London is the capital of Great Britain and one of the largest cities in Europe, which is the world center of culture, music, education, fashion, politics, finance and trade. It is a vibrant and bustling metropolis with a dynamic life and a wonderful cosmopolitan atmosphere. London is one of the oldest cities in Europe, which has an amazing concentration of a variety of sights, historical and cultural monuments: luxurious palaces, historical buildings, towers, bridges, ancient churches, attractions and world-class museums.

London was founded during the Roman Empire and throughout its rich history has been one of the most important cities in Europe. All the wealth of the United Kingdom flocked here, so its capital has magnificent sights from various historical eras. London is one of the most multifaceted cities in the world, which has absorbed not only the traditions of Britain, but also the cultures of many nationalities and peoples. It is a place of amazing diversity to be discovered and explored endlessly.

London can be visited all year round, so the best time to visit it depends entirely on your preferences. There are fewer tourists in the capital of the United Kingdom during the off-season, so it's easier to book a good hotel and you can comfortably explore the city. There are many festivals and cultural events in London in the summer, but there are also many more tourists.

London is one of the world's shopping capitals. Here is the largest department store in Europe - Harrods, where you can find almost everything. Also in the capital of Great Britain is a huge shopping center - Westfield, which includes 300 stores. The main shopping area is the West End (Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street, Piccadilly and Covent Garden). Near London Bridge is the Borough food market, although it is relatively expensive. Brushfield is home to an old fruit market that now sells up-and-coming designers, housewares and food.

Food in London caters to all tastes. Here you can find everything from fast food and inexpensive pubs to exclusive restaurants. In London, a standard tourist rule applies - food near popular attractions and in the central part of the city is more expensive. Many locals go to restaurants in residential and working areas, where the quality of food and service is higher and prices are lower.

Below you can read more interesting facts. 

1. The English capital is about two thousand years old. No one knows the exact date of foundation.

2. In the past, London was known as Londinium, Augusta, Lundenwick and Lundenburch.

3. Native Englishmen make up about 50% of the population of the capital of Great Britain. The rest are mostly from Africa and Asia.

4. The first Londinium was burned by the Britons during their revolt against the Romans.

5. In the 9th century, a huge army of pagan Vikings captured half of England, avenging the death of their king Ragnar. It controlled the territories of London and its environs for 15 years.

6. Judging by archaeological finds, primitive people lived on the site of modern London long before the foundation of the city.

7. Indigenous people in different parts of London have different accents. Foreigners do not notice this, but the locals determine it accurately.

8. Because of the monstrous prices for real estate, most citizens in London rent a house all their lives, and do not buy it.

9. Every Friday every London pub is packed to capacity. Most locals book tables well in advance.

It is impossible to see a stray cat or dog on the streets of London.

10. Residents of London can easily walk around in a T-shirt and jeans, for example, in November. Like their Irish neighbors, they are not afraid of the cold.

11. The apartments here, with rare exceptions, are very cramped. Many also live in old houses with communication problems.

12. London is in the top 10 most expensive cities in the world every year.

13. Drivers of traditional cabs in London know the whole city from memory down to the small lanes.

 

14. Navigators are not allowed to use them. This rule does not apply to ordinary yellow taxis.

15. You can find at least one bike rental on any major London street.

16. The most popular fast food in London is Indian cuisine.

17. London police officers do not carry firearms.

18. There are usually no washing machines for London apartments, so there is a laundry service on every corner.

19. Every year, people forget about 80,000 umbrellas on the London Underground.

20. Contrary to popular myth, it doesn't rain as often in London as you might think. For example, even in Rome or Milan there is more rainfall than here.

21. According to ancient law, London has the right to refuse the reigning English monarch entry into the capital.

22. Londoners never go out without taking an umbrella with them. Yes, just in case.

23. On one of the branches of the London Underground, trains are fully automated, and they travel without the help of drivers.

24. And here it is customary to leave to read newspapers right in the subway so that someone else can read them. By the way, they are still very popular in London, despite the development of modern technology.

25. The most popular pet in London is a dog, despite the fact that many landlords forbid tenants from keeping pets.

26. Every year, a Christmas tree sent from Norway is set up in London's Trafalgar Square. This is a token of appreciation from the people of Oslo for helping Britain during World War II.

