Incredible facts

Most people dream of spending their vacation somewhere by the sea or ocean, but there are also those who prefer somewhat unconventional tourist destinations.

Here are some of the weirdest tourist spots.

1.Mummy Museum of Guanajuata, Mexico

In 1870, the cemetery in Guanajuata began to quickly fill up due to a cholera outbreak. To help the city raise money, a law was passed that required families to pay 170 pesos to keep loved ones underground. Those who couldn't pay the bodies of loved ones were dug up, mummified and exhibited in the Museum of Mummies. In fact, almost 90 percent of the buried bodies were exhumed.

The cemetery tax was in effect until 1958, but the museum is still open and has become popular place for tourists. Many bodies were buried at once to prevent the spread of the disease, and in some cases the dying were accidentally buried alive. As a result, many mummies retained an expression of horror on their faces.

2. Waitomo Glowworm Cave, New Zealand

Despite the name, there are actually no fireflies in this cave. Fungus gnats of the Arachnocampa species, which were originally associated with European fireflies, live here. Fungus gnats are one of the most impressive sights of this cave due to their beautiful glow. The effect is further enhanced by the silk threads that these creatures weave around their nests, which enhances the natural glow and attracts other insects that get stuck in the threads.

The cave itself is filled with stalactites and stalagmites, and you can even ride a boat under glowing mushroom gnats, which creates a slightly romantic mood.

3. Witches Market, Bolivia

The city of La Paz in Bolivia is itself a popular tourist destination, as it is the administrative capital of the highest elevation in the world, located at an altitude of 3400 meters above sea level. But if you want to visit the real unusual place of this city, head to the Witches Market.

Here you can find dried animals, talisman stones and various potions. Maybe, One of the most exotic products here are dried llama fetuses, which bring good luck if buried under the threshold of a new home. If you came for a quick result, then for a fee to local sorcerers you can bewitch someone or curse an enemy.

4. Grutas Park, Lithuania

If you're tired of all the fun and want to immerse yourself in history, you can head to Grutas Park in Lithuania, where you can find a huge number of monuments and busts of Soviet-era leaders, fragments of Siberian camps, and many other attributes of that time.

In Grutas Park there is a house of culture, an art gallery with paintings by Soviet artists, a cafe where you can try iconic dishes such as Russian sprat, “Farewell to Youth” cutlet and “Nostalgia” borscht. On the territory you can also find a soda fountain, a monument to vodka, and Soviet-era songs are heard from loudspeakers.

5. Ice Aquarium, Japan

Who doesn't love watching fish swim in aquariums? But if you're tired of the usual aquariums and want to cool off in the hot summer, head to Kesennuma in Japan, where you can see the world's only ice aquarium.

More than 450 sea creatures, including crabs, fish, octopuses and other animals, were flash frozen and displayed in large ice cubes. For those who get hungry, there is a sushi restaurant nearby.

6. Phallological Museum, Iceland

At the Phallological Museum of Iceland you can admire 276 penises 46 different types, including whales, bears, seals, hamsters, humans and many others, which can be seen in great detail. The museum even has the penises of trolls and elves, but since according to Icelandic legend they are invisible, you won’t be able to see their penises.

Every year thousands of tourists, mostly women, visit this place. Men are also welcome, especially since the museum needs new, larger and even more impressive exhibits.

7. Wall of gum in Seattle

Seattle's Bubblegum Wall is perhaps the most unhygienic tourist attraction. The tradition of gluing gum to the wall dates back to 1993, when patrons lining up for theater tickets began gluing gum to the wall on Postal Alley in Seattle.

The creativity of many who left their mark here has made it a kind of art. Here you can find names sculpted from chewing gum, faces, declarations of love, chewing gum hanging from roofs and windows that look like stalactites and other chewing gum creations.

