Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is the ruins of a small city built in the 1400s by the Inca Indians. It is found high in the Andes mountain range in central Peru, South America.

The Parthenon

The Parthenon, a masterpiece of ancient Greek architecture, was built to honor the goddess Athena. It was part of the Acropolis, a collection of ancient temples and monuments found on a hill in the center of Athens, Greece.

The Parthenon was built between 447 and 432 bc. Pericles, a popular politician, envisioned the project and Phidias, a famous sculptor, was in charge of building it. Phidias also carved a large gold and ivory statue of Athena that stood inside it.

The Parthenon’s raised base is about 225 feet long and 100 feet wide. The temple that sat on it was about 98 feet long and 65 feet wide. Fifty marble columns - each 6 feet around and about 34 feet high - formed the sides and held up the roof. A band of carved stone picturing famous battles ran around the top of the columns. Marble statues stood inside and out.

The Parthenon remained Athena’s temple for almost 1,000 years. But when the Romans took over Athens in the 600s, they moved her statue and later destroyed it. Soon after, the Parthenon became a Christian church and many of its pagan statues were destroyed. In 1456, Athens was conquered again and the church became a mosque. Finally, in 1689, Venetians attacked the city and badly damaged the structure. Only some of the columns remained standing.

European tourists visiting Athens in the late 1700s made the ruins of the Parthenon famous. In 1801, Lord Elgin took many of its remaining decorative pieces to Britain. Known as the Elgin Marbles, they are now in the British Museum. The Greek government wants them back, but so far the British have refused.

Today, vibrations from central Athens’ heavy traffic may be destabilizing the land beneath the Acropolis and the pollution from vehicle exhaust fumes is corroding the Parthenon’s remaining marble columns.

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is the largest military structure in the world and one of its great wonders. It runs from east to west across northern and north-central China, winding through hills and mountains for about 4,500 miles. The United Nations declared it a World Heritage Site in 1987.

Parts of the Great Wall are over 2,000 years old. Rival rulers of small areas built earth and stone walls to mark their boundaries and as protection from northern invaders. Messengers also traveled along these walls to take messages from one ruler to another.


About 210 bc, Emperor Qin unified the country and ordered these individual sections to be connected. This took several centuries to complete. Qin and succeeding emperors used forced labor to build the wall higher, wider, and longer. Bricks and granite were used to reinforce old sections and to build new ones. Lookout posts and battle forts were constructed at intervals along the wall, and soldiers were stationed along it. The soldiers would light huge bonfires on the wall to signal danger.


During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), a major renovation of the Great Wall began, which took 200 years to complete. The wall became much more elaborate in design and modern cannons were added at strategic positions.


The Great Wall lost its military importance in the modern era and many sections of the wall are in ruins or have disappeared. However, there is still great interest in the wall and previously undiscovered sections of it have been found in the last few years. 

Today, the Great Wall is one of China’s most important tourist attractions. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors tour a well-preserved section of the wall located about 50 miles from Beijing. Parts of the wall are being restored, but it is a difficult and expensive process.

Mount Everest

 Mt. Everest rises 29,035 feet above sea level, making it the tallest mountain on earth. It is found in Asia in the Himalayan mountain range on the border between Nepal and Tibet.

 Everest was named for Sir George Everest, the first person to record its height and location. Tibetans call it Chomolangma (Goddess Mother of the Snows); the Nepalese call it Sagarmatha (Mother of the Universe).

There are two main routes for climbing Everest: the northwest ridge in Tibet and the southeast ridge in Nepal. In 1921, British explorers investigated the Tibetan route. At that time, the Nepal border was closed to foreigners. In 1924, two British climbers attempted to reach the top of Everest, but they never returned. This route was tried until 1950 when China took control of Tibet and closed its borders.

When Nepal opened its border in 1949, climbers began using the southeast ridge. On May 29, 1953, Everest was finally conquered by Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, his Sherpa guide, using this route.


In 1975, Junko Tabei of Japan became the first woman to reach its summit. In 1978, Reinhold Messner of Italy climbed it without taking extra oxygen tanks, and in 1980 he climbed it alone. In 2003, 15-year- old Mingkipa Sherpa of Nepal became the youngest person to reach the top and 70-year-old Yuichiro Miura of Japan became the oldest. Miura summited again in 2013 at the age of 80. Local Sherpa guides have set many other records. By the 60th anniversary of Hillary’s ascent, over 3,500 climbers had reached the summit, and over 200 people had died on the mountain. Many have died on the difficult descent, but new climbing technology makes death less likely.

