Mysterious sights of different countries and cities. The most unusual places in the world. Sydney Opera House, Australia

Covadonga, Mdina, Pag, Kashubia or Salzkammergut - have you ever heard of these places?
Surely not. Meanwhile, these places are impressive and are located... in Europe, traveled far and wide!

Travelers all over the world love Europe. The Old World has something to offer even the most fastidious tourist, for example, in terms of architecture - so many medieval streets have not been preserved anywhere else. But Europe is especially good in terms of nature; it has everything - from snowy mountain peaks and smoking volcanoes to blue lakes and deep caves. Many of them are well-trodden by curious tourists, but there are some preserved that few people know about. They are not very popular, but believe me, they are really worth visiting, and for very little money.


The TOP of little-known attractions in Europe presented below is also interesting because these places are also suitable for budget holiday. It is compiled on the basis of a number of criteria, including the beauty of the area, popularity among tourists, the ability to pay cashless, cost of living and the level of infrastructure development.

ASTURIA AND COVADONGA MONASTERY, SPAIN
Asturias (Principality of Asturias) is a small mountainous autonomous region in northern Spain, located off the coast of the Bay of Biscay. Empty and amazing beautiful beaches with crystal clear water, almost a third of the region - nature reserves, most of which are under UNESCO protection.

Attractions
Among the main ones: Peaks of Europe National Park, Lakes Covadonga and Enol, and the Monastery of St. Vincent. The most visited place, however, is the sacred altar of the Virgin of Covadonga and the chapel with the image of the Virgin and the remains of Pelayo, the first king of Asturias. After his death, Pelayo was buried in a cave, and there is also a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Covadonga. The holy cave quickly became a place of pilgrimage.

Accommodation around €25 (approximate price double room in a 3 star hotel or guest house per night for one person), dinner approx. € 18 ( average price for a dish in a restaurant).

How to get there
There are 16 different flights to Asturias Airport: the easiest ways to get here are from London, Barcelona and Madrid.

MDINA AND ZEBBUG, MALTA
The city of Mdina is one of the most mysterious cities in Malta. The Maltese themselves call this place the “Silent City” - its population is now only about 300 people.

Attractions
Tourists usually come here to see the ancient main and Greek gates of Mdina, cathedral named after St. Paul, built in the 17th century, as well as the Mdina dungeon, which is now a museum of torture instruments.

Accommodation in a guest house can be found for approx. €25

How to get there
By bus from central bus station Valletta.
As for Zebbug, one of the oldest towns in Malta, the most interesting attraction here is the Church of St. Peter in Chains. The easiest way for tourists to get to the city is by car or bus - the city is only 6 km from international airport Malta.

SALZKAMMERGUT, AUSTRIA
Historical region in Austria east of Salzburg. A truly picturesque lake district.

Attractions
In addition to numerous crystal clean lakes(more than 70), tourists also visit this place for the tiny town of Hallstatt. The city, together with Lake Hallstättersee, the salt mines and the immediate surroundings, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In tourist walking route you should also definitely include famous natural caves Dachstein and the cozy Ehernthal valley with its “glacier garden”.

Accommodation approx. €35, dinner approx. €25.

How to get there
Short trips around the Salzkammergut are best done from Salzburg or Linz.

AZORES, PORTUGAL
Archipelago in Atlantic Ocean, consisting of 9 islands of volcanic origin. This is also where active volcano Pico (2351 m).

Attractions
San Miguel is the largest and most visited island of the archipelago. From the island's capital, Ponta Delgada, day trips to lakes, craters, hot springs and rocky shores are convenient. To the west is the largest volcanic crater in the Azores, Caldeira das Sete Cidades. Also on the island of San Miguel there are hot springs, and, accordingly, thermal hospitals are equipped. Sulfur caves can be seen on the island of Theseira.

How to get there
International airports in the Azores are located on three islands: Sao Miguel, Santa Maria and Faial. The most convenient flight option from Russia is a flight with a transfer at Lisbon airport at Joao Paulo II airport in Sao Miguel.

PERAST, MONTENEGRO
An ancient tiny town on the shores of the Bay of Kotor Adriatic Sea. About 300 people live in Perast permanently. You can explore this place in just a few hours.

