Top 30 Times Morons RUINED Natural Wonders

United States
Even the most beautiful locations aren’t safe from being sacrificed. In its prime, Hetch Hetchy was one of the most gorgeous valleys in the western United States. Consisting of meadows, forests, and bodies of water, it was an ecologically diverse area that stunned for generations. However, after a devastating earthquake and subsequent fire in 1906, officials decided to use the valley as a water source for San Francisco. The 1913 Raker Act enabled the area to be flooded and dammed, permanently altering the landscape. The decision was controversial, leading to debates that continue to resonate today. Even though it can still be hiked and enjoyed, Hetch Hetchy’s beauty is only a fraction of what it once was.

England
Some actions are so mindless that it’s impossible to tell why they were done in the first place. Once serving as a symbol of North East England, the Sycamore Gap tree stood proudly for over a century. That wasn’t enough to protect it from its eventual fate. In 2023, locals awoke to see the tree chopped down. It was later found to be deliberate, leading many to wonder the reason for such a needless act. Two men from Cumbria have been charged with criminal damage. Whether they’re found guilty or not though, it won’t erase the destruction of a national icon

United States
During the 2018 shutdown of the United States federal government, countless entities were impacted. Unlike most, Joshua Tree National Park made the bold choice to remain open with a smaller staff. While their intentions were to continue to provide people with a beautiful open space, the decision came back to bite them. With only eight rangers trying to supervise an enormous park, visitors had essentially free reign to do as they wished– which, for some, was to cause mass destruction. There were various acts of vandalism, from trees being chopped down to fires being set. The damage was so intense that a former park superintendent predicted it would take centuries to repair—all thanks to one 5-week period.

United States
Ah, young love. Promposals are nothing new. For decades, teenagers have gone to extreme lengths to ask one another to the yearly dance, with some invitations even going viral. In 2018, one student proved that they can go too far after spray-painting love messages and an invitation on Colorado National Monument. The park—made up of gorgeous canyons and intricate rock formations— would’ve been a perfect location to ask someone to prom in person. However, the suspect caused damage that required extensive cleaning. Although officials have searched hard, to this day the perpetrator remains uncaught– and unfortunately, it appears as though that may always be the case.

China
This is why we can’t have nice things. In fall, Muhlenbergia capillaris—also known as the hairawn muhly—grows a layer of vibrant pink flowers, causing it to stand out. The plant’s seeds had been transported from Australia to a riverside park in the city of Hangzhou, China, in 2016. But just two years later, tourists flocked to the park, using it as the ultimate aesthetic background for their selfies. The amount of spectators visiting it caused whole patches to be trampled, forcing the pink grass to be removed days after it arrived. This brought an end to what had once been an interesting way of increasing traffic in the area.

China
Even the most unfathomable of natural phenomena isn’t safe from human meddling. With its vibrant colors and millions of years worth of sandstone and other minerals, Zhangye Danxia is one of the most unique landforms on Earth. Some areas are completely closed off to visitors– but unfortunately, that didn’t stop a small group of tourists from inviting themselves in. They filmed themselves walking across the ancient scape, bragging about how they snuck in and were wrecking the 6,000-year-old area. They were rightfully dragged online afterwards—but the damage had already been done. Although it seemed minor, a staff member revealed that it would take decades for it to heal– proving that even the smallest actions can have vast consequences.

United States
Something as simple as a fossil can be a powerful reminder of the vast life that came before us. There are multiple sites in Utah where people can observe the footprints of dinosaurs that walked there eons ago. While most would be humbled by such a sight, others proved to not be so impressed. Throughout 2018, several tracks at Red Fleet State Park were dislodged and thrown into a lake. While some pieces were recovered, others were assumed to be gone for good. This isn’t the only notable dinosaur track location in Utah to be affected by human behavior. In 2022, a 112-million-year-old site was harmed after being driven over by construction vehicles.

