Top 10 Unknown Wonders of the World

Instructions

• 1

  Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein
  
  Situated near Johannesburg in South Africa, these sites have numerous hominid fossils about 3.5 million years old. A total of 36 limestone caves are found here. Mrs Ples and Little Foot are two of the most famous finds. The former is a skull believed to be of an Australopithecus Africanus whereas the latter is an amazingly complete hominin skeleton.
  
  Image Courtesy: south-africa.jp
  

  
• 2

  Takht-e Jamshid
  
  Construction was started by Cyrus the Great in 515BC, whereas Darius the Great and Xerxes the Great built most impressive works somewhere around 470BC. Apadana Palace is the most famous find at this site. It is believed that Apadana Palace served as the hall of kings.
  
  Image Courtesy: juergen-mann.de
  

  
• 3

  Lascaux Cave
  
  Situated in southwest France, Lascaux Cave is one of the unknown wonders of the world. It is not just a single cave but a group of numerous caves. Paleolithic cave paintings of animals, humans and abstract signs were drawn here some 17,300 years ago. A very popular theory about the caves is that the art within them represents star charts. It is also believed that people used this place to communicate with deities.
  
  Image Courtesy: lascaux.culture.fr
  

  
• 4

  Tropical Rainforest Sumatra
  
  Three national parks in Indonesia combine to make the Tropical Rainforest of Sumatra. Rafflesia Arnoldi, largest flower in the world, grows at this site. Furthermore, Amorphophallus Titanum, the tallest flower in the world, is also found here. Orang-utans, Sumatran rhinoceros, bornean clouded leopards and Asian tapirs are some of the animals species found at this site, making it probably the most important conservation site around the globe.
  
  Image Courtesy: news.nationalgeographic.com
  

  
• 5

  Wadi Al-Hitan
  
  Located in the Egyptian desert, Wadi Al-Hitan is a place where one can find fossils that show the evolution of whales from land to water creatures. Skeletons of a number of extinct animals such as Basilosaurus, Dorudon, Sirenia and Moeritherium are found here. Wadi Al-Hitan is one of the best preserved historical sites in the world.
  
  Image Courtesy: world-insights.com
  

  
• 6

  Wudang Building Complex
  
  Wudang Building Complex is located in the Wudang Mountains, a small mountain range located in eastern China. It is believed that these mountains have been inhabited since 250 AD. Golden Hall, a world famous temple, was built here in 1416. Furthermore, 500 gilded iron statues are scattered in the surroundings of this complex, making it a historical site worth visiting.
  
  Image Courtesy: tumblr.com
  

  
• 7

  Ellora caves
  
  These caves have a number of ancient structures which are of significance to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism It is believed that the structures found here were built somewhere around 400 AD.
  
  Image Courtesy: commons.wikimedia.org
  

  
• 8

  Aldabra Atoll
  
  Aldabra Atoll is the second biggest atoll in the world. Even now, it remains literally untouched by humans. Giant tortoises are found in large numbers on this atoll. Malagasy Sacred Ibis, an endangered species, is also found here.
  
  Image Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org
  

  
• 9

  Leshan Giant Buddha
  
  Located in southern Sichuan, China, the Leshan Giant Buddha is a statue of the Maitreya Buddha. It was carved at the point where Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers meet. The work was started in 713 AD and it took about 90 years to complete this historical project. The height of this statue is 71m whereas its width is 28m.
  
  Image Courtesy: commons.wikimedia.org
  

  
• 10

  Hatra
  
  The Hatra, another unknown wonder of the world, was built in the 3rd century BC. It is located near Baghdad, Iraq. It became an important fort to defend against the Roman invasion of the first Arabic kingdom.
  
  Image Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org