Wondermondo informs you about the most interesting, beautiful, mysterious locations on Earth.
Currently described 320 landmarks.
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Iran: Persepolis
Persepolis, map.
Gatis Pāvils, basing on Google Earth (2012), DigitalGlobe 2012, CC-BY-SA-3.0
If one compares Persepolis to the marvels of modern architecture it becomes clear: not that much has been achieved over the last 2500 years. The overall quality of the planning, construction and craftmanship in Persepolis is comparable to the achievements of modern architecture / construction with all its hordes of educated experts, computers and global experience.
Did you know?
- People have lived next to 221 - 235 m tall Kalambo Falls (Zambia) for several hundred thousand years!
Kalambo Falls.
Worldtraveller, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 - Some 1,300 - 1,500 years ago in Ravan Chhaya rock shelter (India, Orissa) in tempera technique was painted a royal procession. Most likely this gap between two giant boulders was a hunting retreat for royal family.
- One of the most amazing archaeological monuments in Polynesia is Me'ae Iipona (Marquesas Islands). This is beautiful, ancient shrine with 18 stone statues.
- The hottest land surface in the world is Gandom Beryan plateau in Lut Desert (Iran). Soil temperature here reaches up to 71 ° C. This is enough to fry an egg.
Plain in Lut Desert. This is not Gandom Beryan but has similarities, including lack of life.
ninara, Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 - People have been in Nanumanga Fire Caves (Tuvalu) in the past - there are marks of fire on the walls of the cave. The only problem - these caves are 37 - 46 m below the sea level!
- When the primeval forest on the remote Rapa Iti island (French Polynesia) was eliminated, a terrible feud between the clans started. In the middle of 15th century the mountaintop fortress Morongo Uta was built. Soon after 13 more fortresses were built on the small island.
- The largest known sinkhole in the world is Xiaozhai tiankeng in China. It is up to 662 m deep and 626 m wide pit with vertical walls. On the bottom grows unique forest.
- There exists only a small patch of the unique Norfolk Island subtropical rainforest. Norfolk Island is the only place in the world, where the giant Norfolk pine (Araucaria heterophylla) and the tallest tree fern in the world - the 20 m tall Cyathea brownii are met in nature.
Norfolk Pines, Puppy Point, Norfolk Island.
thinboyfatter, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Map of the described landmarks
Now the map shows only the "Rank 1" monuments, but, as you will dive into the map, there will appear more! More comfortable would be this map!
Articles
Waterfalls of Guyana
Few countries in the world have that many gorgeous waterfalls as Guyana. Here are located more than 300 major waterfalls and rapids as well as countless smaller falls.
Most tourists see just two of these falls - the breathtaking Kaieteur and much smaller Orinduik Falls.
Kaieteur.
sorenriise, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Other Guyanese falls are well hidden from occasional traveller. Well - this is 21st century - but in Guyana the pristine forest still covers most of the country and countless waterfalls are not available to hasty tourists and quite a few most likely have not been visited by anyone at all.
See also the list of 70 Guyanese waterfalls!
April 7, 2012
Country
Sudan
Jebel Barkal pyramids, Sudan. Photo by Bertramz, Wikimedia Commons, GNU FDL
Even after the independence of Southern Sudan, Sudan is an enormous country with amazing landmarks. But, alas, this is rather little known country. Unfortunately several parts of the country for decades are suffering from the warfare and there is little known about them.
Although Sudan has diverse landmarks, the unique archaeological heritage is overshadowing anything else. Sudan has been a cradle for several great cultures, each leaving interesting landmarks.
July 11, 2011
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Latest attractions
Bermuda: Crystal Cave
Diving betweeen stalagmites (so called "twin peaks") in Crystal Cave. These stalagmites formed, when the cave was above the water level.
NOAA Ocean Explorer / public domain
The best known of the many caves in the small Bermuda islands is the gorgeous Crystal Cave - a major tourist attraction for more than a century.
May 16, 2012
Palestinian territories: Al-Aqsa Mosque
Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem.
Lazhar Neftien, Flickr, CC BY 2.0
There are few buildings, which have very special importance in the history of the world. One of them is Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
May 12, 2012
Alaska: Mount Recheshnoi Geyser Fields, Umnak
Alaska has many places with interesting geothermal features but only one has true geysers - Mount Recheshnoi Geyser field on Umnak Island.
In 1988 here were 5 geysers (up to 2 m tall) and 9 natural fountains.
May 4, 2012
Cuba: Cathedral of Havana
One of the most prominent historical buildings in Cuba is Cathedral of Havana.
This ornate building is somewhat smaller than many other metropolitan cathedrals around the world - but there is a reason for it.
April 22, 2012
Ethiopia: Adjoura Falls (Ajora Falls)
In its middle reaches the mighty Omo River flows through a spectacular, up to 600 m deep canyon. The tributaries here have formed countless very tall waterfalls. One of the most impressive is the double waterfall - Adjoura or Ajora Falls.
2012 Gatis Pāvils
Last update: 16 May 2012