Since ancient times, the most outstanding buildings were singled out in separate lists. The authorship of the first list of the wonders of the world, consisting of three places, is attributed to the ancient Greek Herodotus. Over time, the list expanded to seven wonders. The only one from the list that has survived to this day is the pyramid of Cheops in Giza. The rest of the monuments have sunk into oblivion. But in addition to the wonders of the ancient world, there were other man-made and miraculous monuments on the planet, which attracted millions of onlookers to see. But like the seven wonders of the world, many of them have not survived to this day.
Penn Station, New York
Built in 1905-10, Pennsylvania Station became the largest Bezar-style architectural complex in the United States. The gates leading into the building were reminiscent of the Brandenburg gates in Berlin, and the waiting room was decorated in the style of the Caracalla baths. The station quickly became the city's trademark and one of the main attractions of Manhattan. In 1963, without prior public discussion, the station was demolished and an office center was built in its place. Years later, a new one was erected on the foundations of the old station, but the new building does not have a distinct architectural style.
Royal Opera House of Valletta, Malta
The theater was designed by British architect Edward Middleton Barry. The theater building has become one of the most beautiful in the city. Just 7 years after the opening, a fire broke out in the theater. The fire most of all damaged the interior of the theater, but by 1877 the theater was restored. After reopening, the theater stood for another 65 years: in 1942, during the Second World War, the building was completely destroyed by bombing.
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Tomb of Jonah, Mosul
According to one of the legends, the biblical prophet Jonah, after preaching in Nineveh, stayed there until the end of his days. His tomb was built on a hill near the city of Mosul. The place was considered sacred, thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the world visited it every year. In 2014, an extremist Islamic organization destroyed the tomb. In addition to the tomb, the militants destroyed the graves of Sufi sages, two cathedrals, an Assyrian church dating from the 3rd century AD, and 28 other shrines.
Globe, London
The first Globe Theater was built in 1599 with funds from the Lord Chamberlain's Men troupe, which included Shakespeare. In 1613, during the performance "Henry VIII", the theater was destroyed by fire. The theatrical cannon misfired, causing the thatched roof and wooden beams to catch fire. In 1614 the theater was restored, however, like other theaters, in 1642 the "Globe" was closed by the Puritans, and two years later it was demolished. The modern "Globus" was opened in 1997. The building was built at a distance of about 200 meters from the original location of the theater. Unlike the first theater, which received 3000 spectators, no more than 1300 people can watch the performance in the modern "Globus".
Porcelain Pagoda, China
The Buddhist temple in Nanjing was built during the Chinese Ming Dynasty. The eight-sided 78-meter pagoda was built of white "porcelain" bricks. Along with Tianjie and Lingu, during the Ming Dynasty, the building was considered one of the three famous temples of the city, and European travelers called the tower one of the main wonders of China. In 1801, the three upper tiers of the tower were damaged by a lightning strike. The temple was restored, but in 1856 the building was demolished by the Taipings, who feared that the enemies might use the tower as an observation post.
Baths of Sutro, San Francisco
Seven pools with water of various temperatures, located under a glass dome, opened in 1864. The complex could accommodate up to 10,000 people. Despite its large capacity and popularity, the project proved to be a commercial failure due to high operating costs. During the Great Depression, an ice skating rink was opened on the site of the pools. In 1964, the unprofitable complex was closed, and two years later it was destroyed by fire.
Pink and White Terraces, New Zealand
Terraces on Lake Rotomahana have long been considered one of New Zealand's natural wonders. The terraces formed hot geothermal waters that trickled down the hillside. The water left layers of silica, which later formed the terraces. In 1886, as a result of the eruption of the Tarawera volcano, the terraces were destroyed. In place of the terraces, a crater more than 100 meters deep was formed, which eventually turned into a new Lake Rotomahana.
Guaira, Paraguay
The Guaira Falls on the Parana River was considered the largest waterfall in the world. It was 34 meters high and 4828 meters wide. According to scientists, the waterfall had the highest average flow rate of all waterfalls in the world (793,000 m3 / min). In the 80s, it was decided to build a hydroelectric power station in this place. The waterfall was flooded and the rocks that formed the waterfall were blown up to improve navigation.
Walt Disney Waterpark, Florida
The world's first water park, Walt Disney World, was opened in 1976. In 2001, the park was closed for maintenance and was never reopened. Almost all slides and architectural structures have remained intact. According to one version, the park was closed due to the fact that it could not compete with the Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach parks.
Chacaltaya, Bolivia
The only ski resort in Bolivia boasted the highest ski slope in the world for another 15 years. However, as a result of climate change, the glacier, which formed more than 18,000 years ago, began to rapidly decrease in size. Since 1980, it has decreased by more than 80%. A couple of years ago, only a few square meters remained covered with snow. Edson Ramirez, a fellow at the Institute of Hydrology in La Paz, suggests that in 2015 the glacier will completely disappear.