TOP 10: Places To See Before You Die.

10. Grand Canyon  [Wikipedia]

 The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is contained within and managed by Grand Canyon National Park, the Hualapai Tribal Nation, and the Havasupai Tribe. Pictures do not truly do justice to the sheer size of the Grand Canyon.Being able to stand near the edge and see the huge rock walls which span for well over 200 miles.

9. The Great Wall of China [Wikipedia]

Being the first structure ever constructed by man to be visible from space, this is certainly a must see. When you stand on the Great Wall, looking down towards the horizon and seeing that it stretches beyond, it can be hard to imagine that this was built by human hands.

The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China in part to protect the Chinese Empire or its prototypical states against intrusions by various nomadic groups or military incursions by various warlike peoples or forces.

Being over 5,000 miles long, this truly is a marvel to behold. It is hard to imagine just how much labor went into the construction, and if you plan the proper tour, you will even see some of the many statues contained inside. Each of these terracotta statues are life sized, and individually numbered. It is estimated that inside the Great Wall if China there are around 8,000 of these statues earning them the name Terracotta Army.

8. The Easter Islands [Wikipedia]

This small island in the Pacific isn’t very interesting by itself. The ancient culture used up all the trees before vanishing, possibly to aid in the construction of the many 13 foot tall statues that line the island. Not much is known about why or who created them, and while we have seen pictures they just don’t convey the sheer size of these 10-14 ton behemoths.

No one knows why they were created, just that they were. It has been speculated that the peoples responsible for these statues left when the island was running out of resources. They have been a focus of study for quite a long time, and have inspired some truly unique stories.

7. The Louvre [Wikipedia]

The Musée du Louvre —in English, the Louvre Museum or simply The Louvre—is one of the world's largest museums, and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, France, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement.

The museum is very well known and contains some of the greatest masterpieces by the best artists who ever lived. While we know what the paintings look like, seeing them housed inside this magnificent example of architecture just can be replicated through photos.

Located in Paris, it is one of the most well known places in France aside from the Eiffel Tower. While visiting, you will be able to see with your own eyes many great sculptures, statues and paintings created by a large variety of cultures from around the world.

6. Venice [Wikipedia]

The canal streets of Venice Italy are truly unique in the world, and to see firsthand just how people go about their daily lives is an interesting experience. The city was built on over 100 small islands, which made travel by boat a necessity. With such easy access to sea trade routes, it is easy to see how this great city became known as an industrial center.

Taking a guided tour down the many canal streets is a truly unique experience which cannot be replicated. Every faucet of modern living as we know it will be different when your roads are canals.

5. The Taj Mahal [Wikipedia]

The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

This huge mausoleum was built in the 1600′s at a time when most people would not have thought it possible to create such a magnificent place. While many people might think that this is one huge building, it is actually made up of many smaller structures, which all add up to make the place truly beautiful when viewed by the naked eye.

The large white dome is a world renowned landmark and although people have tried to replicate the look, it just isn’t the same. Even from afar this is truly a sight to behold, but what is even more spectacular are the decorations on the buildings themselves. Calligraphy carved into the side and many small adornments that were painstakingly handcrafted have held up to the test of time, and even by today’s standards considered very impressive.

To this day much effort is put into maintaining, both the Taj Mahal itself, and the grounds surrounding the area so that you are surely to not be disappointed.

                                                   

4. Angkor Wat [Wikipedia]

Angkor Wat is the largest Hindu temple complex and the largest religious monument in the world. The temple was built by a king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yasodharapura, the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum.

The name of this place means “city temple” and this exactly what it is. Located in Cambodia, Angkor Wat is an example of what truly marvelous structures can be created without the aid of technology. The large statues carved inside the structure itself is what most people think of when hearing the name, but seeing the great temple from afar truly is impressive.

For anyone wanting to see great examples of architecture, Angkor Wat has to be high on their list. As there is so much to take in, you would be wise to schedule a guided tour so that you are sure not to miss out on the more interesting aspects of the city temples design.

3. The Great Barrier Reef [Wikipedia]

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres.

The large abundance of colorful sea life make this a real hotspot for divers worldwide. If you are lucky enough to view this spectacle from the air you will see just how large this reef really is.

There are a great many hotels and accommodations that have worked with local charter boats to have guided tours rather easy to get scheduled on, so you can be shown firsthand some of the more diverse sea life which call this place home. Reefs are composed of millions of tiny creatures, so one of this size would take untold ages to be able to form as it has.

2. Petra [Wikipedia]

Petra is a historical and archaeological city in the Jordanian governorate of Ma'an, that is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system.

No one really knows just who built this great city in the mountain walls. The very large entry ways which can be over 14 feet tall have inspired many tales of a city inhabited by giants. It is estimated that the city itself is well over 3,000 years old, and served many purposes over it’s ancient history. It has been reported to be a capital, caravan trading post, as well as a temple of sorts and has been ruled by several different cultures.

The hardness of the stone must have made construction of the ancient city a project that spanned over multiple generations. Located in Jordan, there are many resorts available with a focus on making sure you get to see this incredible place safely.

1. Great Pyramid of Giza [Wikipedia]

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact.

The Great Pyramid of Giza has been chosen for number one as it is one of the most widely known ancient structures in existence. It was built precisely to match the geographic directions of the compass, proving that mankind could indeed manipulate numbers back in ancient times to create great marvels of engineering.

While all of the other pyramids have a recorded history, and are proven to serve as a tomb, the Great Pyramids reason for being built is largely unknown. The top of the pyramid is missing though many believe from ancient writings that it was a huge piece of gold that would shine from the horizon. When looking at pictures, you have to envision that many centuries of erosion and vandalism have changed the way this site looks. The outer walls were made of highly polished stone, which make some scientists believe that it would shine bright enough at parts of the day to have been visible from orbit around the Earth itself.

I must admit that the order of these great sites to behold is based on personal preference, but this does not mean that these are not must see places before you die. The many photographs available truly do not let you behold and feel the presence of these unique places around the world.

So, How many places have you visited before?

I visited only 3 of them. ^^