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.

There are a host of ancient ruins in South America, claimed by the Inca, inherited by the Inca, conquered by the Inca and built by the Inca. Although one label has stuck on each monument or ancient site, it is clear there are many layers of construction, physically and conceptually. Academics and Scholars still debate who built these, monuments, did they inherit them? Was there a Pre-Inca culture, but everyone can appreciate how advanced the ‘Inca Ancient Ruins’ found in the highlands of South America. The Inca were largest empire ever seen in the Americas and the largest in the world at that time, yet doubt is cast on their monuments and origins. Tiahuanaco, a region of Bolivia that holds many remnants of ancient civilizations, demonstrates some of the most unique and amazingly precise examples of stonework in the world. The ancient people who created these walls and buildings used such a high degree of mathematical expertise that the workmanship is astounding even to modern day people. They marvel at how the stone-cutters from long ago created all of it with simple hand tools.The high plains of Peru and Bolivia in the Andes Mountains holds a wealth of historical sites, each one more amazing than the next. Scholars and archaeologists had only seen the same type of masonry in ancient Egypt before this. Although some historians call this Inca architecture, this later time period civilization had little to do with creating these fantastic structures. The Incas dominated this area from approximately the 13th to 14th centuries AD up until the time of the Spanish explorers' conquest of the region. Indeed, they built some magnificent structures, but the ones most interesting for their precision and longevity came from even older groups. Some of these empires were called the Wari and the Tiahuanaco. They existed hundreds or even thousands of years before the Inca came to power.Multiple historians who specialize in architectural studies have dedicated a lot of their time and knowledge to figuring out how ancient groups of people who did not use advanced tools or even the wheel could create such structures. The most advanced chisels and hammers of the time would have been created from copper, stone, and wood. With these simple hand tools, people dug granite, andesite, and porphyry out of quarries. After transporting them to the final locations, they then carved them with smooth precision so they would fit together almost seamlessly.What techniques could these ancient experts use to make such flat and smooth surfaces, exact angles, and joints that would not allow a single blade of grass to squeeze between? Historians can only guess about some of the methods that allowed for such unique stone cutting and building styles.

Concerns over vanishing destinations such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Everglades of Florida, the ice cap on Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the Maldives have prompted some travel operators and tour agencies to recommend these destinations to consumers before they disappear. This is the first book to empirically examine and evaluate this contemporary tourism development providing a new angle on the effects of global change and pressures of visitation on tourism destinations. It aims to develop the conceptual definition of last-chance tourism, examine the ethics surrounding this type of travel, and provide case studies highlighting this form of tourism in different regions. In particular it critically reviews the advantages of publicizing these vulnerable destinations to raise awareness and promote conservation efforts, but also the issue of attracting more tourists seeking to undergo such experiences before they are gone forever, accelerating the negative impacts. It further examines current trends, discusses escalating challenges, and highlight future opportunities.

Frommer's 500 Best Islands features our selections for the best islands around the world - from tiny isles to island nations, and from well-trod to totally uninhabited. Chapters are divided into: Treasure Islands -- Islands that have a strong, distinctive local culture and personality Leisure Islands -- Islands with a relaxed vibe and lots of land sports like hiking or biking Pleasure Islands -- Islands famous for their partying and nightlife scenes Beachcomber Islands -- Islands known for their beaches, diving, and watersports Garden Isles -- Islands with lush or verdant landscapes, orchards, and local produce Islands of Mystery -- Places that are somewhat remote and have a mystical and/or exotic vibe Island Escapes -- Quiet, uncrowded spots for those who love nature and want a relaxed pace Ends of the Earth -- Islands that are rugged, remote, hard to get to, and great for adventure lovers Islands of History -- Islands known for specific historic events, and with landmarks to visit Wildlife Islands -- Islands that are great for birdwatching, whale watching, and viewing rare species, as well as nature preserves Island Nations -- Large islands with their own history and independent government Island Cities -- Vibrant metropolises that have thrived as their own islands City Islands -- Island enclaves within larger cities

Concerns over vanishing destinations such as the Great Barrier Reef, Antarctica, and the ice cap on Mt. Kilimanjaro have prompted some travel operators and tour agencies to recommend these destinations to consumers before they disappear. This travel trend has been reported as: ‘disappearing tourism,’ ‘doom tourism,’ and most commonly ‘last chance tourism’ where tourists explicitly seek vanishing landscapes or seascapes, and/or disappearing natural and/or social heritage. However, despite this increasing form of travel there has been little examination in the academic literature of last chance tourism phenomenon. This is the first book to empirically examine and evaluate this contemporary tourism development providing a new angle on the effects of global change and pressures of visitation on tourism destinations. It aims to develop the conceptual definition of last chance tourism, examine the ethics surrounding this type of travel, and provide case studies highlighting this form of tourism in different regions, and in different contexts. In particular it critically reviews the advantages of publicizing vulnerable destinations to raise awareness and promote conservation efforts. Conversely, the book draws attention to the issue of attracting more tourists seeking to undergo such experiences before they are gone forever, accelerating the negative impacts. It further examines current trends, discusses escalating challenges, provides management strategies, and highlights future research opportunities. Last Chance Tourism is a timely and multi-disciplinary volume featuring contributions from leading scholars in the fields of leisure, tourism, anthropology, geography, and sociology. It draws on a range of international case studies and will be of interest to students, researchers and academics interested in Tourism, Environmental Studies and Development Studies.

Over 30 cases from the tourism industry examined in depth - an essential resource for tutors and students.