27. Driving into central London costs money.

28. Big Ben is not called the famous London clock tower, but the bell installed in it.

29. Some retail outlets in London only accept credit cards.

30. Most of London's cinemas are specialized - one shows comedies, another shows Hollywood blockbusters, and a third shows retro movies.

31. There are about 5,000 pubs in London. This is more than even in Dublin.

32. Most of London's museums are free to enter, but donations are welcome.

33. About 20 underground rivers flow under London.

34. The multinationality of London society is evidenced by the fact that the locals speak about 300 different languages.

35. Among all the cities in the world, London occupies one of the first places in terms of the number of billionaires living in it.

36. The famous movable Tower Bridge in London weighs 2000 tons, while it takes just one minute to open.

37. It was here that the world's first subway was built.

38. The foggy London stereotype arose from the fact that during the era of the development of local industry, the city was constantly wrapped in thick smog. In fact, fogs are rare here, and mostly in the cold season.

39. In summer it is rarely warmer than +20, but in winter the temperature rarely drops below 0 degrees.

40. In terms of population, London ranks second in Europe, second only to Moscow.

41. Many streets, especially in older areas, are confusing and very winding, so many Londoners carry a map of the city with them.

42. Lines are everywhere here - in museums, pubs and restaurants. Even in the USSR there were not so many queues.

43. London is the only city in the world to have hosted the Olympic Games three times.

44. Less than 50% of Londoners are Christians.

45. The famous Westminster Abbey in London was built over almost 700 years.

46. One of the ancient laws obliges London hotels to accept not only guests, but also their horses.

Buckingham Palace in London consists of 600 rooms.

47. In the USA, as many as 8 cities are called London (interesting facts about the USA).

48. From the center of London to the center of Paris can be reached by high-speed train in just 2 hours.

49. The exact age of London is unknown, but, judging by the chronicles found, it is about two thousand years old.

50. In the Tower of London, the ravens that live there are looked after by a special caretaker. There is a legend that Great Britain will fall when these birds leave the Tower (see interesting facts about birds).

51. There are two types of taxis in London - ordinary and traditional London cabs. To get a cab driver's license, you have to pass the most difficult test on the knowledge of absolutely all London streets, because traditionally cab drivers do not use maps or navigators.

52. London is the largest city in the European Union, and concurrently the second largest in Europe as a whole.

53. Founded by the Romans, London was originally called in the Roman manner - Londinium.

54. For a hundred years, from 1985 to 1925, London was the largest city in the world.

55. Every year at Christmas in Trafalgar Square in London, a Christmas tree is sent from Oslo. This is a token of gratitude for the help provided to Norway during the Second World War (see interesting facts about Oslo).

56. Driving into the center of London during the daytime is paid, and, by the way, costs a lot - ten pounds sterling.

57. There is a statue of George Washington in London, but it was installed on land brought from the United States, because Washington declared during his lifetime that "do not set foot on English soil again."

58. London's famous Big Ben is not a tower, contrary to popular myth. "Big Ben" is the name of the bell tower installed there, and the tower itself is called "Elizabeth"

.

59. Twenty hidden rivers flow under London (see interesting facts about rivers).

60. The code of rules for ships entering London harbor still allows the constable of the Tower to demand a barrel of rum from each ship as a duty.

61. The inhabitants of London speak more than three hundred languages, which makes London the most multilingual city in the world. However, in English here anyway, of course, everyone speaks.

62. Local law forbids you from hailing a taxi on the streets of London if you are infected with the plague.

63. All London buses became red in 1907. Before that, they were painted in different colors.

64. London is the largest city in the UK. About a third less people live here than in Moscow, and almost fifty times more than in Paris.

65. One of London's museums houses a collection of items left behind by passengers on the London Underground. It includes such extravagant items as a human skull, a samurai sword, a coffin and a puffer fish.

66. London Heathrow Airport receives and sends more international flights than any other airport in the world.

67. During the fire of 1666 in London, about 70 thousand people were left without a roof over their heads, despite the fact that then the population of this city was only 80 thousand.

68. The world's first zoo opened in London. This significant event took place back in 1828.

69. There are over a thousand streets in London.

70. Contrary to popular belief, London is not a rainy city at all. On the contrary, it is one of the driest in Europe. But there are really many cloudy days here.

71. Buses in London run around the clock.

72. The cheapest transport in London is a bicycle. You can rent it on almost every street, and a daily rental will cost half the price of the shortest metro ride.