United States
You’d think an organism that stood for well over three thousand years would be indestructible—but sometimes, all it takes is one careless act ... The Senator had been the oldest bald cypress tree not just in Florida, but the entire world. Reaching a staggering 125 feet, it was a proud reminder of nature’s resilience. On one fateful night in 2012, all of that was wiped out when a woman ignited a garbage fire near the base. It quickly grew out of control, burning the tree from the inside out. Since the horrible incident, the Senator has been memorialized via art and renovations to the area—and it is still mourned to this day.

United States
In recent decades, there’s been more of an effort to encourage people to respect the Earth and their local natural areas. While some have taken that to heart, others still choose the path of mindless destruction. In the spring of 2024, two men were filmed pushing over rocks at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The formation had reportedly been formed from dunes that had existed there over a hundred million years ago - only to be ruined within a span of minutes. The suspects were found and indicted, and could face up to ten years behind bars, if convicted.

England
This was the ultimate act of teenage rebellion gone horribly wrong. The Brimham Rocks site is one of the most awe-inspiring in all of England, with its foundations dating back over 300 million years. The constant erosion caused some extremely unique formations to take shape, with many seemingly defying gravity. Several are still standing today—but one in particular met a brutal, unnatural end. A group of young people were reportedly seen shoving it off the cliff it was balanced on, causing it to shatter on the ground below. In one horrific act, eons of natural development were erased. Despite there being witnesses, the perpetrators were never caught.

Paraguay & Brazil
It’s kind of strange to see a deceased symbol next to a massive waterfall’s entry on Wikipedia, but here we are. These stunning falls on the Paraná River roared so loudly that they could be heard from 20 miles away. Their size and deafening sound drew in tourists from around the world, and the falls were deeply loved by local people. In 1973, the Itaipu Dam was announced, and the falls’ days were numbered. Over the next nine years, crowds visited the area for a chance to see the falls one last time. Tragedy struck when a bridge collapsed and killed several tourists. The falls completely disappeared in 1982, much to the sadness of those who enjoyed their beauty.

Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan
You might be wondering how an entire sea can disappear, but never underestimate the power of poorly planned farming practices. In order to grow large amounts of cotton, the Soviet government diverted the waters of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers from the Aral Sea to the desert. The sea shrank from 26,300 square miles in 1960 to four small lakes totaling 6,626 square miles in 2004. The remnants of the Aral Sea are highly toxic and too salty to support many forms of life, which has partially led to the probable extinction of the Aral trout and Syr Darya sturgeon. Additionally, the toxins have led to a tragic increase in cancer in the people who live in the region.

Canada
This beautiful, unique tree met its unfortunate demise at the hands of one man. The Kiidk’yaas was a Sitka spruce that had a rare genetic mutation. The spruce’s unusual golden color made it stand out among the other trees, and it was sacred to the indigenous Haida people. The Golden Spruce even featured in Haida mythology. In January 1997 however, forest engineer Grant Hadwin made cuts in the iconic tree as an act of protest - causing it to fall two days later. Hadwin faxed in his confession to both the media and the Haida nation. He disappeared on his way to his trial and has not been seen since.

United States
Yes, this is yet another North American tree that was cut down, but at least it was apparently an accident this time. Prometheus was a Great Basin bristlecone pine, and it was believed to be more than 4,800 years old, making it the oldest non-clonal organism known to man. In 1964, graduate student Donald R. Currey was studying ancient trees. Accounts vary as to why Currey cut and sectioned Prometheus instead of simply collecting a core sample. However, Currey claimed he and the United States Forest Service personnel who helped him did not know about the tree’s significance. Sadly, no matter the circumstances, all that remains of Prometheus is a very large stump.

United States
Once upon a time, the only risk associated with baby showers was encountering some bad punch, but nowadays, they can cause massive wildfires that destroy thousands of acres of parklands. In September 2020, Refugio Manuel Jimenez, Jr. and Angela Renee Jimenez decided to reveal their baby’s gender with a smoking pyrotechnical device. The device smoked a little too much and started a fire. The blaze spread over more than 22,000 acres and resulted in the death of firefighter Charlie Morton. If you want to have a gender reveal party, maybe stick with pink or blue cupcakes instead of involuntary manslaughter and massive destruction.

