Nothing to see here, except a TU-144 supersonic jet in the courtyard on the outskirts of Kazan City.

Many interesting places around the world have been abandoned or destroyed for various reasons. Some of these places were picturesque or entertaining, like the amusement parks where large crowds once came to spend their vacations. Aside from abandoned vacation destinations, we also find some that are beautifully derelict homes and wrecked vehicles (cars, planes, boats, etc.) that leave us intrigued by the details and stories behind these remnants of the past. Why would anyone park a TU-144 supersonic jet in the yard? And better still, why abandon it?

It seems that someone tried to hide it for some reason. It was discovered by people just passing by. Then word spread, and photographers began taking videos and photos using drones. Some even filmed the jet starting up and activated certain moving parts, meaning the vehicle is still running. At least partially. It’s amazing what some people keep in their garden.

An incredible view in autumn in Germany

How incredible! Here’s a 19th-century bridge in Germany that forms a complete circle when light hits it, causing a reflection on the water. It’s particularly beautiful in autumn, but remains very picturesque in all seasons.

Imagine yourself in a small boat or canoe with your partner in this beautiful place. What a splendid painting that would make! Or even a jigsaw puzzle, more specifically a Thomas Kinkade jigsaw that you’d have to turn 90° to finish.

A devastated store in Fukushima

A supermarket (one of many stores and other homes) that was abandoned after one of the biggest disasters in Japan’s history. In March 2011, an earthquake followed by a tsunami struck the region, prompting the evacuation of over 300,000 people. The disaster damaged a nuclear power plant and caused a radioactive leak, forcing the evacuation of the entire city of Fukushima.

Today, Fukushima is nothing more than a ghost town. Residents were forced to flee so suddenly and leave their entire lives behind, seeking (what they thought was) temporary shelter. But, of course, it was more a case of starting a whole new life.

The Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso in Italy

It’s amazing what you can find at the bottom of the ocean. This bronze statue is part of a set of three statues that have been sculpted and placed in the water, depicting Jesus offering his blessing of peace on Paradise.

This first statue was made in Italy in 1954, and placed near the spot where Dario Gonzatti, the first Italian to use diving equipment, died in 1947. Due to a significant amount of corrosion and shellfish, it was removed and restored in 2003. After restoration, the statue was returned to the sea in July 2004.

An eerily beautiful cottage set in a splendid yellowing forest in Stradbally, Ireland

Near Stradbally in Ireland lies a magnificent cottage in the middle of a yellowing forest, probably built in the 1800s or 1900s. The superb blue roof is definitely unique. It’s a nice place to visit to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. But unless you’re a hermit, it’s not a realistic place to settle down for good.

After a while, the echoes through the forest would become a little frightening. But for a weekend getaway, it could prove fascinating. A little mystery to spice up your life.

A big wheel abandoned in an amusement park in Japan

This gigantic Ferris wheel is just one of the attractions to be found in the abandoned Kejonuma Leisure Land amusement park, which opened in 1979. At that time, there were over 200,000 visitors every year. The park offered various forms of accommodation: camping sites and small cabins.

If that wasn’t your cup of tea, there was also a hotel for those who didn’t love the great outdoors. Although the park closed in 2000, the owner didn’t completely abandon the place. He began drilling for hot water on his property.

Cars left by American soldiers in the Châtillon car cemetery in Belgium

Châtillon is a small village in southern Belgium. The cars in this cemetery once belonged to American soldiers who were allocated vehicles in the country during the Second World War. But once the war was over and the soldiers had returned home, it was too expensive to send them back to the USA.

So the officers decided to leave them in Belgium, and parked them on a hilltop out of sight. It was up to each soldier to decide whether he wanted his car shipped home to his homeland, but only out of their own pockets. No one agreed to take their car home.

Ash and smoke from Mount Sinabung volcano fill the sky above an abandoned church during an eruption in Karo, Indonesia.

After several eruptions of the Mount Sinabung volcano in recent years, the surrounding area now has several abandoned houses and buildings, including this church. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes in June 2015 when another eruption broke out. Living on the slopes surrounding Mount Sinabung has proved to be very dangerous.

The villagers were forced to abandon everything, not only their homes but also their livelihoods, in order to be relocated to refugee camps. Despite the eruptions and dangerous living conditions, many are ready to return to their villages with the determination to reclaim their old lives.

Selma, the abandoned plantation in Virginia

Selma Plantation was once a very socially active place. The original owners died prematurely, and the plantation has since passed from hand to hand. At one time, a fire destroyed the original house, but the new owner restored it and breathed new life into it. Eventually, the house was completely abandoned and fell into disrepair as nature reclaimed the broken floors and mold grew on the walls.

Even birds flew through the residence. Not only has the house been abandoned, but a grand piano can also be found there. However, new information reveals that a new owner began renovation work in 2016. It would be interesting to see the progress of these.

A fishing hut on a lake in Germany

This abandoned fishing hut in Germany is located in a beautiful mountainous region in the Berchtesgaden National Park. It was built on the waters of Lake Obersee. Unfortunately, when it was discovered, it was completely empty. No information was found to determine its owners.

It was most likely an active place for fishermen to indulge in their activity against the breathtaking backdrop of the German Alps. A place to get away from it all and enjoy the solitude, with only the echo of the mountains and the sounds of nature as your companions, while waiting for THE big one to be caught on your hook.

A yellow house abandoned in the middle of Nova Scotia

The photo of this old, abandoned yellow house looks like something you might see in a suspense film such as Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. With all the dandelions and the yellow color of the building (which could use a facelift), you’d have to be a real lover of color to live there. But it was surely abandoned, not because of the yellow, but rather because of the region’s economy.

Many Nova Scotia communities don’t have the opportunity to evolve. So, as adults, the youngest leave in search of greener pastures, and there’s no one left to leave the houses to. As a result, everything ends up being abandoned once the parents have passed away.

This Beetle is part of an aquatic museum in Cancún, Mexico.

This little Beetle is part of an aquatic museum in Cancún. If you like snorkeling or diving, this is a great place to add to your list. For those who don’t have the courage or ability to snorkel, you can also get there by glass-bottomed boat. What an incredible view – all those sculptures underwater.

In all, there are over 500 works of art to view. This particular sculpture is a life-size copy of the Classic Volkswagen Beetle, housing underwater life while being fun for divers.

A derelict space shuttle at the Baikonur Cosmodrome

This cosmodrome was a secret site built by Russia in the Kazakhstan region, unbeknownst to the West. It was from the Baikonur Cosmodrome that the first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, was sent into space in April 1961. The “Buron” flew just once, in November 1988. The aim was to send 30 tonnes into space, then return 20 tonnes to Earth.

Preparations for the test flight into space included 24 tests on Earth, 15 of which were fully automatic. The cabin was designed to accommodate six passengers, with room for a few more in the cargo area. The program was “frozen” in 1991 when the Communist government collapsed and the nation was divided into several countries.

A storm approaches an old abandoned farmhouse with a strangely well-kept lawn in Ontario.

This photo of an old abandoned farmhouse is a real mystery. How is it possible to grow such perfectly green grass with clearly dead trees all around? Especially in the middle of Canada! And, for the sake of argument: who would take such good care of the lawn while neglecting the house, letting it fall into ruin?

More questions than answers, but the scene makes a fascinating photo to frame and hang in your home or art gallery. Especially with the element of storm lurking on the horizon.

A Russian shipwreck in the Red Sea

There have been many shipwrecks in the Red Sea. But one in particular could be dubbed the “Russian shipwreck”. It was discovered in 1988 and is thought to have been a fishing trawler named Khanka.

It is thought that the Russians used fishing trawlers for surveillance and communication. A lot of communications equipment such as electronics and batteries were found inside. This boat was probably used as a spy boat.

The last house on Holland Island, U.S.A.

By 1910, Holland Island was thriving with its 360 inhabitants and was considered the most inhabited island in Chesapeake Bay. Apart from homes like this Victorian, there were other houses, stores, a school and a church. But the island had a problem: erosion. Erosion was gradually nibbling away at the island, causing great concern among the residents. In 1914, they had stones delivered to try and build walls. They even tried sinking ships to slow the process, but nothing worked.

Most residents destroyed their homes and moved inland. Then, in 1918, a tropical storm hit and damaged the church. In 1922, the few remaining residents left after the church closed. In 1995, one man tried for 15 years to restore the church.

