On Dec. 2, the island of Whakaari in New Zealand erupted into a fiery blaze, killing over 46 people. Those affected by the blaze had been visiting the island in order to observe the highly active volcano there.

The tragic event is still affecting families across the world.

But the spread of tourism to iconic world wonders continues to have ramifications–not only on visitors but also wildlife. 

The Galapagos Islands have also suffered as a result of overcrowding. Both the sea cucumber and many species of sharks are now being hunted at an alarming rate. In addition to overfishing becoming a growing concern, humans have introduced several invasive species to the islands, weakening the ecosystem and putting organisms on the islands at a disadvantage for survival.

Spanish teacher Stephanie Risius recalled her experiences within the Galapagos with students. “We had to stay with a guide the entire time,” she said. “They also watch where large cruise ships dock in order to prevent accidents from occurring near the islands.” Modern society has not only affected the beauty of natural wonders but also ancient creations.

With paintings dating all the way back to 17,000 BCE, the Lascaux Cave in France has been closed to the public since 1963 due to a lack of respect from tourists.. The paintings depict bison, deer and other animals that were abundant during this time. Though the paintings provide insight on life thousands of years ago, the negative influence of tourists prevents other exposure to the ancient artwork. 

The simple introduction of human presence has negatively affected several places; tourists have made their mark (literally) on places like the Colosseum in Rome, where tourists have been caught not only carving their initials into the stone, but also attempting to steal pieces of brick and vandalizing the structure. 

Risius visited the Colosseum in years past, recounting the sites she saw. “People just aren’t being respectful of things, and that’s what you see reflected all around,” she said. “We saw initials carved in the walls everywhere. It amazes me that people even think to do something like deface a national heritage monument.”

The Pravcicka Brana in the Czech Republic has also experienced the negative ramifications of unwanted visitors. Closed to public visitors since 1982, the stunning arch was affected by erosion from its thousands of tourists each year, and now sits unvisited.

Though the island of Whakaari and the Lascaux Cave may not be considered world wonders, even places like Machu Picchu have come under fire for the negative effects they have experienced as a result of humans.

Machu Picchu has experienced not only severe erosion as a result of its thousands of visitors but also several counts of vandalism. In 2000, a sundial in Machu Picchu was cracked as a result of the filming of a beer commercial by a camera crew.

“With travel nowadays everyone is trying for their Instagram picture,” said Risius. “We have a generation that is growing up with both access to Instagram and a greater access to travel, which is a dangerous pairing.”

While its structures may be beautiful, many believe Machu Picchu’s preservation is more important than a sightseer’s experience with it.

“It would be better to only let a few people in at a time,” said Senior Nihar Behere. “Vandalism by tourists needs to be combated, and this way a better eye could be kept on tourists.”

Across the globe, historic relics provide information regarding different eras and groups of people throughout history. As tourists continue to deface such places, however, the possibility to experience these places may one day be lost forever.