Incredible facts

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

Here are some of the more bizarre travel spots.

1.Mummies Museum of Guanajuata, Mexico

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

The cemetery tax was in effect until 1958, but the museum is still open and has become a popular tourist destination. Many bodies were buried immediately to prevent the spread of the disease, and in some cases, those who died were accidentally buried alive. As a result, many mummies retained expressions of horror on their faces.

2. Waitomo Firefly Cave, New Zealand

Despite the name, there are actually no fireflies in this cave. It is home to Arachnocampa mushroom mosquitoes, which were originally associated with European fireflies. Mushroom mosquitoes are some of the most impressive sights in 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 stuck in the threads.

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

3. Market of witches, Bolivia

The city of La Paz in Bolivia is popular in itself 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 very unusual place of this city, head to the Witch Market.

Here you can find dried animals, talisman stones and various potions. Maybe, some of the most exotic goods here are dried llama embryosthat bring good luck if they are 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 the enemy.

4. Park Grutas, Lithuania

If you are tired of the fun and want to immerse yourself in history, you can head to Grutas Park in Lithuania, where 20 hectares of land can be found a huge number of monuments and busts of the leaders of the Soviet era, fragments of Siberian camps, and many other attributes of that time.

The House of Culture is located in Grutas Park, art Gallery with paintings by Soviet artists, a cafe where you can taste iconic dishes such as, for example, Russian-style sprat, Farewell Youth cutlet and Nostalgia borscht. On the territory you can find a device with soda, a monument to vodka, and songs from the Soviet era are heard from the loudspeakers.

5. Ice Aquarium, Japan

Who doesn't love watching fish swim in aquariums? But if you are fed up with the usual aquariums, and you do not mind cooling off in the hot summer, head to the city of Kesennuma in Japan, where you can see the world's only ice aquarium.

More than 450 marine life, including crabs, fish, octopuses and other animals, have been flash-frozen and displayed in large ice cubes. For those who are hungry, there is a sushi restaurant nearby.

6. The Phallological Museum, Iceland

At the Icelandic Phallological Museum, you can admire 276 penises 46 different types including whales, bears, seals, hamsters, humans and many more that can be viewed in great detail. There are even troll and elf penises in the museum, but since, according to Icelandic legend, they are invisible, you cannot 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 more impressive exhibits.

7. Wall of gum in Seattle

The gum wall in Seattle is perhaps the most unhygienic tourist attraction... The tradition of sticking gum to the wall began as early as 1993, when visitors queuing up for theater tickets began sticking gum to the wall in Seattle's Postal Alley.

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

Unusual and fantastic, funny and intriguing sights that you have never seen before are constantly being born on our planet. What thoughts do not excite the imagination of talented artists and sculptors, architects and designers when they create their masterpieces. If you have a thirst for travel and new knowledge 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 the 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 ordinary horses. These creatures are capable of transforming into both humans and black horses. If an unwary rider saddles a forest horse spirit, he will throw it into mountain Lake or the river.

The heads are as tall as a ten-storey building and weigh 300 tons. They are made of stainless steel plates that resemble knight armor. The heads serve as the gateway to Helix Park near the Fort Clyde Canal and appeared in 2013. Horses greet visitors to the eco-park, one with joyful neighing, the other with humility 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 cow astronaut is one of the most unusual sculptures in Sweden. She appeared in 2004 before the elections and became a symbol of the country's ecology, as did her friend another 100 cows installed throughout the city. In an aerospace suit, she looks funny and funny. It floats in the air in a weightless state. The flying cow resembles the carefree Skliss from the cartoon about Alice. Everyone, without exception, cheers up perfectly.

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

The elephant in the room amazes and delights visitors to the Fontainebleau castle in France. The largest animal on earth was made to balance on a trunk in the air by sculptor Daniel Firman. The figure in the air creates a powerful visual effect, demonstrating what an animal can do at an altitude of 18,000 km above the ground, overcoming the force of gravity. The sculpture was first installed in 2008 in France. Against the background of the lavishly decorated castle walls, the animal on the trunk looks unusual and funny.

