One of the most precious things that exists in this world is childhood innocence. Unfortunately, the film industry has a disturbing history of having children perform sexually explicit actions on film, largely for the entertainment of adults. While attracting rightful condemnation from many, there is not enough being done to protect children working in the entertainment industry from being exposed to and participating in things that children should not be a part of.

This is a particularly timely list as the mainstream media has recently begun drawing attention to QAnon when a reporter recently asked the president what he thought about “his” suggestion that Mr Trump is working to end a deeply entrenched child sex trafficking cabal in the deep state with Hollywood complicity. Additionally, Netflix recently released a show Cuties which has horrified many with its extreme pro child sexuality content.

These are 10 films featuring children performing explicit actions on screen . . . disturbingly this is just the tip of the iceberg.

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10 Good Boys 2019

Seth Rogan’s 2019 comedy film Good Boys pushed all the remaining boundaries of late night comedies. The film features 3 13 year old boys, played by real 13 year old actors, who are preparing for their first Kissing Party and have several misadventures along the way. The boys activities in the film included them cursing, peeping on their neighbors and underage drinking. In addition there were several scenes featuring the underaged actors using sex toys, both properly and improperly. One scene featured 13 year old Jacob Trembly kissing a sex doll which was implied as being used by one of his friends parents. Another featured all 3 of the boys viewing a pornographic video. In spite of all of this, there was little mainstream controversy surrounding the film and it was released to the public without incident, grossing 110.6 million at the box office.^[1]

9 Blank Check 1994

Disney movies are meant to be child friendly and family friendly films. Given that they are mostly watched by children, Disney movies are often held to a higher standard in terms of what is on screen. That is not always the case however and several Disney films have been at the center of controversy, one such is the movie Blank Check. In 1994’s Blank Check, the 11 year old Preston was seen to be in a one sided relationship with a 32 year old actress featuring dates, romantic gifts, and culminating in a kiss on the lips at the end of the movie. It created controversy at the time but was quickly forgotten and Disney was forgiven. This scene came back to haunt Disney in 2019 when the film was rereleased on Disney’s new streaming service Disney Plus. Many people were shocked and appalled that Disney chose to keep the scene in the movie, however the protests fell on deaf ears and the scene remains on Disney Plus.^[2]

8 Interview with a Vampire 1994

Much like Blank Check, Interview with a Vampire features a kiss between an underage actor and an adult actor. The main difference is between the genders of the actors, with the female Kristin Dunst kissing the male Brad Pitt. There was a 19 year age difference between Pitt and Durst at the time. Since the film’s release, both Pitt and Durnst have spoken about the scene saying how they both felt disgusted by what they had to do and regret their roles. Although Durnst feels uncomfortable with the kiss she shared with Pitt, she still speaks highly of Brad Pitt and his behavior on set, saying that he was like an older brother to her.^[3]

7 The Godfather 1972

Francais Ford Coppola’s 1972 film The Godfather is considered by many to be one of the greatest films of all time. The film tells the story of World War Two veteran Micheal Corleone, the son of feared Mafia Don Vito Corleone, reluctantly taking over his father’s criminal empire during a time of conflict within New York’s organised crime families. In addition to controversy from Italian Civil Rights groups and real organized crime organizations in regards to the depictions of Italian Americans, one particular scene crossed the line. In the film, when Micheal is forced to flee to Italy after killing a rival monster as well as a New York City police captain, he meets a young Italian woman named Apollina, who he soon marries. In the scene where Micheal and Apollonia consummate their marriage, the then 16 year old Simonetta Stefanelli removed her top showing her bare chest and began a sexually suggestive scene with the then 30 year old Al Pacino. Despite this, The Godfather’s legacy as a cinematic masterpiece remains.^[4]

6 Pretty Baby 1978

A movie telling the story of an underage prostitute featuring an underage actress will always create controversy, with outrage likely following quickly. As a result such movies are rarely made, especially ones featuring real underage actresses. But in 1978 a movie like that was released, starring 12 year old Brooke Shields. There were countless controversial scenes in the film, such as 12 year old Shields completely naked, Shields virginity being auctioned off and Shields being drugged and sexually abused. These scenes led to the film being banned in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Saskatchawan, in a ban that lasted until 1995. Now, the film is considered a classic by some, but a sick use of cinema by others. Shields, who was the focal point of this controversy says that she regrets nothing and is proud of the film.^[5]

