All over the world, many of our beloved cities and landmarks are sinking at alarming rates. From rising sea levels to crumbling foundations, some of the world's wonders may not be here for our descendants to enjoy.
Here are some of the cities and landmarks that may fall victim to the earth and sea.
The Taj Mahal
Architects believe the Taj Mahal, which was built over 350 years ago as a symbol of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan's love for his wife, could slowly be sinking. According to the BBC, one of the minarets of the building has tilted by 3.5 centimeters over the last 30 years.
The Taj Mahal was built on the Yamuna River and its ebony foundation requires a steady stream of moisture from the river to maintain stability. But now the river dries up completely during the summer months, causing the breakdown of the foundation and resulting tilt.
Venice, Italy
Venice, also known as La Serenissima, "the most serene one," has sunk about 11 inches, according to the BBC. But the greater threat is the sea level. As the city is sinking, the sea level is also rising.
The government created the MOSE project to help keep the water from overtaking the city. The project began in 2011 and is a series of 78 gates to keep the water off the land.
London, England
A new art installation by Michael Pinsky uses lights to show the predicted sea level of London in the year 3111, according to the artist's website. He used recognizable landmarks, like Paternoster Square, seen here, to show what could be underwater in 1,000 years.
"At one level the viewer can extend an imaginary line from the monument across London placing themselves deep below the water's surface, at another level the illumination suggests a protective shell proposing that we still have chance to change this situation," Pinsky wrote on his website.
Mexico City
Mexico City is sinking at an alarming rate. The capital city was built on an island in the middle of a lake in the 1500s by the Aztecs. Flooding has been a huge problem ever since. Attempts to control the flooding have not been fruitful.
And as the population grew, so did the problem. Parts of the Mexican capital are sinking by as much as eight inches per year, according the AZcentral.com.
Bora Bora
The island of Bora Boa, a vacationers dream, is slowly sinking. According to Internationalcuruit.com, the tropical island is sinking at a rate of one centimeter per century. And for an island that is estimated to be four million years old, that is an alarming rate.
The Washington Monument
The 2011 earthquake that rocked the East Coast of the United States did some serious damage to the Washington Monument, leaving it cracked and maybe even causing it to sink. According to the Associated Press, the repairs for the damage from the 5.8 earthquake could be up to $15 million and America's most recognizable landmark could remain closed until August 2013.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/worlds-sinking...-abc-news.html
Here are some of the cities and landmarks that may fall victim to the earth and sea.
The Taj Mahal
Architects believe the Taj Mahal, which was built over 350 years ago as a symbol of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan's love for his wife, could slowly be sinking. According to the BBC, one of the minarets of the building has tilted by 3.5 centimeters over the last 30 years.
The Taj Mahal was built on the Yamuna River and its ebony foundation requires a steady stream of moisture from the river to maintain stability. But now the river dries up completely during the summer months, causing the breakdown of the foundation and resulting tilt.
Venice, Italy
Venice, also known as La Serenissima, "the most serene one," has sunk about 11 inches, according to the BBC. But the greater threat is the sea level. As the city is sinking, the sea level is also rising.
The government created the MOSE project to help keep the water from overtaking the city. The project began in 2011 and is a series of 78 gates to keep the water off the land.
London, England
A new art installation by Michael Pinsky uses lights to show the predicted sea level of London in the year 3111, according to the artist's website. He used recognizable landmarks, like Paternoster Square, seen here, to show what could be underwater in 1,000 years.
"At one level the viewer can extend an imaginary line from the monument across London placing themselves deep below the water's surface, at another level the illumination suggests a protective shell proposing that we still have chance to change this situation," Pinsky wrote on his website.
Mexico City
Mexico City is sinking at an alarming rate. The capital city was built on an island in the middle of a lake in the 1500s by the Aztecs. Flooding has been a huge problem ever since. Attempts to control the flooding have not been fruitful.
And as the population grew, so did the problem. Parts of the Mexican capital are sinking by as much as eight inches per year, according the AZcentral.com.
Bora Bora
The island of Bora Boa, a vacationers dream, is slowly sinking. According to Internationalcuruit.com, the tropical island is sinking at a rate of one centimeter per century. And for an island that is estimated to be four million years old, that is an alarming rate.
The Washington Monument
The 2011 earthquake that rocked the East Coast of the United States did some serious damage to the Washington Monument, leaving it cracked and maybe even causing it to sink. According to the Associated Press, the repairs for the damage from the 5.8 earthquake could be up to $15 million and America's most recognizable landmark could remain closed until August 2013.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/worlds-sinking...-abc-news.html
Posted in: Landmarks,The World's Sinking Cities
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