Our visual panoramas of our countries’ and territories’ terrains and vistas shape our sense of belonging, yet the world is always transforming. Tectonic activity, air currents, moisture, heat, and people all work together to reshape what we accept as familiar terrain, stripping away immense ravines, creating new land with steaming molten rock, and moving the paths of great river systems.

Large numbers of famous attractions all around the world have dramatically changed shape—or, worse, vanished—over the last five decades. The famous Darwin’s Arch in the Galápagos Islands disintegrated into the ocean in 2021, joining a multitude of other natural wonders that have been lost to time. Serving as a reminder that our world is constantly changing, here are a few of the world’s natural wonders that have been lost forever.

Related: 10 Beautiful And Bizarre Natural Wonders

10 Chacaltaya Glacier, Bolivia

Glaciers all over the world have shrunk rapidly in recent years, with several disappearing completely. In South America, climate change, specifically increased temperatures, steadily increasing humidity, and changes in rainfall patterns, are being blamed for the extremely rapid demise of the Andean glaciers. In the tropical Andes region, the average annual temperatures have been steadily rising at a rate of 0.33°C (0.6°F) every ten years since the 1990s. The accompanying high humidity levels also significantly contribute to the reduction of the Andean glaciers by causing the ice to melt instead of being turned into vapor via a process scientists call sublimation.

The Chacaltaya glacier, located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) to the northeast of La Paz, managed to lose over 60% of its mass from the 1940s to the 1980s and over 90% at the turn of the century. At that point, scientists predicted that the Chacaltaya glacier could very well disappear completely by 2015. However, rapid temperature increases due to global warming hastened the process, and the glacier vanished in 2009, leaving the slopes once overwhelmed with skiers dry and empty.^[1]

9 Azure Window, Malta

In Malta, the Azure Window was carved into Gozo Island’s limestone cliffs over hundreds of years. It withstood thousands of storms during its existence, but on March 8, 2017, it was pummelled into the sea forever during the worst storm of the season. Before its collapse, the instantly recognizable site in Dwejra Bay was one of Malta’s most popular tourist spots. In fact, most of us saw it during the Game of Thrones series.

However, four years later, it seems quite possible that the Maltese people’s shared broken heart might very well soon be patched up. The renowned architect Svetozar Andreev, in collaboration with the designer Elena Britanishskaya, has created a phenomenal concept for the restoration of this long-time historical landmark in the form of a massive artwork. The two Russian artists have already submitted the conceptual design to the relevant authorities. The remarkable project has already crept into the hearts of the locals who refer to it as the “The Heart of Malta.”^[2]

8 Hillary Step on Mount Everest, Nepal

Since the day during 2017 when climbers announced that the “Hillary Step” vanished, the status of the rocky outcrop, christened after Everest’s famous summiteer Sir Edmund Hillary, has been a source of considerable controversy. Edmund Hillary and the Sherpa Tenzing Norgay successfully reached the summit after taking the steep step to the top, becoming the first climbers in our known history to reach the summit in 1953. After that first prolific climb, all climbers attempting to summit by way of the southern route have been using ropes to best the fearsome challenge before they reach the top, where they have to swing one leg over the “saddle” to get to the other side.

Experts believe that a 2015 earthquake may have dislodged the vertical outcropping. However, the Nepalese government maintains that it is just buried in snow—but they have admitted that all guides have been forbidden from discussing the Hillary Step due to the matter’s sensitive nature. As of 2017, numerous before and after photographs showing an obvious lack of the rocky protrusion have circulated. Despite the government’s claims, climbers have already started to refer to the Hillary staircase rather than the Hillary step when discussing the area.^[3]

7 Slims River, Canada

In the early summer of 2017, an entire river in the Yukon territory of Canada vanished within a mere four days. The trigger to the event was the rapid retreat of the enormous Kaskawulsh Glacier, which redirected the meltwater from the Slims River toward another river. According to scientists, the event marked the first incidence of “river piracy” in contemporary times. These shifts are also effectively reducing the size of Kluane Lake, the Yukon’s largest lake.