08/10/2015 at 01:51 pm · Johnny · 20 650

Top 10 most unusual monuments in the world

There are countless monuments in the world: famous and little-known, striking in their monumentality and miniature, ancient and modern, classical and avant-garde. But among them there are the most unusual monuments in the world, which are impossible to forget. The fashion for strange, funny and outlandish statues appeared at the end of the 20th century. Then, in many countries, not the usual classical sculptures and structures began to appear, but monuments that went beyond the usual.

10.

Located in Gateshead, England

This is the most unusual and avant-garde monument in Great Britain. The sculpture depicting an angel spreading its wings was created in 1998 by muralist Antony Gormley, known for his extraordinary works far beyond the country's borders. This monument is the largest image of an angel ever created by people.

A 20-meter figure made entirely of steel with wings outstretched to meet all the winds greets tourists on a hilltop near the city of Gateshead in the north of England. The monument weighs 208 tons. Most of weight falls on a concrete base that goes deep into the ground. Winds in this part of the country can reach 160 km/h and the pile foundation of the statue must securely support the figure of the angel for 100 years.

The most remarkable thing about the monument is the wings, the span of which is almost as large as that of a Boeing 747. Their length is 54 meters. Outwardly, the Angel of the North most resembles a cyborg rather than a messenger of heaven. It is noteworthy that at first the inhabitants of Britain reacted ambiguously to the construction of the monument, but now it is considered one of the most unusual and interesting attractions in the north of the country.

9.

The sculpture of Charles La Trobe in Melbourne is the most unusual monument famous person in the world.

This is a classic example of a monument created in honor of Charles La Trobe, the first Lieutenant Governor of Victoria. His activities at one time were not appreciated by his contemporaries. Sculptor Dennis Oppenheim decided to correct this omission and perpetuated the memory of La Trobe. The monument is unusual in that it is placed on its head. According to the author's idea, it should have attracted more attention. Indeed, the unusual monument “on the contrary” quickly became popular and famous not only in its homeland, Australia, but throughout the world.

8.

The most unusual monument in the world, dedicated to the wanderer, is located on the coast Mediterranean Sea, on the shore of the Bay of Antibes. It represents an eight-meter figure of a man sitting on the ground, clasping his knees with his hands, and thoughtfully looking at the sea. The monument is created from several thousand metal Latin letters and creates a feeling of extraordinary lightness and tranquility.

This unusual monument appeared in 2007. The author is the sculptor Zhom Plans. He said about his masterpiece that the statue symbolizes freedom. As for the letters, this is the baggage of knowledge, feelings and problems that the “wanderer” is concerned with.

7.

Denmark can boast of the most unusual and somewhat shocking monument to Themis, and not an ordinary one, but an bureaucratic one. Sculpture group consists of an emaciated African man who bears the portly figure of the goddess Themis. According to the author, Jens Galschiot, it symbolizes modern industrial society.

6.

The traffic light tree, a famous London landmark, has long been one of the most unusual monuments in the world. 75 traffic lights decorate the 8-meter tree.

5. Table lamp

An amazing monument is located in the Swedish city of Malmo. This is a huge table lamp the size of a three-story house (5.8 meters). During the year it “travels” through the streets and squares of the city, and before Christmas it is installed in the central square. The leg of the lamp is made in the form of a bench and any passerby can relax under the cozy light of the giant lampshade.

4.

A huge number of funny and interesting monuments are dedicated to animals. One of the most unusual monuments in the world, depicting a cat, is located in Maryland. The size of a person, the charming cat sits on a bench with his paw on its back and seems to invite passers-by to sit next to him.

3.

Robin White, a British artist, creates unusual aerial figures of fairy fairies from steel. First, the author makes the frame of the future sculpture from thick wire, and then creates the “flesh” of the fairy from thinner steel wire. The graceful wings of airy creatures are made from a chain-link mesh. Inside each figure the artist places an engraved stone - the heart of a fairy.

Most of the sculptures are located in Trentham Gardens in Staffordshire. Fairies are also commissioned from the artist for private collections - elegant figurines will decorate any garden or plot.

2.