Peru
The beautiful and culturally significant Nazca Lines survived two millennia of weather, but even they could not escape the stupidity of people. The UNESCO World Heritage site covers a large area, so it is, in theory, pretty difficult to miss. Unfortunately, in 2018 a truck driver still managed to ruin part of the important site. Jainer Jesus Flores Vigo drove over a portion of the lines, destroying some of the images. Along with a much smaller but still significant act of vandalism by activists, this encouraged more stringent security around the area.

The Bahamas
What’s better than serene, beautiful beach time? Serene, beautiful beach time with sweet, adorable pigs, of course. The famous Big Major Cay pigs are so friendly and trusting that they’ll even swim with tourists, making for wonderful memories and gorgeous pictures. Unfortunately, the flood of visitors has also resulted in pollution and overly crowded sands. In 2017, over half a dozen pigs were found dead; tourists were blamed for feeding the pigs inappropriate food, including rum, and throwing food into the sand, which the pigs ingested along with the tasty morsels. Thankfully, the remaining pigs seem to be doing well, but make sure you always refrain from feeding wildlife, no matter how cute it is.

Ecuador
Ever since humans first started visiting these breathtakingly beautiful islands, they’ve been causing problems. The flora and fauna of the Galapagos have developed in unique ways, but this sadly makes them vulnerable when it comes to competition. Humans have been intentionally and unintentionally introducing invasive species of plants and animals to this beautiful archipelago for centuries. Some of these invasive species have caused quite a few problems for the native ones, including habitat loss and food competition. Thankfully, efforts have been introduced in an attempt to reduce and reverse the negative impacts.

Chile
Nicknamed the “crown jewel of Patagonia,” this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is a gorgeous and unique area. Home to endangered species and stunning views, Torres del Paine National Park draws in hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. Unfortunately, not every visitor is as responsible as they should be. This national park suffered from two large fires six years apart. The first, in 2005, was caused by a tourist’s overturned gas stove, and it burned about 15,000 hectares. The second, larger fire, burned 17,000 hectares and was caused by a tourist lighting toilet paper on fire. Both fires killed thousands of animals and caused massive damage. The next time you go camping, make sure you heed Smokey Bear’s advice.

Cambodia
The destruction of any natural wonder is tragic, but it’s even worse when it has an enormous human cost as well. This lake’s shores in Phnom Penh were home to thousands of people who depended on its waters for food and money from tourism. In 2007, the city’s government announced the sale of the lake and its surrounding area to a property development firm. The developers pumped mud and sand into the lake, transforming it from a sprawling body of water to a puddle. Thousands of families were displaced or evicted from their homes due to this horrific undertaking.

United States
A critically endangered species of pupfish only lives in Devils Hole in Nevada. They’re so valued as unique that they spawned “Save the Pupfish” bumper stickers in the 1960s and 70s. This led the US government to spend millions of dollars to preserve them. In April 2016, three men broke into the secured area around Devils Hole. They destroyed surveillance cameras, and one man even jumped into the hole, smashing pupfish eggs during their peak spawning season. The vandalism led to the death of one of the valued pupfish, lowering that spring’s population from 115 to 114. Ultimately, the vandals were charged with violating the Endangered Species Act, and security around the pupfish habitat was further heightened.

Australia
Uluru is an iconic monolith that stands as one of the most recognizable aspects of Australian geography and as a sacred landmark to the Aboriginal people of the area. When tourists began flocking to the area in the 1930s, some of them made a huge negative environmental impact. Visitors climbed the sacred sandstone rock against the wishes of the local Aṉangu and even relieved themselves on the site By the 1970s, human waste was blamed for eliminating a rare species of shrimp that lived exclusively on what’s also known as Ayers Rock. Over the years, there were even more incidents of tourist indecency, including a woman removing much of her clothing upon reaching the top of Uluru. In 2019, a ban on climbing Uluru finally went into effect to help preserve the site.

South China Sea
Also known as the Xisha Islands, the Paracel Archipelago are in a disputed area in the South China Sea. Their stunningly clear waters are home to many rare sea creatures and colorful coral reefs. When the islands were opened up to tourism and cruises in 2013, the wildlife immediately suffered. Tourists plucked ocean animals from their homes, including lobsters and rare endangered giant clams, and ate them. They even broke off pieces of coral to take home as souvenirs. While many of these actions are illegal, that didn’t prevent ignorant tourists from posting about their crimes on social media.

