Landscapes shape our sense of place, yet Earth is constantly changing. The forces of volcanism, wind, water, sun, and, yes, humans, conspire to transform what has been crafted into familiar terrain over millennia—pummeling cliffs into beaches, eroding vast canyons, forming new land with bubbling lava, and shifting the course of mighty rivers.

In the last 50 years alone, hundreds of scenic natural landmarks around the world have drastically shape-shifted, never to return to their former states. They serve as reminders that our planet is a dynamic and impermanent place. See some of the places that we have recently lost, and similarly fragile sites you can still visit.