Attractions
Directly from the city embankment there is a picturesque view of the Bay of Kotor, the Church of Our Lady on the Cliff and the island of St. George. Tourists should also definitely climb the St. Nicholas Tower.

Accommodation approx. €15, dinner approx. €15

How to get there
For travelers, it will be most profitable to visit Perast and Kotor in one day by purchasing a group excursion around the Bay of Kotor for €25 per person. Or get here yourself by car or bus from Budva.

LEDNICE-VALTICE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Landscape complex in the Czech Republic (Moravia), included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is located 50 kilometers southeast of Brno, in a triangle where the borders of three neighboring countries- Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Attractions
People come here for the grandiose medieval gothic castle Lednice, which is part of the entire castle and park complex. The castles of Valtice and Lednice, in turn, are connected by luxurious seven-kilometer alleys, called the “Garden of Europe”. Wine tourism is also very developed in this region of the Czech Republic - there is a chance to bring real Moravian wine from here, little known in Russia, but very tasty and appreciated by gourmets.

Accommodation approx. €20, dinner approx. €10.

How to get there
The Lednice-Valtice complex can easily be explored on a day trip from Prague, Brno, Bratislava or Vienna.

ISLAND OF PAG, CROATIA
A picturesque island stretching 60 km along the Adriatic coast. It is famous for its delicious page cheese and skillful lace, but not only for them.

Attractions
The city of Pag with its episcopal and princely palaces as examples of medieval town planning, and ancient small town Novalja, which is now called the “Croatian Ibiza” because of its beaches and noisy discos. Is here and unique places of unexplored origin, for example, the Pag Triangle - a large-scale area of ​​scorched earth, along which there are very clear and orderly markings.

Accommodation approx. €30, dinner approx. €13.

How to get there
The easiest way is to arrive here by ferry Prizna-Žiglen or by car. In the southwest of the island there is a road bridge connecting the island with the mainland.

SAAREMAA ISLAND, ESTONIA
Fourth largest island Baltic Sea after the islands of Zealand, Funen and Gotland. The former name is Kuressaare, which means “land of storks”.

Attractions
The Kaali meteorite crater, formed about 3,500 years ago, the ruins of the Maasi castle, built by the master of the Livonian Order in 1345, windmills ( business card islands!) and a national park with 30 species of mammals (including gray seals) and more than 200 species of birds. The island can be called a real lake district - there are more than 80 lakes, most of which are located in the northwestern part of the island.

Accommodation approx. €23, dinner approx. €18.

How to get there
The easiest way to get to Saaremaa from Tallinn is by bus. Ferry crossing included in the ticket price.

VOLOS AND PELION, GREECE
Volos is a small, quiet town by the sea that turns into a popular ski resort in winter.

Attractions
One of the most interesting places in Volos is Mount Pelion (Pelion) with traditional villages, serpentine roads and picturesque nature. According to legend, centaurs lived on Mount Pelion. The wisest of them, Chiron, was the teacher of Achilles and the famous Asclepius, who was engaged in healing and made the snake a symbol of medicine.
There is also a theater with a symphony orchestra, an embankment, a university and archaeological museum Hair, one of the top ten in Greece.

Accommodation approx. €25, dinner approx. €15.

How to get there
The most convenient way to get here is by bus or train from Athens or Thessaloniki.

VELIKA PLANINA, SLOVENIA
An extremely popular destination with picturesque alpine grasses and flowers for weekend hikes, as well as a world famous ski resort.

Attractions
Magnificent view from the mountains to the valley, the city of Kamnik and its surroundings. To all lovers of active and family vacation opportunities for walking and cycling tourism, individual and group excursions to the mountains. The most popular attraction here is the shepherd's settlement, one of the few remaining settlements of its size and character in Europe.

Accommodation approx. €40, dinner approx. €15.

How to get there
The easiest way is by plane or train - Velika Planina is 44 kilometers from Ljubljana.

KASHUBIA, POLAND
West Slavic ethnic territory of the Kashubians in northwestern Poland. There are no major tourist centers and no crowded events. But, nevertheless, among travelers with small children, lovers active recreation and hiking, this place can be considered one of the most popular.