United States
Despite its name, this gorgeous dry lake in Death Valley is not designed for high-speed vehicles. Its name comes from the mysterious sailing stones that leave behind noticeable trails across the level, pristine surface. Racetrack Playa’s beautiful and unusual landscape was vandalized in 2016 when a driver tore through the fragile area and left behind 10 miles of ruts. The driver spun all over the dry lake, cutting swerves and donuts all over the ground. This blatant act of vandalism caused significant, noticeable and long-lasting damage to the picturesque surface crust of Racetrack Playa.

Spain
While the beautiful Isla de Sa Porrassa is uninhabited, tourists still frequent it while vacationing in the area. In fact, some holidaymakers have made it a rite of passage to try to make it to the island while under the influence, despite police warnings. In 2015, two teenagers were exploring the island. In a grand and stupid move, they dropped a lit cigarette. It caused an enormous blaze across the island. The fire tore through several acres and required two helicopters carrying water to douse the flames. Although the incident was treated as an accident, it does serve as a testament to the foolishness of some tourists.

Ireland
The world-famous Cliffs of Moher are among Europe’s most stunning natural wonders and are gorgeous on their own. However, in 2013, a group of artists apparently thought they could one-up one of Mother Nature’s most beautiful pieces of art by adding onto it. Much to the dismay of geologists, they graffitied the highest point of the cliffs. As if it were not obvious enough that these vandals were not the brightest stars in the sky, they recorded themselves in the act. They also graffitied several other sites and posted every act of vandalism on their social media before deactivating their accounts.

United States
Oregon's Duckbill was a unique sandstone hoodoo that was iconic on the titular state’s coast and attracted many tourists every single year. The Duckbill survived decades of winds and tides from the Pacific to serve as a scenic spot for visitors. It could not, however, survive a group of teenage vandals. They toppled the one-of-a-kind hoodoo after their friend allegedly broke a leg on the rock formation. The group claimed they were performing a service to the public, despite several warning signs and the area around the Duckbill being surrounded by a fence. Although the vandals were filmed in the act, they were never caught.

Niger
Once deemed the globe’s most isolated tree, this acacia was thought to be the only tree for more than 250 miles. It was considered an iconic part of Niger’s landscape, especially recognized as a landmark on caravan routes through that area of the Sahara Desert. And it even was included on maps. Despite being the only obstacle for literally miles, even this isolated tree could not escape unscathed from ridiculous human behavior. In 1973, the tree was inexplicably hit by a truck driver. Their actions removed an important feature from Niger’s landscape. While a memorial sculpture now stands in its place, the tree can never truly be replaced.

United States
Camping among centuries of geological history seems like a dream come true. But that dream can come crashing down, literally, when morons get involved. One of Utah’s most memorable geographic features are its ancient and giant mushroom-like hoodoos. In 2013, a Boy Scout troop was visiting the magical and hoodoo-filled Goblin Valley State Park. According to the troop leaders, however, there were goblin hoodoos that seemed too dangerous. Fearing that one of them could crush someone, the troop leaders toppled the supposedly threatening ancient formation. They could’ve easily just reported the potential danger and stayed away from it. Instead, they filmed and posted their destructive behavior and then were subsequently removed from their leadership roles. Too bad restoring the goblin hoodoos isn’t that easy.

New Guinea, Indonesia
The incredible Raja Ampat reefs, sometimes called the Underwater Amazon, are among the most important ecosystems in the world because they contain the most marine life diversity on Earth. Because of their beauty and amazing coral reef biodiversity, they attract quite a few visitors that unfortunately, included one particularly destructive cruise ship. The ship ran aground at low tide and caused irreversible damage to the important ecosystem. Over 17 000 square feet of the reef were damaged. The damage was determined to be worth nearly $19 million, and recovery will take decades. With the worldwide decline of coral reefs, this was considered a huge global blow to marine wildlife.



Which natural wonders would you like to visit? Let us know in the comments below.

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