On the coasts of North Africa, ancient cities have "survived" for thousands of years. The columns of Cartagena, in present-day Tunisia, are a reminder of the once vibrant Phoenician and Roman port, and along the coast to what is now Libya, lie the magnificent ruins of the Roman amphitheater of Sabrath.
Africa's iconic natural sites date back even further, such as the ancient coral reef of Seychelles's Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean, which is thought to be about 125,000 years old.
But extreme weather events and rising sea levels mean all three - and about 190 other spectacular heritage sites off the coast of Africa - will be at risk of severe flooding and erosion in the next 30 years, according to a study. most recently published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
Sea levels have risen at a faster rate over the past three decades compared to the 20th century, the study says, and the risks of climate change such as floods, heat waves and fires are becoming more common.
The study's author, Nicholas Simpson, believes the findings serve as an important alarm to boost climate adaptation measures and funding across the continent.