The Slims River’s demise has had an immediate and profound influence on the environment, disbursing fish stocks, completely changing the composition of neighboring lakes, and causing a rash of novel dust storms to hit the province. Many other glacial-fed rivers in the area, such as those that provide water and hydroelectric power to higher populated areas, may also be impacted. Geologists describe it as a previously unseen side-effect of global warming. This could also come to occur at other glacial-fed rivers throughout the world, placing river-dependent communities and environments at grave risk moving forward.^[4]

6 Sequoia Tunnel Tree, California

The glorious Pioneer Cabin “tunnel tree” in Calaveras Big Trees State Park in California was one of several colossal trees cut in the 1800s to boost California’s tourist industry. By the time it toppled over in 2017, it was California’s last giant sequoia featuring a drive-through arched doorway in its trunk. Although the true age of the Pioneer Cabin tree is unknown, several Sequoia trees within the area are well over 1,000 years old. And even older trees (dating back more than 3,000 years) have been discovered in nearby Yosemite National Park.

Only a few Sequoias were “tunneled-through” to serve the tourism purpose, the most famous of which was Yosemite’s Wawona Tree, estimated to have been around 2,100 years old when a storm brought it down in 1969. Today, the only lingering sequoia tree tunnels that can be found are either made up of stacked logs or trees that have long since died.

However, some drive-through “tunnel-trees” still exist. You can still visit three coastal Redwood trees (which are even longer but slimmer than the Sequoias) with tunnels cut through them. Although all three are owned by private companies, according to the Forest Service, they still allow cars to pass through and make for an incredible photo opportunity should anyone be passing through Northern California.^[5]

5 God’s Finger, Spain

The symbol of Gran Canaria, El Dedo de Dios, also known as “God’s Finger,” used to be a 98-foot-tall rock formation to the north of Gran Canaria, an island in the chain that makes up the Canary Islands. The rock’s distinct shape has inspired numerous artists over the years, and many believe that the famous writer Domingo Doreste was the first to pen its name.

In November 2005, tropical storm Delta created havoc all along the coastline, and the ensuing immense waves finally toppled the top part of the 300,000-year-old rock feature. After “God’s Finger” was destroyed, a team of experts investigated the possibility of rebuilding the famous landmark. However, the majority advised against its restoration and outlined a plan to conserve what remained of the iconic rock. Today what remains of the rocky feature is known as Roque Partido. Although the landscape has lost a little bit of its magic, it is still one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.^[6]

4 Old Man of the Mountain, New Hampshire

The legendary granite rock face of New Hampshire’s Old Man of the Mountain collapsed in 2003. The 6,530 metric ton angular rocky outcrop stood nearly 45 feet tall and 30 feet wide on a mountainside in a climate prone to freeze-thaw corrosion. As a result, it was widely anticipated that the state emblem, also known as the Great Stone Face, would eventually collapse. Several previous efforts to preserve the natural wonder had been made beginning from the early 1900s. However, the news of the Old Man’s demise still surprised many geologists.

As with many of the other lost natural wonders on our list, local residents wished to reconstruct the lost monument. Arguments against such a project, such as the remaining rock mass’s volatility, the threat to workers, and the potential for environmental harm, eventually put an end to any such plans. Instead, the Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund spearheaded a new project to honor the Old Man of the Mountain. If you go to the spot today, you’ll find yourself in a plaza with special viewers or profilers that create a perfect optical illusion of the mountain’s former rockface.^[7]

3 The Aral Sea, Central Asia

The Aral Sea used to be among the five largest landlocked stretches of water in the world. Today its shallow remains can be found in Central Asia’s climatically hostile geographical area, not far from the Caspian Sea. The disappearance of the Aral Sea is of keen importance and rising concern to researchers due to the enormous reduction in its surface area, which began in the second half of the twentieth century and has continued to this day. The redirection of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river systems for irrigation purposes when the area was under Soviet control was pretty much exclusively responsible for this change, as both were primary contributors to inflowing water to the Aral Sea.