The Sherpa people have benefited economically from the many people who come to climb Everest. Most foreign climbers employ one or two Sherpa guides, and the average climbing team spends $200,000 on guides and supplies while in Nepal.

The Great Pyramid

The pyramids are tombs that were built over 5,000 years ago for the kings of ancient Egypt.

Ancient Egyptians believed that after their kings died, they became gods in another world. A pyramid was to be the dead king’s palace in the afterlife where he would rule as a god. As well as a burial chamber, the complex included rooms to hold things the king would need in the afterlife, such as furniture, jewelry, and cooking utensils. Servants or wives who died later were buried close by in much smaller tombs. 

Archeologists believe that local farmers and villagers willingly worked on the pyramids during the flood season, when the land could not be worked. The workers thought it would ensure their own afterlife and make Egypt prosperous.

The structure of the pyramids evolved slowly. They went from platforms stacked on an underground tomb to larger step-style structures to the massive smooth-sided pyramids found at Giza. 

Of the 80 known pyramids, the biggest and finest is the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. The base of the Great Pyramid covers over 13 acres. It was 481 feet high but, over the years, has lost 30 feet off its top. Two million blocks of stone, each weighing over 2 tons, were used to build it. Workers likely moved these huge stones into position by using ropes to pull them up ramps. As many as 20,000 to 30,000 men may have worked on this pyramid, which took 20 years to finish.

Smaller pyramids of this type were built for another 1,000 years. When robbers started looting the precious goods stored inside them, kings were buried in hidden tombs. Tombs of later kings were discovered in a valley near Luxor, which is now called the Valley of the Kings.

The Borobudur Temple

The Borobudur Temple, with its seven terraces and its stupas, is the world’s largest Buddhist temple in Indonesia, or probably in the world. It is located in Yogjakarta, Central Java Indonesia. Because of its size, Borobudur has become one of the seven wonders in the world.

The Sailendra dynasty built Borobudur in the 9^th century.  Not long after that, people left the area but no one knows why they left. For the next 800 years people almost forgot the temple because it was buried under earth and trees. This caused a lot of damage.

At the beginning of the 19^th century, British government and then the Dutch government attempted to uncover the temple. Later on, the Indonesia government also made efforts to preserve the temple. They asked UNESCO to help restore it.

In 1973 the restoration work began. A team of Indonesian and foreign experts and hundreds of Indonesian workers rebuilt the temple. It was a big job. First they took down more than two millions stones of the temple piece by piece. Then they cleaned and repaired them. After that they returned each stones to its proper place. They also strengthened the inside of the temple.

The Borobudur was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupas. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 m2. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha.

At the beginning of 1983 the work was completed. The temple became famous. Lots of domestic and foreign tourists started to visit it. 

Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro lies on the border of Tanzania and Kenya, three degrees south of the equator. On a clear day, snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro can be seen from more than 100 miles away.

Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, the highest free-standing mountain in the world, and one of the largest volcanoes ever to burst through the earth’s surface.

The three summits of Mount Kilimanjaro are Shira, Kibo and Mawenzi. Shira and Mawenzi both have eroded, and only jagged peaks remain. Kibo, the central and highest peak, has survived as an almost perfect cone. Since reaching a height thought to be 5900 meters during its last major eruption 360,000 years ago, glaciers, rivers and landslides have eroded Kibo to its current height of 5895 meters. Kilimanjaro is thought to be losing its glaciers due to global warming.

It is unlikely that early man was attracted to the steep and cold slopes of Kilimanjaro when it was active and dangerous. Arab and Chinese traders and historians mentioned a giant mountain lying inland from Zanzibar, but few early traders traveled into the interior of the continent. Slave traders passed below Kilimanjaro, and raided villages located on the fertile volcanic soil around the base of the mountain. But there was no real interest in the mountain until the middle of the 19th century.

In 1848 Johann Rebmann, a missionary from Germany, saw Mount Kilimanjaro while crossing the plains of Tsavo. His guide told tales of porters who were sent up the mountain to bring back silver and treasures from the summit, and returned with only water. Rebmann's report, published in 1849, created great interest in Germany. Several expeditions were organized, first by Baron von Decken and later by Dr. Hans Meyer who finally stood on the highest point on October 5, 1889.

