Read about famous places
key notes :
Introduction to Famous Places
- Famous places are well-known locations around the world.
- They can be natural wonders, historical sites, or modern landmarks.
Types of Famous Places
- Natural Wonders: Grand Canyon, Mount Everest, Niagara Falls.
- Historical Sites: Great Wall of China, Pyramids of Egypt, Taj Mahal.
- Modern Landmarks: Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Burj Khalifa.
Why These Places Are Important
- They have historical, cultural, or natural significance.
- Some places are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- They attract tourists from all over the world.
Interesting Facts About Famous Places
- The Great Wall of China is over 13,000 miles long.
- The Eiffel Tower was originally built as a temporary structure.
- The Amazon Rainforest is called the “lungs of the Earth.”
Learn with an example
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The Tower of Hercules
The Tower of Hercules is one of the oldest working lighthouses in the world today. It was built by the Romans nearly two thousand years ago. The lighthouse was named after the hero Hercules from Greek mythology. Just as a hero protects people, the lighthouse was built to keep people safe. The lighthouse has done this in different ways over the years.
When the lighthouse was first built, it protected passing ships. The Tower of Hercules sits on the northern coast of Spain. The coast was dangerous since it had so many rocks. The lighthouse would shine its light into the nearby water, helping the Roman ships steer away from the rocks.
Between 800 and 1200, the Tower of Hercules was not used as a lighthouse. It was used as a castle instead. The tower provided safety for soldiers in the area. It also allowed the soldiers to see armies and navies that were approaching. This helped the soldiers protect people in nearby lands from attacks.
It wasn’t until the late 1700s that the tower became a lighthouse again. The Duke of Uceda ordered the tower to be restored. The tower had been badly damaged over time, and the duke wanted the damage to be fixed. Under his order, a new staircase was built inside the tower. The staircase allowed people to once again reach the top of the tower. Two new lights were placed in the top of the tower to light the way for ships. In the early 1900s, the lights were replaced with electric ones. These lights still shine in the tower today.
💦 What is the text about?
- It is about the different kinds of ships that pass by the Tower of Hercules each year.
- It is about how long it took the Romans to build the Tower of Hercules.
- It is about how the Tower of Hercules has been used over time.
The text says that the tower kept people safe in different ways over the years. For example, the text says that at first, the tower kept ships from hitting rocks. The text then says that later, the tower was used to protect people from attacks. Finally, the text says that the tower became a lighthouse again in the late 1700s.
So, the text is about how the Tower of Hercules has been used over time.
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Caves of Wonder
The Waitomo Caves are one of the most famous places to visit in New Zealand. Each year, around half a million people visit the caves. Why do so many people visit these caves? It’s because they are so different from other caves around the world.
From bat dens in the United States to sinkholes in Australia, caves are usually dark places. The Waitomo Caves don’t follow this rule, though. The Waitomo Caves are lit up by thousands of small insects that glow in the dark. These glow-worms line the cave walls and ceiling, filling the caves with a soft blue-green light. Because of this light, people can see the beautiful rock formations throughout the caves.
The glow-worms that line the cave are not actually worms—they’re baby flies. The baby flies begin glowing bright blue soon after they hatch from eggs in the cave. They use this light to attract other insects that are lost in the cave. When the lost insects see the light, they go towards it. Then the glow-worms can catch the insects and eat them. And when the glow-worms are very hungry, they can shine their lights even brighter to catch even more insects.
The glow-worms have made the Waitomo Caves a must-see stop on any holiday in New Zealand. You can hike through the caves or take a slow-moving boat ride through them. The natural glow of the caves shows how magical nature can be. If you’re ever in New Zealand, you may want to check these caves out!
💦 What is the text about?
- It is about different kinds of plants that you can find in caves.
- It is about bats that live in caves around the world.
- It is about insects that glow in the dark in the Waitomo Caves.
The text says that the Waitomo Caves are unlike other caves around the world. It says the caves are lit up by thousands of small insects that glow in the dark. Then, the text talks about why the insects, called glow-worms, glow in the dark.
So, the text is about insects that glow in the dark in the Waitomo Caves.
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Taos Pueblo
Taos Pueblo is a village near the town of Taos, in the American state of New Mexico. People have had homes in the village for over one thousand years. In fact, the village has been inhabited longer than any other place in the United States. Taos Pueblo became a village nearly six hundred years before English settlers arrived in America.
Taos Pueblo is home to the Red Willow people. These indigenous people have lived in the area since the village was first set up. In some ways, Taos Pueblo has not changed much over the years. For example, the reddish-brown houses of Taos Pueblo are still made out of adobe. Adobe buildings use bricks made from earth, straw and water. Electricity and running water are also still not allowed inside the village.
A wall surrounds the oldest parts of the village. The area inside the wall is still used for important meetings and events for the tribe. The wall helps to protect the old buildings of the village and honour the village’s history.
Taos Pueblo is open to visitors who want to learn about the village’s history. The village is listed as a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can see pottery, silver artwork and leather goods made by tribe members. A visit to Taos Pueblo shows the past and the present of the Red Willow people.
💦 What is the text about?
- It is about how the Red Willow people use adobe to make buildings in Taos Pueblo.
- It is about how the English set up a colony in a village called Taos Pueblo.
- It is about how the village of Taos Pueblo today is like it was in the past
The text says that the village of Taos Pueblo hasn’t changed much over the years. It says that buildings in the village today are still made out of adobe as they were in the past. The text also says that there is still no electricity and running water in the village.
So, the text is about how Taos Pueblo today is like it was in the past.
let’s practice!
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A Ghost Island
Sandy Island was first discovered by a whaling ship in 1876. It was found in the Coral Sea, off the east coast of Australia. Soon after that, many maps and sailing charts included Sandy Island. These maps and charts helped traders and explorers navigate the waters. The problem is that no one today can actually find Sandy Island.
The puzzling story of Sandy Island was brought to the world’s attention by scientist Maria Seton. In 2012, she was leading a team of researchers through the Coral Sea. They were collecting samples of rocks from the ocean floor. Her maps showed that her ship should have been right next to Sandy Island. However, there was no land in sight. Seton was looking at maps made by experts. How could so many maps be wrong?
Seton tried to figure out the puzzle. Her work led to an idea for how the island first came to be on maps. The Coral Sea has some underwater volcanoes. When lava bursts from the ocean floor, it can create large floating rocks. Over time, these enormous rocks break apart and disappear. But sometimes, they can float for several years before disappearing. Floating rocks have been spotted in the area where Sandy Island supposedly stood. So, sailors on early ships may have mistaken the rocks for an island. This could explain why the island first appeared on maps.
Still, until 2012, many major maps had Sandy Island existing as surely as Australia. It took one ocean researcher to make the puzzle of Sandy Island widely known. Maria Seton’s discovery shows us that, even today, the ocean still has plenty of mysteries.