By 1989, the Aral Sea had shrunk into two distinct bodies of water, the “Lesser Sea” in the north and the “Greater Sea” in the south, with salinities nearly three times higher than in the early 1960s. By the end of the last century, the Aral Sea had disintegrated into three different lakes: a long, slender western lake, a larger, wider eastern lake, and a small remnant of the Lesser Sea to the north. NASA satellite images from 2014 confirmed that the Aral Sea’s eastern lake had disappeared completely. Today, the eastern basin has been renamed the Aralkum Desert. The disappearance of the Aral Sea has been dubbed “one of the world’s worst environmental disasters.”^[8]

2 Valley of Geysers, Russia

The Valley of Geysers in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula used to be the world’s second-largest concentration of natural geysers—the first being Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. About 90 geysers could be found in the 6-km-long (3.7-mile) basin. Tragically, the Valley of Geysers was struck by a massive landslide in 2007. A mudslide containing snow, water, stones, and shards of rock swept down at 20-25 miles per hour, engulfing everything in its wake. The mass flooded the river and produced a dam, consuming the Valley of Geysers’ most spectacular features: boiling springs, thermal fields, and waterfalls.

The water eventually receded over the next few months, but the landscape was irrevocably altered: a new geyser, Mladenec, emerged, and a few ancient geysers, notably Pervenets geyser, were submerged by the newborn Geysernaya Lake, which came into being after the landslide. Luckily, the Valley of Geysers had a surprise in store. Six years after the catastrophe, it began to heal itself. The water levels of Lake Geysernaya started dropping in 2013, allowing previously undiscovered geysers to erupt. Even though it’s improbable that the area will revert to its pre-2007 beauty, it’s far too early to abandon its charms.^[9]

1 Ténéré Tree, Niger

For hundreds of generations, a single acacia tree thrived amid the sands of Africa’s Sahara desert. The lonely tree provided shade for years for all its weary visitors. But it also offered so much more. It functioned not only as a landmark along a lengthy trade route through the desolate countryside but also as a testament to life’s tenacity, as it was the only tree that could be found for 250 miles. In the 1930s, European military campaigners who came across the tree in the wilderness dubbed it L’Arbre du Ténéré (The Tree of Tenere), and its placement on cartographers’ charts highlighted the tree’s exceptional peculiarity as the world’s most secluded tree.

The loneliest tree in the world met its end in 1973, when a truck driver traveling along the ancient caravan route smashed into the tree, tearing its trunk into two. In the blink of an eye, a solitary careless deed terminated a connection to a history that was so firmly ingrained in the desert sands and the ideology of generation after generation who had come to deeply love and treasure it. The truck driver, who has never been publicly identified or named, was rumored to have been intoxicated when the accident occurred.^[10]

Once Covid-19 is a thing of the past, we will once again be allowed to travel unencumbered, to exotic far-off places. (This is the ongoing hope, at least.) On this list are just some of the most unusual, challenging, and awe-inspiring natural wonders of the world that are truly a must-visit for those who love exploring new and strange places.

Top 10 Places Famous For Bizarre Reasons

10 Smoking Mountain

Monte Fitz Roy lies in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and stretches 3375 metres above sea level. In 1877, Francisco Morena named the mountain Fitz Roy in honor of the captain of the HMS Beagle, Robert Fitz Roy. This majestic mountain is also called Cerro Chaltén, with Cerro meaning ‘hill’ and Chaltén meaning smoking mountain. The smoking mountain moniker comes from the belief that the mountain was a volcano as its peak is mostly covered by clouds. At sunrise Fitz Roy takes on the color of pink roses.

Yvon Chouinard summited Fitz Roy in 1968 and was so in awe of this breathtaking natural wonder, that he used the shape of the mountain to inspire the logo of his clothing brand: Patagonia. If you are feeling adventurous and up to climbing a mountain on your next holiday, you might want to try Fitz Roy, but be warned, it is considered one of the most challenging climbs in the world.^[1]

9 Luminous Lagoon

Jamaica, famous for being the birthplace of Bob Marley and Usain Bolt, Jamaican rum, and Blue Mountain coffee, is a hugely popular tourist destination. Here you will experience excellent local cuisine, be enlightened on the history of pirates, and discover fantastic beaches. When the weather is good, you can also take a boat trip out on the Luminous Lagoon at night and wait for magic to happen.