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5 Taxi Driver 1976

Jodie Foster’s role in Taxi Driver has always been marked with criticism. Given her young age at the time, coupled with the fact she had to flirt with 33 year old Robert DeNiro and witness the film’s violent climax when 3 men are gunned down in a bloody gun battle. These scenes were so gruesome that Foster had to undergo several psychological evaluations in order to perform in these scenes, further stoking controversy. Finally, 4 years after the release of the film a man named John Hinckley shot President Ronald Reagan in order to get Foster’s attention. Today, Taxi Driver is known for being the film that put director Martin Scorsese on the map, as well as being one of Robert DeNiro’s most memorable roles.^[6]

4 Lolita 1997

Based on the controversial 1955 book, Lolita is a movie detailing the illicit relationship between a 12 year old girl and her middle aged stepfather. Unlike the original 1962 movie which had a more lighthearted and comedic tone to it, the 1997 remake of the film did not shy away from the more controversial themes of the original novel. In the film, Lolita was played by 17 year old Dominique Swain while Humbert Humbert was played by 49 year old Jeremy Irons, who later stoked controversy for saying that parental affection had a sexual aspect. In the film, Irons and Swain engaged in all of the hallmarks of a traditional relationship such as hugging, kissing, as well as illusions of sexual contact between the pair.^[7]

3 Cuties 2020

The description of this movie says it all. “Amy, 11 years old, tries to escape family dysfunction by joining a free-spirited dance clique named Cuties, as they become aware of their own femininity through dance.” This, combined with images of scantily clad young girls sparked a fierce social media backlash with many demanding Netflix remove the film with some even going so far as to cancel their Netflix accounts altogether. Netflix further stoked controversy when their executives refused to condemn pedophelia and insisted that the controversy surrounding the film was wrong. Nonetheless, Netflix eventually bowed to public pressure and removed the posters featuring scantily clad young girls and changed the film’s description. That however does not change the fact that the film contains scenes of scantily clad 11 year old girls performing sexually provocative dances and is set to release to the public very soon.^[8]

2 Manhattan 1979

Noted Hollywood figure Woody Allen’s personal life has been the source of controversy over the course of many years. The source of this controversy stems from his relationship with his step-daughter Soon Yi, whom he had raised since she was 11 years old. It has been alleged that the relationship started before Soon Yi was 18, but that has never been proven. Given this controversy, his 1979 film Manhattan has been analysed under a new light. This film, which tells the story of a 42 year old writer, played by Allen, dating a 17 year old high school student, played by 17 year old Mariel Hemingway. Given the disturbing nature of Allen’s later relationship, many have said that the film represents a pedophelic fantasy of Allen’s, as opposed to the work of cinematic art it was once hailed as. Nonetheless, the film still details an inappropriate adult/child relationship in a normalised context.^[9]

1 Kids 1995

The 1995 film Kids centers around several teenagers in New York City in the mid 1990s. At the time of the film’s release it was rated NC-17 due to scenes of underage drug abuse, underage nudity, and a plotline centering around an HIV positive rapist who went around infecting young virgins. It also attracted anger from the general public for these themes and sparked a heated debate about artistic expression. Despite this, it was released unedited. A film so controversial could only be made by one man. The infamous former Hollywood producer and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein, who is now serving a 23 year sentence for his crimes. Although most of the main cast members were over the age of 18 at the time of filming, several such as Leo Fitzpatrick and Rosario Dawson were still underage at the time of filming, and performed explicit actions as such.^[10]

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A sociopath is a person (mostly male but sometimes female) who suffers from one of a number of mental illnesses such as borderline, histrionic, or antisocial personality disorder. They are often referred to as narcissists (and all sociopaths ARE narcissists though not all narcissists are sociopaths) or psychopaths and they are frequently found in movies and literature.

My enmity with Hollywood is no secret, but I have to admit that it has (perhaps due to introspection) managed to rather-well capture the evil face of sociopathy a number of times on film. This list looks at ten pictures that are particularly good at representing those inflicted with this illness and the carnage they leave behind them. WARNING: this list contains minor spoilers and offensive language.

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10 The Rules of Attraction

The Rules of Attraction is connected to the more well-known film American Psycho because the main characters in both movies are brothers (Sean Bateman in Rules of Attraction, and Patrick Bateman in American Psycho). This is briefly alluded to in the released film, but above is a fascinating longer clip of the two brothers which ended up on the cutting room floor. In The Rules of Attraction (which was written first), Sean is a vapid sophomoric teen who fucks his way through college with no regard for the young women he hurts and ultimately one of his victims cuts her wrists and bleeds to death in a gruesome and dangerously true-to-life scene. Sean, of course, doesn’t even realise the girl was in love with him. Whilst not as arty or well constructed a film as American Psycho, this close relative is well worth a watch, even if for no other reason than the hilarious drunken luncheon between the impossibly handsome secondary characters Dick and Paul and their socialite mothers (played by Faye Dunaway and Swoosie Kurtz). And you definitely don’t want to miss the awesome drug dealer scene featuring Clifton Collins Jr.