Attractions
It’s worth coming here for picturesque lakes and rivers, folded hills, valleys and gorges. Due to its unusual geological structure, part of the region is called Kashubian Switzerland. In summer you can swim in lakes, admire flocks of cranes, and in winter you can ride alpine skiing. The best tourist centers Regions for traveling around the Kashubian lakes are the city of Kartuzy and the resort of Chmielno.

Accommodation approx. €20, dinner approx. €12.

How to get there
The fastest way to get here is by bus or car from Gdansk.

NAARDEN, NETHERLANDS
The star-shaped walled city is one of the few surviving Dutch bastions and the only fortress in Europe with unique double walls and moats.

Attractions
In fact, the entire city can be considered the main attraction. But tourists here should also look at the bell tower of the Great Church, the “Spanish House” and the fortress museum, where they will be curious to learn about the city’s past and defensive structures.

Accommodation approx. €60, dinner approx. €30.

How to get there
There are several options: by train from Amsterdam in 20 minutes, by bike from Vespa or by bus 101 from Amstel station in Amsterdam.

CAPE KOLKA, LATVIA
Kolka (Kolkasrags) is the most pronounced cape on the Latvian coast, separating the open Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga.

Attractions.
During the bird migration period, you can see tens of thousands of birds here. Tourists here should visit the village of Kolka, where there is a Liv culture center and churches of three different denominations: the Kolka Lutheran Church, the Orthodox Church of the Nativity and the Catholic Church of Our Lady Starfish. Also at the cape begins a journey around national park Slitere.

Accommodation approx. €20, dinner approx. €14.

How to get there
A bus runs from Riga to Kolka four to five times a day. The cost of a one-way ticket is about €7.

DANUBE DELTA, ROMANIA
One of the largest and best preserved river deltas in Europe.

Attractions
The Danube Delta includes numerous ecosystems, which are home to a significant number of flora and fauna (93 species of fish, 350 species of birds). In 1998, the Danube Biosphere Reserve, under the patronage of UNESCO, was established in the delta region of Romania and neighboring Ukraine. It is for this reason that many tourists come here. Also worth visiting here is the city of Tulcea, where there is the Agessus fortress, the historical and archaeological museum, the natural history"Danube Delta" and the Museum of Folk Art and Ethnography.

Accommodation approx. €15, dinner approx. €10.

How to get there
The easiest way to get to Tulcea is by plane from Constanta Airport. Or take a direct train from Bucharest to Tulcea station.

BALATON UPLANDS, HUNGARY
Balaton itself can be considered the most important resort center Hungary. People come here for beach and active recreation, as well as for treatment and wellness: there are many thermal and mineral healing springs around the lake.

Attractions
The key tourist destination here is National Park Balaton Upland at the northern edge of Lake Balaton. People only move through this volcanic landscape hiking trails. Famous places in the park are the Tihany Peninsula, the Kali and Tapolca river basins, the Tapolca Caves, the South Bakony Mountains and Kis-Balaton.

Accommodation approx. €20, dinner approx. €13.

How to get there
Lake Balaton is conveniently accessible from Budapest via a modern 115-kilometer highway (the journey takes about an hour and a half) or by rail.

Based on materials:

Our world is a strange place. Just when we begin to get the feeling that we know everything about him, he suddenly shows us strange places or creepy rock formations. If you know where exactly to look, you can find equally unusual and mysterious places like the ones we'll talk about next:

10. Erotic Rock Valley
Türkiye

Far away in the arid and dusty plains of Anatolia lies one of Turkey's top attractions: Cappadocia. This is the place World Heritage UNESCO site that includes ancient stone dwellings, underground churches and Byzantine art. This place is quite possibly one of the main historical areas Middle East. It is therefore quite strange that this place is also home to a forest of huge stone dildos.

