Over a third of Türkiye and Greece’s heritage sites threatened by rising sea levels, study finds

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🗞️ Driving the news: A new study reveals that over a third of historical sites in Türkiye and Greece are at risk of submersion due to rising sea levels
• The research highlights that 147 archaeological sites along the Aegean coastlines face some level of risk, with some already showing signs of damage from increased flooding

🔭 The context: Rising global temperatures are causing ice sheets and glaciers to melt, leading to higher sea levels
• Among the most endangered sites are the ancient cities of Knidos and Kaunos in Türkiye and Delos in Greece, which are already experiencing structural damage from flooding

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The potential loss of these heritage sites underscores the broader cultural and historical impacts of climate change
• Protecting these sites is not only about preserving history but also about maintaining a link to humanity's shared past, which is increasingly threatened by environmental changes

⏭️ What's next: The study recommends immediate implementation of protective measures to safeguard high-risk areas
• This includes the creation of ‘inundation risk maps’ to better plan and execute strategies for preserving vulnerable cultural heritage sites

💬 One quote: “To ensure the long-term success of these studies and safeguard humanity’s shared cultural heritage, it is imperative to prioritise the implementation of these studies in high-risk areas as soon as possible,” stated Enes Zengin, the study's author

📈 One stat: Of the 464 historical sites analyzed, 34 are at ‘very high’ risk, 19 at ‘high’ risk, and 27 at ‘medium’ risk of being submerged due to sea level rise

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