If you have a list of travel destinations that you really want to visit, it might be worth doing so as soon as possible. Quite a few natural and cultural tourist sites from history are now irretrievably lost to time due to factors such as wars, natural disasters and economic decline.
10. Wawona Tree, USA
Estimated to be over 2,100 years old when it fell, the Wawona Tree was a giant sequoia in California's Yosemite National Park. It was perhaps the most famous tree in the region, thanks to a tunnel cut through its trunk back in 1881, turning it into a popular tourist destination.
The Wawona tree fell during a winter storm in 1969 after years of weakening due to factors including heavy snowfall, wet soil, and disease. Despite standing for 88 years, the tree was eventually unable to support its own weight due to heavy snowfall and strong winter winds. The tunnel didn't help either, as trees typically don't do well with gaping holes in their trunks. The Wawona tree was reportedly 234 feet tall when it fell, with a total diameter of about 26 feet at its base.
9. Guaira Falls, Brazil and Paraguay
Saltos del Guaira Falls, also known as Guaira Falls, is often cited as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. Situated on the Parana River along the border of Brazil and Paraguay, it was also one of the largest waterfalls in the world with a drop of about 375 feet and a flow rate twice that of Niagara Falls.
The Guaira Falls were destroyed in 1982 when the Itaipu Dam was built on the river, and the falls had to be flooded to make room for a reservoir. The falls rock was later destroyed with dynamite to make the new river easier to navigate. A joint project between Brazil and Paraguay, the dam's construction caused environmental damage and massive displacement of people living near the riverbank. On the other hand, the Itaipu Dam is currently one of the largest dams in the world, producing about 75% of Paraguayan electricity and about 20% of Brazilian electricity.
8. Sutro Baths, USA
Sutro Baths was a large saltwater swimming pool complex in San Francisco, California. Built in 1894 by former city mayor Adolph Sutro, it opened to the public in 1896 and soon became an iconic spot for city residents. At its peak, the Sutro complex could accommodate up to 10,000 people and had a number of popular features such as natural rock formations, slides, diving boards, an ice rink, and other water attractions.
Like many businesses around the world, Sutro Baths went out of business during the economic depression of the 1920s and 30s. This was due to a number of factors, including the sudden emergence of new entertainment options such as movies, changing public tastes, and the high cost of maintaining such a large facility. A fire in 1966 destroyed what was left of the abandoned complex, although some of its ruins can still be visited in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area on San Francisco Bay.
7. Pink and White Terraces, New Zealand
The Pink and White Terraces of New Zealand were natural wonders that existed until the late 19th century. They were a series of hot springs and geysers with different layers of silica deposited over time, creating large, multi-colored terraces on the shores of Lake Rotomahana in northern New Zealand. The terraces were first discovered by the indigenous Maori people, who used them for bathing and healing. They are estimated to be over 1,000 years old and were a particularly popular tourist attraction around the world in the early 1800s.
Often considered one of the natural wonders of the world, the pink and white terraces remained popular until 1886, when the eruption of nearby Mount Tarawerana threw huge amounts of ash and debris onto the tops of the terraces, burying them forever. While the region is still dotted with interesting features such as geysers and fumaroles, the famous pink and white terraces of Lake Rotomahana now exist only in photographs and old travel accounts.
6. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Türkiye
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was a great tomb at Halicarnassus, an ancient Greek city in what is now Bodrum, Turkey. It was one of the most famous buildings of antiquity, built in the fourth century BC to honor Mausolus, ruler of Caria, and his wife Artemisia. It was designed by the Greek architects Satyrus and Pythias of Priene and was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World due to its impressive architecture and design.
The mausoleum stood for many centuries until a series of earthquakes presumably destroyed it sometime between the 12th and 15th centuries. Today, only a few fragments and ruins of the structure remain, such as the four famous horse statues that once stood at the corners of the structure's roof. Even after its destruction, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus remained a symbol of ancient Greek artistic and architectural excellence, as its design has since inspired many buildings and other structures around the world.
5. The original Penn Station, USA
The original Pennsylvania Station in midtown Manhattan opened to the public in 1910. Designed by architect Charles McKim, it was an imposing Beaux-Arts structure with a 150-foot-high vaulted ceiling, a sweeping marble staircase, and ancient Greek Doric columns. The station also featured a huge waiting room, a ticket hall, and an extensive network of underground tunnels and platforms that served more than 100 million passengers annually at its peak in 1945.
While its grandeur and beauty made it an important architectural symbol of New York City, the original Penn Station was eventually torn down in 1963 due to financial problems. A new station was built in its place, as well as a new complex called Madison Square Garden, which is still used as a high-rise office and sports complex. The new station still uses many of the features of the old one, including the old tracks, tunnels, and platforms.
4. Disney's River Country Water Park, USA
River Country is a water park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Opened in 1976, it was one of the first parks designed around old-fashioned swimming pools, along with a variety of other attractions that soon made it a popular tourist destination. Some of the park's most popular rides included the Whoop 'n' Holler water slide, the Barrel Bridge rope swing, and the Bay Cove swimming area.
It wasn't until 2001 that Disney's River Country Water Park closed its doors to visitors for good after about 25 years of operation. The reasons for the closure were never officially revealed, but it was widely believed to be due to declining attendance and safety concerns. It didn't help that the park had suffered numerous accidents over the past few years. Today, the park is abandoned and overgrown, with most of its rides in disrepair and rust.
3. New York Hippodrome, USA
The Hippodrome was a massive theater on Sixth Avenue in New York City. Designed by architects Frederick Thompson and J. H. Morgan, it opened to the public in 1905 and quickly became an iconic cultural and tourist attraction for the city. In addition to its famous dome, the theater was known for its massive 100-foot-wide stage, a total seating capacity of approximately 5,200, and state-of-the-art lighting and sound effects. At its peak, the Hippodrome hosted a variety of entertainment shows, including circuses, operas, vaudeville shows, and stage plays.
However, despite its importance as a cultural landmark, the New York Hippodrome was eventually demolished in 1939, largely due to the economic downturn caused by the Great Depression. The site remained empty until 1952, when an office building and parking garage called the Hippodrome Center were built in its place.
2. Bridge of Love Locks, France
The Pont des Arts, also called the "Love Locks" Bridge when it existed, was a pedestrian bridge over the Seine River in Paris, France. It was famous for the thousands of padlocks attached to its railings by couples from all over the world, making it a symbol of eternal love for visiting tourists.
As expected, the locks soon became a safety hazard for both city residents and tourists, as their ever-increasing weight caused irreversible damage to the bridge’s structural integrity. A local movement to remove the locks gained momentum in 2014 when part of the railing collapsed due to the weight of the locks, sparking widespread protests and demands to restore the bridge to its original state. In 2015, authorities finally removed the locks, replacing them with glass panels for unobstructed views of the Seine and other Parisian landmarks.
1. Tomb of Jonah, Iraq
The Tomb of Jonah, also known as Nebi Yunis, was a holy site located in the city of Mosul in northern Iraq. It is believed to be the final resting place of the biblical prophet Jonah, who is revered in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The tomb is believed to have been built in the eighth century BCE. In addition to being an important pilgrimage site for tourists from around the world for centuries, the Tomb of Jonah has also been a symbol of the cultural and religious diversity of the region.
Unfortunately, the tomb was destroyed in July 2014 when ISIS captured Mosul and destroyed much of the city's cultural heritage as part of its larger campaign to eradicate all traces of religious and historical diversity in areas under its control. The destruction sparked outrage around the world, and although much effort has been made to restore the tomb in the years since, progress has been slow due to the ongoing conflict in the region.
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