The abandoned home of Bulgarian industrialist Pencho Semov

Nicknamed “the Bulgarian Rockefeller”, he was Bulgaria’s first billionaire. Mr. Semov was born in a village near Gabrovo and went from a boy living in poverty to a billionaire thanks to commerce, the banking system and more. Two years before his death, he wrote his will, stating that he wanted his house turned into a retirement home and two other buildings in his possession turned into schools for girls.

One of these, free of charge, was for penniless girls, while the other school was for wealthy girls who would have to pay small fees. Sadly, when he died in 1945, his wishes were not respected. All the resources he had saved for his charities were blocked by the government, and the mansion was used as a hospital for tuberculosis patients.

Oldest British warship found in Ontario’s Great Lakes

The H.M.S. Ontario, a British warship that sank in 1780, is the oldest British ship ever found in the Great Lakes. It was discovered between Niagara and Rochester in 2008 and was virtually intact. It sank during a storm in which 130 people lost their lives.

Jim Kennard had begun searching for the boat 35 years earlier, but had met with no success. That is, until he teamed up with Dan Scoville to search for submerged ships. Together, it took them just three years to find this relic.

Police motorcycle cemetery (Harley-Davidson)

These Harleys were previously owned by the Puente Piedra National Police, located in Lima, Peru. Due to budgetary concerns for operation and/or maintenance, the motorcycles were taken off the road. Some of these vehicles were sold wholesale by enthusiasts of the brand, due to the impossibility of finding spare parts as there were no dealers in the region.

So, in order to have a good motorcycle, they needed to use several other bikes. Their auction price was $1,300, but those who bought them in bulk to recreate a drinkable one were able to resell them for $12,000.

An abandoned railroad bridge in Pittsburgh

This is one of the many abandoned railroad bridges in Pennsylvania. Many were abandoned because they were no longer needed once automobiles became the most popular means of transportation. Rail travel became the exception, not the rule.

Because of this new system of travel, many of these rail bridges were left to decay, with no funding to maintain them. Some were probably damaged and would have cost a fortune to repair.

Lightning over an abandoned house in Nebraska, USA

This photo was taken by a photographer in 2015 during a thunderstorm. He managed to capture the moment at the perfect time. Sitting in his car, the photographer had no idea of the intensity of the lightning that would follow.

Another interesting thing to note is that there are no trees in sight: what was the target of the lightning? It’s a wonderful photo and, with the addition of that intimidating sky, you tend to forget that there’s an abandoned house right in the middle of it. What a contrast!

A hotel abandoned in Colombia when the Bogotá River was contaminated by industrial waste

It was once a splendid hotel surrounded by Colombia’s majestic mountains. Situated atop a cliff, overlooking an invigorating waterfall, it was the perfect place to spend a vacation.

But, sadly, it all came to an end when the Bogotá River became contaminated with industrial waste. As a result, the flow of visitors came to a standstill, to the point where the hotel declared bankruptcy and was forced to close forever.

A beautiful image of the old Helensburgh railway tunnel in Australia

This tunnel was one of seven built in the 1880s to provide passage through the hilly region between Waterfall and Otford. It was abandoned in 1920 when a double track became more necessary than a single track for steam locomotives. They then built a new double track at a different location and closed the tunnel.

Legends surround this and the other tunnels, giving them a certain mystery and beauty of their own. Until it was vandalized, visitors were allowed to tour the tunnel. They were advised to bring torches and boots, as the place was very muddy. After dark, glow worms can be seen illuminating the square.

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There’s nothing like creating a memorable and funny photo when you’re enjoying your vacation. These vacationers really went above and beyond in having fun with their photos; take a look at some of the most memorable and humorous moments during their time away from the office!

I’m Just Beside Myself

Can Sharks Read English?

Take Off Now

This parasailor might not have thought this one through, as there’s a shark on the loose heading right for them. They could go up, they could go straight, they could go off to their right to get away, but they’d better get going quickly before they become a meal!

Ride Them, Billy!

Surfing with a partner isn’t that uncommon, but when that partner is a goat, that might be a little bit too far to the extreme. However, this goat seems like he’s done this several times before and looks completely comfortable on the board. If he can take it, go for it!

Elephant Scratching Post

We know that dogs love to get their bellies scratched, but apparently elephants feel the same way. This elephant decided to try scratching its stomach with a vehicle, and it really seems to be enjoying it from the expression on its face. The people inside the vehicle, however, probably don’t feel the same way.

Think He’s Had Enough

This dog looks adorable, but he also looks like he might have had one too many or spent too much time in the sun. He’s looking a little loopy and could probably do with a nice nap in the shade…without taking the cocktail with him.

Spotting a Loose String

You’ve got to think there’s more that can go wrong than right here. If he succeeds, the woman in question could lose her top…not a good outcome. If he holds on too long, she might go with him, or he might fall out and crash. Either way, he did not think this one through.

Best Beer Pong Game Ever

These people deserve a ton of credit for setting up this play area. Most people just go for the table, but this group created a full play arena for a beer pong tournament. As long as high tide stays away for a few hours, this is an outstanding creation.

Full Flip

This is incredible flexibility to get off the ground and complete a full flip without landing on the wrong body part. Based on the impressed reaction of the woman behind the flipper, there’s a good chance this is something she pulls out whenever she wants to show off…and it’s awesome.

You Don’t Belong Here

This turtle really doesn’t seem to like visitors, or maybe it just doesn’t like humans. In any case, this turtle doesn’t really appear to be in a friendly mood from either its expression or its appendage. When any sea creature looks like this, it might be wise to keep your distance.

Rode the Wave Too Long

This surfer looks like she did one trick too many on her board and is about to wipe out in front of her audience. The waves here don’t look all that threatening, so it’s probably from an extra trick or two that went just beyond her abilities.

That’ll Block the Sun

We’ve got to admit, if you’re trying to avoid a sunburn, this might be the perfect hat with which to do it. This ultra-wide brim headgear should block out all the sun’s rays…and any stray rays from any other star in the Milky Way galaxy.

Enjoying a Bite

Size disparity and perspective are always good for a few optical illusions. This couple perfectly creates the appearance that the female has shrunk down to doll-size, allowing the male to pick her up and possibly swallow her whole. It’s certainly a great way to make friends do a double-take.

The Monkey On Her Back

The proverbial monkey is no longer proverbial for this woman, who’s got an adorable primate riding her shoulder during a day at the beach. Odds are, this monkey will be easier to remove from her back than the emotional kind…although it’s so cute that she might not want to get rid of it for a while!

Beach Music

With apologies to Pat Conroy, this might be the best example of beach music that we’ve ever seen. The only way this could be better would be if someone brought out a phone and started playing a list of songs while the guy in the photo mimed playing the piano for all to enjoy

Taking a Ride on the Trunk

Riding in the trunk isn’t recommended, but what about riding on the trunk? This woman’s got a view that few people get to see in riding an elephant, and as long as it cooperates, she’ll have a memory she can treasure forever in front of her friends and family.

Licking the Tower

Generally speaking, licking a metal structure isn’t a great idea. Doing so when it’s a famous landmark is even worse, but miming it is a sure way to get a few smiles. This lady found the right angle to make it look like she’s licking France’s famous Eiffel Tower…which might upset the local Parisians.

Yes! It’s a Beautiful Sunset!

There’s nothing like seeing a perfect sunset and the colors that it produces. But this dog really seems to love how it looks, as he’s on his back celebrating as the orange hues blanket the evening. It’s almost like he thinks that he caused it to happen, and he’s taking credit for making everyone so happy.

Friends Aren’t Food

This woman might know the way to a pig’s heart is with food, but hopefully, she hasn’t revealed what’s actually in this treat that she’s providing for her new friend. Odds are that the friendship goes south if the pig finds out what it’s eating from her hand!

Quokka Hell Is That?

If you’re not from the land down under, this little guy might not look familiar to you. It’s a kind of wallaby, and there are only 20,000 of them left in the world. If you see one, be sure to get a picture. They’re as rare to see in the wild as any celebrity.

Confident or Crazy?

This plucky guy has some serious cahonas. And that insane view can only be overlooking Dubai. Thankfully, this shot is not realistic, and that man is very probably not a pilot. Nonetheless, a great way to get some attention on social media! If you look carefully, you can see the inconsistency of the shadows. Oops.

Spectacular Wildlife

Those mountains look truly breathtaking, and the water looks as clear and blue as can be. And yet there’s something else that catches the eye, something altogether more intriguing and alluring. Not those you sicko! All the different types of boats you can see in the background.

Get Your Planche On

Is this amazing or absolutely ridiculous? Primarily, it’s one of the most stupid things a person can do. Nonetheless, it’s an absolute feat of training. All factors taken into consideration, it’s two parts stupid to three parts impressive. At least he’s got the strength to hang on to the edge if he does fall.