That's right. Thanks to a long history of geological upheaval, the rocks around the small town of Goreme have taken on different strange shapes. And the strangest of these forms can be found in (Love Valley). Rising skyward and topped with slightly conical protrusions at the top, the stones look like Ron Jeremy's dignity on steroids. The whole valley is full of them - huge stone phalluses, stretching to the horizon as far as the eye can see. It's no surprise that this area is now a favorite destination for European college guys who come here to take fun and provocative photos.

9. Devil's Bath
New Zealand


If you ask a child to draw a radioactive pool, he will definitely draw something like the Devil's Bath in New Zealand. This pool is small lake in the Taupo Volcanic Zone near the city of Rotorua. The lake is filled with water that glows with a bright and unnatural green light.

Given that this is a volcanic area, you can probably guess what exactly makes the Bath glow with such an unnatural light. The lake rests on extensive sulfur deposits that flake off from the bottom and float to the surface, giving the water its distinctive hue. Because of this, the water in the lake always looks like radioactive slime. This process also causes the lake to smell very strongly. It gives off a strong smell of rotten eggs, which even the guidebooks compare to the aftermath of a giant hellish outgassing.

Devil's Bath is not the only lake on Earth that has such a rich green color. Lake Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai in Indonesia also looks like a secret dumping site for radioactive waste.

8. Desert Glass
Libya and Egypt


The last place on Earth you would expect to find anything is the Libyan Desert. This is the harshest place in the already inhospitable Sahara. Here you can expect to see only sand, rocks and nothing else. However, if you go to a special point in this desert and start digging in the sand, you can find the most mysterious artifact of this region: Libyan glass.

This glass, which is actually huge chunks of yellow silicon, has puzzled locals for centuries. The Aterians used it to make tools and weapons. The ancient Egyptians created intricate jewelry from it. In the 1930s, Western researchers stumbled upon this glass and set out to find out the history of the origin of this glass.

Today it is believed that glass appeared as a result of the fall of a meteorite or comet to Earth. During the collision, the sand was overheated to a temperature of 2,000 degrees Celsius and, accordingly, melted. We can only imagine what that glass looked like minutes after the collision.

7. “World Machine” by Franz Gsellmann (Franz Gsellmann’s Weltmaschine)
Austria


Photo: Roman Klementschitz

The World Machine, nestled in a small barn in Austria, may be one of the strangest projects in human history. Franz Gselmann has been creating this collection of moving, brightly colored, intersecting wheels and engines for 20 years and no one knows why.

In 1958, Gselmann, the son of a poor farmer with no training as an engineer or mechanic, saw a large model of the atom at the Brussels World Exposition. Completely fascinated by it, he purchased it instantly, returned to Austria, threw everything out of his barn and placed the model in the center. And then he started building.

Over the next twenty years, Gselmann secretly built his strange contraption around a model of the atom, adding bells, clocks, fans, conveyor belts, whistles, chains and even a xylophone. Plastic models of Joseph and Mary, iron rooster, spaceship, small windmill, Christmas lights, a toy gondola, and a whole bunch of other things too ridiculous to mention also found their way into Gselmann's construction. He hid his creation from his family until it was almost completely finished. Then he died unexpectedly without telling anyone a word about why he built it.

There are currently many theories about why Gselmann dedicated best years of his life building his crazy car. Perhaps the most poetic of all is that he thought it would reveal the most intimate details of the human soul.

6. Deadly bubbles of Lake Abraham (Lake Abraham)
Canada


Created by human intervention in the 1970s and named in one of those horrendous public naming contests, Canada's Lake Abraham doesn't exactly sound like a must-see destination. However, if you go there in winter, you will come face to face with one of the coolest and deadliest natural phenomena in America. Flammable bubbles of methane gas beneath the frozen surface of the lake bump into the ice, as if waiting for someone to light a spark and explode them.

Methane bubbles are released by bacteria that feed on decaying animals and plants. As a rule, these bubbles rise to the surface without anyone noticing them. But in winter they turn into white bubbles of gas suspended at different angles in the frozen water. The result is simply stunning towers of bubbles (as in the photo above), trapped under the surface of the lake, where anyone passing by can clearly see them. This annual show has made Lake Abraham one of the most popular places for photographers in Canada.

