Buzz
While we have previously delved into the famous landmarks and the facts surrounding them, this list takes a more unconventional approach. Here, we present thirty intriguing and lesser-known facts about some of the most beautiful and iconic places on Earth.
10. The Beehive
1. The Beehive, which houses the executive branch of the New Zealand government, was initially intended to be the final segment of the classically designed parliament buildings. However, due to earthquake risks, a more modern design was chosen instead.
2. The building’s unusual shape (with wedge-shaped interior rooms) was so impractical that a square front addition had to be made to accommodate a security wing.
The uppermost floor of the building houses the Cabinet room, where senior ministers convene, with the Prime Minister's office located one floor beneath it. Below ground, the basement is home to a swimming pool that is exclusively available for parliamentary use.
9. Eiffel Tower
Gustave Eiffel, the designer of the tower, had Maurice Koechlin, the chief engineer, incorporate a private apartment on the third floor for his personal use. Thomas Edison famously visited him there once. Today, it is open to the public.
The Eiffel Tower is painted in a unique official color known as Eiffel Tower Brown. Originally, it was a red-brown shade, but it was later repainted yellow. The tower now features three varying shades of Eiffel Tower Brown, each shade getting lighter with height, a design trick commonly used in interior decorating to blend the structure with the changing sky. There are proposals to return the tower to its original red in its next paint job.
The English, aiming to match the grandeur of the French, started construction of their own version, the Watkin’s Tower, at Wembley Park. Though the first stage was completed, the structure proved unstable and was left unfinished before it was eventually demolished.
8. The Taj Mahal, a stunning monument, is a symbol of eternal love.
1. A total of 1,000 elephants helped transport the materials required for the Taj Mahal's construction.
2. The foundation of the Taj Mahal is made of timber, posing a potential risk of collapse. However, it has been ingeniously designed to collapse outward, preventing any harm to the tomb inside.
3. Duplicates of the Taj Mahal exist in Dubai and Bangladesh. The one in Bangladesh is a scaled replica with added colors, made for the local population to experience its beauty without traveling to India.
7. The Sphinx, a monumental statue, continues to captivate visitors with its grandeur.
1. The 'Sphinx' in Egypt is not a true sphinx. A real sphinx features the wings of a bird, the body of a lion, and a woman's face. The Egyptian version, however, has no wings and bears a man's face.
2. The Sphinx was once brightly painted in shades of red, yellow, and blue, and may have even worn a crown as depicted in the illustrations above.
3. Muhammad Sa’im al-Dahr, a devout Muslim, attempted to destroy the Sphinx (and is often blamed for the damage to its nose, which some mistakenly attribute to Napoleon). His actions led to his lynching.
6. The Statue of Liberty, an iconic symbol of freedom, stands proudly in New York Harbor.
1. Though the Statue of Liberty was largely a gift from a French manufacturer (not the French government), Americans were responsible for funding the pedestal and partially contributing to the cost of the statue itself.
2. Boston and Philadelphia raised funds in a bid to secure the statue, but in the end, it was New York that won the right to host it.
3. In 1985, the Statue of Liberty underwent significant restoration: a new torch was added, her face was shifted two feet to correct its off-center placement, her nose was remodeled, and her arm was repositioned for a better alignment.
5. Big Ben, the iconic bell, is often confused with the tower itself, which is actually named the Elizabeth Tower. It was renamed in 2012 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, though it was previously known as the Clock Tower or St Stephen's Tower.
1. Big Ben refers to the bell inside the tower, not the tower itself. The structure was officially called the Clock Tower until 2012 when it was renamed the Elizabeth Tower to honor the reigning queen.
2. The tower once housed a prison. In 1880, a parliamentarian who refused to swear allegiance to the queen on the Bible was briefly imprisoned there for a single night.
3. At the top of the tower, you'll find the Ayrton Light, installed so Queen Victoria could see when Parliament members were working after hours. It is currently in the process of being replaced.
4. The White House, a symbol of the U.S. presidency, stands as one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.
1. Prior to Theodore Roosevelt's naming of the White House, it was known by several names including the Presidential Mansion, the President's Palace, and the President's House.
2. The President, who resides in the White House (naturally), is required to cover the costs of all food consumed within the residence, paying out of their own pocket. They receive a monthly bill for it.
3. President Washington selected the location and approved the design for the White House, but he never lived there. It was John Adams and his wife Abigail who became the first presidential couple to call it home.
3. The Kremlin, an iconic symbol of Russian power and history, stands proudly at the heart of Moscow.
1. The five towers of the Kremlin are topped with ruby-studded stars, placed by the communists to replace the imperial two-headed eagle symbol.
2. The Kremlin's walls and towers, constructed in the 15th century by Italian craftsmen, were designed to replace previous timber walls. Initially, the Kremlin functioned as a city within itself.
3. The Kremlin houses the world's largest bell, the Tsar Bell. Unfortunately, it has never rung because it cracked during its construction.
2. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, famous for its tilt, is one of the most recognized architectural structures in the world.
1. Mussolini attempted to correct the Leaning Tower by drilling holes in its base and filling them with cement. Unfortunately, this only worsened the situation, causing the tower to lean even more. In 2008, scientific measures were taken to stabilize the tower, preventing any further tilt.
2. Initially, the tower tilted in the opposite direction. As construction continued and the tower grew taller, its weight caused it to shift. What was once a north-leaning tower is now a south-leaning one.
3. The Leaning Tower of Pisa serves as a bell tower, and one of its bells, known as San Ranieri, was used to mark the execution of a traitor. Watch the video above to hear the bells toll.
1. The Great Wall of China, an impressive feat of engineering, stretches across the country.
1. In China, the Great Wall is referred to as the Earth Dragon or the Long Wall, symbolizing its massive presence and length.
2. The material used to bind the bricks of the wall together was a special mixture made from sticky rice, which is often seen in Chinese cuisine.
3. The wall failed to fully serve its intended purpose of defending the nation. Ghengis Khan was able to breach and dominate parts of the wall during his rule.
