Jul 09, 2015 10:06 PM EDT
Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat Part of 9 Tourist Spots In Danger

CNN listed 9 of the world's dying tourist attractions, which are mostly caused by climate change and lack of support from the governments' tourism ends to preserve.

"Sites all over the world are under threat at any given moment," Global Heritage Fund's executive director Stefaan Poortman told CNN. "Apart from the monuments and ancient cities in the Middle East, I would say historic districts of major cities in Asia face the highest threat due to the unchecked sprawl and development."

First on the list is Machu Picchu in Peru, which Poortman says is "swamped with tourism."

"Tourism is not regulated well enough and the massive influx is putting a strain on sites all over the world," Poortman added. "Not only does it affect the sites but at a certain point, if unchecked, tourism can negatively impact the quality of life for local communities as well."

Another well-known tourist site, the Angkor Wat is among those who don't get enough tourism support. Visited bu a couple of million people in 2013, Angkor's major sites, Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and the Bayon suffer damages due to the growing tourist traffic.

The Great Wall of China just lost 30% of its structure caused by natural erosion and visitor damage. About 2,000 kilometers of China's shield built to protect citizens during the Ming dynasty disappeared out of the 8,000-kilometer wall.

Iconic graves such as Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt and the Taj Mahal in India are also among the listed due to tourist visits. Experts say that the moisture of the visitors' breaths had caused damages in the Egyptian Pharoah's tomb, while welcoming four million tourists every year threatens the memoriam built by Hindu Emperor Shuh Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

In Europe, the Vatican's Sistine Chapel that displays Michelangelo's painting on the ceiling is currently saving the historic location from tourism's harmful effects.

Spain's Caves of Alamira has partially closed the viewing of the 20,000 year-old drawings to avoid further damages caused by tourists.

Also included in the list of nature's finest attractions that are slowly disappearing are the Great Barrier Reef, that is expected to have marine species become extinct in 2050, and Kenya's Maasai Mara, where tourists flock to flock to see wild life animals roam free.  

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