4. Musical sculpture "Singing-Ringing Tree" (Burnley, Great Britain)

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. In strong winds, the fantastic and mysterious sounds that the tree makes, transport visitors to the world of elves and gnomes. The numerous galvanized pipes are the singing branches. Sometimes, in a harsh wind, the sounds are similar to the shrill whistle of the Nightingale the Robber, with a quiet and gentle breath on the whisper of Mother Nature. The tree always sings in different ways, in several octaves, it depends 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, while legend lovers will find themselves in Hellas and enjoy the singing of mythical sirens.

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

The sculptor Rob Mulholland turned the Scottish forest into a kind of room of fear. Locals 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, pass the sun's rays in different ways, may become invisible or suddenly appear among trees and bushes. At times, ghosts may appear to hover silently or move through the forest. The diversity and play of shadows turn them into living beings. This place has become especially popular with 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, resembling 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 of a Chinese studio and is called "Cybertecture Egg". On the roof of the building there 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 student-artist makes a stunning impression on everyone who has seen it in Los Angeles. 19 year old girl studying in Gnomon School of Visual Effects... The pedestal has become one of her most extraordinary designs in anatomical glass digital models. For its manufacture, Alexandra also used glass, special resins and optically transparent plastics. The originality and uniqueness of the sculpture, the elegance and grace of the model, its fantastic nature attract many connoisseurs to it.

8. House-cactus (Rotterdam, Holland)

The cozy and quaint home in Rotterdam has huge terraces and balconies with pools. This is an ideal and comfortable accommodation for plant lovers. The 19 floors are arranged like steps and are screwed up in a spiral. The sun illuminates all parts of the building evenly and creates ideal conditions for green assistants.

9. Fantastic underwater sculpture park (Cancun, Mexico)

Everyone who sees this park is seized by a feeling of supernaturalism and mystery, it seems that you find yourself in a magical alien world. Refracted sunlight enlarges the figures and changes their shades, and it all looks fantastic and sometimes quite creepy.

The museum opened in 2009 in Mexico at the national marine park Cancun. It has become the world's largest underwater sculpture park. The unusual nature of the excursions, the fantastic and mysterious 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 gathered in various compositions, they fascinate and do not let go.

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

You can see the underwater inhabitants on a boat with a glass bottom. But it is much more interesting and exciting to go down to the bottom with scuba diving, accompanied by an instructor guide.

The main goal of the museum is to show the unity of man and water world, create an artificial reef from sculptures and preserve the endangered coral species of 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 salvation of all living things. Here are some of the exhibits in this museum:

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

· "Collector of Lost Hopes" - the 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" - one of the first compositions, lowered under water. 26 children from different countries stand, firmly holding the hand and defending the fragile world.

10. Bright and cheerful toy sculpturesDavid Gerstein (Israel)

In his works, the talented sculptor combined graphics and painting, architecture and sculpture. His works invariably cheer up 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, they can be purchased at an exhibition for a private collection. David makes original and unusual images of steel and paints them in all kinds of colors and shades, giving them a stunning look. When 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 all kinds of shades have firmly settled in Israel and have become its tourist attraction.

11. Force of nature (Doha, Qatar)

The Italian Lorenzo Quin invites to think about the forces of nature, to really see its power and greatness in his works. Numerous hurricanes and tornadoes, destroying the coasts of the islands, prompted him to create such works.

In the image of the fair sex, mother nature, firmly holding our planet with a piece of matter. Similar works by the artist Lorenzo Queen have been 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 is two and a half meters high and is made of metal and stone.

Amusing and original sights of the world are scattered all over the world, there are simply countless of them.

A tree in the form of a traffic light (UK, London).

The original road facility is located at the intersection of two streets: Marsh Wall and Westferry. Thanks to the artist Pierre Vivant, seventy-five traffic lights were hung on it, which were lit for the first time in the ninety-ninth year of the last century and since then has been delighting visitors from all over the world for more than ten years. On the contrary, this object scares motorists. Rumor has it that the driver, when he first sees a traffic light, involuntarily slows down.

Memorial clothespin (United States of America, Philadelphia).