Monkey Business

What makes this picture stand out for you? For us, it’s the serene look on the monkey’s face as he slyly plans his crime, then makes his move. Then the contrast of the casual look of indifference on his face, vs. the look of shock and horror on hers. Chef kiss.

Ride ‘Em Cowboy

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Times have changed a lot since the days of cowboys cattle herding. These days, people prefer to take a more gentrified approach to interacting with wildlife. This friendly chap here demonstrates how by riding an emu, who he seems to share a kindred spirit—and facial expression—with.

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©100stoneproject/Twitter | ©Svetliy/stock.adobe.com

We’ve all made some unexpected discoveries before. Maybe you found $20 in a coat pocket you didn’t use, or you stumbled upon a surprise family heirloom in your basement while cleaning. Just like your findings, the discoveries on this list all came by surprise. They range from weird to invaluable, encompassing everything in-between.

Many of these discoveries can not yet be explained and are the stuff of Netflix documentaries and movies. While some of these findings were the result of pure luck, others came from hard work and determination. Hopefully, this list inspires you to keep your eyes open and indulge your curiosity. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find something awe-inspiring, too.

1. Underground Pyramid Found in Bolivia

Location: Tiahuanaco, Bolivia
Year Discovered: 2015
Est. Value: Unknown

Tiahuanaco in Bolivia and its historical ruins have led to quite a few discoveries, and excavations have continued for years by both private companies and the government. In 2015, one of the most shocking findings at Tiahuanaco was an underground pyramid. Archaeologists discovered it with the use of ground-penetrating radar.

Underground Pyramid Found in Bolivia @enterprisehot/Pinterest

They also found monoliths within the pyramid. Excavations into this belowground pyramid are still ongoing. Tiahuanaco was once home to ancient South America’s most important city. The city spanned 231,000 square miles, and finds from this massive historical site have included stone monuments, palace ruins, sculptures, and more. Since 2000, Tiahuanaco has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2. ‘Witch Bottle’ Discovered in English Chimney

Location: Watford, England
Year Discovered: 2019
Est. Value: $40*

Contractors who were demolishing a former pub in Watford, England stumbled upon an unusual discovery in the chimney section of the building. This creepy, folklore surprise was a witch bottle, stuff with an unidentified liquid, teeth, and shards of glass. The bottle was thought to date back to the 1800s.

‘Witch Bottle’ Discovered in English Chimney ©Malcolm Lidbury (aka Pinkpasty)/Wikimedia

It was likely placed in the pub to ward off witches. Considering that this Watford property was the birthplace of the Witch of Saratoga, that makes sense. Angeline Tubbs was the Witch’s real name, and she relocated to Saratoga, New York in 1761, where she made a living reading fortunes and making witch bottles to scare off the competition.

3. Giant Lego Men Wash up on Beaches Around the World

Location: Yuigahama Beach, Japan
Year Discovered: 2014
Est. Value: Unknown

Humans worry about dead wildlife washing onto the shores, as that could be a sign of a problem with the water quality. Who knows what a gigantic, eight-foot, ominous Lego man means? This potential portent of doom was discovered by a Japanese surfer. Forebodingly, the Lego man was wearing a t-shirt that said, “No Real Than You Are” on the front.

Giant Lego Men Washed up on Beaches Around the World @egoleonard/Twitter

Rather than blame aliens, it appears that the man behind this gigantic Lego is a mysterious Dutch artist named Ego Leonard. This artist, according to his website, comes from a “virtual world.” Believe it or not, this is far from the first time such a gigantic Lego has washed ashore. These behemoths were also found on beaches in Siesta Key, Florida, and Topanga Beach, California.

4. World’s Largest Flower Found in Jungle

Location: West Sumatra, Indonesia
Year Discovered: 2020
Est. Value: Unknown

While venturing through a remote jungle in the West Sumatra region of Indonesia, conservationists discovered the largest flower bloom in the world. The species of flower is Rafflesia tuan-mudae, which is known for its massive, elusive blossoms that bloom for just one week at the end of the plant’s life span.

World’s Largest Flower Found in Jungle @colinandmeg/Unsplash.com

This mammoth flower had a diameter of 3.6 feet, making it the largest Rafflesia ever documented. The flower is easy to spot, as it has flesh-colored petals covered in white spots. This unflattering description matches the flower itself, as it is part of the “corpse flower” type of flora, which means it smells like a dead body.

5. Shark Found In Middle of Golf Course

Location: San Juan Capistrano, California
Year Discovered: 2012
Est. Value: $850*

We all mocked Sharknado when it came out in 2013, but it seems as though Thunder Levin got the last laugh in the end, as maybe his movies weren’t so fictional after all. A shark did fall from the sky (a year before those movies came out, no less), landing near the twelfth tee of a golf course in California.

@murciaestate/Facebook

The San Juan Capistrano Golf Course workers were stunned when the two-pound leopard shark dropped onto the turf. As it turns out, the leopard shark, found alive, was carried from the ocean by a bird that accidentally dropped it. Cart attendants put the confused fish into a bucket of salt water and drove it to Baby Beach, where they released it back into its rightful habitat.

6. An Underwater River Found in the Ocean

Location: Cenote Angelita, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Year Discovered: 2016
Est. Value: N/A

Finding a river in the ocean might seem like a bit of an oxymoron. After all, isn’t the ocean all water? Well, be prepared to be surprised, as divers discovered an underwater river hidden underneath a cloud of toxic gas off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.

An Underwater River @RipleysBelieveItorNot/Pinterest

The river’s source is the Cenote Angelita, a massive sinkhole. Apparently, ninety feet beneath the surface, this river flows out to the ocean. Surrounding it is a blanket of hydrogen sulfide that would instantly kill anyone who attempted to breathe it in. To make the scenery even creepier, petrified trees and even a small skeleton are located in the noxious cloud. Ancient Mayans believed the Cenote Angelita was a gateway to Hell, and perhaps they had a point.

7. Long-lost Ship Found in Namibian Desert — with Gold Aboard

Location: Oranjemund, Namibia
Year Discovered: 2008
Est. Value: $13 million*

When you think of places where you’d find a ship, the Namibian Desert is probably last on your list. But, believe it or not, that is where the remains of the Bom Jesus were found. This Portuguese ship disappeared five-hundred-years ago when it sank off the coast of Namibia. As the coastline waters receded, the Bom Jesus reemerged.

Nambian Desert Shipwreck @HIstoryCollection/Twitter.com

When it sank in a fierce storm, it was on its way to India laden with treasures like gold and copper ingots. Diamond miners discovered the ship and alerted the Namibian government, who sent out a team to dig up the wreckage. Two-thousand pure gold coins and tens of thousands of pounds of copper ingots were discovered on the Bom Jesus, almost all intact.

8. Soviet-Built T34/76A Found In Lake Kurtna Matasjarv

Location: Estonia
Year Discovered: 2000
Est. Value: $6 million*

In the depths of Lake Kurtna Matasjärv, a remarkable piece of history lay hidden for decades until Kasper, a young man from Estonia, unraveled its secrets in 2000. After discovering a strange marking and a nearby rope, Kasper fetched his parents. An extensive excavation ensued, and soon the whole town was involved.

Soviet-Built T34/76A Found In Lake Kurtna Matasjarv @Past_Factory /Twitter

Emerging from the depths, at the other end of the rope was a Soviet-built T34/76A tank stood as a haunting reminder of the past. Kasper’s discovery was one of happenstance. The reason behind the tank’s location, or how it got there, however, is still anyone’s’ guess.

9. Secret Underground Theater Found in Paris Catacombs

Location: Paris, France
Year Discovered: 2004
Est. Value: $5,000-$10,000* (Cost To Build)

The Paris Catacombs are a labyrinth located in the heart of France. The Catacombs were built when the city needed a better location to store the dead. So, Paris chose tunnels, five stories underground, into which they emptied bodies beginning in the late 1700s.

Paris Catacombs ©Netfalls/stock.adobe.com

That background makes this discovery extra eerie. In August of 2004, Parisian police doing a training exercise discovered a fully-equipped movie theater in one of the Catacombs’ formerly-uncharted caverns. Terraces were cut into the rock to form an amphitheater, in which projection equipment, a full-sized cinema screen, and a variety of thrillers and noir films were found. The films were neither offensive nor banned; it seems as though someone just wanted to set up their own creepy, private theater.