73. In 2012, the city hosted the Olympics for the third time, no other city has received such an honor.

74. Many museums in London are free to visit, although you can make a voluntary donation if you wish.

75. Eternal rain in London is a common myth. In fact, there is no more precipitation here than, for example, in Rome, but it can start to rain suddenly and end just as suddenly, so it is customary for locals to always carry an umbrella with them.

76. The London Eye Ferris wheel is one of the largest in the world. There are 32 booths fixed on the circle (according to the number of districts of the city), each of which can accommodate 25 people. A full turn of the wheel takes half an hour. The "Eye" is an important element of the pyrotechnic shows that are held on New Year's Eve and other holidays; fireworks are also launched from it.

77. If Japanese restaurants and pizzerias are widespread in Russia, then in London the championship belongs to Indian cuisine.

78. There are as many as 6 airports in London and its environs. Heathrow is the most famous of them, and also the busiest in Europe.

79. There are almost no traffic jams in the central part of the city. The secret is simple - since 2003, on weekdays, entry here is paid and is more than 12 pounds. Moreover, entry in an old car that does not meet environmental standards will cost twice as much.

80. The London Underground is one of the largest in the world with 270 stations. It is also the oldest in the world, its first branch was opened in 1863. The people call the subway Underground (“subway”) or Tube (“pipe”). The fare varies depending on the metro area. The stations have special places for musicians to perform, and it is customary to leave the newspapers in the car, where someone else can read them.

81. London has a Tramlink tram system, but it operates only in south London in the Croydon area and has only 4 routes. The fact is that there is no subway in this part of the city.

82. London is the only place where you need to study to become a taxi driver, and the training takes several years and involves passing the most difficult exams. The fact is that it is not customary for local taxi drivers to use maps, and even more so navigators, they must remember all the streets and even houses by heart! Not surprisingly, about 70% of applicants do not stand up to training. Naturally, we are talking about black taxi cabs that have become the hallmark of the city. It is they who have the right to play the streets and put passengers anywhere, but the prices in them bite. There are also simpler taxis in the city, but they only work on specific calls. If you need to use a transfer to the airport, we recommend that you order a Russian taxi in London. Reasonable price and quality service guaranteed.

83. Famous red double decker buses are called double deckers. The first buses of this type appeared on the streets in 1956.

84. In many places of the city there are parking lots with bicycles that can be rented with a bank card.

85. The Greenwich meridian passes through London, which in 1884 was decided to be considered zero (until that moment, different countries counted longitude from their national meridians). It used to pass through the observatory in the town of Greenwich, but now the town has become one of the districts of the sprawling capital.

86. Under London there are many underground rivers and streams. In the Victorian era, they were hidden underground - in the sewer system. At that time, it was the right decision, because Londoners threw garbage at them and poured sewage.

87. The Tower of London on the banks of the Thames is considered one of the oldest buildings in the UK. Its construction is attributed to William I, the legendary Norman conqueror who radically changed the whole way of Great Britain. Construction began in 1066 and ended in 1078. Later, Richard the Lionheart ordered to build several more towers and dig a moat around the fortress, and from 1190 the fortress gradually began to turn into a prison and a place of executions, and representatives of the nobility and even unsuccessful monarchs often became prisoners. King Henry VIII and his descendants were especially zealous in this matter in the 16th-17th centuries. It was only after World War II that they stopped keeping prisoners. Part of the fortress was occupied for a long time by the mint and the menagerie, later transferred to the London Zoo. Today, the Tower has become a museum and repository of the treasures of the British crown. Among the staff of the modern Tower there is a ravenmaster - an employee who monitors the well-being of the local flock of crows. There is a belief that when they leave the fortress, many misfortunes await the country. To prevent this from happening, crows have their wings clipped.

88. Big Ben is another well-known landmark that is actually not called that. The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster bears the name of Elizabeth, and "Big Ben" is not even the name of the clock, but the largest of the six bells inside the tower.

89. The London Zoo has been operating since 1828 and is the oldest in the world. Interestingly, it does not receive government funding and exists on proceeds from ticket sales, charitable fees and donations.

90. Like other major cities, London has not been spared by great tragedies. In 1952, the Great Smog hung over the city for several days - a toxic fog that led to the death of several thousand people. Immediately after this environmental disaster, the Clean Air Act was passed, but London is still considered one of the most polluted European cities today.