Many argue that monuments are erected only in honor of famous people. However, this is wrong and not true at all. The unusual sights also include a fifteen-meter-high monument, which was installed in honor of the unknown soldier and this monument looks very interesting - in the form of a clothespin. In the seventy-sixth year of the twentieth century, at the opening of the monument, rumors appeared that an unknown rich man had paid for it, who made his fortune through the production and sale of clothespins. The author of this monument, in fact, is Klaus Oldenburg, who has been looking for inspiration in ordinary things all his life and has captured them in his own works.

Snowflake Museum (Japan, Hokkaido).

Perhaps you remember how you caught a snowflake with a mitten as a child, and then looked at it until it melted? And the scientist Nakaya Ukichiro from Japan devoted his life to this: in addition to examining them under a microscope, he also photographed the most unusual specimens. As a result of his labors, a large gallery appeared, which is located in a snow cave.

Monument in the form of dumplings (Russia, Izhevsk).

Imagine in front of you a huge dumpling, the diameter of which is approximately one meter, planted on a fork of three meters - such a monument has recently appeared in Izhevsk. Rumor has it that it was in these places that the first dumplings in Russia were molded, so the place for the monument was chosen just right. By the way, the dumplings have two relatives: a monument to Poltava dumplings and a monument to Canadian dumplings.

A pair of dragons in love (Bulgaria, Varna).

A small sculpture (only one meter), which depicts a pair of beautiful dragons holding an egg in their paws, was able to anger the often large inhabitants of Varna. In their opinion, dragons are considered the image of the tempting serpent, and the egg, in their opinion, is human vices. But tourists like this pair of dragons more, and they try to take pictures next to it every time.

Monument to the apple core (Israel, Jerusalem).

There are several apple monuments all over the world, but only one stub. Thus, the author wanted to say that the apple is considered a symbol of discord and fall, and the stub is considered a consequence. Isn't it very symbolic?

Winchester Mansion (United States of America, San Jose).

Don't you believe there are ghosts? Then go to this old house, walk along its echoing long corridors, climb the creaky ancient stairs ... You, of course, will not meet ghosts, but despite this you will get a lot of unforgettable sensations. In this mansion, the doors open themselves and close themselves, rustling and drafts arise. They even say that this is not due to special effects, but due to the fact that once upon a time there was an evil spirit living in the house.

Monument to the mother-in-law (Russia, Tula).

This monument, in fact, is depicted in the form of a Tyrannosaurus, and is installed next to the building in which the exhibitions are held. rare species reptiles. At first, many residents began to call the tyrannosaur Mother-in-law, and over time they developed a tradition: every year, on Women's Day on March 8, the sculpture is dressed in a bright outfit and painted on her lips. IN recent times, they say that this mother-in-law is still decorated on September 1st with a briefcase, large bows and a white apron.

Monument to the Eye (United States of America, Chicago).

A huge eye the size of a three-story building looks so natural that it sometimes becomes just scary around it. The locals are used to it and are proud of this work of art. It is believed that the prototype of the monument was the artist's own eye, since no one else wanted to pose.

Monument to the purse (Australia, Melbourne).

How do you behave if you spot a wallet on the pavement? Will you take it, or will you find its owner? And if we talk about Melbourne, is the wallet made of granite? Then it is better to take a picture against its background, because you will not see such a monument anywhere else. A large wallet lies right on the sidewalk near the central part of the city and serves as a kind of reproach for shopaholics. However, it does not save from unnecessary and unplanned costs all the same.

08/10/2015 at 13:51 · Johnny · 20 150

Top 10 most unusual monuments in the world

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

10.

Located in Gateshead, England

It is the most unusual and avant-garde monument in the UK. The sculpture depicting an angel spreading its wings was created in 1998 by the monumental artist Anthony Gormley, known for his extraordinary works far beyond the borders of the country. This monument is the largest image of an angel ever created by humans.

Made entirely of steel, a 20-meter figure with wings outstretched to meet all the winds greets tourists on a hilltop near the town of Gateshead in the north of England. The monument weighs 208 tons. Most of the weight comes from 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 hold the figure of the angel for 100 years.

The most remarkable thing about the monument is the wings, the span of which is almost equal to that of the Boeing-747. Their length is 54 meters. Outwardly, the Angel of the North resembles a cyborg most of all, and not 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 sights of the north of the country.

9.