10. Family Discover Ancient Chapel Hidden Under Their House

Location: Shropshire, England
Year Discovered: 2010
Est. Value: $10,000-$50,000* (Cost To Build, Adj. For Inflation)

This unusual discovery seems as though it would be the beginning of a horror movie. In Shropshire, England, Pat and Diane Farla were having a Good Friday party when one of them decided to finally look behind the six-foot-long rectangular plate on their wall. Believe it or not, they hadn’t looked behind there in the three years they’d owned the home.

Family Discover Ancient Chapel Hidden Under Their House @dailymail/Pinterest

After pulling the plate away, they discovered a hole that led them to a tiny, underground chapel. The cellar-like contraption had pews and a cross, confirming that it was of a religious nature. Authorities believe that this underground church could have been used centuries ago by congregations fleeing religious persecution during one of England’s many religious wars.

11. A 1,000-Year-Old Viking Ship Found Buried on Farm

Location: Edoy, Norway
Year Discovered: 2019
Est. Value: $545,000*

A team of archaeologists using ground penetrating radar discovered something unusual buried on a farm in Norway. They found that, below the surface of the frigid earth, there was a ship that dated back to either the Merovingian or Viking Period. The ship was only buried two feet below the ground.

Viking Ship Discovered @lifenorway/Twitter.com

The archaeological team was there for a totally different expedition, and they pretty much found this ship by mistake. It was part of a burial mound from one-thousand years ago. Their deep-radar technique was the same one used to find the GJellestad Ship, also located in Norway.

12. Couple Finds 50-year-old Safe Hidden in Kitchen Wall

Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Year Discovered: 2015
Est. Value: $52,000*

A couple in Phoenix, Arizona were renovating their kitchen when they discovered a strange safe hiding behind the wall of their kitchen. When they opened, they found not only $50,000 and liquor, but also the directions to a treasure hunt.

50-Year Old Safe @TheMirror/Twitter.com

The $100 bills were joined by a bottle of bourbon from the 1960s. The last item in the safe was A Guide for the Perplexed by E.F. Schumacher, a novel published in 1977. Passages were outlined in the book, which came with a map of Arizona and a Bingo card with numbers outlined. So far, the couple has yet to crack the complicated set of clues.

13. One-Of-A-Kind Qing Dynasty Vase Discovered in Attic

Location: Paris, France
Year Discovered: 2018
Est. Value: $19 million*

When homeowners in France were sorting through their attic, they spotted an ornately decorated, beautiful porcelain vase. The vase had gone unnoticed for years, but, when the couple saw it, they had it taken to Paris for a Sotheby’s appraisal.

One-of-a-kind Qing Dynasty Vase Discovered in Attic @TheSunOnline/Pinterest

Sotheby’s discovered that the vase was an original work of art from the Qing Dynasty, and they appraised it at $590,000 to $825,000. But, this hidden treasure would go on to sell for far more than its value, as an auction buyer scooped it up for a winning bid of $19 million. This piece must truly have been one-of-a-kind to fetch that price.

14. Two Brothers Find $15m Painting in Wall

Location: Arlington, Vermont
Year Discovered: 2006
Est. Value: $15.4 million*

Two brothers were going through their father’s home in a postmortem excavation when they discovered something surprising hidden within the walls. It was an original Norman Rockwell painting. But, this Rockwell matched the one hanging on the wall just a few inches away.

Two Brothers Find $15m Painting in Wall ©Handout /Getty Images

As it turned out, the brothers’ father was hiding the pricey original from his ex-wife during a divorce. He hid the real Rockwell in the wall, putting up a convincing fake in its place. There it hung for years until the father passed away. Later at a Sotheby’s auction, this painting, titled “Breaking Home Ties,” sold for $15.4 million.

15. Missing Original Mark Twain Script Found in a Trunk

Location: Hollywood, California
Year Discovered: 1991
Est. Value: $1.5 million*

This priceless literary artifact was lost for over a century before it was discovered in a trunk in an attic in 1991. The 665-page document was written by hand by famous author Mark Twain. This copy of Huckleberry Finn deviated widely from its original source text, shaking up what we thought we knew about modern literature.

Missing Mark Twain @CollectorsWeekly/Pinterest

The Mark Twain Project at U.S.C. said that they “believed” the manuscript would never be found, as Twain himself had sent it to Buffalo, New York, where it vanished. The owner of the trunk was the granddaughter of one of Twain’s close friends, and she immediately turned it over to Sotheby’s for authentication.

16. Terracotta Warriors Discovered in Pit Around Secret Tomb

Location: Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Year Discovered: 1974
Est. Value: $4.5 million per warrior*

In 1974, Chinese workers building a well discovered thousands of terracotta clay figures dressed for battle. The Terracotta Army, as it is now known, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a designation it received in 1987. The Army was found near the mausoleum constructed for Qin Shi Huang, the first Chinese emperor.

Terracotta Warriors’ Discovered in Pit Around Secret Tomb ©meanmachine77/Shutterstock.com

The figures are extremely detailed, and they are an entire replica of all of the king’s warriors. There are 8,000 terracotta soldiers in total, and just 2,000 of them have been excavated. The warriors were designed to protect the emperor when he made his journey to the afterlife in 210 B.C.

17. Swedish Scientists Reveal Findings of Deep-Sea ‘Alien’ Hunt

Location: Baltic Sea
Year Discovered: 2015
Est. Value: Unknown

A deep-sea alien hunt already sounds promising, as far as finding something creepy and weird goes. Swedish scientists conducting such an expedition didn’t disappoint when they discovered what many people thought was a spaceship hidden at the depths of the Baltic Sea.

Artist Rendering (right) @Hauke Vagt/Pinterest | Ocean X/Wikimedia Commons

Though the explorers denied that it was a spaceship, they’re not sure what exactly this anomaly is. The Ocean Explorer team’s leader, Peter Lindberg, said it was some “natural geological formation.” According to Lindberg, this strange form wasn’t an alien spaceship, as it was “not made of metal,” a statement to which many people replied, “Who said alien spaceships have to be made of metal?”

18. WWII Plane Found in Jungle with Coffee Still in Thermoses

Location: Rabaul, New Britain, Papua New Guinea
Year Discovered: 1972
Est. Value: $9 million*

The “Swamp Ghost” was a Boeing B-17E bomber that no doubt wreaked havoc in World War II. That is until the plane went down in 1942 in the jungles of Papua New Guinea after being hit by enemy fire. The downing of the Swamp Ghost occurred during a raid on Japanese forces in Rabaul, New Britain.

WWII Plane Found in Jungle with Coffee Still in Thermoses @reggiekelpie/Twitter.com

The plane was left untouched for decades. When it was discovered in 1972, it was well-preserved by the kunai grass and mire. The Swamp Ghost was so intact that there was still coffee in thermoses in the cockpit when it was found. According to some sources, the value of such a well-preserved WWII plane is around $9 million.

19. A Shocking Discovery from 2000-year-old Shipwreck: The Antikythera Mechanism

Location: Antikythera, Greece
Year Discovered: 1900
Est. Value: Priceless

The Antikythera Mechanism is an ancient, two-thousand-year-old astronomical calculator that consists of thirty hand-cut, precise bronze gears. The advanced tool was made by ancient Greeks, and it has taken scientists years to unravel the mystery behind this device, which Cardiff University’s Mike Edmunds described as pricier “than the Mona Lisa.”

A Shocking Discovery from 2000-year-old Shipwreak: The Antikythera Mechanism @biblioteca.lucianblaga.1 | @SocSciclopedia/Facebook

The machine was discovered in 1900 by sponge divers looking through an ancient shipwreck near Antikythera, a small Greek island. Using radiocarbon data, scientists were able to date this clock to 65 B.C. When it comes to its total value, its historical nature makes it nearly priceless. Who can put a number to discovering how ancient civilizations read the skies?

20. Strange Figures Found Along The Alaskan Shore

Location: Alaska, America
Year Discovered: 2015
Est. Value: Priceless

A few years ago, some Alaskans were startled to find a group of haunting figures lingering in the ice and snow on the bleak shoreline of Point Woronzof, near Anchorage. From a distance, they looked like real people in trouble. However, it turned out that the eerie shapes were actually an art installation by Sarah Davies.

The Supreme ©YouTube.com/

Inspired by her own experience with an undiagnosed illness, Davies set up more than 85 different humanoid sculptures that represented the “physical encapsulation of hundreds of unique experiences of vulnerability,” according to Buzzfeed News.