This is one of the most unusual monuments in the world. More precisely, these are many sculptures united in the “Travelers” series. Their creator is the French artist Bruno Catalano. Due to their unusual structure, these monuments also have another name – “torn”. All of them depict travelers with a constant attribute in the form of a suitcase or bag. The peculiarity of the sculptures is the torn holes in the body, which give them a certain illusory and ghostly quality. In total, the author created about one hundred figures. They are in big cities and small villages, at international exhibitions, in shopping centers and everywhere fit harmoniously into the surrounding environment.

1.

First place, as the most unusual monument in the world, should be given to the sculpture of the Prince of Orange, mortally wounded during the siege of the city of Saint-Dizier in 1544. Before his death, Rene de Chalon bequeathed to depict him as he would look a few years after his death. The prince's will was fulfilled. The sculptor Ligier Richet showed extraordinary skill and precision in creating a statue that shows with amazing authenticity the anatomy of a half-decomposed body. The monument to René de Chalon is installed in one of the niches of the Bar-le-Duc temple and has amazed visitors with its realism for several centuries.

Our country is far from in last place in terms of the number of unusual monuments. We have a monument to happiness, a sculpture created in memory of the letter “e”, which is used less and less in writing, a monument to a stool, a wallet, an enema and a grater, a lamplighter, a student, a plumber, a shuttle worker and a beggar. Favorite literary and cartoon characters are also immortalized in sculpture: the kitten from Lizyukova Street, the postman Pechkin, the cat Behemoth and Koroviev.

What else to see:

There are a lot of famous attractions that no longer attract the interest of tourists. Many people think that it is already difficult to surprise them. The world is amazing and diverse, so this article will present the most unusual attractions around the world.

Monument to Sycophancy

An ironic structure that can be seen in Prague. The attraction is represented by several sculptures that symbolize lovers of sycophancy.

Keyhole

Rome is full of tourists; large queues form around monuments and museums. Of particular interest to tourists is the so-called keyhole. If you look into the well you can see three states at once.

Shoes on the Danube embankment

60 pairs of shoes were cast from cast iron and installed on the river bank in Budapest. The thing is that the end of World War II was marked by the mass destruction of the Jewish nation. The reprisal took place in a particularly brutal manner. 50 people were chained to one target, placed on the river bank, shot at the first one so that he would fall into the river and pull the rest with him.

Carhenge

In the USA there is an interesting attraction, namely a copy of Stonehenge. The sculptures are made from cars painted grey.

Traffic light tree

The tree is 8 meters high, on which there are 25 traffic lights. The tree is located on one of the London streets. The sculpture appeared in 1999 by one of the French sculptors. City motorists recognized the tree as an interesting option for street design. Today, such traffic lights can be found not only in London.

Official Themis

The satirical sculpture is located in Denmark. The author of the creation, thus, expressed his dissatisfaction with the emerging class inequality between people. The sculpture is presented in the form of two people, one of them is emaciated, but holds an overly well-fed man on his shoulders.

Fork with dumpling

Among Russian cities you can also find interesting sights. For example, a sculpture 3 meters high appeared in Izhevsk. The idea is quite simple, one of the manufacturers decided to promote their brand this way.

Sculpture in the form of an apple core

This kind of monument is located in Jerusalem. In this country, an apple is considered a symbol of discord, but a core is considered a consequence. It is this idea that can be traced in the idea.

Waterfall from toilets

The structure was made from 10 thousand real toilets. Each of them is connected to a water supply system, thanks to which a kind of waterfall is created.

Hotel called Can Sleep

This cozy place located in Denmark. There are about 144 two-story buildings on the territory and they are made in the form of beer cans. The buildings are designed to attract customers.

Merry Cemetery in Romania

All monuments are made in blue with sarcastic pictures. You can also read funny poems here; death is treated with humor here.

Underground temples in Italy

In Damanhur, the local community decided to build a temple, but they were afraid that it would be demolished by local authorities. It was decided that the temple would be located underground.

