Little-Known Details About The World’s Most Iconic Landmarks
The Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, the Taj Mahal — everyone knows the large and imposing world landmarks, but there is more to them than just their awe-inspiring profiles. Each one has some strange twist in its history, or some side not shown to tourists. These fascinating details about the world's most iconic landmarks will make you look like a regular history buff on your next vacation.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
During the early stages of its construction, the Leaning Tower of Pisa actually leaned in the opposite direction. It wasn't until more layers were added that the tower began tilting southward.
The Great Wall of China
Measuring 13,170.70 miles, the Great Wall spans half the length of the equator. Considering it took more than 2,000 years to build, it's no surprise that the Great Wall remains the most significant feat of human engineering ever.
The Great Sphinx of Giza
Believe it or not, the Great Sphinx isn't a sphinx at all. In classical depictions, a sphinx has the body of a lion, the head of a woman, and the wings of a bird; technically, the Great Sphinx is an androsphinx.
Machu Picchu
How the Incas managed to build Machu Picchu continues to puzzle historians, as the stones used to create the citadel weigh dozens of tons. Some believe they pushed the stones up the cliff sides themselves; others posit that they carved the stronghold into the mountain.