Human population have reached 7 billion, and we must admit that there are some crazy people living among us, and some of them are inventing truly wired things. Although the line between a crazy and a genius is razor thin, but not every insane person is a genius. We created a list of 7 weirdest things that could be found on internet, however, some of you might find these items useful, but the fact would remain the same that these innovations are truly bizarre. Have a look at ten weirdest and most crazy inventions.

Foot Powered Bike

We know, this may be hard to believe, but the bike you’re seeing in above picture actually exist. Someone literally came with this idea, convinced the investor that it could be useful and manufactured it. Apparently it is created to encourage cycling in urban environment, but ditching paddles and seat for feet and harness crushing your balls, is beyond understanding for a person with IQ above 50.

The Ab Hancer

We all know how difficult it is to workout each and every day to get those six pack of abs to impress your girl. But remember, we’re living in this technological wonderland where everything is possible, even getting abs without working out. All you have to do is put it on your fat belly and just wait until it becomes flat and sexy as Ryan Gosling.

Alright wait, don’t get too excited because this thing is ridiculous as it sounds, not only it’s not gonna help you to get any kind of abs whatsoever, we believe it’s some of kind of hoax or something.

Anti-Pervert Hairy Stockings

If you’re a beautiful girl and prefer to wear shorts in summer season, but can’t get away because of those boys looking hairy legs, so, this stockings are just made for you. It would make your legs look like they haven’t been shaved for ages. It would not only disgust boys and repel them away from you, but would also give you a more beautiful natural human look.

Banana slip case

Japan is a well known player in the field of nations that come with some of the most crazy Inventions, and banana slip case is just another proof of it. It is a plastic cover for your banana to basically protect it from dirt. Which is kind of useless considering that the skin is already there to do the job.

Flask Tie

Imagine you’re sitting in your office and having an uncontrollable urge to drink alcohol, now you can do nothing, unless you have a hip flask or a tie like this. Flask Tie contain bladder hidden inside it that can be used to carry any kind of drink including alcohol. So if you’re feeling stressed in the middle of work, your tie is always there to save you, just take a small sip and enjoy.

Female Urination Device

The credit of this innovation goes to Edyth Lacy, who came up with this idea around 1920s. The device allow Females urinate while standing similar to males. But ladies all the goodness aside, you’ll have to admit that this thing looks freaking weird.

Head Mounted Toilet Paper Dispenser

What else could be more weird than Female Urination device, it is a portable toilet paper dispenser. This dispenser actually isn’t entirely useless. Think about it, for those who have cold, they can just rip a fresh paper, clean the nose and throw it away, clean and simple. But we’re not sure how many people are willing to look like a cartoon, for the sake of having tissue paper.

There are some ordinary products out there which we use every day that are quite expensive than their usual price tag. They are the fancy version of everyday products. Some companies produce these bizarre limited editions or one-time product that cost a bank-breaking sum.

Teapot

This teapot is glammed up with 18k gold, 1658 diamonds, 386 crimson rubies, and the handle of the teapot is made from molded mammoth ivory. Yes, you read it right. Materials from the ice age were a hard task to work with but were made possible nevertheless. It is named The Egoist and is owned by N Sethina Foundation. This single teapot is worth $3 million. All the rich tea lovers probably are going crazy for this.

Pencil

Yes, even pencils are made with gold and diamonds nowadays. In celebration of Faber Castell’s 204th anniversary, the Ultimate Graf von Faber-Castell Perfect Pencil was created in 2001. The Ultimate pencil is worth a staggering price of $12, 800. Thus it has claimed the title- yes, you have guessed it- the world’s most expensive pencil title.

It is made of 240-year-old olive wood. The cap is made out of 24-carat white gold and the top of the cap is studded with 3 diamonds. Only 10 of them had been produced.

Razor from space

This Zafirro Iridium razor is worth $100,000. The reason for this razor to be so expensive is because it is made from the debris of the space. Yes, you read it right. The metal is found only in the residue of meteorites. Therefore, it is a limited edition of only 99.The Zafirro do sell other less expensive razors with a good motive of reducing steel blades pollution. They are made of white sapphire blades which stay sharper than ordinary steel blades for a longer time.

Toilet Paper

Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t mention the popular expensive toilet paper. As you know, the ordinary toilet paper’s price had been increased during the early pandemic but we are not talking about that.

We are talking about the toilet paper that had been sold for $1.5 million per roll by Toilet Paper Man, an Australian company. Yes, you have read it right. It’s not a typing mistake. The toilet paper was made up of 24-carat gold, therefore it holds the title of the world’s most expensive toilet paper roll. According to their site, it has been delivered personally to the buyer with a bottle of champagne.

Diamond tea bag

A diamond tea bag was made by a jewelry company called Boodles in celebration of PG Tip’s 75th birthday. Designed with 100 diamonds on its side, 80 diamonds on the string, and 100 diamonds inside of the teabag. Of course, it wouldn’t be called a teabag if they didn’t add some tea leaves inside so, they have decided to put some rare expensive tea leaves inside as well. The rare tea leaves were picked from the oldest garden in India. In addition, it is priced at around $10,000, claiming the title of the world’s most expensive tea bag.

Umbrella

A truly unique umbrella to say the least because it is made of crocodile skin. It is a waterproof high-quality umbrella with a price tag of $50,000. It was designed by Angelo Galasso for the Billionaire Italian Couture, the Italian luxury brand for only men. You will have no problem standing out in a crowd with this unique umbrella but we do wonder if it is heavy.

From “lobster boy” to the human zoo exhibit, discover the most interesting stories you’ve never heard.

ATI Composite

In studying history, one finds moments in time, interesting stories, that pierce the veil that separates us from history and reveals the diverse tapestry of events that is the past.

These include tales of unique individuals under extraordinary circumstances.

These stories will show that the past is much more complex, much more disturbing, and much more incredible than one can ever imagine.

Interesting Stories: The Serial Killer’s 175-Year-Old Head In A Jar

Obscuro Notícias/YouTube

Considered by many to be Portugal’s first serial killer, Diogo Alves was born in Galicia in 1810 and traveled to Lisbon as a young child to work as a servant in the affluent homes of the capital city.

It wasn’t long before young Alves realized that a life of crime was better for turning a profit, and in 1836, he had himself transferred to work in a home located on the Aqueduto das Águas Livres.

Despite the fact that those traveling across the Aqueduct were humble farmers returning home, Alves would lie in wait for them at nightfall, when he would rob them of their earnings.

Afterward, Alves would throw them over the edge of the 213-foot tall structure, sending them falling to their deaths. Between 1836 and 1839, he repeated this process some 70 times.

Local police initially attributed the deaths to copycat suicides, which led to a temporary closure of the bridge.

Alves then formed a group of bandits, before they were caught while killing four people inside the home of a local doctor, and Alves was arrested and sentenced to death by hanging.

But it’s what happened next that makes this one of history’s most interesting stories.

Scientists at the time wanted to study Alves’ head, to determine the origin of his murderous nature. For this reason, they had his head removed from his dead body and preserved in a jar for study — where it has remained ever since.

This severed head now sits in the University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Medicine where students can experience this chilling reminder of a horrifying man.

The Vicious Crimes Of Lobster Boy

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Grady Stiles Jr., who would become known as “Lobster Boy”, was born in Pittsburgh in 1937 as the latest in a lineage of “Lobster Men” carnival sideshows who inherited the congenital deformity ectrodactyly, which fuses their fingers together into “lobster claws.”

Stiles’ case was pretty severe: In addition to his hands, he also experienced ectrodactyly in his feet, and therefore could not walk. For most of his life, he primarily used a wheelchair, but also learned to use his upper body to pull himself across the floor with impressive strength.

Limited by these deformities, Stiles grew up confined within the carnival world, and so it wasn’t surprising that as a young man he fell in love with another carnival worker named Maria Teresa, a young woman who had run away to join the circus as a teenager.

The couple soon married and had two children, but things took a turn for the worse when Stiles started drinking and, combined with his overpowering upper body strength, he became abusive toward his wife and children.

When Stiles’ teenage daughter, Donna, fell in love with a young man that he didn’t approve of, he murdered his daughter’s fiancé in cold blood on the eve of the wedding.

At his trial, he admitted his act with no remorse whatsoever, but pointed out that he couldn’t possibly be imprisoned because no jail could properly accommodate his disability. He was subsequently let off with 15 years probation and allowed to return home.

Though they had divorced during the trial, for reasons that no one, either in the Stiles family or outside of it, has been able to understand, his first wife agreed to remarry him in 1989.

When she returned, the beatings became more severe and few years after they remarried, she paid her 17-year-old neighbor, Chris Wyant, $1,500 to shoot and kill him, bringing one of history’s most incredible stories to an end.

