10 Most Mysterious Monuments of the World

Monumental Instructions for the Post-Apocalypse

On a barren knoll in northeastern Georgia stands one of the world’s most bizarre and mysterious monuments. But it wasn’t created during ancient times. Known as the ‘Georgia Guidestones’, this stone structure of five 16-feet-tall, 20-ton slabs of polished granite is inscribed in eight languages.

Lake Michigan Stonehenge

Researchers got quite a surprised when they found what appears to be an ancient Stonehenge-like structure 40 feet beneath the surface of the water in Lake Michigan.

Underwater Ruins in Japan

On the southern coast of Yonaguni, Japan, lie submerged ruins estimated to be around 8,000 years old. It was discovered in 1995 by a sport diver who strayed too far off the Okinawa shore with a camera in hand.

Submerged Wonders of Alexandria, Egypt

Off the shores of Alexandria, the city of Alexander the Great, lie what are believed to be the ruins of the royal quarters of Cleopatra. It is believed that earthquakes over 1,500 years ago were responsible for casting this into the sea, along with artifacts, statues and other parts of Cleopatra’s palace.

The Mysterious Stones of Baalbek

The largest Roman temple ever constructed stands in ruins not in Greece or Rome, but in Baalbek, Lebanon. No one knows what made this site so special to the Romans, prompting them to quarry, move and assemble so many stone blocks.

Easter Island

Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, is most famous for its monumental statues which were created by the Rapanui people. The heaviest moai erected weighs 86 tons, illustrating how great a feat it was for the Rapanui to have created and moved them.

Stonehenge

Perhaps the world’s best known monument is Stonehenge, located in the English county of Wiltshire. Though theories and speculation abound, no one knows what the original purpose of the prehistoric monument was and it remains one of the earth’s greatest mysteries.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is the most well-preserved city of the Inca Empire, hidden in the Peruvian Andes high on a steep mountain with a flattened top.

Great Zimbabwe Ruins

Few people know that the modern-day African country of Zimbabwe was actually named after stone ruins that lie all over the countryside. The ‘Great Zimbabwe Ruins’ are some of the oldest and largest structures located in Southern Africa.

Peru’s Chavín de Huantar Ruins

While not as famous as the ruins at Machu Picchu, the Chavín de Huantar Ruins of Peru are also a fascinating World Heritage. It’s unclear why the Chavín culture disappeared, though some believe that the Chavín de Huantar ruins offer clues as to why some civilizations vanish.