By: Lucas Wantuck Hello, and welcome to the 8th edition of “Five Interesting Facts Around the World!” For today’s edition, I will be covering landmarks and their fascinating history! So, with no further delay, let’s get on with the facts! 1. China has a copy of the Eiffel Tower. Located in Hangzhou of the Zhejiang Province, the life-sized replica of Paris, France has many famous locations such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs Elysées Main Square, just to name a few. Though the 1 billion dollar project is fascinating in and of itself, what intrigues me the most is that most people describe the city as nothing more than a ghost town, and they’re not wrong. The city looks heavily abandoned and while you might see a few tourists, the city is not nearly as populated as the real Paris. 2. Big Ben isn’t actually a clock tower. Though many people call the ginormous tower by the name “Big Ben”, they’re actually calling it the wrong name. You see, “Big Ben” is the name of the bell that rings inside of the tower. The name of the actual tower is Elizabeth Tower. Interestingly, the tower used to just be called “The Clock Tower” and also had the nickname of “St. Stephen’s Tower”. 3. The Great Pyramid is the only wonder of the ancient world still standing. The Great Pyramid, the largest of the Pyramids of Giza and obviously located in Giza, is the only wonder of the ancient world that still stands to this day. The Great Pyramid was built over 4,500 years ago and is one of the oldest monuments in the world. Unlike The Great Pyramid, the other six wonders have been lost to earthquakes, fires, and other mysterious causes. And, if you were curious, the other six wonders of the ancient world are the Colossus of Rhodes, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Temple of Artemis, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. 4. The Great Wall of China is the longest man-made structure in the world. Coming in at an astonishing length of 21,196 kilometers, or 13,171 miles, the Great Wall of China is without a doubt the longest man-made structure to ever exist. Construction of the Great Wall of China started around 770 BCE and finished in 220 BCE. The wall was created to protect the Chinese borders from the Mongolians and other hostile forces. 5. The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. The Burj Khalifa is a building that was built in the city of Dubai, and it only took six years to finish construction, which started all the way back in 2004. The Burj Khalifa is roughly 2,717 feet or 828 meters, and with over 160 stories, it is the tallest building to ever be built. As a bonus fact, the Burj Khalifa holds seven world records, all having something to do with its incredible height. Sources:
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