Not one of them denied that they had killed Stiles. During the trial, his wife spoke at length of his abusive history. “My husband was going to kill my family,” she told the court, “I believe that from the bottom of my heart.”

The Woman Who Survived The Titanic — And Two Other Shipwrecks

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Depending on your perspective, Violet Jessop was either the luckiest or unluckiest women to ever live. Either way, she certainly has one of the most interesting stories you’ll ever read.

Jessop was a stewardess on ocean liners who began her career aboard the Orinoco in 1908 at age 21.

She started with the White Star Line when she went aboard the HMS Olympic, one of three Olympic class cruisers created by the company, in 1910.

A year later, while Jessop was still working aboard the ship, it collided with the British warship the HMS Hawke while the two were passing through a narrow strait. Though both vessels were damaged by the encounter, it did not completely destroy either ship and there were no fatalities.

While the Olympic was being repaired, Violet was employed aboard another White Star Line ship, and the sister vessel to the Olympic, the RMS Titanic. Jessop was onboard when the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank, but was able to find a lifeboat and survived.

Despite these two sea accidents she had been a part of, Jessop was undeterred, and during World War I, she served as a Red Cross stewardess aboard the HMHS Britannic.

It had been converted into a hospital ship and was transporting injured soldiers to the United Kingdom when they hit a German mine in the Aegean Sea and sank.

While escaping the sinking ship on a lifeboat, Jessop and many other passengers were almost sucked into the ship’s propeller blades, but narrowly escaped, cementing her reputation as “Miss Unsinkable.” She would later recount her harrowing story in Titanic Survivor: The Newly Discovered Memoirs of Violet Jessop who Survived Both the Titanic and Britannic Disasters.

The Human Zoo Exhibit

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Ota Benga was a Mbuti pygmie tribesman born in the Ituri Forest of the Congo in 1883.

Benga married young and fathered two children, but his dreams of living a normal life were shattered when, sometime in the 1890s, Belgian colonial troops came across his village and killed his entire family while he was out hunting.

Without a family or tribe, Benga was lost and had no place in the society he had grown up in. Surprisingly, at this point, some of Benga’s most trying times were still ahead of him.

Shortly after the death of his family, Benga was captured by slave traders and put to work on an industrial farm. It was there, in 1904, that Benga was discovered by, of all people, an American businessman named Samuel Verner with racist beliefs about evolution.

He thought that Benga, with his short stature, dark skin, and sharp teeth, filed as part of a cultural ritual, was a “missing link” between humans and our evolutionary ancestors. He then purchased Benga for a bag of salt and a bolt of cloth.

Verner’s group promptly brought Benga to St. Louis, where he was the hit of the 1904 World’s Fair. Following the exhibition, Benga briefly returned to Africa, where he remarried, but returned to the U.S. after his wife died from a snake bite.

He was later placed in the ape enclosure at the Bronx Zoo, displayed as part of the New York Anthropological Society’s exhibit on human evolution. Local black clergy were appalled by the exhibit and demanded Benga’s release. They successfully lobbied the governor to force the zoo to shut down the display.

Benga then briefly lived in Virginia working at a tobacco plant. In 1914, he decided to return to Africa, but when World War I broke out, he was unable to do so.

On March 20, 1916, depressed at the thought of not being able to return home, Ota Benga shot himself in the heart and died, bringing an end to one of history’s most heartbreaking yet also interesting stories. Pamela Newkirk would later document the life of Ota Benga in the award-winning Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga.

Interesting Stories: The Only Catholic Priest Ever Executed In U.S. History

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Hans Schmidt was an unusual child. He was born in the German town of Aschaffenburg in 1881 and had an eerie childhood habit of spending his afternoon watching the cows and pigs be processed through the local slaughterhouse.

He was also entranced by Roman Catholic rituals, and played priest with a homemade altar. These two childhood passions would eventually converge in an unsettling way.

A 25-year-old Schmidt was ordained in Germany in 1904, but by 1912 found himself at St. Boniface Church on the east side of Manhattan.

But he wasn’t the only recent addition to St. Boniface at the time; a young Austrian housekeeper named Anna Aumuller had recently been hired to keep shop. Schmidt and Aumuller then began having an affair.

On February 26, 1913, Schmidt married Aumuller in a secret ceremony that he performed himself. However, later that year, Aumuller told Schmidt that she was pregnant, and he knew that his days as a priest would be over if word got out that a purportedly celibate Catholic priest had married and impregnated a woman.

On September 2, Schmidt slashed Aumuller’s throat with a 12-inch butcher’s knife in a Manhattan apartment that he had rented for her. He then sawed off her head with a hacksaw and sliced her body in half, finally dumping her remains in the Hudson River.

When the body washed up days later, police traced the remains back to Schmidt. Within minutes, he confessed to the marriage and murder of Aumuller, claiming “I loved her. Sacrifices should be consummated in blood.”

The jury convicted Schmidt of first-degree murder and sentenced him to death by electric chair. Schmidt was electrocuted to death on February 18, 1916. To this day — and this is what truly makes his tale one of history’s most interesting stories — Schmidt is the only priest to ever be executed in the United States.

America’s First Supermodel, Who Died In A Mental Asylum

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To refer to Audrey Munson simply as a supermodel would be dismissive, as the iconic Gilded Age star was a renowned artist’s model, clothing model, and film actress whose fascinating tale stands out among a crowded field of similarly interesting stories.

She was, in fact, the model for some the most iconic sculptures in New York City, including the massive, 25-foot-tall statue perched atop Lower Manhattan’s Municipal Building: Civic Fame.

Born in Rochester, New York in 1891, Munson moved to New York City when she was still a teenager. She was first discovered when a photographer spotted the young beauty in a Fifth Avenue store window.

This led to Munson’s initial collaborative work with various photographers and sculptors, who were drawn to her tall, photogenic frame and “neoclassical” features. This fame also led to her being cast in silent films of the era.

Despite her fame, Munson received little compensation and was not able to save up enough to support herself after her star had faded. By the 1920s, as her popularity decreased, she and her mother moved to upstate New York.

With no savings to speak of, Munson took work as a waitress. It was during this time that she began to demonstrate signs of mental illness, such as her insistence on being known as “Baroness Audrey Meri Munson-Munson.”

She blamed her downfall on Jewish people, and her outspoken anti-Semitism led her so far as to contact the U.S. House of Representatives, insisting that they create a law that would protect her from “the Hebrews.”

At the age of 40, Munson was sent even further upstate to Ogdensburg, along the Canadian border. There, she would reside at St. Lawrence State Hospital, where she would live for many years.

Toward the tail end of her life, the hospital threw Audrey out to make room for incoming patients and moved her to a nearby nursing home. Audrey Munson eventually ended up back in the rooms at St. Lawrence, where she died at the age of 104. Her story inspired the biographical book The Curse of Beauty: The Scandalous & Tragic Life of Audrey Munson, America’s First Supermodel.

Perhaps The Richest Person Who Has Ever Lived

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Perhaps the richest person who ever lived, Mansa Musa I has (despite being at the center of one of history’s most interesting stories) largely been forgotten by history due to a lack of focus and study on Africa, from which he came.

Musa became emperor of Mali in 1312 when then-emperor Abubakari II deputized Musa to temporarily assume his role. Through trading gold and salt, which were found in abundance in West Africa at the time, Musa amassed an enormous fortune.

Though Musa had become fabulously wealthy through trade, the rest of the world only became aware of the extent of his wealth when he embarked on a pilgrimage to Mecca.

His caravan traveled throughout Cairo, Medina, and finally to Mecca with a procession of more than 60,000 people, dozens of animals, and plenty of gold. In fact, as they traveled, Musa and his entourage gave gold away to people in the streets.

They bought so many goods that they messed up the global economy for a while because he sizably increased the amount of gold in circulation.

Musa used his gold to build a great number of mosques, to the point that legend says he built one every Friday of his reign. The most famous of the mosques he commissioned is the Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu, Mali.

When adjusted for inflation, Musa’s wealth is believed to have been around $400 billion. The only person who comes close to Musa’s wealth is John D. Rockefeller, who economists believe amassed a worth of around $336 billion when adjusted for inflation.

The Mormon Girl Who Was Raised By The Mohave

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Born in 1837, Olive Oatman was one of seven siblings all raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before she found herself at the center of one of the most interesting stories of the American West.

In 1850, when Oatman was just 13 years old, her parents joined a Mormon wagon train traveling to California. Midway through their journey, the Oatmans were attacked by members of the Western Yavapai tribe who slaughtered her parents and four of her siblings.

