| |
No longer lost, 'lost cities' still fascinating to visit in modern day
Persepolis, Iran, known as "the city of Persians," dates back to 515 BC when it was once the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online): Rumored hidden in the jungles of Honduras since the 16th century, the country's mythic "White City" has finally been discovered. Buried in the La Mosquitia region, its location was kept secret to protect it from looters. The city's inhabitants disappeared mysteriously without a trace.
A better-known "lost city" is the magnificent town of Machu Picchu, Peru. Noted for its pumice rock-veiled ruins, there are plenty of lesser known sites that are just as breathtaking and not as frequently visited.
 The 'city of Persians,' which lays at the foot of the Kuh-i-Ramat mountains, was once the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire.
The ancient city of Babylon in Iraq, also home to the mythical hanging gardens named one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, the medieval Armenian ruins of Ani, Turkey are as well nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Eight lost cities recommended for the more adventurous traveler include:
 The ghost town of Epecuen, Argentina, may not be ancient, having flooded in 1985, but many former residents were sure it was lost forever.
1. Persepolis, Iran - known as "the city of Persians," dates back to 515 BC when it was once the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire. The ruins lie at the foot of Kuh-i-Rahmat, or Mercy Mountains, near the city of Shiraz.
2. Epecuen, Argentina, is a not so-ancient ghost town. Once a busting lakeside resort, the Argentinean town was flooded without warning in November 1985 when heavy rains caused the lagoon to burst its banks and submerged the small community in corrosive salt water.
Never rebuilt, it's now become a popular tourist destination once again, in particular for the Jewish community of Buenos Aires.
3. Ciudad Perdida, Colombia, high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, this country's Lost City has recently been dubbed "the new Machu Picchu," after being first discovered in the 1970s.
The site is believed to date back to about 800 AD, which is over 600 years earlier than the world's most famous lost city.
The ancient city of Babylon in Iraq dates back 4,000 years when it was then the capital of 10 dynasties in Mesopotamia.
4. Machu Picchu, Peru is a 15th century Inca site. A tourist favorite among those interested in exploring ancient cities, Machu Picchu attracts over one million visitors last year alone.
5. Babylon, Iraq. Founded 4,000 years ago, the ancient city was the capital of 10 dynasties in Mesopotamia, and its walls and mythic hanging gardens are considered to be one of the world's original Seven Wonders.
Today, its walls and mythical hanging gardens are considered to be one of the Seven Ancient World Wonders.
. Angkor Wat, Cambodia is one of the most important archeological sites in Southeast Asia. Impressive monuments, ancient urban plans and large water reservoirs are all located in the Siem Reap Province and are indicative of an exceptional civilization.
7. Petra, Jordan, located in the Ma'an governorate, is famous for its architecture, carved into the red sandstone rock, as well as for its ancient water conduit system.
Angkor, in Southeast Asia, stretches over 400 square kms and offers remains of several different capitals of the Khmer Empire.
8. Pompeii, Italy is situated near the current city of Naples. Researchers believe that it was founded as early as six century BC. The impressive architecture was mostly buried and destroyed after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD blanketed the region in burning pumice stone and ash. |
المشاركات
نقاط
التقييم
موضوع: Mar. 23, 2015 No longer lost, 'lost cities' still fascinating to visit in modern day 
الثلاثاء 24 مارس 2015 - 19:19