When the water of the lagoon is stirred, it lights up in shades of luminescent blue. This is because of a thriving population of microscopic dinoflagellates that live in the lagoon. Boat tours depart from the Glistening Waters Marina, and you are even allowed to jump into the water and swim while surrounded by the luminous glow.^[2]

8 The Troll of North-West Iceland

Sea stacks are geological landforms that protrude from the sea and are continuously formed by wave erosion. These formations make for dramatic viewing, especially the large ones. Some of the most awe-inspiring sea stacks include Ball’s Pyramid in Australia, the Sleeping Lion in Ecuador, and the Old Man of Hoy in Scotland.

If you are planning a trip to Iceland, you should include a trip to the Troll of North-West Iceland on your itinerary. This imposing sea stack stands 50 meters offshore on Vatnsnes peninsula. Some tourists have likened the structure to a massive animal drinking water, with many saying it resembles a dinosaur.

Legend, however, has it that the sea stack, formally known as Hvítserkur, was a troll who lived in Strandir in the Wesfjords. The troll had one goal and that was to tear down the bells at a nearby convent, as Icelandic trolls hate churches and their bells. Before the troll could manifest his evil plan, he was caught by the first rays of the sunrise and turned into stone.^[3]

7 The Needles

While The Needles is not the most exciting sounding name, it does belong to one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world. The Needles is the name of three chalk stacks that crosses the centre of the Isle of Wight. Unfortunately, travel is not permitted to these extraordinary rocks, because of dangerous tides, but they make for fantastic viewing from the headland.

Originally there were four rocks, but one collapsed during a huge storm in 1764. The Needles were so named because of that fourth rock that was shaped in the form of a needle and called ‘Lot’s Wife’. The name stuck, even though the remaining three rocks don’t remotely resemble needles. The gap where Lot’s Wife protruded from the sea, is easily discernible and looks like a missing tooth from a very large mouth.^[4]

6 Psychedelic mine

If you ever find yourself in Russia (and if you’re not claustrophobic), get yourself a special government permit and take a tour of the abandoned Yekaterinburg salt mine. Inside you will find psychedelic natural formations of carnallite layers along the walls, floors, and ceilings in yellow, white, red, and blue. Millions of years ago, a very salty sea completely dried up and left behind these carnallite mineral deposits. https://www.miningglobal.com/smart-mining/slideshow-stunning-photos-salt-mine-russia

The stripey formations lie 650 feet below the surface and were first introduced to the public when photographer Mikahil Mishainik spent more than 20 hours exploring the mine and taking several pictures. He described the experience as ‘being constantly thirsty and losing all track of time.’^[5]

Top 10 Iconic Places Pictured From Behind

5 Highest island peak in the world

Jutting out at 16,024 feet above the Indonesian jungle, the Carstensz Pyramid is the highest and probably most exotic island peak in the world. The Pyramid is a large limestone escarpment located in Western Papua and the most remote of the Seven Summits. (Link 6) Its height has been the source of some controversy with some navigational air maps stating it to be 16,503 feet. There are several glaciers on the slopes of the mountain, with many having retreated and disappeared over the past 20 years. Back in 1623, the people of Holland didn’t believe John Carstensz, a Dutch explorer, when he told them he had seen ice and snow near the top of the Pyramid. This was because of the mountain’s proximity to the equator. Carstensz and his crew were the first Europeans to lay eyes on the mountain.

Climbing the mountain is a challenge that the adventurous will savour, as it takes quite a long time to get through the tropical jungle just to reach the base. For this reason, the best time to attempt a climb, is between April and November. The mountain was first conquered in 1962 when Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer led an expedition to the top. Harrer was also the author of the best-seller, Seven Years in Tibet.

These days, access to the mountain is only permitted through adventure tourism agencies and a government permit is required.^[6]

4 Yellow Dragon Gully

Should your travels lead you to China, the Yellow Dragon Gully (Huanglong national park) is a must-visit. This exquisite travertine spreads through the forests and glaciers in Huanglong Valley, some say like a huge golden dragon. The starting point is at the Buddhist temple at the top of the valley and it ends at the Guest Welcome Pond. Throughout the year the natural pools here, formed by calcite deposits, change color from yellow to green or blue and even brown. The valley was declared a World Heritage Site in 1992.