Oatman was then taken captive by the Yavapai and kept as a slave at their nearby village where she was forced to forage for food and carry firewood, and was often beaten and otherwise mistreated if she did not comply.

After a year with the Yavapai, she accompanied them to an inter-village trade, where she was sold to the Mohave tribe for a horse. The Mohave were much more prosperous than the Yavapai and, luckily for Oatman, were also more compassionate.

Oatman was given a plot of land to farm and traditional Mohave clothes to wear, and she was also tattooed on her chin and arms, a tribal custom reserved for members of the tribe.

Then, when Oatman was 19 years old, a messenger arrived at the Mohave village from Fort Yuma, saying they had heard there was a white girl living with the Mohaves and demanding that she be returned.

Fearing the white men would destroy them, the Mohaves brought Olive to Fort Yuma, where officers dressed her in Western clothing, deeming her Mohave clothing, consisting of a skirt and nothing above the waist, to be inappropriate.

Oatman then reintegrated into American society after a few years, though she always looked back on her time with the Mohave fondly. She would later recount her experience in the book The Captivity of the Oatman Girls Among the Apache and Mohave Indians.

Interesting Stories: The Man Who Revolutionized Medicine Only To Be Ridiculed For It

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Ignaz Semmelweis was a doctor who made a huge medical breakthrough that remains important to this day, although at the time he was shunned and ridiculed for his ideas.

While working in a Vienna maternity clinic in 1847, Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis noticed a disturbing trend: New mothers were dying in droves due to some mysterious ailment known as “childbed fever.”

Semmelweis resolved to figure out what was behind these deaths, and started by looking for disparities between the hospital’s two maternity wards, and discovered that women treated in the doctors’ ward were dying at a rate nearly five times that of those in the midwives’ clinic.

Semmelweis realized that the difference between the doctors and the midwives was that doctors performed autopsies in addition to delivering babies, and often went straight from one procedure to the next.

He hypothesized that the doctors were spreading material from dead bodies to maternity ward patients, and concluded that by stopping the route of transmission, he could likely stop the spread of the fever.

Semmelweis then pioneered disinfection measures, mostly using the chemical chlorine. After implementing the simple policies that maternity wards needed to be kept clean, and that doctors needed to wash their hands, the rate of childbed fever dropped dramatically

Despite proving that disinfection reduced mortality to below one percent, Semmelweiss’ technique was rejected by most doctors of his time because they felt that it was insulting to require them to wash their hands.

Constant criticism and hounding from the medical community led Semmelweis to have a nervous breakdown that placed him in a mental asylum, where he eventually died in 1865, bringing his tale, one of recent history’s most interesting stories, to an end.

The irony of his death is that many historians believe he died of sepsis, the same thing that killed all those women on the maternity ward.

The Prostitute Turned Pirate Queen

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Born in 1775, Ching Shih grew up in the Guangdong province of southeastern China, where at one point she worked as a prostitute on a floating brothel.

In 1801, the famed Zheng Yi, pirate commander of the Red Flag Fleet, raided the brothel, and was so struck by Shih’s beauty that he asked her to marry him. Shih said yes to Yi’s proposal, but only after Yi agreed to give her equal partnership in fleet leadership, as well as 50 percent of the admiral’s share of anything attained.

Just six years after marrying Shih, Yi fought his last fight amid the Tay Son Rebellion in Vietnam, where he died in 1807. Seeing an opportunity to rise to power, Shih then took command of the entire squadron.

Shih’s fleet went on to pillage the south China coast, taking over several towns and taxing countless others. Also under Shih’s rule, the fleet would sink 63 Chinese government vessels, which prompted the British and Portuguese navies to stay out of her affairs.

Three years after Shih assumed rule over the Red Flag Fleet, the Qing emperor, seeing no way to curb the pirate fleets, offered amnesty to anyone willing to give up their pirating ways and return to the mainland.

She returned to civilian life, bringing with her the vast wealth she acquired from her piracy (as well as one of the most interesting stories in recorded history). She then went on to marry a former underling, Pao. Together they returned to the Guangdong province, where Shih opened and operated a gambling house until her death in 1844.

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Actors also believe and experience the love at first sight notion because no matter how famous they get, they still possess a heart capable of giving and receiving love. It is not an uncommon practice that actors marry their fans although it sounds bizarre. Fans are not always clingy and creepy like those shown in the movies. Most celebrities avoid direct or intimate contact with their fans and marrying them does not rest on ordinary ears very easily. However, there are a few celebs who actually did marry their die hard fans and have lived very happily with them ever since! Have a look at top 7 celebrities who married their fans.

John Travolta

Kelly Preston vowing to marry John Travolta is one of the huge ultimate story which went around about as a fan marrying her celebrity crush! She saw the hunk on a poster of his movie Grease and at that time she was just sixteen years old. Thirteen years later, she did what she thought. Being a model and an actress herself, she pursued him and the two met while filming a movie and eventually married in 1991. They have been together ever since and have three children together. Currently, Travolta is 63 and Preston is 54 years old.

Anne Hathaway

After she got arrested for money laundering in 2008 along with her boyfriend, Raffaello Follieri, she swore off men and it was hard for people to imagine her in another relationship but the cupid had some other plans for the princess! She met her future husband, Adam Shulman the very same yet terrible year for her. He was a longtime fan of Hathaway and met her through mutual friends. They developed a fast relationship in a very less time and the two got married in 2012.

Adam Sandler

Jackie Titone is a low profile actress but this never stopped her from marrying the super star of that era and her crush, Adam Sandler. She met him through some mutual friends and he offered her a part in his movie Big Daddy. Apart from that, she has also appeared in several of his other movies like Grown ups, Little Nicky and Blended. Just like a fidel admirer and a die hard fan would do, she converted to Judaism for Sandler and they later married in 2000. They have two beautiful daughters at the present.

Jessica Alba

In 2004, while filming for Fantastic Four, Jessica Alba found the fantastic husband who was working as a production assistant for the movie. Warren undoubtedly adored Jessica and her work before their face to face encounter and had always been a big fan of her. The two of them just hit it off there and then. They admit that they had an instant chemistry on set which has resulted into a seven year old marriage till now. The also have two kid together.

Patrick Dempsey

Can you imagine finding your future spouse in a hair salon because Patrick Dempsey! Jillian Fink was a stylist and thought someone was pranking her when she saw Dempsey’s name on the list for an appointment. But there he was. He walked right into her salon expecting a haircut. What he got was a wife. They got married the same year which was 1999 and have been together ever since. He still depends on his wife to cut his hair and have three children together till now.

Conan O’Brien

Picture yourself sitting in the audience of a talk show where the host falls under your magic. Difficult? It may sound like a fairytale but it actually happened to Lisa Powell when she was just sitting in the audience, minding her own business as a loyal fan when the host of the show, Conan O’Brien fell for her. He has admitted several times that it was love at first sight and the two wed in 2002.

Kelsey Grammer

Kayte Walsh was a flight attendant and a fan girl when she stole the actor Kelsey Grammer. And by stole, it literally means stealing! Kelsey was still married to Camille Donatacci, with whom he also had two daughters when he started a relationship with Kayte. When he divorced Kayte, the two were very quick to take each other as husband and wife, only two weeks following it. They have been together ever since then.

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Robert Downey Jr.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Robert Downey Jr. is most recognised for his portrayal as Iron Man. He drew the attention of reviewers right away for his outstanding acting ability. He portrayed “Charlie Chaplin” in the 1992 film “Chaplin,” which surprised his admirers because we can’t see him portraying such a role nowadays. He not only acquitted himself admirably in that role, but he also garnered his first Academy Award nomination. His career quickly descended into a terrible spiral as a result of his drug use. After battling personal issues, he made a comeback with films like “Kiss Kiss Ban Bang” and “Iron Man.”

Richard Burton

Richard Burton was a fantastic actor who drew the attention of critics in the 1950s and was named one of the best performers of his time by several of them. Burton, however, failed to live up to such expectations owing to his drunkenness, disappointing reviewers and colleagues while fueling his mythology as a brilliant thespian wastrel. Burton was nominated for an Academy Award a total of seven times, but never won.