91. In 1666, during the Great Fire of London, most of the city burned out in just three days. The exact number of victims is unknown, the fact remains that more than 80% of the population was left homeless, and the restoration of the city took more than a dozen years. Although everything can be found pluses. For example, the fire helped to cope with the Great Plague Epidemic, which at that time had been raging in the capital for a year.

92. The Great Stench is another environmental disaster in London's history. In 1858, there was no sewerage in the largest city in Europe. And during the hot summer, the Thames overflowed with sewage and poisoned the surrounding areas. Cholera began to spread (they did not yet know that it was transmitted through water), there was a disgusting stench, residents fled to the suburbs, and the British Parliament resigned. The disaster ended by itself with the advent of rainy weather, but the government realized that the problem had to be dealt with somehow, and a year later a sewer system appeared in London.

93. The city is the main political, cultural and economic center of Britain.

94. In the Tower, a local fortress, a special person watches over the ravens living in its territories. According to one legend, Great Britain will fall immediately after the birds leave the fortress.

95. An interesting fact is that in London, anyone can, instead of a traditional taxi, call a cab - a horse-drawn carriage.

96. There are 20 piped rivers flowing under the surface of London.

97. Did you know that over 300 languages ​​are spoken in this capital, making London the most multilingual city on earth. But there is no doubt that everyone here knows English.

98. The British take their culture and traditions very seriously. As a result, the tower constable has the right to demand from the ships entering the harbor - a barrel of rum.

99. By law, a person suffering from the plague is not allowed to call a taxi.

100. Since 1907, all London buses have been painted red, although before that they were of a wide variety of colors and shades.

 

The Australian Open Tennis Championships is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments currently held in the Australian city of Melbourne on the courts of the local sports complex Melbourne Park. The main draws of the competition are traditionally held in a two-week period at the end of January - the beginning of February, revealing the winners in nine categories: in five for adults and four for senior juniors.

The tournament was first held in Melbourne in 1905 and was called The Australasian Championships. 17 athletes took part in it, and 5 thousand spectators attended the final match. In 1927, the tournament was renamed the Australian Championships. In 1969, it became open to professionals and received its current name.

Bemorepanda collected some funny memes about Australia Open 2022.

1.Aus Open

2.Sport Star

3.The party life

4.Stepped in what

Beginning in 1905, the championship was held in six different locations:

Melbourne (54 times)

Sydney (17 times)

Adelaide (14 times)

Brisbane (7 times)

Perth (3 times)

New Zealand (2 times, in 1906 and 1912).

In 1972, the decision was made to hold the tournament in the same city every year. The venue was the grass courts of the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, a suburb of Melbourne. Over time, the Quyong Club became too small for a much larger tournament. By the beginning of the championship in 1988, the construction of a new tennis complex Melbourne Park (Melbourne Park, former Flinders Park, Flinders Park) was completed, where the tournament was moved that year. The move was a significant success - match attendance immediately increased and the 1988 tournament saw 90% more spectators (266,436) than the previous year's Quy Ong (140,000).

5.The good tennis

6.Nadal

7.Dreamworks

8.Little goat

In addition to problems with Cuyong Stadium (where, among other things, there was a slope that caused players on one side of the main court to literally walk uphill when they reached the net), the popularity of the Australian Open in the late 1970s and early 1980s professionalization of tennis negatively influenced. Leading players at that time were already earning such large sums that they could even afford to miss the Grand Slam tournament due to the fact that a trip to it meant missing the Christmas and New Year holidays. 

Chris Evert missed this tournament six times in a row at the peak of her career, Martina Navratilova four times; Bjorn Borg never competed in the Australian Open after 1974, and Jimmy Connors after 1975. As a result, the winners of the Australian Open were players who could not claim victory at any other Grand Slam tournament: in the women's singles in 1978, Chris O'Neill won, and in 1979 Barbara Jordan, in the men's singles in 1980 Bryan Teacher excelled. With plans to organize a two-week super tournament in Florida, there was a threat that it could force the Melbourne competition out of the Grand Slam tournament list. 

Therefore, in order to make it easier to attract elite players to the Australian Open, after the tournament in January 1977, the decision was made to reschedule the event to late November and early December. Therefore, in 1977 the championship was held for the second time - in December. This month it continued to be arranged in subsequent years. Starting in 1987, the tournament was again postponed to January, so the championship was not held in 1986.