While exploring the Yellow Dragon Gully, you may encounter Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys or even giant pandas. A cable car is available during high-peak tourist seasons and there is a wooden boardwalk along the travertine which is accessible to visitors.

Just keep in mind that the temperature on average is 7 degrees Celsius throughout the year, so you might want to pack a very thick jacket or two.^[7]

3 Alien landscape on Earth

Sulphurous hot springs, salt mountains, and acid pools might not sound very inviting, but they attract a huge number of visitors to Ethiopia each year who want to see the Danakil Depression in person. These include tourists, salt miners and scientists. In fact, salt miners still travel by camel caravan to extract salt slabs from the flat plans around Lake Afar. It is one of the hottest places on Earth and one of the lowest, at 400 feet below sea level.

The Danakil Depression landscape resulted from the ongoing divergence of three tectonic plates and has a complex geological history that includes volcanic activity, erosion, inundation by the ocean and rising and falling of the earth. The vast plain is so ‘alien’ that researchers did a study in 2016 to determine whether microbes would last in the hot and inhospitable environment. It turned out that they did, and this led scientists to wonder whether they would also be able to survive on Mars.

The sulphur springs of Dallol form part of the Depression and are a great tourist attraction as people love looking on while neon green and yellow liquid is discharged from the rocks.

If you are looking for a holiday with a difference (and love waking up early), this might just be the destination for you. Be sure to take sturdy footwear along.^[8]

2 Alofaaga Blowholes

High tide is the best time to visit the Taga village in Samoa and ask the residents to accompany you to the Alofaaga Blowholes. These blowholes are the result of lava flows that created underwater caves. Over time these caves grew upwards until they became tunnels that allowed the ocean to connect to the rock face above. As the sea water breaks at the end of one of these tunnels, it rushes through it at high speed, erupting through the hole at the top in a waterspout that reaches 20 meters and more.

To add to the fun, the residents of Taga village will throw a coconut in the hole in the rock face and watch the tourists in amusement as they gasp when the water shoots the coconut at least 100 feet into the air.^[9]

1 Where the cliffs meet the ocean

As far as beach vacations go, islands are at the top of the wish list for most travellers. White sand beaches and aquamarine waters never get old. For this reason, Hawaii is a favoured travel destination with its emerald green hues, sparkling seas, excellent cuisine, and beautiful culture. It is in Hawaii, on the island of Kauai, that you can have the vacation of a lifetime visiting the NaPali Coast.

Here you will find fantastic beaches, hiking trails and dramatic cliff faces, not to mention archaeological sites. You can hike to the NaPali coast via the Kalalau Trail or drive to Polihale Beach or Kee Beach where you will have a stunning view of the coastline. You can even hire a kayak or motorized boat to explore the coast via the sea, taking some time to snorkel on the way there. If you want a truly all-round experience, you can take a helicopter tour which will allow you to see several of the major valleys along the NaPali coast from an aerial perspective.^[10]

10 Beautiful And Bizarre Natural Wonders

They feature some of the most stunning architectural designs ever created. Whether built as a royal fortress to guard against invading armies or as an opulent playground of the ultra-wealthy, castles provide a fascinating link to the past with no shortage of hidden secrets. 

7. Leap Castle (Ireland)

For a small nation on the western fringe of Europe, Ireland punches well above its weight. From literary heavyweights such as James Joyce and Oscar Wilde to unrivaled scenic beauty, the Emerald Isle is an enchanted land like no other. It’s also overflowing with haunted sites — and Leap Castle may very well be the spookiest. 

Built in the 13th century in County Offaly on the same grounds once used for Celtic pagan rituals, Leap has a long-standing tragic and violent history. The copious amount of spilled crimson includes the murder of a priest in what’s known as the “The Bloody Chapel.” Additionally, the property features a small dungeon, where hundreds of skeletal remains were discovered during renovations in the 1920s.