Johnny Depp

Johny Depp is a highly regarded and tremendously successful actor best known for his portrayal as Jack Sparrow in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy. Depp has been nominated for a number of major acting honours, including three Academy Award nominations for Best Actor. His most recent film, Black Mass, demonstrated that he still has more than enough strength to win an Oscar at the age of 53.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise is without a doubt the most well-known Hollywood actor on the planet. In terms of performance, he cannot be compared to Marlon Brando or Robert De Niro, but he is undoubtedly a brilliant actor. Even though he is more of an action man who performs most of his stunts in movies and is most known for films such as “Mission Impossible,” he has also shown to be an actor with extremely mature acting talents. Even the Academy nominated him three times for an Oscar in the Best Actor category, but he never won.

Will Smith

Will Smith is without a doubt one of Hollywood’s most well-known performers. He’s also one of the world’s wealthiest actors, and unquestionably one of the best. Despite the fact that he has appeared in over 20 Hollywood films, his performances in two of them have garnered the notice of the Academy. He was nominated for Best Actor in an Academy Award for his roles as Muhammad Ali in “Ali (2001)” and as stockbroker Chris Gardner in “The Pursuit of Happyness (2006),” but he did not win.

Brad Pitt

Various media sites have referred to Brad Pitt as one of the most prominent and powerful figures in the American entertainment business, as well as the world’s most gorgeous guy, yet he is first and foremost a superb actor. He has been nominated for Academy Awards twice for Best Actor and once for Best Supporting Actor.

Edward Norton

Edward Norton is one of those rare persons who was born to play the part of an actor. Almost all of his films have received positive reviews for his performance. However, he received Academy Award nominations for his roles in films such as Primal Fear (1996), American History X (1998), and Birdman (2001). (2014). He’s a fantastic performer who deserves to win an Academy Award. His followers can only hope that he will acquire such honour in the future.

Need to know who’re the highest hottest fashions in America? If sure, observe this listing of 7 most stunning and hottest American Fashions. The USA of America is legendary for a lot of causes and modeling is one among them. American feminine fashions broadly recognized for his or her daring personalities on earth. We have now shortlisted right here the highest younger feminine fashions from America. Take a look at listing and inform us of your favorite American feminine mannequin within the remark .

Emily Ratajkowski

Among the many hottest models on Instagram Emily Ratajkowski was born on 7 June 1991 in London to an American dad and mom. This sizzling feminine mannequin started with a performing profession at the early age of 14 after receiving a contract with Ford to start teen modeling. In 2009-10 she featured in iCarly, focussed extra on vogue magazines, and appeared on erotica journal treats in March 2012. Additionally, She options in varied top-notch commercials like Nikon and multi variations of Carl Jr. In 2015, she starred in the movie Entourage, a mini-series, the spoils earlier than dying, and we’re pals, all critically properly acclaimed. The identical 12 months, she debuted in runway modeling for high-end labels, and in 2016-17 she appeared on many vogue journal covers. In 2022, she showcased her creativity by way of My Physique, a set of essays.

Kendall Jenner

Kendall Nicole Jenner is presently essentially the most stunning and hottest American mannequin in 2022. She is a well-liked mannequin, businesswoman, socialite, and media persona. She has an acceptable web price of $50 million and is among the many highest-paid female models in the world. This American mannequin first appeared on their household actuality present Maintaining with the Kardashians and rose to fame.

Kendall did her education at Sierra Canyon Faculty, later switching to house faculty to deal with modeling. She started her modeling profession at 13 in 2009 and received featured in Teen Vogue in 2010. In 2011 walked for the Mercedes-Benz vogue present, adopted by that includes on several journal covers. Later in 2015, she walked for Chanel and different high-end labels. In 2016 she unveiled her statue in Madame Tussauds. She is in a relationship with Devin Booker, an NBA participant.

Kylie Jenner

Kylie Kristen Jenner efficiently takes the 2nd spot among the many high 10 hottest fashions in America. She can also be a well-known businesswoman, socialite, and media persona, born on 10 August 1997. She is legendary for being on the fact present Maintaining with the Kardashians.

At 14, she collaborated with her sister to create a clothesline, Kendall & Kylie, and her personal cosmetics line, particularly Kylie Cosmetics, for the next 12 months, together with a cellular app Kendall and Kylie. The mannequin additionally shares the listing of the most influential teenagers with her sister.

Camila Morrone

Camila Rebeca Morrone Polak is one other probably the most stunning and hottest American fashions and actresses. She was additionally shortlisted among the many top 10 women with the hottest figure. She was born on 16 June 1997 in Los Angeles, United States.

This American magnificence Camila graduated from Beverly Hills high school in 2015. In 2016, Camila was featured on the quilt web page of Vogue and debuted because of the runway mannequin in 2017 on the Moschino resort assortment. In 2013, she made her debut by performing in the movie Bukowski and made a comeback with the motion movie demise want, By no means going again, and Daisy jones and the six. She acquired the Rising Star Award and targeted extra on performing than modeling in 2018. She has been in a relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio since 2017.

Hailey Baldwin

Hailey Rhode Bieber comes at fifth place among the many high 10 hottest American fashions. She can also be a socialite and a media persona. This American mannequin Baldwin is the daughter of Stephen Baldwin, and at 09, she debuts on tv together with her household. The mannequin did homeschooling and later joined American ballet theatre in her teen years. She is the primary company she signed a contract with and featured in vogue magazines like Love, V, Tatler, and I-D. In 2014 she made her debut because of the runway mannequin in a photograph session.

Bella Hadid

One of many most beautiful and sexiest American women Bella Hadid clutches the 4th spot within the hottest American fashion listing. The daughter’s (Jordanian) father and (Dutch) mom started her profession in 2012. The fashionable persona entered a modeling profession after quitting her horse-riding profession.

This sizzling American mannequin Bella graduated from Malibu high school in 2014. Then she shifted to New York to pursue pictures however signed with IMG fashions to proceed with research later and made her runway debut in 2015 with the Tom Ford assortment. The brand new file holder for many Vogue cowls in September of the 12 months; made her appearances in varied campaigns and vogue exhibits. The mannequin showcased her glamorous perspective at Harper Bazaar, Elle, Chanel, Givenchy, and Mercedes Benz Trend Week.

Gigi Hadid

The third place for many stunning and hottest American fashions goes to Gigi Hadid. She was born in Los Angeles on 23 April 1995. In 2013, she graduated from Malibu high school and was enthusiastic about horse driving additionally, being captain of the volleyball staff. They shifted to New York to review Felony Psychology however left her research to deal with a modeling profession. She started her modeling profession at two when seen by Paul Marciano as Child Guess, took a break to focus on research.

Robert Downey Jr. was paid $10 million for only 8 minutes of screen time in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’. He got paid over $1 million per minute he’s in the movie.

Robert Downey Jr. largely credits the martial art Wing Chun for helping to maintain his sobriety, as well as helping to keep him “grounded, well and focused.”

In 2013, Robert Downey Jr. beat out George Clooney in a bidding war for movie rights to Black Mirror (UK) episode ‘The Entire History of You’ because they loved it so much.

Robert Downey Jr. buried the clothes that he wore in 1987’s “Less Than Zero” in the backyard of his house in a symbolic attempt to bury his decadent 1980s Brat Pack image and begin a new phase of his life and career after filming Chaplin.

When Robert Downey Jr. was on the set of the Avengers he would hide food on the sets. Nobody was ever able to find it so they let him continue to do it. The scene where he is eating blueberries is unscripted and part of the collection of food that he hid.

Before his sobriety, Robert Downey Jr. was once pulled over for speeding, but the officers quickly discovered Downey was naked and hallucinating allegedly throwing imaginary rats at the officers on the scene. On another occasion, Downey was discovered curled up in the fetal position behind a grungy Los Angeles hotel.

Robert Downey Jr. only got clean because his girlfriend (now wife) Susan Downey Jr. saw him on drugs, then gave him an ultimatum of quitting or losing her. He stopped at a Burger King on the coast and threw his drugs in the ocean. She is now known around Hollywood as “the Miracle That Saved Robert Downey.”

Robert Downey Jr.’s first acting role in the film Pound was as a puppy which was directed by his father, Robert Downey Sr.

Robert Downey Jr. made a documentary “The Last Party” in 1993 where he interviews, among others, Bill Clinton.

Robert Downey Jr. pissed in jars and left them lying around the set of “Zodiac” to protest not having enough time to go to his trailer and relax.

Robert Downey Jr. was cast as Lex Luthor in Superman: Flyby, a Superman reboot written by J.J. Abrams that was never made.

Robert Downey Jr was in a 1985 movie called “Tuff Turf”. At 30:52 of the movie it predicts (by 27 years) his biggest role with a spray paint tag on the wall of: “THE NEW AVENGERS”.

Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Tony Stark in the Iron Man movie series was directly inspired by and based on Elon Musk.