5. Lake Of Blood
Bolivia


Photo: Valdiney Pimenta

If the Bible was written in Bolivia, we would assume that the guy who wrote the section on the seas of blood visited Laguna Colorado. It's high mountain lake, which looks like the aftermath of a bloody Django Unchained shootout, appears to have only one ingredient: blood.

The lake is actually the habitat of a special type of red algae. In addition to the red sediment that rises from the bottom to the surface as the water moves, it is these algae that give the lake its color, reminiscent of horror films. The principle is very similar to that which is responsible for the bright and beautiful color of the Cano Cristales River in Colombia. However, unlike the river's algae, which bloom once a year, Laguna Colorado remains bright red year-round.

What's most interesting is that Bolivia is not the only country that has such brightly colored lakes. Lake Retba in Senegal has a bright bubblegum pink color caused by the excessively high concentration of salts in its waters.

4. Disco Mosque
Iran


What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “mosque”? Most likely, you imagine something like the famous Blue Mosque located in Istanbul: a majestic place intended for pious reflection. This is why the Shah Cheragh Mausoleum Mosque, located in the Iranian city of Shiraz, is so unique. The Shah Cherakh Mausoleum looks like the inside of a disco ball.

The reason for creating such a colorful interior is in itself quite interesting story. In the early ninth century, two brothers were killed at this site during anti-Shiite persecution that spread throughout the region. Their deaths were more or less forgotten for the next 500 years, until Queen Tashi Khatun decided to build a mosque at their graves, turning them into a place of pilgrimage. She then ordered the mosque to be covered with glass to enhance its shine a thousand times.

3. Grandiose misty rainbows
All over the world


It goes without saying that a rainbow is simply a stunningly magnificent phenomenon. However, there are other types of rainbows in nature that look even more beautiful than the legendary double rainbow. Perhaps the rarest and most striking of these is the misty rainbow.

This type of rainbow only appears during fog. Rainbows of this kind are more like the ghost of an ordinary rainbow that was recently killed and whose spirit came after your soul. Often, misty rainbows seem unreal - they are pale, white, ethereal, like an illusion created from smoke.

They appear through exactly the same process that is responsible for the appearance of ordinary rainbows. The difference is that while regular rainbows are caused by light bouncing off large drops of water, misty rainbows are created by the refraction of light by incredibly tiny droplets of water. This causes them to appear pale and hazy, giving them a ghostly appearance.

2. Dead horse ride
State of Nevada


Sometimes there are such strange things on our Earth that there are practically not enough words to describe them. The Nevada Dead Horse Driver is one of those things.

A dead horse driver located next to a remote road leading out of the semi-abandoned town of Baker, Nevada is exactly what it seems. The skeleton of a horse sits comfortably behind the steering wheel of a rusty old car, and its hoof rests casually on the dashboard. It’s clear that this was done by people from a small and half-abandoned town who have too much free time. However, when you see it for the first time, it is simply impossible not to imagine a horse that has gone for a ride and just stopped to admire the view.

1. The bottom of the iceberg
Antarctica


You most likely know that we are only seeing the tip of the icebergs. Approximately 90 percent of their mass floats underwater and is never seen by humans. Unless, of course, they are lucky enough to be . “Lucky” is probably not a very good word, since the process of capsizing an iceberg is very dangerous.

This usually only happens after it has broken off and fallen into the water, and gravity has not yet determined which end should be at the bottom. When a large iceberg capsizes, it produces as much energy as atomic bomb when exploded, and can easily sink even the largest ocean-going vessel. However, if you manage to survive all this, you will be in for a pleasant surprise, because the bottom of the iceberg can be very beautiful.

Without a layer of snow covering it, the underside of the iceberg may appear bright blue. This is because it absorbs light at the red end of the spectrum, meaning the ice itself is a brilliant blue color. The result will be something straight out of a science fiction movie, and like many of the hidden wonders in our world, it will be amazingly beautiful.



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, amazing with its 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 all winds greets tourists on a hilltop near the city of Gateshead in northern England. The monument weighs 208 tons. Most of the weight falls on the concrete base, which 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 about.

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 carries 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.