9 Pacific Heights

What one thing does a sociopath love more than himself? Ruining people’s lives for the mere fun of it. And here we have the best film depiction of it. No one gets hurt (not in any meaningful way at least) but boy do lives get wrecked. Michael Keaton plays the dastardly sociopath Carter Hayes who becomes a tenant to the new homeowners Patty and Drake (Melanie Griffith and Matthew Modine) who scrimp and save to buy their first “house and income” in Pacific Heights, San Francisco. In time it becomes clear that Carter makes a living out of ripping off young innocent landlords. Whilst slightly aged (it was released in 1990), this film is still a brilliant well-paced movie that is worth the time to watch. It is a once-a-year movie for me. The film opens with another realistic element: a sociopath being beaten by a former victim who has caught up with him. The movie also has a minor role for Tippi Hedren, Melanie Griffith’s mother and the star of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds.

8 The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

Sociopaths don’t exist. By that I mean they are empty shells who, chameleon like, morph into a mirror image of their victims. During the initial phase of love-bombing, the sociopath questions the prey and adapts to mimic and complete them. This is called the “idealization” phase – the predator breaks down your defences and inserts himself into your life. In the chilling film The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, sociopath Peyton (Rebecca de Mornay) plays a twist on this theme by morphing into the wife of the man she hopes to seduce: right in front of the wife’s eyes! She becomes an essential part of the family’s life and then begins her twisted vengeance on the family whom she blames (with narcissistic rage) for the loss of her husband. This film, like so many films on this list, illustrates that the sociopath is really great fodder for the psychological thriller genre. Here’s a brilliant video analysis of the evil character Amy Dunne.

7 No Country For Old Men

Anton Chigurh (played by Javier Bardem) is a sociopath par excellence. He walks through this film unemotionally executing people with a weapon (a captive bolt pistol) which really sums up how the psychopath sees his fellow man: animals for the dispatching. This is a deeply disturbing film in the neo-western crime thriller genre (yes that exists). It is really like no other and was made by the Coen Brothers who are well known for their off-beat dark movies (such as Fargo and The Big Lebowski). Chigurh is probably the darkest character on this list – dripping with a sense of awfulness that is really seldom seen in a movie. And while this item ranks at number seven, it is by no means a suggestion that it is not one of the best made. You’ll probably need to take a shower after this one. With lysol.

6 Gone Girl

David Fincher is one of the the best directors working right now and Gone Girl is one of his finest films. It tells the tale of Amy, a young woman raised by parents who were so focussed on their fictional book series based on the highly romanticised life of their daughter that they all but forget to actually raise the girl. This lack of attachment in childhood led Amy to become a sociopath (some sociopaths are born that way, others are made). The film portrays the deliberate and callous vengeance Amy enacts against her husband when she is thrown into a narcissistic rage after discovering that he has cheated on her. The film shows all three stages of sociopathy: idealization (the love-bombing and perfect start), the devaluing (destroying the self-worth of the prey), and the discard (the final termination of the relationship and the victim). It also shows, better than any other film on this list, how cunning the sociopath can be and how easily they can convince others to join them in their attacks on the victim. This is really one of the best films on this list so do watch it.

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5 American Psycho

It’s in the title! Sociopath and psychopath are interchangeable terms, though it should be mentioned that some people consider psychopathy to be a more serious form of sociopathy (the disorder is on something of a spectrum like autism). Interestingly, neither term is listed in the DSM (the official US catalog of psychiatric disorders). In this rather beautifully filmed adaptation of the Brett Easton Ellis book, we follow the life of Patrick Bateman (as mentioned in item ten above) as he descends into psychosis. His character is perhaps the most realistic representation of the absence of empathy that typifies sociopathic insanity and any attempt to appearing to care is clearly fake (see, for example, Patrick’s feigned offence at the anti-Jewish comments made by his friends at dinner). By their nature, sociopaths cause intense confusion in those they prey upon. You are love-bombed but left with a feeling of insecurity. You are told you are beautiful but are left feeling ugly. American Psycho manages to invoke a similar confusion from the viewers when the film finishing leaving the audience wondering whether anything actually happened at all. A very clever considered manipulation by director Mary Harron.