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

This is a classic example of a monument dedicated to Charles La Trobe, First Lieutenant Governor of Victoria. His work was not appreciated by his contemporaries at one time. The sculptor Dennis Oppenheim decided to correct this omission and immortalize the memory of La Trobe. The monument is unusual in that it is placed on its head. As conceived by the author, this way he was supposed to attract more attention. Indeed, the unusual monument “on the contrary” quickly became popular and famous not only at home, in 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 coast of the Bay of Antibes. It represents an eight-meter figure of a man sitting on the ground, clasping his knees in his arms, and pensively looking at the sea. The monument was 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 Jom Plance. 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 boasts the most unusual and somewhat shocking monument to Themis, and not ordinary, but bureaucratic. The sculptural group consists of an emaciated African who bears the stout figure of the goddess Themis. As conceived by the author, Jens Halsciot, it symbolizes the 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 adorn 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 on central square... The leg of the lamp is made in the form of a bench and any passer-by can relax under the cozy light of a giant lampshade.

4.

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

3.

Robin White, a British artist, creates unusual, airy figures of fairy fairies from steel. First, the author makes the frame of the future sculpture out of thick wire, and then creates the “flesh” of the fairy out of thinner steel wire. The graceful wings of air creatures are a netting. 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 ordered for the artist for private collections - graceful figurines will decorate any garden or plot.

2.

This is one of the most unusual monuments in the world. More precisely, it is a set of sculptures united in the "Travelers" series. Their creator is the French artist Bruno Catalano. Due to their unusual structure, these monuments have another name - "torn". All of them depict travelers with an invariable attribute in the form of a suitcase or bag. A feature of the sculptures is torn holes in the body, which give them a certain illusory and ghostly nature. In total, the author created about a hundred figures. They are in big cities and small villages, at international exhibitions, in shopping centers and everywhere harmoniously fit into the environment.

1.

The 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 Saint-Dizier in 1544. Before his death, Rene de Chalon bequeathed to portray him as he would look a few years after his death. The prince's will was fulfilled. The sculptor Ligier Richet displayed extraordinary skill and precision in creating a statue that depicts the anatomy of a half-decayed body with astonishing accuracy. The monument to René de Chalon was 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 the last in the number of unusual monuments. We have a monument to happiness, a sculpture created in memory of the letter "e", which is less and less used in writing, a monument to a stool, purse, enema and grater, lamplighter, student, plumber, shuttle and beggar. Favorite literary and cartoon characters are also immortalized in sculpture: a kitten from Lizyukov Street, a postman Pechkin, a cat Begemot and Koroviev.

Cemetery "Cimitirul Vesel" in Romania

Whoever said that death is not a joke was not at the funniest cemetery in the world. Perhaps this place deserves special attention and has an unusual artistic value. Being here, it seems that people here do not die, but simply move to another carefree dimension, where there is no place for sadness, with vivid pictures and songs that raise their spirits.

There is an image on the headstone of bright blue color, which illustrates the work to which the deceased devoted his last rest of his life or his entire being. This picture is presented in a cartoon style, in which versification is also written. If you want to go there and make sure that this is not a joke, then go to Romania, to the village of Sepintsa, to the Cimitirul Vesel cemetery.

Disneyland, UK

If you are in a bad mood and you want to "finish off" it, then come to beautiful park and see for yourself that not only people, but also familiar Disney characters are so gloomy. In Disneyland (from English. Gloomy Disneyland) you can tickle your nerves with installations that have come as if from horror films.

Interesting!

This is a different world in which life flows in dark colors, a cheerful person, most likely, will not find a place in it. This landmark was invented by a mysterious artist under the pseudonym Banksy and implemented in Weston-super-Mare, on the outskirts a former resort Tropicana, Great Britain.

Sometimes you want to be in several places at once to while away the time, and sometimes money. But the impossible is possible, at least underground, in the most interesting subway in Stockholm. It can be located in three places at once: an art gallery, which has exhibition pavilions; museum; cave. All imitations take place thanks to stations that are made in a special way, for example, a giant's shoes can hang on the ceiling.

Living Root Bridges in India

Many people like fantasy films, and when watching them, some have a desire to be there, next to the main character, in an amazing place where incredible adventures take place. The collision of two worlds: human and natural - this is what India's sustainable root bridges are.