In terms of the number of unusual monuments, our country is far from ranking last place. We have a monument to happiness, a sculpture created in memory of the letter “е”, 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:


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 built strong bridges that can support up to 50 people, but 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 Yoan 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 astronauts 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 squid. 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. The greatest number of thunderstorm days occurs between May and October.

Unusual and fantastic, funny and intriguing sights that you have never seen before are constantly being born on our planet. What thoughts excite the imagination of talented artists and sculptors, architects and designers when they create their masterpieces. If you have a thirst for travel and learning new things in your blood, then it’s time to get acquainted with the best attractions created in recent decades.

1. Kelpies - giant heads of graceful horses (Falkirk, Scotland)

Fans of mysterious creatures will appreciate two colossal sculptures designed by Glasgow artist Andy Scott. He performed them in honor of the mythological werewolf horses, which are 10 times stronger than normal ones. These creatures are capable of turning into both people and black horses. If a careless rider saddles a forest spirit horse, he will throw it into a mountain lake or river.

The heads are as tall as a ten-story building and weigh 300 tons. They are made of stainless metal plates, reminiscent of the armor of knights. The heads serve as a gateway to Helix Park near the Forth Clyde Canal and appeared in 2013. Horses greet visitors to the eco-park, one with a joyful whinny, the other with submission and humility.

2. Space Cow (Stockholm, Sweden)

If you love animals, then the good-natured cow will make you smile and not pass by. The astronaut cow is one of the most unusual sculptures in Sweden. She appeared in 2004 before the elections and became a symbol of environmental protection of the country, like her friends, another 100 cows installed throughout the city. In an aerospace suit, she looks fun and funny. She floats in the air in a state of weightlessness. The flying cow resembles the carefree Skliss from the cartoon about Alice. Without exception, everyone is in a great mood.

3. Features of gravity for an elephant (Paris, France)

The elephant in the room causes amazement and admiration among visitors to Fontainebleau Castle in France. The largest animal on earth was made to balance on its trunk in the air by sculptor Daniel Firman. The airborne figure creates a powerful visual effect, demonstrating what an animal can do 18,000 km above the ground, defying the force of gravity. The sculpture was first installed in 2008 in France. Against the backdrop of the luxuriously decorated castle walls, the animal on its trunk looks unusual and funny.

4. Musical sculpture “Singing-Ringing Tree” (Burnley, UK)

A fabulous and extraordinary tree towers over the city of Burnley in the UK. Architects Anna Liu and Mike Tonkin created the sculpture in 2006. When the wind is strong, the fantastic and mysterious sounds that the tree makes transport visitors to the world of elves and gnomes. Numerous galvanized pipes are singing branches. Sometimes with a sharp wind the sounds are similar to the piercing whistle of the Nightingale the Robber, with a quiet and gentle blow to the whisper of Mother Nature. A tree always sings differently, in several octaves, depending on the strength and direction of the blowing air masses. Fascinating and sometimes chilling sounds are heard throughout the area. Professional musicians will hear organ music in these sounds, and lovers of legends will find themselves in Hellas and enjoy the singing of mythical sirens.

5. Harmless and friendly ghosts of the Scottish forest (Alloa, Scotland)

Sculptor Rob Mulholland turned a Scottish forest into a unique room of fear. Locals are already accustomed to translucent human figures appearing and disappearing in the most unpredictable places. But for those who are here for the first time, it will seem creepy. Sculptures made of acrylic plexiglass, depending on the light, transmit the sun's rays differently, can become invisible or suddenly appear among trees and bushes. Sometimes ghosts may seem to silently float or move through the forest. Their diversity and play of shadows turn them into living beings. This place has become especially popular among those who like to tickle their nerves. Crowds of tourists come here to relax in nature and be a little afraid.

6. Egg. (Mumbai, India)

A smart home will not surprise anyone now, but in the shape of an egg it has become a truly masterpiece of Chinese scientists. The administrative building in the center of Mumbai, reminiscent of a mysterious planet, is made in the shape of an egg and is the main attraction of the city. The house is made according to an innovative project by a Chinese studio and is called “Cybertecture Egg”. On the roof of the building are solar panels and wind generators, on the balconies there are internal gardens for blood pressure, pulse, weight and temperature.