Mount Kilimanjaro now attracts many thousands of walkers each year. Tourists who come to climb are surprised by the distinct bands of trees, shrubs and flowering plants that change with the elevation. Because certain plants will only grow at certain altitudes, Kilimanjaro changes from lush rain forests to permanent ice fields. Animals that have adapted to mountain life live within these different habitats.

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is located in Paris, France. It was constructed between 1887 and 1889 to be the entrance way to the 1889 World’s Fair and to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. The tower was opened to visitors on May 6, 1889.

Gustave Eiffel’s design was chosen unanimously from among 700 that were submitted to the World’s Fair design competition. However, many Parisians, especially artists, did not like his design and protested the tower’s construction. They thought it would be an eyesore, but once it was built, most Parisians soon loved the tower.

The tower is made of iron and weighs over 7,000 tons. It features open latticework supports, an unusual design at the time. Many of the scientific principles used in its design and construction are still used to construct modern skyscrapers. Over 40 tons of paint are applied to it every seven years to keep it from rusting.

It is over 1,000 feet tall, from the ground to the tip of the antenna at its top, and has a staircase with 1,665 steps. There are also elevators to take visitors to the top platform where there is a panoramic view of Paris. The original elevators, now computerized, are still in use.

The Eiffel Tower was to remain in place for just 20 years, but its antenna saved it from being demolished in 1909. Telegraph companies were using it at the time, and since then, it has become part of France’s communication system, including its radio and television services.

The tower has also become a symbol of Paris. It is the most recognized monument in Europe and many people think it is an architectural masterpiece. Over 200 million people have visited it since May of 1889. In 2000, a new lighting system was installed and a nightly light show has added to its appeal for both Parisians and tourists.

Disneyland

Disneyland is an amusement park in Anaheim, California. When it opened in 1955, it was called “the happiest place on earth,” and over 500 million people have visited it since then.

Disneyland was created by Walt Disney. He and his brother Roy ran Disney Studios in California and their animated films, with characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, were very popular. Many people wanted to visit the studio and have their picture taken with their favorite character.

Walt Disney came up with the idea of building an amusement park close to the studio, where adults and children could have fun together and get their picture taken with a Disney character. He wanted a place that would be fun, safe, and clean. Tivoli Gardens, an amusement park in Denmark, was one of his models for Disneyland.

At first, Disney planned to build just a small park, but his plans slowly grew into a large park, with rides, live entertainment, restaurants, and other attractions. He bought 160 acres of land in Anaheim and construction started on July 18, 1954. The park opened to the public on July 18, 1955. It cost $17 million to build.

The original park consisted of 5 “lands”—Main Street USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. Three more were added—New Orleans Square (1966), Critter Country (1972), and Mickey’s Toontown (1993). Visitors use a steam train or one of three monorails to get around.

Disneyland was so successful that others were built. Walt Disney World opened in Orlando, Florida, in 1971, Disneyland Resort Paris in 1992, Tokyo Disneyland in 1983, and Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005. 

In the 1990s, a vacation resort area was built around Disneyland to attract more people from farther away and to encourage them to stay longer.

Disneyland celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2005. Many of the oldest and most popular attractions, such as Space Mountain, the Jungle Cruise, and the Tiki Room, were restored for the anniversary.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is an ancient temple that is located a few miles from the town of Siem Reap in Cambodia, Southeast Asia.

Angkor Wat means “City Temple.” It was built in the early 1100s for Suryavarman II, the king of the Khmer Empire, as part of his capital city. The Khmers ruled the area from about AD 800 to 1225. The temple was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and took 37 years to build. The huge structure is surrounded by a thick outer wall that is 15 feet high and over 2 miles long. The complex is protected by a moat, which is 600 feet wide.

Angkor Wat is considered to be the most magnificent temple ever built by the Khmers. Made of sandstone, the pyramid-shaped complex has several terraces and small buildings. Five towers rise above these. The walls are covered with beautiful and intricate carvings that depict Hindu mythology, especially stories about the god Vishnu.

The Thai Empire conquered the Khmers in the 1400s and the city of Angkor was abandoned. In about 1500, Buddhist monks began to use the temple (and still do today). Few other people knew about it, but there were rumors of an abandoned city. These rumors were proved true when French missionaries came across Angkor Wat in 1860. A French botanist named Henri Mahout started restoration work on the temple. The other buildings in the city had been taken over by thick jungle.