The Melbourne Park Tennis Complex consists of, among others, 3 center courts and 3 demonstration courts.

9.Linesmen

10.Kyrgios

11.One of us is ignoring

The main court of the tournament, the Rod Laver Arena, was named after the legendary Australian tennis player Rod Laver in 2000. The court was built in 1988 and can accommodate 15,000 spectators. More than 1.5 million viewers visit it annually. The court is equipped with a retractable roof, which allows you to play matches in the rain or extreme heat.

The second court of the tournament, Hisense Arena, was built in 2000. The arena is special in that it can be easily transformed for various events. In addition to tennis tournaments, cycling and basketball competitions, as well as various concerts, are held here. The capacity of the stands also varies depending on the configuration - 10,500 spectators for tennis and basketball matches, 10,500 or 8,900 for concerts (depending on the location of the stage), 4,500 spectators in velodrome mode. The arena is also equipped with a retractable roof.

The third center court, the Margaret Court Arena, is named after the most successful Australian tennis player in history, Margaret Court, who, among other victories, won the Grand Slam in 1970, won a total of 62 Grand Slam tournaments ( in singles and doubles championships), which is still a record for both men and women; and was the first racket of the world. The court was formerly known as Show Court One and was renamed on January 12, 2003.

All courts have Plexicushion hardcovers. In the early years after the transition from grass turf to artificial courts, Rebound Ace rubberized surface was used. In cool weather, it bounced right, was neither too fast nor too slow and provided good foot grip, but in hot weather the rubber would melt and the courts would become sticky, resulting in severe injuries to Gabriela Sabatini in the 1990 tournament alone. and Mark Woodford.

12.Matt

13.Yes

14.Who said this?

15.Meanwhile, Feder

16.Official review

17.Border control

18.Ballboys

19.Terminal 2

20.Triangle 

21.Honey mommy

22.Last minute entry

23.A new player

24.He lied on visa

25.Tennis strars

26.Get vaccinated

27.Antivaxxers

28.Profesional visa

29.Both can play tennis

30.Last had covid

31.Question

32.Get a doctor

33.Admit i faked

34.And then you win

35.Zebras

36.Who is open

37.Certain things in life

38.Fashion starter pack

39.Get up at 9 a.m

40.Like this?

41.Tennis fans

42.Hair still perfect

43.What? Who?

44.Grand Slam Title

45.Character

46.If you know what I mean

47.Deportovic

48.My size

49.A new italian player

50.Unseeded?

Even though they have been abandoned, some places in the world have not lost their beauty. Abandoned buildings, ghost towns, old churches, and amusement parks have become real tourist attractions, offering a great perspective on the past.

 

Most beautiful abandoned places in the world

 

Although apocalyptic at first glance, there is something beautiful about abandoned places. Here time has stopped as if in place, there is no human vision, but the beauty remains forever. Abandoned places show us what actually happens without human intervention - and what could happen even to places we love and visit often. The following locations are some of the most impressive, behind which are also impressive stories.

 

Kennecott, Alaska

 

Wrapped in mist and attractive fall foliage in the Alaskan wilderness, the Kennecott Mines and surrounding town are (almost) as creepy as the Packard Sawmill in Twin Peaks. The town of Kennecott once prospered with copper miners and their families until resources were depleted in the late 1930s, and all the inhabitants moved elsewhere - except for a family of three. Thus, this area was completely abandoned in the 1950s, when the last family left.

 

Railway Canfranc, Spain

 

Although the glory days have long passed, the Canfranc International Railway Station in Huesca, Spain, still leaves unforgettable memories. It was once one of the busiest stations in Europe and the second largest in its construction in 1928. It was closed when a train derailed on the French side of the bridge.

 

Grossinger Resort, New York

 

Grossinger's Resort in Liberty used to be a luxury weekend getaway in New York. In its heyday, it was similar to the Dirty Dancing resort (some even say it was the inspiration behind Grossinger's movie). Due to bankruptcy, the resort closed in 1986.

 

Rummu Prison, Estonia

 

This semi-submerged prison has a dark past. Prisoners were forced to work in their careers until it was abandoned in the early 1990s, when Estonia gained independence from the Soviet Union. Without the necessary maintenance, it was eventually flooded. Today, it's actually a beach - so if that's your idea of ​​a dream beach vacation, get your diving permit and book a ticket.