Published a guide to unknown corners of the planet. The list of the most amazing sights in the world consists of 600 places that once again emphasize the greatness of our planet.

The creators of the book, writer Neil Gaiman and film director Guillermo del Toro, are confident that this book is one of the best guides modernity, as it inspires travel and creativity.

Here's what ten modern "wonders of the world" look like:

Root bridges in Cherrapunji city, India

"Living" bridges were created with minimal human intervention, which only directed the growth of flexible roots. Thus, local residents Not only did they build strong bridges that can support up to 50 people, but they also did not harm nature.

Merry Cemetery, Romania

Thanks to the original multi-colored tombstones, which often depict episodes from the lives of the deceased. The first bright tombstone was installed here in 1935 by woodcarver Ioan Patras Stan. The cemetery reflects the culture of the ethnic tribes of Transylvania, for whom death is a joyful event.

Star City, Russia

In a closed urban village you can watch the cosmonauts prepare for the flight and get acquainted with modern technology and the history of Yuri Gagarin’s flight.

Fingal's Cave, Scotland

Many hexagonal basalt columns adorn the walls of the sea cave at desert island Staffa. Felix Mendelssohn wrote a wonderful overture inspired by these places.

Underground temples of Damanhur, Italy

The temple of the spiritual community of Damanhur in the cave took more than 15 years to build. The underground complex occupies 6 thousand cubic meters. Its walls are decorated with paintings and mosaics; the halls are adorned with stained glass windows, columns and sculptures.

Glowing waters in Toyama Bay, Japan

The bright neon glow of the water off the coast of Toyama Bay comes from firefly squids. Bioluminescent mollusks no more than 7 cm long differ from their large counterparts by the presence of photophores - organs that emit bright light.

Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshop, Ghana

Ghanaians believe that a coffin should reflect the character and habits of the deceased, and to be buried in such a coffin is considered the greatest respect.
The tradition of burying the dead in unusual coffins originated in Ghana since the middle of the last century, and since then the Kane Kwei Carpentry workshop has maintained this custom.

Paronella Park, Australia

All structures of the park, except the castle, are built of concrete and over 80 years have been covered with moss, which makes the park very picturesque. The unusual park was built by Spanish immigrant Jose Paronella, who in the 1930s began creating entertainment venues for local residents.

Stalactite Organ, Virginia, USA

In 1956, mathematician Leland Sprinkle noticed good musical resonance in the cave. Over several years of work, Sprinkle processed the rocks to perfect sound. Each resonator has a hammer attached to it, which is controlled electrically from a regular organ keyboard.

Lightning of Catatumbo, Venezuela

Where the Catatumbo River flows into Lake Maracaibo, winds coming from the Andes cause thunderstorms, and methane, which is rich in the atmosphere of these wetlands, rises to the clouds and fuels lightning strikes. Lightning frequency reaches 280 strikes per hour and even more. Largest quantity thunderstorm days occur between May and October.

The sights of the world are a huge number of popular and little-known ancient and modern, man-made and natural objects of history, culture, architecture, archeology, scattered across various centers of deceased and existing civilizations on planet Earth.

How to choose and see the most famous sights in the world? Here you need to be guided, first of all, by your own taste, knowledge of the history and culture of mankind. Here are just some of the sights that played a significant role in the history of their region and the whole world.

Sights of China

This is a symbol of China, which is included in the famous UNESCO list. People who love China and its history simply must visit this gigantic creation of human hands. This defensive structure was built under different dynasties and over many centuries. In addition to protection, in some areas the Wall was and is still used as a road.

The Great Wall of China was built to protect against attacks by the Mongols and other barbarian tribes from the north even before our era. Its main part was built during the Qin Dynasty. It has a length of about 21 thousand km and is clearly visible from space. Even today, its fortifications are extremely difficult to overcome.

