The earth is warming, glaciers are receding and oceans are changing. As a result, habitats are shrinking and species are dying — and many tourists want to see them before they disappear.
As scientists have studied and described the Earth's transformations, some more recent and rapid than others, their observations have given way to a phenomenon dubbed "doomsday tourism." The concept is simple: Travelers seek out imperiled destinations and try to experience their grandeur before they vanish.
The trend is best embodied by a surge in the number of travelers to the Galápagos Islands and Antarctica, both besieged by changes to their ecosystems.