 

Goricina Hotel, Croatia

 

Bougainvillea and the Adriatic Sea dominate this abandoned hotel on the Croatian coast. Hotel Goricina was once a luxury hotel in a Yugoslav military resort, which was destroyed in the Croatian War of Independence, along with a number of other hotels.

 

Hachijo Royal Hotel, Japan

 

Located on the lush Japanese island of Hachijojima, Hachijo Royal Hotel was once one of the largest resorts in the country. The French Baroque architecture, covered with moss and vegetation, is truly impressive.

 

Beelitz, Germany

 

Dating back to the 1800s, this complex functioned as a military hospital during the war. The surrounding area was abandoned in the mid-1990s, when Soviet forces withdrew from Germany.

 

Geamana, Romania

 

Copper mining ended in Geamana in the 1970s of toxic waste. Thus, the place was "flooded" by an artificial lake and tons of toxic waste.

 

Craco, Italy

 

Despite its existence in 540, much of the city's population was evacuated in the 20th century due to a landslide in 1963 and a flood in 1972. It is now such an impressive ancient site that it even served as a filming site, like The Passion of the Christ.

 

Temple of Santiago, Mexico

 

The drought in southern Mexico has lowered the water level around this 450-year-old church. Although the circumstances are not exactly "joy", they did allow the temple, which is usually hidden under water, to come to light - an amazing but strange moment, about how things are not always what they seem.

 

Gougi Island, China

 

This fishing village on the Yangtze River in China is not just a forgotten city - its lush buildings covered in ivy and greenery are surprisingly quiet and special. The Chinese site that first wrote about this place called the area the "Wizard of Oz's dream".

 

St. Nicholas Church, Macedonia

 

This flooded church is located on Lake Mavorvo in Macedonia. The destruction was in fact intentional. The lake was created to support a power plant. What remains is a special juxtaposition of the abandoned building over the beautiful landscape.

 

Miranda Castle, Belgium

 

Built in 1866, this fairytale-like structure in Belgium was originally intended to be a summer house, but the designer died before it was completed in 1907. It was later taken over by the Nazis during World War II. it served as a summer camp for 20 years, and was eventually abandoned in 1991 because it was too expensive to maintain.

 

Ross Island, India

 

Located in southern Andaman, India, this island was once a British administrative center for the Indian settlement. However, after being abandoned, it was "flooded" by wild Ficus and now has an amazing atmosphere, broken as if from the Jungle Book.

 

Six Flags, New Orleans

 

This amusement park was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. About 80% of the park was destroyed, making it too expensive to restore. What is left behind is the funhouse version of a theme park.

 

Hirta, Scotland

 

While it was once a lush island inhabited by many people, it was evacuated in the 1930s due to the threat of starvation. Now, the abandoned stone structures fit perfectly into the landscape.

 

Dome Homes, Florida

 

Right off the coast of Marco Island in Cape Romano, Florida, is a structure that looks like an abandoned alien spaceship, but in reality it was once a vacation home that has since been destroyed by hurricanes.

 

Berlin, Nevada

 

The historic district of Berlin was founded in 1897 as part of mining growth, but was never successful in other nearby cities and was largely abandoned until 1911. It is now part of the Nevada State Park.

 

Kolmanskop, Namibia

 

The city was founded in the Namib Desert in 1908 when a man found a diamond in the area, but was abandoned in 1954 after resources were depleted. The remaining houses are now full of sand - a strange but special view.

 

Kilchurn Castle, Scotland

 

This Scottish castle was built in the mid-1400s and is home to some of the strongest people in the country. However, it was abandoned in the 1700s and is now one of the most photographed castles, due to its (obviously) striking location.

 

The statue of Jesus Christ, sunk off the coast of Malta

 

Near the Maltese coast, scuba diving tourists can see the statue of Jesus Christ at a depth of 38 meters, on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea.

 

A similar statue, made of bronze and called "Christ of the Abyss", is also found near the Italian coast of the Mediterranean Sea, near San Fruttuoso. It was placed in 1954 at a depth of 17 meters below sea level and is 2.5 meters high.