4 Casino

Casino is a brilliant film, it is obvious why it is on this particular one: Joe Pesci’s characterisation of the sociopathic gangster Nicky Santoro (based on real life mob enforcer John Spilotro). A quote from the film will do more justice than I can to show you why this character and film is on the list: “You know, you’ve got the wrong impression about me. I think in all fairness, I should explain to you exactly what it is that I do. For instance tomorrow morning I’ll get up nice and early, take a walk down over to the bank and… walk in and see and, uh… if you don’t have my money for me, I’ll… crack your fuckin’ head wide open in front of everybody in the bank. And just about the time that I’m comin’ out of jail, hopefully, you’ll be coming out of your coma. And guess what? I’ll split your fuckin’ head open again. ‘Cause I’m fuckin’ stupid. I don’t give a fuck about jail. That’s my business. That’s what I do.” Sociopaths never forget. They keep coming back. Forever. That is why a total no-contact policy is essential when you part ways with one in your own life.

3 Goodfellas

Joe Pesci . . . again. Who can forget this line: “I’m funny how, I mean funny like I’m a clown?” He’s a monster in Casino, in Goodfellas he’s downright demonic! Joe Pesci really does bring the narcissistic sociopath to life in his gangster portrayals, in this case as Tommy DeVito. Thank God he represents only the most extreme end of the psychopathic scale considering than some estimates say that up to twelve percent of the population is a sociopath! This film is one of the best of its kind – in fact it is one of the best films period. It is gruesome and twisted but if you haven’t seen it, you really need to put it on your “to watch” list and get to it asap. Sociopaths or not, this is a must-see movie.

2 Silence of the Lambs

Hannibal Lecter. One could easily believe that Anthony Hopkins was born for this role; in none other does he shine so bright and terrify so intensely. Here, as an imprisoned cannibal, the only departure from the majority of sociopaths is his very high IQ (sociopaths tend to be of middling intelligence – they can appear intellectual but like everything else in their lives it is all an illusion). Lecter is cold, calculating, deceitful, and emotionless. He derives a purely sadistic pleasure from his actions and even in helping the main character Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) it is entirely for his own ultimately benefit. Nothing Hannibal Lecter does is for the benefit of others. Pure narcissistic sociopathy.

1 Fatal Attraction

There can be no other film in position one. Fatal Attraction is THE sociopathic film. Glenn Close playing Alex is chilling. And here I end the main body of this list as I started it: early in the movie she slashes her wrists to keep married man Daniel (Michael Douglas) from leaving her. Most of us are familiar with the term “bunny boiler” – it is so common a term for a female sociopath that it even has an entry in the Collins dictionary! That phrase comes from this film in which Alex boils the pet bunny to cause distress to Daniel and his family. In preparing for the film, Glenn Close was uncomfortable with the bunny boiling scene thinking it too extreme, but she was assured by a number of psychotherapists she consulted that it was absolutely plausible for a sociopath to commit such a horrifying act. The relentless attacking of the victim in this film is certainly representative of the worst sociopaths, though in a lot of cases self-harm is more prevalent as a tool for manipulating those who have been loved-bombed into developing an abnormal attachment to the perpetrator.

+ Dirty John

This is a bonus item as it is a TV Series not a film but it is an extremely good series based on the true story of John Meehan as recounted by the podcast of the same name. Typical for sociopaths, John convinced his prey Debra Newell to marry him within eight weeks of meeting. The story follows John’s drug addiction, abuse of Debra and her family, and his pursuit of many other women at the same time (another typical attribute of sociopaths who can have multiple victims all being worked at the same time). I highly recommend this Bravo TV series.

10 Monumental Malignantly Narcissistic Sociopaths

An arch, by definition, is a curved structure or formation that supports the weight of a bridge, wall, or mass above it. Sounds dull, but don’t be fooled. They are, in fact, true marvels of our world. Found in nature since the earth was formed, created by wind and natural forces, they later became valued by humans who were inspired by nature to build strong arch-shaped structures.

Now, we see arches everywhere on our travels and in our lives—some so discreet that you hardly notice them but others so impressive, they will take your breath away. Arches, both made by man and by nature, truly deserve our attention!

Here is a list of 10 travel experiences featuring awe-inspiring arches.