The castle has served as the ancestral home to several notorious Anglo-Irish families and is currently owned by Sean Ryan, an Irish musician who provides tours of his infamous estate. Regarding the living dead allegedly haunting these halls, “The Red Lady” is said to be one of the more frequent apparitions, appearing in a red dress while clutching a dagger.

6. Poenari Castle (Romania)

Sitting high atop a rocky cliff overlooking the Arges River in central Romania, Poenari Castle is not easy to find. Visitors must climb 1,462 stairs to summit the medieval ruins as well as avoid getting mauled by brown bears roaming the Southern Carpathian Mountains. The region is also prone to earthquakes. However, those surviving the harrowing journey are rewarded with having walked in the same footsteps as Vlad the Impaler.

Best known as the inspiration of Bram Stoker’s gothic novel, Dracula, Vlad III (aka Vlad Dracula) was an actual prince who ruled the province of Wallachia in the 15th century. Although Transylvania’s Bran Castle is touted as ‘Dracula’s Castle’ — don’t be fooled — it’s not. But to be fair, the touristy hotspot is far more accessible, bear-less, and offers a well-stocked bounty of souvenirs.

Poenari was first erected in the early 1300s but later became rundown and abandoned. After recognizing its potential, Vlad ordered his enemies to have the citadel repaired, transforming it into one of his primary residences. When Turkish forces attacked the fortress in 1462, Vlad escaped through a secret passageway leading north through the mountains. 

Unfortunately, remnants of the castle walls and towers are all that remain today. According to Romania Tourism, the historic landmark is currently under repair but scheduled to re-open in 2022. 

5. Tokat Castle (Turkey)

The popularity of vampiric-themed books, TV shows, and movies continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Fittingly, the original fang banger lands on our list once again — this time with Tokat Castle in Turkey.

The fortress towers above the ancient city of Tokat, and situated in the mid-Black Sea region of Anatolia. Archaeologists recently excavated a secret tunnel, storage rooms, a military shelter, and two dungeons at the site. 

Before he became Vlad the Impaler, the young prince was simply known as the son of Vlad II, the Voivoid (ruler) of Wallachia. The elder Vlad also belonged to the Order of the Dragon, a knightly order dedicated to defending Christianity against the Muslim-controlled Ottoman Empire. The designation earned him the surname, Dracul, derived from the old Romanian word for dragon — but would eventually carry a much darker connotation.

While accompanying their father on a diplomatic mission in 1442, the pre-teen Vlad and his younger brother, Radu, were taken hostage by the Ottoman Sultan, Murad II. The boys would spend the next seven years in captivity, ensuring that Vlad II wouldn’t interfere in the ongoing Ottoman conflicts throughout the region. After being released, Vlad-the-future-impaler spent most of his adult life exacting revenge with sadistic bloodlust on all those who had wronged him.

4. Eilean Donan (Scotland)

Although best known for tartan kilts, single malt whisky, and burly men tossing heavy objects for no apparent reason, Scotland is equally rich in breathtaking castles. Such is the case of Eilean Donan, an iconic medieval fortress set on a small tidal island deep in the Scottish Highlands.

The remote Eilean (“isle” in Scottish Gaelic) was named after Donnán of Eigg, a Celtic saint, and martyr. Although details are a bit sketchy, he is believed to have established a church in the 7th century on the wee patch of land surrounded by three sea lochs. Viking raiders would later wreak havoc in the region, necessitating the island’s first permanent fortification at the start of the 13th century.

The castle became a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie and their pugnacious allies, Clan MacRae. Despite its natural defences, Eilean Donan has attracted considerable warfare and strife, strongly influenced by the vagaries of Scottish feudal history. Over the centuries, it has been built and rebuilt at least four times. 

The most recent permutation was undertaken by British Army Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap (a descendant of the former inhabitants), who bought the ruins in 1911. He then spent the next 20 years creating a spectacular, medieval manor, replete with an imposing portcullis, ramparts, murder holes, and an arched, grey stone bridge that connects the castle to the mainland. 

Not surprisingly, the structure is probably the most photographed castle in Scotland and featured in movies such as The Wicker Man, Highlander, and The World Is Not Enough.

