Delos World Heritage Site: Is the water over our history?

Delos World Heritage Site: Is the water over our history?

Delos, Griechenland - The Greek island of Delos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and important archaeological site, faces dramatic changes through the increase in sea level. According to a report by Tagesschau there are already parts of the ruins in the water, while the sea level has worked up to 20 meters. Many temples and ruins are now less than a meter above sea level.

The archaeologist Veronique Chankowski points to the ruinous conditions because some sights are already under water. A dramatic increase in sea level could make Delos disappear within the next 50 years, as scientists warn. This is particularly worrying because the island is one of the most important sanctuaries of the ancient Greek and Roman world.

forecasts and solutions

climate researcher Hans Joachim Schellnhuber forecast that the sea level could rise by up to two meters by the end of the century with the possibility of an increase of ten to twenty meters in the coming centuries. Drishti IAS v. BC. The challenges are to preserve both the archaeological remains and to find suitable solutions to protect the site.

Costas Synolakis proposes the construction of a wall as possible protection against the sea, but warns of the need to constantly increase it. An immediate reduction in CO2 emissions is considered essential to slow down the increase in sea level. Innovative approaches to climate -friendly building on Delos include the use of wood and bamboo instead of concrete and steel. Schellnhuber emphasizes that modern techniques enable the construction of wood scratches.

culture and climate change

climate change not only affects Delos, but also has long -term consequences for the overall World Heritage Site. According to a report by Archeology online , 40 cultural sites could already be threatened worldwide when the global average temperature increases. With a temperature increase of 3 degrees, even around 20% of the World Heritage Site would be at risk.

The increasingly visible consequences of climate change, such as rising temperatures and humidity, change the chemical composition of the materials in cultural heritage monuments. A persistent increase in sea levels could endanger the future of many significant sites, including Delos, and to significantly change the cultural structure. This affects not only the ancient sites in Greece, but also historical city centers in cities such as Naples, Istansbul and St. Petersburg.

The global average temperature has already increased by 0.8 degrees Celsius since the pre -industrial period. If the greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, the temperatures could increase up to 5 degrees by the end of the century and affect affected regions such as Southeast Asia and Florida.

DELOS is therefore not only an example of a cultural loss, but also symbolizes the global struggle against climate change. The need to protect humanity and at the same time find innovative solutions is more urgent than ever.