Forbidden City

This ancient part Beijing, one of its main attractions. The official residence of the Chinese emperors was located here; his family, entourage and servants lived here. Everyone else could not enter this huge palace complex under threat death penalty. Today Forbidden City called simply Gugun or Former Palace.

The Forbidden City began to be built at the beginning of the 15th century, and was built in 15 years. A significant part of the rich interior decoration of his palaces has survived to this day. In 1924, the last Chinese emperor was deposed and the Forbidden City was opened to all Chinese and travelers. Today it is a state museum.

Summer Palace

The Chinese Emperor and his family vacationed in this palace in the summer. Summer Palace It was built relatively recently - in the 18th century, but in the middle of the next century it was burned to the ground by French and Russian troops who conquered Beijing. Empress Dowager Qix later restored this architectural masterpiece.

Like all Chinese attractions, the Summer Palace has its own gigantic specimens. For example, the Long Corridor (more than 700 meters), walking along which, based on paintings and sculptures, you can get an impression of the history, mythology, and literature of this amazing country.

This is another giant Chinese landmark. After the death of the first emperor of the Qin dynasty in the city of Siam, several thousand statues of his soldiers with real weapons in their hands, horses and chariots made of baked terracotta clay were buried near the tomb.

This amazing burial was discovered only in the seventies of the last century. It became another man-made miracle of the era of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, besides the Great Chinese wall and the Grand Canal, testifying to the greatness of China and its ancient history.

Jade Buddha Temple

This attraction is the calling card of the second Chinese capital Shanghai. As you know, Confucianism and Buddhism predominate in China. This Shanghai temple is famous for its Buddha statue made from solid jade. Buddha sits with his eyes closed and meditates.

It's interesting that this is active Buddhist temple, monks live next to him in the monastery. And at the same time it is a museum for which tickets are sold. And to look at the meditating jade Buddha, you still need to pay extra. But the monks never allow tourists to attend their meditations.

Actually, Mao is also the great Chinese emperor, only red. And after his death he was given imperial honors. In Beijing, in Tiananmen Square, anyone can visit Mao's Mausoleum. This is one of the famous attractions of China, telling about the history of this country in the 20th century.

As in a Pushkin fairy tale, Mao rests in a crystal coffin on the first floor of his Mausoleum, and on the second floor there is an exhibition dedicated to the history of the Chinese revolution and the Chinese Communist Party.

Sights of Egypt

Great Egyptian Pyramids at Giza

No less great and ancient history has Egypt. The three pyramids from the times of the Old Kingdom continue to amaze tourists from all over the world today with their gigantic size. As you know, they can also be seen from space.

Three pharaohs who ruled Ancient Egypt back in the 3rd millennium BC were buried in these pyramids. If desired, tourists can go down inside the pyramid and see the Heavenly Boat, on which the pharaoh, after death, must travel across the sky, heading to his Egyptian gods.

Most of the tombs of ancient pharaohs have been plundered over the past centuries and millennia. And in Luxor, in the middle of the last century, in the Valley of the Kings, the entire tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, who ruled in the New Kingdom and died at a very young age, was found.

Since then, this tomb has become overgrown with many legends and falsifications. Just look at the famous “curse of Tutankhamun”, thanks to Hollywood, and the declaration of the Egyptologists who discovered it as fraudsters. However, today it is the most popular attraction in Egypt, adored by tourists.

Mount Moses

And this is the main attraction of Sinai. In accordance with the Old Testament, the Jews are convinced that the elder of their family, the prophet Moses, received the Tablets on this mountain in which God gave his commandments to humanity.

Today there is a belief that whoever climbs this mountain at sunrise and asks for mercy from God will receive remission of all sins from him. There you can also visit the monastery of St. Catherine, which has existed since Byzantine times.

Sights of Italy

The Colosseum is the most famous amphitheater Ancient Rome, well preserved to this day. He was saved even in the Middle Ages, when everything non-Christian was considered the product of Satan. Its construction began at the very beginning of the new era, after the death of Nero and the accession of Emperor Flavius ​​to the throne.