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The way we perceive the landscapes and vistas of our nations and territories shapes our connection to them. However, the world is in constant flux. Forces like tectonic shifts, air currents, moisture, temperature, and human influence combine to transform familiar landscapes, eroding vast canyons, creating new land from molten lava, and altering the courses of mighty rivers.
Over the past fifty years, numerous iconic landmarks across the globe have drastically changed shape or, in some cases, disappeared entirely. In 2021, the renowned Darwin’s Arch in the Galápagos Islands collapsed into the sea, adding to the long list of natural wonders that have been lost over time. These disappearances serve as stark reminders that our planet is ever-evolving. Below are a few examples of the world's natural marvels that have been lost for good.
10. Chacaltaya Glacier, Bolivia
Around the world, glaciers have been rapidly shrinking, with many vanishing entirely. In South America, the accelerating decline of Andean glaciers is attributed to climate change, which has brought rising temperatures, increasing humidity, and altered rainfall patterns. In the tropical Andes, average annual temperatures have been climbing at a rate of 0.33°C (0.6°F) every decade since the 1990s. The high humidity levels exacerbate the glacier melt, preventing the ice from sublimating and turning into vapor, a process scientists call sublimation.
The Chacaltaya glacier, situated approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of La Paz, experienced a dramatic reduction in size, losing over 60% of its mass from the 1940s to the 1980s and more than 90% by the turn of the century. Scientists had predicted that the glacier might completely disappear by 2015, but global warming accelerated the melting process, and the glacier was gone by 2009. Once a popular destination for skiers, the slopes are now barren and dry.
9. Azure Window, Malta
The Azure Window, located on Gozo Island in Malta, was carved into the island’s limestone cliffs over centuries. It survived thousands of storms throughout its history, but on March 8, 2017, it was violently destroyed during the season's worst storm. Before its collapse, this iconic natural arch in Dwejra Bay was a major tourist attraction and featured in the Game of Thrones series.
Yet, just four years later, it seems that the hearts of the Maltese people, who were left heartbroken by the loss, may soon be healed. Renowned architect Svetozar Andreev, alongside designer Elena Britanishskaya, has proposed a stunning concept for the restoration of this historical landmark, reimagining it as a large-scale work of art. The two Russian artists have already submitted their design to the relevant authorities, and the project has captured the imagination of locals, who now call it 'The Heart of Malta.'
8. Hillary Step on Mount Everest, Nepal
Since climbers declared in 2017 that the 'Hillary Step' had disappeared, the fate of the rocky formation, named after Sir Edmund Hillary, the legendary summiteer of Mount Everest, has sparked ongoing debate. Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay made history in 1953 when they became the first climbers to reach the summit after conquering the steep outcrop. Since then, climbers aiming for the southern route have used ropes to scale the challenging feature before crossing the 'saddle' to reach the summit on the other side.
Experts suspect that a massive earthquake in 2015 may have caused the Hillary Step to crumble. However, the Nepalese government insists that it remains buried under snow, despite the fact that guides have been instructed not to discuss the matter, as it is deemed sensitive. Since 2017, before-and-after photos showing the apparent absence of the rock formation have surfaced widely, and climbers have begun to refer to the area as the 'Hillary staircase' rather than the Hillary Step.
7. Slims River, Canada
In the early summer of 2017, an entire river in Canada's Yukon Territory disappeared in just four days. This dramatic event was triggered by the rapid retreat of the massive Kaskawulsh Glacier, which redirected the river's meltwater into another river. Scientists have labeled this rare occurrence as 'river piracy,' marking the first recorded case of its kind in modern times. The event has also contributed to the shrinking of Kluane Lake, the largest lake in the Yukon.
The disappearance of the Slims River has had an immediate and profound impact on the surrounding environment. Fish populations have been displaced, the composition of nearby lakes has drastically changed, and new dust storms have begun to ravage the province. Many other glacial-fed rivers in the area, including those supplying water and hydroelectric power to densely populated regions, may also face similar fates. Geologists consider it a previously unknown consequence of global warming, one that could threaten river-dependent communities and ecosystems worldwide in the future.
6. Sequoia Tunnel Tree, California
The magnificent Pioneer Cabin 'tunnel tree' in Calaveras Big Trees State Park, California, was one of several towering sequoias felled in the 1800s to boost California’s tourism industry. When it fell in 2017, it was the last of California’s giant sequoias featuring a drive-through arched doorway in its trunk. While the exact age of the Pioneer Cabin tree remains uncertain, many of the sequoias in the area are over 1,000 years old. Even older trees, dating back more than 3,000 years, have been discovered in the nearby Yosemite National Park.
Only a handful of sequoias were hollowed out for tourism purposes, with the most famous being the Wawona Tree in Yosemite, estimated to be around 2,100 years old before a storm brought it down in 1969. Today, the only remaining sequoia tree tunnels are either composed of stacked logs or represent trees that have long since perished.
