500 thoughtfully chosen treasures that will inspire and enlighten travelers of all ages This book enables passionate travelers and the eco-conscious to learn about and plan a visit to see rare cultural, historic, and natural places before they are irrevocably altered or even gone forever. Included are one-of-a-kind landscapes, fragile ecosystems, rare bird habitats, places to see the last remaining species of big game in the wild, cityscapes in peril, vanishing cultural kitsch, petroglyphs, and more. This Second Edition offers new reviews and updates on such topics as the Gulf Coast after the BP oil spill, the effects of earthquakes in Asia and Haiti, and improvements and progress in the fight to preserve threatened places.