The rising of sea levels as a consequence of global warming has put many U.S. historical monuments in danger, some of them truly emblematic such as the Statue of Liberty and the Kennedy Space Center, warned a report made by experts, made public on Tuesday.
According to CNN, the document published by the Union of Concerned Scientists lists 30 U.S. national treasures which are threatened either by rising sea levels or by the fires in the western United States, a region where these incidents are becoming more common.
As the scientists warn, both phenomenons are closely linked to global warming, since both the melting of the polar ice caps and droughts (which are conducive to forest fires) are a product of environmental polluting and the greenhouse effect caused by human activity.
Besides the Statue of Liberty and the Kennedy Space Center, from where the historic shuttle carrying the first men to set foot on the moon took off, the report from the Union of Concerned Scientists mentions Jamestown, in Virginia, the first permanent British colony in the American continent is threatened by rising sea levels and, according to the experts, might be submerged completely by the end of the century.
"You can also almost follow the history of the United States in these places. The risk is the destruction of the patchwork witness to the heritage and history of the nation," said Adam Markham, researcher for the private organization Union of Concerned Scientists and coauthor of the report, wrote Time magazine.
"Reducing carbon emissions significantly and quickly might be a way to slow down the rising of sea levels, limiting the rising temperatures and stopping the expansion of forest fires," warned Angela Anderson, the group's director, through a statement to the media, according to CNN.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
