Not so long ago, if you found yourself in New Hampshire you could look up at the White Mountains, specifically Cannon Mountain and see an outcropping of rocks which was known as The Old Man of the Mountain. The name came from the fact that the rocks created the shape of a man in profile. The Old Man was so well known that at one time American politician Daniel Webster saw it as a sign from god saying,”…in the mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men.”
The unique rock formation was even immortalized on the state’s quarter. In 2003, after years of freezing and thawing, the outcropping finally collapsed. The locals were extremely saddened and commemorated the spot below where it stood with a memorial.
Elephant Rock
Elephant Rock was a beautiful, scenic and extremely popular tourist spot for travelers. Located in the Hopewell Rocks Park, in the Canadian Province of New Brunswick, this stunning Flowerpot Formation disappeared in the spring of 2016.
Apparently, around 200 tons of rocks toppled down from the formation and turned the once-jawdropping spot into ruins. Sadly, this was a prime lookout point for travelers to enjoy the broad range of tides of the Bay of Fundy.
Waimangu Geyser
The eruption of Mount Tarawera, which was the end of the Pink and White Terraces, also had a surprisingly positive outcome, it created the Waimangu Geyser. The geyser, which is also considered a wonder of the world, was named for the black sand and minerals it spewed out and is known to this day as the most powerful geyser in history.
The geyser would erupt roughly every 36 hours and would reach massive heights of 450. Tourists soon began flocking to the area to witness the marvel. In 1903, the geyser’s eruptions began to sputter out and it became completely inactive in 1904.
Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is a coastal area in Italy which is known for its beauty and remoteness. Although it is still possible to visit the area, it gets harder every year and may be impossible in the future. Cinque Terre is joining the growing number of overcrowded tourist destinations that are limiting the number of yearly visitors.
The limit is currently set at 1.5 million people per year, after over 2.5 million people visited last year and completely overran the area’s infrastructure. Pedometers on the trails will keep track of visitors and once the 1.5 million limit is reached, all access will be closed off.
The Love Locks on Pont Des Arts
Not so long ago, happy couples visiting Paris would stop at the Pont des Arts to buy an overpriced padlock and announce their love to the world by locking it to the bridge’s metal grilles and throwing the keys in the river. But the romantic tradition had its downside, with 700,000 locks weighing down the bridge and causing several sections to collapse.
Critics claimed that the combined weight of all the locks equaled roughly 45 tons and they were finally removed in 2015. The metal grills were replaced with plexiglass, providing a better view of the river and no place to latch on any more locks.