Top 5 places to visit in a lifetime

1.Great Wall of China

Thousands of miles long, passing through 156 counties, with 7,062 lookout towers, the Great
Wall of China is the largest cultural relic humans have ever built. It snakes through China ever so
majestically, around undulating hills and through a vast countryside, stretching from
Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Lake in the west. Wall construction began more than 2,000 years
ago in an attempt to keep out the tribes from the north.

2.Taj Mahal
 An architectural love letter, this massive marble temple in northern India is one of the most
recognizable structures on the planet. It was built in the first half of the 17th century by Mughal
emperor Shah Jahan to hold the body of his beloved third wife, Mumtaz Mahal (the building is
now a mausoleum for both). The construction took more than 22 years to complete, requiring as
many as 20,000 workers. Some skilled artisans came from as far as Constantinople (today,
Istanbul), and about 1,000 elephants were used to transport materials. Today, vehicles that emit
pollution are not allowed within a mile of the structure, so be prepared to walk or hire a battery-
powered vehicle called a tuk tuk.

3. Machu Picchu

Eight thousand feet above sea level, this five-centuries-old pre-Columbian site was once home to
the Incas. Until American historian Hiram Bingham publicized his findings of the area in a 1911
book called "Across South America," the mountain-top ruins were widely unknown to anyone
living outside of the Urubamba Valley and nearby Cusco. Since Spanish colonialists had no idea
of Machu Picchu's existence, its Incan architecture and design were preserved. There are two
ways up to the "old peak," by train or by foot.
 4.Grand Canyon

If North America's greatest natural wonder — a red-hued canyon 277 river miles long, 18
miles wide, and one mile deep — doesn't make your mouth drop in awe, then you might not
be human. While the north rim attracts fewer visitors, you'll most likely appreciate the epic
vistas of the south rim. There are plenty of spots to pull the car over and have a look from
the top, but we recommend trekking along the rim on foot. You can also descend into the
canyon's depths via mules or guided hiking excursions, experience "The Heart of the
Canyon" by raft on the Colorado River and even spend the night at a lodge below the rim.

5.The Great Barrier Reef

 Located in the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland, Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is more
than 1,400 miles long and the largest coral reef system on the planet. Dubbed the Blue Outback,
the reef is a protected marine park and World Heritage Site comprised of 900 islands and 3,000
individual reefs. The marine life statistics are dizzying. To mention a few: 5,000 species of
mollusk (including the giant clam); 1,500 fish species; 400 coral species, 215 bird species; 125
species of shark, stingray, skates, and chimaera; 30 species of dolphins, whales, and porpoises.

Dragan Larisa

11th A form