3. Predjama Castle (Slovenia) 

It’s hailed as ‘the world’s largest cave castle’ — a remarkable display of man’s creativity and resourcefulness merged with nature’s rock landscape. Predjama Castle has carved a unique niche with a history that boasts heroic knights, a labyrinth of secret tunnels, and even a colony of bats residing year-round.  

Nestled in the idyllic Slovenian village of Predjama, this medieval marvel sits five miles from the world-famous Postojna Cave, home of the mysterious subterranean creatures called “baby dragons.” The fortification has long been associated with the legend of Erazem Leung, a 15th-century knight and Slovenia’s version of Robin Hood. 

As the beloved burgrave (castle ruler), Erazem frequently rebelled against neighboring fiefdoms’ autocracy and corruption. In 1483, he found himself in dire straits after killing a Viennese noble, who just happened to be related to Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III. Erasmus then fled back home, where he took refuge in the hidden passageways. But in the end, the popular bandit was killed by cannon fire while on the toilet (insert crappy pun here).

2. Hearst Castle (USA)

The opening scene of Citizen Kane reveals a derelict, hilltop mansion, where the film’s protagonist, Charles Foster Kane, utters the word ‘Rosebud’ and then abruptly dies. Starring Orson Welles (who also directed, produced, and co-wrote the masterpiece), the movie employs a non-linear narrative to examine the life of a powerful, enigmatic figure while unraveling the mystery behind his final breath. 

While “Kane” is a fictitious character, the story is based on billionaire tycoon William Randolph Hearst. His longtime friend, Irish writer George Bernard Shaw, once described Hearst’s extravagant seaside manor as “what God would have built if he had had the money.”

Construction of Hearst Castle began in 1919 on 250,000 acres of land in San Simeon, California. Although never fully completed because of Hearst’s constant revisions, the Spanish Colonial design comprises 165 rooms and 123 acres of gardens, terraces, swimming pools, and walkways. Originally intended as a family residence for Hearst, his wife Millicent, and their five sons, the real-life Xanadu featured its own airstrip and once held the world’s largest private zoo. 

Hearst furnished the decadent retreat with art, antiques, and entire rooms he purchased from historic palaces of Europe. The media mogul frequently hosted lavish parties attended by Hollywood elite such as Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Buster Keaton, Jean Harlow, and Clark Gable. Despite Prohibition, guests would typically convene for cocktails in the Assembly Room, where a secret door next to the fireplace allowed Hearst to disappear with his mistress, Marion Davies. 

In the late 1950s, the castle and most of its contents were transferred to the guardianship of the California State Parks Department. The estate now operates as the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument, attracting nearly a million visitors annually.

1. Tower of London (England)

Clever and resolute, ravens provide winged guardianship, dutifully keeping a beady eye on one of England’s most hallowed landmarks. As a testament to their legacy, it’s been said, ‘If the ravens leave the Tower, the Kingdom will fail.’ 

With origins dating back more than 900 years, the Tower of London owns the distinction of having served as both a royal palace and an infamous prison. Furthermore, ghost sightings, priceless treasure, and villainous tales of murder all contribute to a tangled web of intrigue.

The Tower was conceived by William the Conqueror, who, after defeating Anglo-Saxon forces in the 11th century, then set his sights on erecting a massive stone fortress on the north bank of the River Thames. The compound would gradually expand through the centuries, encompassing several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. Since 1661, it’s also been home to a unique collection of 23,578 rare gems and ceremonial regalia — better known as the Crown Jewels. 

The Tower’s long list of famous prisoners covers a wide swath of British subjects, ranging from the Kray twins to three unlucky wives of Henry III. But nothing compares to the skullduggery surrounding the disappearance of two adolescent princes in 1483. 

Following the mysterious death of their father, King Edward IV, the siblings were lodged in the Tower by their paternal uncle and regent, the Duke of Gloucester. But before the young monarch could be crowned Edward V, he and his brother were declared illegitimate, allowing Gloucester to claim the throne as Richard III. Meanwhile, the boys were never seen alive again, and their ghosts have purportedly never left the building — just ask the ravens.