 

The city of Pripyat in Ukraine

 

The city of Pripyat was built in northern Ukraine, near the border with Belarus, especially for workers working at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Pripyat was a city of about 50,000 inhabitants, which was completely abandoned a few days after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

 

Park - Gulliver's Kingdom

 

"Gulliver's Kingdom" was a Japanese amusement park opened in 1997 and abandoned in 2001. It was located in the Yamanashi region, and its main attraction was the 44-meter-long statue of Lemuel Gulliver, the character Gulliver's Travels, published in 1726 by Jonathan Swift.

 

Bannerman Castle - New York

 

Bannerman Castle is about 80 miles from New York on Pollepel Island on the Hudson River. It is an abandoned weapons depot, built by businessman Francis Bannerman VI in 1901.

 

In 1920, 200 tons of shells and gunpowder exploded here and destroyed much of the building. A few years later, the castle was engulfed in a new fire, and in 2009 another part of the building collapsed.

 

Wreckage SS Ayrfield

 

Close to Sydney's Olympic Village, Homebush Bay, lies the wreckage of a 100-year-old ship surrounded by lush mangrove vegetation.

 

The wreck is 104 years old and weighs 1,140 tons, named Floating Forest, in local folklore. SS Ayrfield (also called SS Corrimal) was built in England in 1911.

 

The ship was sold in 1950, but recovered in 1972. Eventually, it fell into disrepair, becoming a popular tourist attraction.

 

In 2022, the 109th "Great Loop" in history will take place; the cycling race will take place from July 1 to 24. The Women's Tour de France will return to the calendar under this name after 33 years.

The men's Tour de France (3328 km) starts in Denmark. The Danish start of the Great Loop was planned for 2021, but due to the postponement of the football EURO 2020, the matches of which were also hosted by Copenhagen, it was decided to implement this idea a year later. So the peloton will spend the first three days of the Tour in 2022 in Denmark, the riders will pass the first "cutting" (13 km) in Copenhagen, then they will move to France, a day of rest and a bit of "Northern Hell" - more precisely, 5- th stage with paving stones and finish in Arenberg. The stage is a quote from the route of the famous "classic" "Paris - Roubaix".

The sixth stage of the "Tour" starts in the Belgian Banshee. In addition to Denmark, France and Belgium, riders will also visit Switzerland: the eighth stage will finish in Lausanne, the next one will start in the same country, in Aigle, where the headquarters of the International Cycling Union (UCI) is located.

Separately, it is worth noting the ascent of Alpe d'Huez, which is included in the route of the 12th stage. It falls on July 14, Bastille Day. For every French rider, winning the Tour on Bastille Day is considered an extra motivation.

In total, there are six mountain stages in the race route, five with an uphill finish. There are two individual races, on the first (13 km) and penultimate (40 km) stages. “The route of this Tour has everything,” said Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, two-time winner of the “Big Loop”, after the presentation. “There are paving stones, cuts, and mountains. A real Tour.

The 2022 Women's Tour de France kicks off on the day the men's Grand Loop finishes on July 24 at the Champs Elysées. The route includes eight stages, two of which are mountainous. In total, the racers will cover 1029 km. For women's cycling, which this year included in its calendar an absolutely male "monument" "Paris - Roubaix", the return of its "Tour de France", even if it is still held in eight stages, is certainly a long-awaited and historical moment. Previously, the organizer of the men's "Tour" ASO held a women's version of this Grand Tour, but only until 1989. In 1992, this race was replaced by the Tour Cycliste Féminin, later renamed the Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale. Then ASO began the revival of the project with the La Course, and by 2022 approved the multi-day format for this race already called the Tour de France.

The organizers also attended to the increase in prize money - the women's Tour de France will become the race with the highest prize money in 2022. The winner of the overall standings will receive 50,000 euros. The total prize fund will be 250 thousand euros against 2.3 million for the men's Tour de France. By the way, this amount of prize money will be a record for the women's peloton. Prior to this, the record for prize money was held by the RideLondon Classique-2019 race - 100 thousand euros.

The Great Loop in 2022 will stretch in addition to France through the territory of three more countries - Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland. This is the largest number of countries on the route since 2017. Denmark will be the 10th country to host the Grand Depart Tour de France, and the northernmost in Tour history.

From 21 stages:

• 6 flat,
• 7 mid-mountain,
• 6 mountain with 5 mountain finishes (La Planche de Belle Fille, Col du Granon, Alpe d'Huez, Peyraud, Hautacam),
• 2 individual time trials,
• 2 days of rest
• 1 day transfer.

The Tour de France 2022 prize fund will be €2.3 million, including €500,000 for the winner of the general classification.