Today, Angkor Wat is a symbol of Cambodia. Its image is on the Cambodian flag and in 1992 the United Nations declared it a World Heritage Site. It is now Cambodia’s most popular tourist destination. Damage from visitors has been kept to a minimum and foreign government-sponsored archeologists continue to restore it.

The Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, is famous throughout the world.


It stands on Bennelong Point, a point of land that juts into Sydney Harbour, near the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The roof of the opera house was designed and built to look like a ship under full sail. Since its official opening on October 20, 1973, the building and its spectacular white-sailed roof have become a symbol of Australia.


The Sydney Opera House was designed in the late 1950s by Jorn Utzon, a Danish architect. He quit the project in 1966 due to differences with the state government over cost and design issues, and the building was not completed until 1973.


The opera house cost close to $100 million to construct. It is 600 feet tall, almost 390 feet wide in places, and more than 600 feet long. It sits on 580 concrete piers, some of which are sunk 80 feet below the sea. Over 1 million white tiles were used to construct its famous roof, and the roof sections are held together by over 200 miles of steel cable. 

The building has five performance rooms. The largest is the Concert Hall (2,679 seats); the smallest is the Studio Theatre (364 seats). Each year, more than 2 million people attend the 3,000 performances that are held in the various venues. These include performances by Opera Australia, as well as by the Sydney Theatre Company and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Rehearsal halls, restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops are among the more than 1,000 rooms in the building. 

The Sydney Opera House is considered by many to be one of the finest examples of modern abstract architectural design in the world.

The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is a 400-square-mile body of water that is found in the Middle East, bordered by Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank. It is called the Dead Sea because no major life form can live in it. 

The Dead Sea is over 1,300 feet below sea level, which makes it the lowest point on earth. It has the saltiest water - six times saltier than the oceans - and the highest concentration of minerals of any body of water in the world. Although several rivers and streams flow into it, nothing drains out of it because of its low elevation. Water can only escape through evaporation, which occurs daily in the hot Middle Eastern climate. When water evaporates, it leaves behind salt and minerals, and this makes the remaining water very dense. 

The Dead Sea is so dense that people can float on it without any effort. The area is the largest natural spa in the world, and people travel great distances to relax in its warm waters and experience cosmetic mud baths and mineral treatments.

The area is also a center of health research. The minerals found in the Dead Sea have beneficial health effects, such as improving circulation and relieving the pain of rheumatism. The reduced number of allergens, the healing qualities of the sun, and the higher atmospheric pressure found at such a low elevation are some of the other reasons why research is done here. 

 

The modern-day water demands of the countries that surround the Dead Sea are having a negative effect on it. Its level continues to drop as these countries take water from the rivers that flow into it. The area it covers is getting smaller quickly and the situation is becoming serious. One proposed solution is to pump water from the nearby Red Sea into it to maintain its level.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa, in Pisa, Italy, is famous because it looks like it might fall over.

This circular bell tower stands next to Pisa’s cathedral. It is 187 feet high and has 8 floors. Over 293 steps lead to 7 bells at the top. The outside is decorated with arches and columns.

Construction began in 1173. After the first three floors were finished in 1178, the tower leaned to the north. Construction then stopped until 1275 because Pisa was at war. The next three floors were built even with the ground, instead of the bottom floors, to try to correct the lean. When they were finished about 1319, the tower leaned to the south. The last two floors were added about 1350.

During the long building delays, the tower’s weight compressed the ground under it. This strengthened its base enough to keep it from falling, but it still leaned a bit more each year. The tower leans because it is too heavy for the ground it is built on. The uneven layers of soft sand and clay beneath it have caused the tower to sink more in certain places.

Over the years, the tower became a symbol of Italy and an important tourist attraction. Several attempts were made to straighten the tower, but some just made it worse. By 1990, the top floor leaned 17 feet to the south. 

In 1990, the government closed the tower to the public and began a 10-year effort to stabilize it. International experts tried different solutions but nothing worked. Then, in 1999, a British engineering professor suggested that soil be removed slowly from the high side so that the tower could settle back into the ground. This worked and, by 2001, the tower was 16 inches straighter. Experts believe it is now safe for another 300 years.

The tower re-opened to the public in June 2001.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls lies on the international border between the United States and Canada. Both Niagara Falls, New York and Niagara Falls, Ontario are said to be home to one of the most famous tourist attractions in North America.


