As man climbed down from the trees and began establishing their place on the surface of our awesome planet, they began to build. They built small, easily accessible cities near the water. Then, over the course of centuries, those small towns drew new citizens and they grew and flourished and became centers for culture and knowledge. Now, those early monuments to the ingenuity of man are being threatened. The Earth’s changing weather patterns have been a topic of much debate over the last few years. While there are still some who believe that the planet is spinning along right on course, a growing number of people are concerned that storms will get more violent, ice in the Arctic will continue to recede, and the water level will rise. Most scientists are convinced that unless action is taken, well, before you hit the end of this sentence, then we could be looking at catastrophic changes to the face of our planet in the next 100 years. Most experts believe that climate change is real. You may or may not be on board with that theory, but either way, just consider this: The biggest and best cities on the planet Earth were all created — out of necessity — near the water, and whether or not you believe that climate change is man-made or a real threat, you should absolutely see some of these incredible urban centers soon, before they become flooded relics of their former selves.
1. New York
How hard do we really need to work to recommend the center of all human culture, the greatest city on the planet? Home to Broadway, the Met, Madison Square Garden, and so much more, the history of New York is the history of America. There’s something in this city to recommend to literally every person you’ve ever met. It’s a bright, bustling testament to humanity and if you’ve never been there, then you’re truly missing out. Sadly, the Big Apple is vulnerable to climate change’s wrath. You saw what Superstorm Sandy did to NYC when it breached the sea walls on the south end of Manhattan. Rising sea levels will not be kind to this island metropolis.
2. Amsterdam
Yes, okay, Amsterdam has legal marijuana and prostitution, but there’s so much more to the city that doesn’t seem to escape the Netherlands’ borders. For starters, Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Simply walking along its canal-lined streets and soaking up the city’s breathtaking architecture is a treat in and of itself. And that’s before you get to the incredible array of museums for which the city is known. Unfortunately, Amsterdam is also basically underwater already, so you might want to take in the sights before things get too, you know, drown-y. The dykes can only hold back so much H20.
3. Venice
In its hey day, Venice was the capital for culture in the world. It’s also one of the loveliest cities ever built by human hands. A beautiful relic of the old world, Venice is filled with grand palaces, churches, clock towers and estates that are simply waiting to be explored. Venice is an extremely pleasant city to traverse (provided you don’t mind some close quarters), and your travel life isn’t complete until you’ve taken a slow gondola ride down one of its famous canals. Sadly, flooding is all to common in this sinking city, and Piazza San Marco is often knee-deep today. It’s only a matter of time before all its glory is underwater.