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10 Delicate Arch National Park, Utah

There is no shortage of arches to be seen in Delicate Arch National Park, Utah. It is the location of the world’s densest concentration of arches, with over 2,000 of them located throughout the park. Many of them are made out of the stunning, red-hued rocks of the region and have been slowly sculpted by millions of years of weather erosion.

Amazingly, the arches are prevalent throughout the park due to the sandstone being strong enough to hold their weight. Yet they are soft enough to be easily eroded by water, wind, and gravity because of the entrenched river systems that carve their way through the bedrock in the region. These factors produce ideal conditions for the creation of arches which have existed for a vast period of time, but in terms of the earth’s geological timeline, only for a blink of an eye

One of the most recognized arches in Delicate Arch National Park is its namesake arch—Delicate Arch. At 16 meters (52 feet), this tall freestanding arch has been given the nicknames “Cowboy Chaps” and “Old Maid’s Bloomers.” It was first called “Delicate” in a 1934 article by the Arches National Monument Scientific Expedition, which described it as “the most delicately chiseled arch in the entire area.”^[1]

9 The Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri

Love it or hate it, The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, is an iconic, one-of-a-kind arch.

The impressive stainless steel landmark takes its name—Gateway Arch—from the important role St. Louis played as the “Gateway to the West” during the westward expansion of the United States in the 19th century. Representing a doorway to the western part of the country, it’s the tallest monument in the country, measuring a stunning 192 meters (630 feet) tall and equal in its width. You can even take a thrilling—and claustrophobic—four-minute tram ride to the viewing platform at the top of the arch, which offers views of the city and surrounding rivers and parks.

Crazy stunt people seem to be drawn to the Gateway Arch—people have tried climbing up the arch, jumping off it, and parachuting onto it. And it never ends well for them, as they usually end up dead or in prison.^[2]

8 Colossal Iceberg Arches

To see a majestic iceberg on its final path just before melting into the sea is one of nature’s most spectacular sights. And if that iceberg takes on the shape of an arch—you will have hit the glacial jackpot.

An iceberg is a compact slab of 10,000 years of packed snow and ice that breaks off ice-cap glaciers in the extreme north or south of the planet. From the time it breaks off, it begins its seaward journey. These glacier chunks come in many shapes and sizes, forming blocks or wedges, but to see one of these colossal, floating icebergs in the form of an arch is a magnificent sight. These arches are formed when the blocks of floating ice are exposed to wind and seawater, melting away the inner parts and leaving the remaining outer edges of the iceberg to create an amazing bridge-like shape.

For the best chances of seeing an ice arch, make spring travel plans to Argentina or Patagonia, Chile, in the south or Greenland, Iceland, or Alaska in the north. Or head over to Iceberg Alley in Newfoundland and Labrador, where anywhere from 400 to 800 icebergs float by every year in the springtime. While you are there, try a beer made with “bergie bits“—that is, beer made from pure iceberg (glacier) water.^[3]

7 The Eerie Arches of Convento Do Carmo, Lisbon, Portugal

A massive 9-point magnitude earthquake hit Lisbon, Portugal, on November 1, 1755, leaving as many as 50,000 people dead and most of the city in ruins. The roof and nave of the Convento do Carmo, a 13th-century gothic cathedral, also collapsed on parishioners who were gathered for a mass celebrating All Saints Day. However, the eerie skeleton of the cathedral’s arches remained.

The ruins of the Convento do Carmo and its open-to-the-sky wishbone-shaped arches still, even today, serve as a memorial and museum of the devastating series of events caused by the earthquake of 1755.

The eye-catching arches make for a photographer’s dream, casting dramatic light and shadows on the ruins of the cathedral. However, what most impresses is how the arches still hold steadfast after centuries of time and devastating natural disasters—a true testament to the strength and durability of the arch in building construction.^[4]

6 Percé Rock, Quebec

In 1603, French explorer Samuel de Champlain made a note in his diary about Percé Rock, describing a very large, steep rock and its notable hole through which boats may pass at high tide. (Link 14) Translated from the French word “percé,” which means pierced or perforated, the giant rock formation is one of the world’s largest natural arches located in water amid the vast, rocky landscapes of the Gaspé Peninsula in Northeastern Québec.

Located just off the coast from its namesake town, Percé, the colossal rock formation and the 15-meter-tall (49-foot) arch make for a dramatic sight. The monolith, made up of limestone and shale, had another arch that collapsed in 1845, leaving a large, upright pillar now known as L’Obélisque.