The total length of the Tour de France 2022 route will be 3,328 km. 29 lifts - 2nd, 1st and highest categories.

 The 2022 Tour de France kicks off in the Danish capital Copenhagen with a 13 km individual time trial. Danny will host the first three stages of the Great Loop. On the day of rest, the peloton will return to France, where the riders will find 20 km of classic Paris-Roubaix paving stones, and the first mountain finish at La Planche des Belles Filles, and the legendary Telegraph, Galibier, Col de -Croix de Fer and Alpe d'Huez, and the final week in the Pyrenees. The 109th edition will end with an individual time trial and a traditional friendship stage, finishing in Paris, on the Champs Elysees.

The Tour de France 2022 will pass through four mountain ranges - the Vosges, the Alps, the Massif Central and the Pyrenees.

On the stage up to Arenberg (Porte du Hino) riders will have to pass 19.4 km of paving stones - 11 sectors from 1.3 to 2.8 km long.

The week in the Alps starts with stage 11, with a mountainous finish at the Col de Granon, which returns to the Tour de France after 36 years. 2413 m and the same roads where Bernard Hinault in 1986 wore the yellow jersey for the last time in his career.

On July 14, on Bastille Day, a stage will take place with a finish at Alpe d'Huez. The last time 21 “hairpins” of the legendary climb took place four years ago.

On the way to the Pyrenees, sprinters will be able to write their name into history on the stages of Saint-Etienne and Carcassonne. Pyrenees - Col d'Aspin, Hourquette d'Ancizan and Peyragud, Otacam, Obisk and for the first time in the Tour's route - Col de Sandelle (1378 m).

There will be two mountain finishes in a row in the final week in the Pyrenees - stages 17 and 18 will finish at Peyragudes and Hautacam.

On the way to the top of Peyragude, you will have to overcome Col d'Aspin (Col d'Aspin), Hourquette d'Ancizan and Col de Val Louron-Azet and the culmination of the stage - 8 km from 7.8% to the peak of Peyragude.

The next Pyrenean mountain stage to the top of Otakami includes the passage of the Col d'Aubisque (Col d'Aubisque) and the Col de Sandelle (Col des Spandelles) and the final climb of 13.6 km from 7.8% to Otakami.

The total length of the individual time trials will be 53 km - 13 km in the opening race and 40 km in the penultimate, 20th stage from Marivalay to Rocamadour.

1.07 Friday. Stage 1: Copenhague - Copenhague (ITT), 13 km

2.07 Saturday. Stage 2: Roskilde - Nyborg, 199 km

3.07 Sunday. Stage 3: Vejle - Sonderborg, 182 km

4.07 Monday Rest day.

5.07 Tuesday. Stage 4: Dunkerque - Calais, 172 km

6.07 Wednesday. Stage 5: Lille Metropole - Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, 155 km

7.07 Thursday. Stage 6: Binche - Longwy, 220 km

8.07 Friday. Stage 7: Tomblaine - La super Planche des Belles Filles, 176 km

9.07 Saturday. Stage 8: Dole - Lausanne, 184 km

10.07 Sunday. Stage 9: Aigle - Châtel Les Portes du Soleil, 183 km

11.07 Monday. Day of rest.

12.07 Tuesday. Stage 10: Morzine Les Portes du Soleil - Megève, 148 km

13.07 Wednesday. Stage 11: Albertville - Col du Granon, 149 km

14.07 Thursday. Stage 12: Briancon - Alpe d'Huez, 166 km

15.07 Friday. Stage 13: Bourg d'Oisans - Saint-Étienne, 193 km

16.07 Saturday. Stage 14: Saint-Étienne - Mende, 195 km

17.07 Sunday. Stage 15: Rodez - Carcassonne, 200 km

18.07 Monday. Day of rest

19.07 Tuesday. Stage 16: Carcassonne - Foix, 179 km

20.07 Wednesday. Stage 17: Saint-Gaudens - Peyragudes, 130 km

21.07 Thursday. Stage 18: Lourdes - Hautacam, 143 km

22.07 Friday. Stage 19: Castelnau-Magnoac-Cahors, 189 km

23.07 Saturday. Stage 20: Lacapelle-Marival - Rocamadour (ITT), 40 km

24.07 Sunday. Stage 21: Paris La Defense Arena - Paris Champs-Elysées, 112 km