Climate change is threatening these beautiful archaeological sites, and at this rate, it may not be long before they are completely submerged under water.

One of the most immediate consequences of global warming is the rise in sea levels that is threatening to turn many cities into a modern day Atlantis. However, it is not just the common tourist destinations of Venice and Bali that are at risk—there are a number of breathtaking historical sites that could also disappear under the tides. Many of these destinations are located at or below sea level and are also near bodies of water, which makes them extremely vulnerable to flooding and water damage.

1. Elephanta Caves – Gharapuri, India

In 2014, the Elephanta Caves were identified as being at long-term risk from rising sea levels in the Indian Ocean in a study conducted by researchers at the University of Innsbruck. Located on Elephantine Island in Mumbai Harbor, the caves include a number of man-made excavations and carvings into the various rock faces of the island in honor of the Hindu god Shiva. These archaeological remains date back to the mid-fifth century, making the site almost 1,500 years old. Many of the cave entrances are adorned with detailed sculptures of Shiva, the most famous being “Sadashiva,” a bust of the god carved into the side of the mountain measuring seven meters in height. Every year, the few hundred islanders and a large tribe of monkeys welcome over a million tourists, despite local protests about how the visitors are endangering their way of life.

2. Great Mosque – Kilwa Kisiwani, Tanzania

As the oldest standing mosque on the east coast of Africa, the Great Mosque of Kilwa Kisiwani has been around since the 14th century. The island on which it is located was a key trading port in the Indian Ocean and saw shipments of ivory and gold as well as upwards of 20,000 African slaves pass through on their way to Europe and North America. Sailors stopping by on their journeys could enter the halls and worship under the 16 coral and timber domes, built specifically with such materials to withstand the elements. The local sultan added an extension to the south side of the mosque in the 14th century, including the “Great Dome” which also boasts an inscription by Ibn Battuta, an explorer known commonly as the Islamic Marco Polo.

Because Kilwa Kisiwani is a coastal city, local experts have long been expressing concerns about the dangers of coastal erosion to the integrity of the historical ruins. Rising water levels in the Indian Ocean are threatening the UNESCO heritage site as well as disrupt the locals’ way of life. 

3. Comalcalco – Tabasco, Mexico

The Mexican state of Tabasco sits on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and experiences regular flooding. If sea levels continue to rise, the region and its incredible Mayan ruins could be completely submerged.

Aside from the temples, monuments and palaces typical of ancient Mayan ruins, the historical city of Comalcalco in Tabasco is also home to ancient cocoa farms and chocolate factories. Given its strategic location between the lush greenery that borders the Rio Seco, Comalcalco was an important trade center between the ports on the nearby coast and communities inland to the east. The city is also unique in that many of its buildings were constructed using kiln-fired bricks, which is why its name translates to “place of the clay griddles'' in Nahuatl. Many of these bricks are adorned with various glyphs and carvings of Mayan religious figures, making the site extremely valuable for archaeologists and a favorite of visiting tourists.

4. Gran Teatro Falla – Cadíz, Spain

The Gran Teatro Falla has stood as a prime example of neo-Mudejar architecture in the southwestern Spanish city of Cadíz since 1905. Named after famous Spanish composer Manuel de Falla, the red-brick building is affectionately known by locals as the “House of Colored Bricks” for its striking facade. The ceiling of the great hall is decorated with artist Felipe Abarzuza’s fresco of “El Paraíso” or Paradise, which was a new addition after the original Gran Teatro de Cádiz was destroyed in a fire in 1881. It took 21 years and three different architects for the new theater to be rebuilt, but it is still used to this day by various local groups throughout the year for theater, dance, music and film.

Unfortunately, Cadíz has also been identified as one of the Spanish cities that will be most negatively impacted by rising sea levels in the Mediterranean. This places the Gran Teatro, along with many other museums and historical monuments in the city, at risk of sinking.

5. Wat Mahathat – Ayutthaya, Thailand

Thailand is among the many Southeast Asian countries that experiences a heavy monsoon season. Locals are used to seeing city streets completely submerged underwater between July and October every year. In 2011, the Buddhist University located at Wat Mahathat in the city of Ayutthaya experienced severe flooding as a result of the rains, and climate change’s effects on weather patterns continue to threaten the site.

This royal temple is believed to be one of the first built during the reign of the Ayutthaya Kingdom and includes various pagodas, a royal hall, numerous smaller temples for worship and a large sandstone bust of Buddha. It is a beautiful example of traditional Khmer architecture and also features ancient murals that extend across through the courtyards and chambers under groves of bodhi trees. The site is a popular destination for a large number of Buddhist pilgrims who journey across Southeast Asia each year to visit the oldest bell-shaped relic in the world, located in the center of the compound. At present, Wat Mahathat serves as the headquarters for Thailand’s largest monastic order, the Mahanikai school of Buddhism.

6. Roman Ruins – Tipaza, Algeria

The northern Algerian village of Tipaza is known for its scattering of Roman, Byzantine, Phoenician and early Christian ruins. Given its coastal location, it was prone to conquest by various sea-faring groups as early as the 6th century BCE. Nestled among golden beaches and pine tree forests, there are still remnants of a Punic necropolis, a Roman amphitheater once used for gladiator fights, various religious complexes and even thermal baths. The most notable monument is a royal mausoleum where the sole daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony is buried with her husband. The ancient town center was also surrounded by a defensive wall constructed by the Romans, most of which was deconstructed so that its materials could be reused for building Algiers.

UNESCO has already identified the ruins at Tipaza as being at heightened risk from flooding and erosion. The probability it estimated is also supposed to triple by 2050 if water levels in the Mediterranean continue to rise at present rates.

7. Iglesia Santo Domingo – Panama City, Panama

Rising water levels in the South Pacific, in addition to the heavy rains experienced by Panama during their annual wet season, are threatening many older neighborhoods and the historical buildings within. This will only worsen as climate change continues.

The Iglesia Santo Domingo is one of the most iconic buildings in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City. The church is most well known for the flat arch—“Arco Chato”—that stretched across its interior courtyard with no support from its construction from 1678-2003 when it finally fell but was soon rebuilt. Because the arch was able to withstand two centuries worth of earthquakes, Governor Antonio Fernández de Córdoba selected Panama over Nicaragua to be the site of the interoceanic canal—the famous Panama Canal. Ravaged by fire in 1756, the church has stood as an empty brick shell ever since. It now houses the Museum of Religious Colonial Art, which exhibits various Panamanian artifacts from the 16th century onwards.

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Tanaya is an undergraduate student pursuing a major in Public Health at the University of Chicago. She's lived in Asia, Europe and North America and wants to share her love of travel and exploring new cultures through her writing.