, are also threatened by climate change.  Changes in sea levels and in the salinity of the ocean water around the islands are disrupting the delicate ecological balance that the people and wildlife that live on the islands depend on.

Swiss Alps

The glaciers in the Swiss Alps are melting, too. Some reports estimate they will be gone completely by 2030 to 2050. If you’ve always to go on a ski holiday in Switzerland, now is the time to do it.

If you’re planning a trip to any of these destinations, remember to apply  for a passport several months in advance. Even with the government’s expedited passport service, you should allow at least 3 weeks before your departure date.

If you need a passport more quickly, a private passport expediting company can provide you with hassle-free fast passport service.  An expediting service will personally deliver your application to the US Passport Agency, resulting in processing times that can be as fast as 24 hours.

In addition to providing fast passport service, expediting companies also provide more personal attention and can help make sure your application is submitted correctly the first time.

Are you ready to travel? Try our  fast passport service today!