7. Visual sculpture by Alexandra Reeves (Los Angeles, USA)

The visual glass sculpture of a young art student leaves a stunning impression on everyone who sees it in Los Angeles. 19 year old girl studying at Gnomon Visual Effects School. The pedestal became one of her most extraordinary projects among anatomical glass digital models. To make it, Alexandra also used glass, special resins and optically transparent plastics. The originality and uniqueness of the sculpture, the elegance and grace of the model, and its fantastic nature attract many connoisseurs to it.

8. Cactus House (Rotterdam, Holland)

Cozy and quaint house in Rotterdam has huge terraces and balconies with swimming pools. This is an ideal and comfortable accommodation for lovers of plant growing. The 19 floors are arranged like steps and spiral upward. The sun evenly illuminates all parts of the building and creates ideal conditions for green helpers.

9. Fantastic underwater sculpture park (Cancun, Mexico)

Everyone who sees this park is overwhelmed by a sense of supernaturalness and mystery; it seems as if they are entering a magical alien world. The refracted sunlight magnifies the figures and changes their shades, and it all looks fantastic and sometimes quite creepy.

The museum opened in 2009 in Mexico in the national marine park Cancun. It has become the world's largest underwater sculpture park. The unusual nature of the excursions, fantastic nature and mystery made this place one of the most visited in the world. More than 750 thousand people descend to a depth of 10 meters and enjoy the underwater kingdom. Five hundred silent and motionless inhabitants of the ocean have gathered in various compositions; they fascinate and do not let go.

The creator of the unique underwater kingdom is Briton Jason de Caires Taylor, a talented architect and sculptor, ecologist and diver.

You can see the underwater inhabitants on a glass-bottomed boat. But it’s much more interesting and exciting to go to the bottom with scuba gear, accompanied by a guide-instructor.

The main goal of the museum is to show the unity of man and water world, create an artificial reef from sculptures and preserve endangered coral species from the deserted seabed. All sculptures are created from natural materials and will help preserve the inhabitants of the underwater kingdom.

The most ambitious composition, “Silent Evolution,” consists of 400 sculptors. These are people of different professions, babies and old people, rich and poor, people of different eras and from all continents. Each creation of the sculptor is a hidden message, a plea for help and the salvation of all living things. Here are some of the exhibits in this museum:

· “Flower of Hope” - a beautiful girl takes care of coral flowers, trying to restore them to their pristine beauty. This is the embodiment of the hope that man will become one with nature;

· “Collector of Lost Hopes” - a figure of a man uncorking bottles with notes that no one will ever read;

· “Man on Fire” – bright flaming corals gradually burn the man’s body, covering his chest and shoulders;

· “Vicissitudes” is one of the first compositions lowered under water. 26 children from different countries stand, holding hands tightly and protecting the fragile world.

10. Bright and cheerful sculpture toysDavid Gerstein (Israel)

In his works, the talented sculptor combined graphics and painting, architecture and sculpture. His works invariably lift the spirits of everyone who sees them. Their distinctive design, bright color palette and simplicity make them accessible to everyone. His figures enliven the streets and courtyards of Israel, decorate theaters and public buildings, and can be purchased at the exhibition for a private collection. David makes unique and unusual images from steel and paints them in all sorts of colors and shades, giving them a stunning look. If you see a cyclist of all colors of the rainbow in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, in Herzliya or the Negev, you will immediately guess who the author is. Bright red cats, athletes of various shades, have firmly settled in Israel and have become its attraction.

11. Power of Nature (Doha, Qatar)

The Italian Lorenzo Quinn encourages us to think about the forces of nature, to truly see its power and greatness. Numerous hurricanes and tornadoes that destroy the coasts of the islands prompted him to create similar works.

In the form of a representative of the fair sex, Mother Nature holds our planet tightly with a piece of matter. Similar works by artist Lorenzo Quinn are installed all over the world: in England and America, in Monaco and Singapore. The statues are a sacrifice to the Gods of the elements, designed to appease and reconcile the forces of nature and people. The sculpture reaches two and a half meters in height and is made of metal and stone.

 

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