Nevertheless, some drive-through 'tunnel trees' still stand today. In Northern California, visitors can pass through tunnels cut in three coastal Redwood trees, which are taller and slimmer than sequoias. While all three are privately owned, the Forest Service reports that they still allow cars to pass through, offering visitors a unique photo opportunity as they travel through the area.
5. God’s Finger, Spain
The iconic symbol of Gran Canaria, El Dedo de Dios, also known as 'God’s Finger,' was a towering 98-foot-tall rock formation situated on the northern side of Gran Canaria, an island in the Canary Islands chain. Its unique shape has captivated numerous artists over the years, and it’s widely believed that the renowned writer Domingo Doreste was the first to give it its famous name.
In November 2005, tropical storm Delta caused significant damage along the coastline, with massive waves ultimately toppling the upper part of the 300,000-year-old rock formation. Following the destruction of 'God’s Finger,' a team of experts considered the possibility of rebuilding the landmark, but most advised against restoration. Instead, they proposed a plan to preserve the remaining part of the iconic rock. Today, the remaining feature is called Roque Partido. While the landscape has lost some of its former allure, it remains one of the most stunning vistas in the world.
4. Old Man of the Mountain, New Hampshire
The legendary granite formation of New Hampshire’s Old Man of the Mountain collapsed in 2003. This angular rock outcrop, weighing 6,530 metric tons, stood about 45 feet tall and 30 feet wide on a mountainside prone to freeze-thaw corrosion. Given its exposure to the elements, many had predicted the eventual collapse of this state symbol, also known as the Great Stone Face. Despite previous efforts to preserve the wonder since the early 1900s, the news of its fall still shocked many geologists.
Like with many lost natural wonders, local residents expressed a desire to rebuild the monument. However, concerns about the instability of the remaining rock, the risks to workers, and the potential environmental damage put a stop to any restoration plans. In place of rebuilding, the Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund launched a new initiative to honor the iconic figure. Today, visitors can go to the site and find themselves in a plaza with special optical viewers that create a stunning illusion of the former rockface.
3. Ténéré Tree, Niger
For centuries, a solitary acacia tree stood amidst the endless sands of the Sahara Desert in Africa. This resilient tree provided shelter for countless travelers over the years, but its significance went beyond offering shade. It served as a vital landmark along an extensive trade route, marking its place in the vast wilderness as the only tree for 250 miles. In the 1930s, European military explorers who encountered the tree named it L'Arbre du Ténéré (The Tree of Tenere), and its unique location was featured on maps, emphasizing its status as the most isolated tree in the world.
The loneliest tree in the world met a tragic end in 1973 when a truck driver, traveling along the ancient caravan route, crashed into the tree, severing its trunk. In a moment of carelessness, the connection to a rich history that had been woven into the desert sands was lost. The truck driver, whose identity has never been revealed, was believed to have been intoxicated at the time of the accident.
2. Valley of Geysers, Russia
Once home to the second-largest concentration of natural geysers in the world, the Valley of Geysers in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula was a true marvel of nature. Spanning 6 kilometers (3.7 miles), this basin was home to around 90 geysers. Sadly, in 2007, the valley was struck by a devastating landslide. A powerful mudslide, containing snow, water, rocks, and debris, rushed down at speeds of 20-25 miles per hour, burying the valley’s most awe-inspiring features—its boiling springs, thermal fields, and waterfalls—under a blanket of debris, effectively erasing the Valley of Geysers as it once was.
The water gradually receded over several months, but the landscape had been permanently transformed. A new geyser, Mladenec, appeared, while several ancient geysers, including the Pervenets geyser, were swallowed up by the newly formed Geysernaya Lake, which was a direct result of the landslide. However, there was a silver lining. Six years later, in 2013, the Valley of Geysers began its recovery. The water levels of Lake Geysernaya started to drop, revealing previously hidden geysers. While it is unlikely that the area will ever return to its pre-2007 state, it’s far too soon to write off its remaining beauty.
1. The Aral Sea, Central Asia
The Aral Sea, once one of the world’s largest landlocked bodies of water, has drastically shrunk in size. Today, the shallow remnants of the sea lie in the harsh climates of Central Asia, not far from the Caspian Sea. Researchers are deeply concerned about the drastic shrinkage of the Aral Sea, which began in the second half of the 20th century and continues to worsen. This dramatic change was primarily caused by the diversion of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for irrigation during the Soviet era, which drastically reduced the inflow of water into the Aral Sea. redirection of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya.
By 1989, the Aral Sea had split into two separate bodies of water: the smaller “Lesser Sea” to the north and the larger “Greater Sea” to the south, with salinity levels nearly three times higher than in the early 1960s. By the close of the century, the Aral Sea had fragmented into three distinct lakes: a narrow western lake, a broader eastern lake, and a small remnant of the Lesser Sea to the north. By 2014, NASA satellite images confirmed that the eastern lake had vanished entirely. This basin is now called the Aralkum Desert. The loss of the Aral Sea is regarded as “one of the world’s worst environmental disasters.”
