3. The Everglades, USA
This natural wonder in Florida is shrinking. Since 2000, a 30-year plan to restore the popular “River of Grass” has been in operation. Still, the everglades are now smaller than the state of New Jersey and its 1.5-million-acre expanse is half of its original size. Human interference has impacted the water quality and climate. Nevertheless, it’s still the residence of the American crocodile, the Florida panther, the manatee, and the Pine Rockland Trapdoor Spider.
4. Belize Barrier Reef, Belize
This is the world’s second-largest coral reef and unsurprisingly it’s in trouble. It lost half of its coral in numerous areas including its distinctive staghorn coral in 1998. The 300-kilometer reef–where you’ll find the well-known Blue Hole–is home to many marine animals. 90 percent of the species there have yet to be identified and many are currently at risk because of man-made pollution, especially plastic. Over 1,000 species of sea creatures remain at risk.
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