As millions of Americans flock to the nation’s coasts, islands, and national monuments this summer, experts have a sobering message: Climate change is rapidly reshaping some of the United States’ most popular destinations.
Ruined tropical islands, ruined coastal homes, and a sunken capital. Changes are unfolding before our eyes at alarming speed, experts told USA Today – and there is no sign of stopping.
Coastal Erosion and Rising Sea Levels
California’s Big Sur Coastal Highway
One of California’s most popular and scenic tourist attractions, the Big Sur Coast Highway clings to the side of cliffs and offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. But access is becoming increasingly inaccessible due to climate change-induced landslides and collapses of cliffs and rocks.
“We have more intense and long-lasting winter storms that bring heavier rains and winds. As a result, the failure rate due to landslides has increased significantly,” said Peter Swarzynski, acting head of the US Geological Service’s Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center.
Highway 1: California’s Pacific Coast Highway is about to collapse into the ocean.
Rising Sea Levels Threaten North Carolina’s Outer Banks
More than five million visitors annually flock to the sandy beaches of the barrier islands off North Carolina, where they visit lighthouses and soak up the sun. But it’s hard to ignore the clear evidence that a warming climate is changing this region of the islands.
Although flooding of low-lying waterfront highways has always been a problem during storms, today they occur more frequently. The effects of sea level rise and tidal flooding are not just felt along the coast. They are evident on the inland side of the islands, along the Albermarle Sound in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, where salt marshes are overtaking freshwater marshes. Ghost forests dot the landscape as saltwater intrusion kills trees.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects high-tide flooding to triple by 2030 and become ten times higher by 2050.
Sinking Landmarks in Washington, D.C.
Some of Washington, D.C.’s most famous landmarks are underwater. The man-made tidal basin, surrounded by treasured monuments including the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and cherry trees that symbolize international friendship, is under siege. Experts say rising water levels, urban expansion, and subsidence — the sinking of land — are contributing to the problem.
The National Park Service has begun a $113 million project to restore the seawall and widen the walkways, aiming to reduce the twice-daily flooding.
Rising Sea Levels, Flooding, and Heat in Key West
When it comes to sea level rise, Key West, Florida, is “one of the most vulnerable places in the country to sea level rise,” according to Partners for Livable Communities. According to NASA reports, Key West could see a sea level rise of up to 7 feet by 2100. This significant rise would cause much of Key West to go underwater.
Almas said the city is well aware of its vulnerability and is developing a climate adaptation plan to assess multiple threats. “We’re looking at what the city can do to be more resilient,” she said.
Hawaii Faces Wildfire Threats — and More
Hawaii may have a reputation as an idyllic island, but island tourism faces several headwinds. Last year, Fooders Travel named Maui one of 10 destinations on its 2023 “Don’t-Go List” that tourists should reconsider visiting due to the threat of environmental damage from overtourism and climate change.
Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island are at risk of further devastation from wildfires and other climate threats this summer, said Abby Fraser, a climate scientist who studies the spatiotemporal dynamics and impacts of climate change and variability.
Researcher Chip Fletcher previously told USA Today that Hawaii will face more wildfires, rising sea and air temperatures, more coastal erosion, and more extreme rainfall.
Conclusion
Climate change is not a distant threat but a present reality that is reshaping some of America’s most beloved destinations. As we continue to see the impacts unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that proactive measures are necessary to preserve these locations for future generations.
For more information on the impacts of climate change and steps being taken to combat these issues, visit Climate Change and Tourism.