The falls were created more than 10,000 years ago when a retreating glacier exposed the Niagara escarpment, a long steep-sided ridge, and allowed water from Lake Erie to flow into Lake Ontario. The escarpment has slowly eroded, forming the seven-mile-long Niagara Gorge with the Whirlpool Rapids.

The American falls are more than 167 feet high and 1050 feet wide. The Canadian falls, or the Horseshoe falls, are almost as high and more than twice as wide.

The earliest recorded description of the falls appeared in 1697, written by a man by the name of Louis Hennepin. Hennepin had seen the falls when he traveled on an expedition in 1678 with French explorer, Robert Cavelier. During the 19th Century, daredevils tried to travel over the falls in barrels, boats and with rubber balls. In 1859, the great Blondin performed on a tightrope above the falls. Visitors can learn more about the history of the falls by visiting the Niagara Falls Museum in Niagara Falls, New York.

The governments of the United States and Canada control the use of the land in the surrounding area, and much of it has been turned into parks. They also control the use of the water for important hydroelectric power. In 1950, the Niagara Diversion Treaty outlined that a minimum flow would be kept for the falls, and that the remaining flow would be divided equally between the United States and Canada. 

The power and beauty of the American and the Canadian falls continue to amaze visitors, and make Niagara Falls a popular destination for tourists from around the world.

The Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was a barrier that separated West Berlin from East Berlin and the rest of East Germany.

After World War II, the city of Berlin was divided into four sectors. The Soviet Union controlled the eastern sector. The United States, Britain, and France controlled its western sectors.

East Berliners could still visit, shop, and even work in West Berlin. But by 1961 East Germany’s poor economy and increased political tension between the Soviet Union and the West caused thousands of East Germans to move to the West. To stop people from leaving, on August 12, 1961, a wall was built to close the border.

The Berlin Wall began as a barbed-wire fence but was eventually fortified with concrete slabs. It was 96 miles long and almost 12 feet thick. Checkpoints along it allowed tourists from abroad, diplomats, and Western military personnel to cross into East Berlin. Guards patrolled it to prevent escapes, but 5,000 people escaped over the wall into West Berlin. Another 192 were killed and 200 were injured in failed attempts.

About 1987, the political situation began to change. Mikhail Gorbachev, president of the Soviet Union, eased tensions with the West and introduced some liberal reforms, including more open government. Citizens in other Communist-controlled European countries began to demand similar reforms.

In 1989, large anti-government demonstrations in East Germany forced the government to resign. The new government promised to lift the travel ban for East Germans. On November 9, a government minister mistakenly announced that they could cross into West Berlin immediately. That night, thousands went to the wall and the overwhelmed guards opened the checkpoints to let them through.

Within a year, the Berlin Wall was dismantled except for short sections that were left as memorials. East and West Germany were unified on October 3, 1990.

The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a beautiful monument that is found in Agra, India.

Agra was the home of the Mughal emperors until 1637. Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, had the Taj Mahal built as a mausoleum (a tomb) for his beloved second wife, Arjumand Banu. She died in 1630 after giving birth to their 14th child. When her remains were moved to the Taj Mahal, she became known as Mumtaz Mahal. 


The Taj is part of a large complex that also includes a gateway, a garden, a mosque, and a guest house. The Persian-style garden is large and elaborate, with long pools of water that reflect the Taj. The central dome of the Taj is 58 feet wide and 213 feet high. Mumtaz Mahal is entombed in a lower chamber. After the Shah’s death, his body was placed next to hers. 




Shah Jahan employed Ustad Ahmad, the most famous Persian architect of the day, to design the complex. Twenty thousand workers and master craftsmen from all over India and Asia were brought to Agra to carry out his design. Over 1,000 elephants transported the finest building materials found in India.

The mausoleum is made entirely of white marble, inlaid with precious and semi-precious gems. Light from the sun reflects off the marble during the day and moonlight reflects off it at night, which adds to its beauty. The mosque and the guest house on either side of it were built from red sandstone. It took 22 years to complete the project. 




The Taj Mahal is an outstanding example of Islamic art and architecture. Some people think it is the most beautiful building on earth. In 1983, the United Nations declared it a World Heritage Site. Over the years, millions of tourists have visited it.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is an ancient monument that is located on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, Southern England. The United Nations declared it a World Heritage Site in 1986.