During certain times of the year, at low tide, adventurous people can reach Percé Rock by foot via a sandbar. It’s also possible to get up close to the arch by boat, and it makes for an impressive backdrop during whale-watching excursions.^[5]

5 The Taj Mahal, Agra, India

While often looked at as the sum of its parts, the Taj Mahal, an immense and extravagant mausoleum in the Indian city of Agra, is a building that truly showcases the epic beauty of the arch.

The mausoleum, commissioned in 1632 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to honor his beloved wife, was built with geometric principles and symmetry in mind using a pointed arch within a rectangle as a primary shape. They applied this arch shape throughout the building, using pointed arches as recessed portals and for the shape of the windows and doorways.

Because of the ability of the arches to bend light and create dimension and depth in its shadows, the Taj Mahal appears to constantly change its color throughout the day and at different times of the year. At sunrise, the building seems to take on a soft pink hue; at noon, it’s a brilliant white. It takes on a copper-like color when the sun sets, and at night, it looks translucent blue. Sometimes, special tickets are sold to watch the full moon and even eclipses.

It is said that 20,000 stone carvers, masons, and artists were employed to build and perfect every detail of the Taj Mahal. It’s almost a guarantee that every one of them was knowledgeable about the importance and beauty of the arch.^[6]

4 Es Pontas, Mallorca, Spain

When champion rock climber Chris Sharma, known to be one of the greatest in his sport, free-climbed the Es Pontas, it brought much attention to the majestic rock arch and its dramatic setting in the southeastern part of Mallorca, Spain.

Meaning “big bridge” in Catalan, the arch is a popular spot for rock climbing aficionados and adventure travelers. For those looking to stick to a safe spot just looking at the impressive rock arch, a lookout can be reached via a craggy, steep trail that opens up to great views of the arch and the Mediterranean sea surrounding it. Stick around for sunset, and the arch at Es Pontas makes for a particularly dramatic sight.^[7]

3 Arch of Constantine

There are many impressive triumphal arches around the world—such as the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Wellington Arch in London. However, none of them compares to the Arch of Constantine in Rome.

An icon of Roman history and architecture, the Arch of Constantine is set in an impressive location in the heart of Ancient Rome between the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Built in AD 315, it is the largest of the surviving Roman triumphal arches. It commemorates Roman Emperor Constantine’s victory over the reigning Emperor Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in Rome. Made of gray and white Proconnesian marble, the massive monument stands 21 meters (69 feet) tall and 25 meters (85 feet) wide. It actually consists of three separate arches—one large center arch and one on either side of it.

The arch features grand Corinthian columns, friezes depicting military battles, medallions representing scenes of sacrifice and hunting, and even an inscription stating that the Roman Senate dedicates this arch to Constantine. Roman armies would return to lavish parades celebrating their victories in battle and would march under the Arch of Constantine as part of their celebratory path. Today, people cannot walk under the arch due to the protective fencing, but to see the monumental arch up close is to marvel at one of the great wonders of ancient Rome.^[8]

2# Pont d’Arc

On sunny summer days, people flock to the Pont d’Arc in the south of France for a leisure day of picnicking, swimming, and canoeing. The arch, translated to Bridge of the Arch, is an impressive limestone structure that was carved into the landscape by the force of the Ardèche River over 400,000 years ago.

It seems that modern-day people weren’t the only ones drawn to the fascinating arch. In caves near the arch, speleologists—someone who studies caves—found one of the greatest paleolithic sanctuaries ever discovered. They believe the caves were used for ceremonial purposes by the Aurignacians, who made cave paintings there over 36,000 years ago.

The Pont d’Arc measures 54 meters (177 feet) high and 60 meters (197 feet) wide and serves as a dramatic gateway to the Ardèche Canyon region. The natural arch makes for a beautiful backdrop to a leisure-filled day in one of the most beautiful locations in France.^[9]

1 Tianmen Arch

Tianmen, which translates to Heaven’s Gate, is located in the mountainous region of Northwestern China and is the highest naturally formed arch in the world, sitting at 5,000 ft above sea level.

The jaw-dropping arch was formed in 263 AD when a natural cave system collapsed, leaving a gaping hole—a natural arch—in its place. To access the monumental landmark, visitors must climb up 999 stairs, representing the number nine, which in Chinese numerology represents eternity and good fortune.

In 2011, stuntman Jeb Corliss launched himself from a helicopter and through the narrow arch, which measures only 30 meters (100 feet) in width. After his first attempt failed, his second jump was successful and broadcast on China’s TV networks to much fanfare.^[10]