Stonehenge was built in three phases, beginning over 5,000 years ago. About 3100 BC, several logs were placed on end in a circle and surrounded by a wide ditch. Archeologists believe the ditch was dug using animal antlers.

About 2500 BC, it was rebuilt with stones, called bluestones, from South Wales, over 245 miles away. These stones, each weighing 4 to 5 tons, were likely dragged to the sea, placed on large rafts, and floated down the coast and then upriver. From there, they were dragged overland to Salisbury Plain.

About 2300 BC, the bluestones were rearranged and even bigger stones, some weighing up to 45 tons, were brought from 20 miles away. Thirty massive sandstones, each about 13 feet high, were stood on end about 3 to 4 feet apart in a large circle. Heavy rectangular stones were placed on top of them and fitted together using woodworking methods. This continuous circle of stone around the top makes Stonehenge special.

Mecca

Mecca is Islam’s holiest city. Muslims turn toward Mecca five times a day to pray.

Mecca is located in Saudi Arabia, in a narrow valley about 50 miles from the Red Sea. It was a trading center originally.

Islam was founded in Mecca by the Prophet Mohammed in the 7th century. The Ka’ba, a cubed-shaped, black brick building, is the center of Islam. Al-Haram Mosque (the Great Mosque) surrounds the Ka’ba and the modern city of Mecca surrounds the mosque. 

Only Muslims are allowed to visit Mecca. All able-bodied Muslims who have enough money to make the journey must perform a spiritual Hajj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca at least once in their life. During the Hajj, pilgrims must wear special white clothes and cannot do things like shave, cut their nails, wear jewelry, kill or hunt, or fight or argue.

More than 2 million Muslims from 70 countries take part in the annual Hajj. Many travel thousands of miles to reach the holy city. While there, they perform certain rituals. After entering al-Haram Mosque, they walk around the Ka’ba seven times in a counter-clockwise direction, a ritual called the Tawaf. They must also run seven times along one of the passageways in the mosque. This ritual honors the search for water by Hajar, the Prophet Abraham’s wife.

The crowds of people and the heat have created problems in the past. Many pilgrims have died of heat stroke; many others have died after being crushed in stampedes or caught in fires or as a result of violent political demonstrations. The government of Saudi Arabia has set a fixed number of pilgrims who are allowed to come from each country each year to try to overcome these problems.

The Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle is a legendary area of the Atlantic Ocean. The tips of the triangle are Bermuda, Miami, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. A number of ships, small boats, and even large military aircraft have disappeared there.

The area was made famous by several magazine articles, books, and a documentary film that were produced from 1950 to 1974. Some authors believed that attacks by giant squid or abductions by space aliens caused these vessels and aircraft to disappear. But, in 1975, American Larry Kusche investigated the incidents and found that most of them were not mysterious. Insurance records also noted that this area was no more dangerous than any other part of the ocean. 

Since then, the U.S. Navy and many scientists have offered several reasons for the disappearances. The area is one of only two in the world where a magnetic compass points to true north rather than magnetic north. (The other is off the coast of Japan and is known as the Devil’s Sea.) This likely caused some navigators to go off course, which is very dangerous because many of the islands in the Triangle have large areas of shallow water where vessels can run aground. As well, violent storms, including hurricanes and water spouts (large spinning columns of water), often occur in the area.

Another reason involves the Gulf Stream, a current of warm water that circulates through the area. Weather can be more violent over it and the current is so powerful that a sinking vessel or crashed aircraft quickly disappears below its surface. They can also sink a long way down as some of the ocean’s deepest trenches, from 19,000 to over 27,000 feet below sea level, are found here.

Finally, human error due to inexperience or poor equipment is likely a major reason why many pleasure boats have disappeared without a trace in the Bermuda Triangle.

The Bengawan Solo

The Solo River or the Bengawan Solo River is the longest river in Java Island, Indonesia. Its length is about 540 km. This river has its source at Mount Lawu, a quiet active volcano in Central Java. It flows passing through the Sewu Mountains, the Kendang Mountains and into the Solo Valley.

There are two main tributes that form the river. They are the Madiun and the Brantas Rivers. It ends in Java Sea near the city of Surabaya.

The Solo River is not only important for farmers, but also for paleontologists. Scientists have made a lot of discoveries on the early human fossil in several places along this river. This fossil is known as Java Man skull.

In some places people still use the river for transportation. Small boats are used to carry goods from one place to another.