M A K I N • C H EN
Y T
VA LLE Y OF DEATH
X T H E A DV E N T UR
IF YO U CO UL D GA I N A C C E SS TO AN Y W HERE I N TH E WO R L D , W HERE W O UL D YO U C H O OSE ?
O U S K I D’ S G U I D E TO
Hop on the magic carpet and fly across the globe to discover the secrets of places that you never thought you would be able to visit, from Area 51 in the dusty deserts of Nevada to the Vatican’s secret archives, said to be filled with centuries of knowledge.
THE WORLD’S MOST MYSTERIOUS PLACES
Explore 19 off-limits locations on this adventure through natural wonders, historic sites, and cultural curios, and learn everything there is to know about the places that everyone has heard of, but very few have seen!
AR EA 51
H E A DV E N T U R OUS KID ’ S G U I D E TO
THE
WORLD ’S MOST
MYSTERIOUS PLACES
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
abramsyoungreaders.com @abramskids U.S. $24.99 Can. $31.99 ISBN 978-1-4197-5159-2
ISBN 978-1-4197-5159-2
9 781419 751592
52499
WRITTEN BY
PAT RI C K MA KI N
ILLUSTRATED BY
WHOOL I CHE N
AT R E T N E WN O R U O Y RISK!
T
Y H E A DV E N T U R O
THE
U S K I D ' S G U I D E TO
WORLD ’S MOST
MYSTERIOUS PLACES
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book. WRITTEN BY
PAT R IC K MA KI N ILLUSTRATED BY
WH OO L I C H E N
N E W YO R K
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO? The world is more mysterious than you think. In this age of information and exploration, the world may seem more accessible than ever . . . but some places remain off-limits, no matter how hard you try to get there. Some are physically impossible to reach. Others are too dangerous to visit, while others still contain mysteries so secret that they’re hidden from the world. And the location of some of the most tantalizing places of all are lost and have been consigned to history . . . until now. With your magic carpet, you are able to fly to Earth’s remotest corners, discover sights unseen for hundreds of years, and explore the truth behind its most enigmatic sites.
Just be sure to bring your sense of wonder with you.
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NOTE TO READERS:
The material contained in this book is presented only for informational and artistic purposes. The activities discussed in this book may be potentially hazardous or dangerous. We do not advise readers to attempt to visit any of the places featured herein. The author and publisher do not accept liability for any accidents, injuries, loss, legal consequences, or incidental or consequential damage incurred by any reader in reliance on the information or advice provided in this book.
CONTENTS BOUVET ISLAND IV ARENAL VOLCANO 5 THE EMPEROR’S TOMB 8 POVEGLIA 12 THE LASCAUX CAVE 16 AREA 51 20
MARIANA TRENCH 41 AIR FORCE ONE 45 HASHIMA ISLAND 48 CATACOMBS OF PARIS 52 SIX FLAGS 56
VALLEY OF DEATH 60 THE QUEEN’S This isBEDROOM an advance, uncorrected proof. 25 Not for resale, duplication, or THE SVALBARD reposting. Please do not quote without GLOBAL SEED VAULT SNAKE ISLAND comparison to the65finished book. 29 VATICAN “SECRET” ARCHIVES 33
THE AMBER ROOM 68
TOMB OF GENGHIS KHAN 37
SURTSEY ISLAND 73 FURTHER INFORMATION 76
BOUVET ISLAND
- South Atlantic Ocean THE REMOTEST PLACE ON EARTH There are many reasons why Bouvet Island doesn’t receive many visitors. For one thing, the island is just under 19 square miles of uninhabited ice sitting on a volcano in the middle of the freezing South Atlantic Ocean. Then there’s the fact that it is surrounded by steep cliffs and some of the roughest seas on the planet. A scientific research station located here was also destroyed in an earthquake in 2006. But the main reason not very many people visit is because Bouvet Island is the remotest island on the planet . . . Not an easy trip—even if you have a magic carpet to get there! This is an advance, uncorrected proof.
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iv
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1
DIVERSE WILDLIFE
Although uninhabited by humans, Bouvet Island is home to plenty of wildlife, including albatrosses, snow petrels, fur seals, and hundreds of chinstrap and macaroni penguins. Since 1971, the island and its surrounding waters have been classified as a nature reserve.
THE FIRST VOYAGE
The island was first spotted by the French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charles This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Bouvet de Lozier during an Antarctic Not for resale, duplication,expedition or in 1739. The voyage was so demanding that most of the crew fell reposting. Please do not quote without ill, and, with dwindling supplies, Jeancomparison to the finished book. Baptiste had to call off the expedition before he could set foot on land. Worse still, the wrong coordinates were noted down—meaning no one could find it again for another 69 years!
AQUATIC LIFE
Lucky visitors to the island can see orcas (also known as killer whales) and humpback whales swimming close to its shores.
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HUMAN CONTACT
No one lives on Bouvet Island because the conditions are too harsh to support human life. One of the few explorations of the island, in 1964, came across a whaler’s lifeboat washed up on the shore of its jagged coastline. The boat still contained supplies, but no other signs of life were found.
TOTAL ISOLATION
Bouvet Island lies over 1,000 miles away from the nearest landmass—Antarctica—and approximately 1,400 miles from the nearest inhabited land mass, Tristan da Cunha . . . which is itself another of the remotest islands in the world.
FLYING THE FLAG
Since 1930, Bouvet Island has been owned by Norway, which is more proof. than 8,000 miles away.
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In Norwegian, the island is called Bouvetøya, in honor of Jean-Baptiste.
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4
ARENAL VOLCANO
- Alajuela Province, Costa Rica THE FORBIDDEN RAINFOREST
Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano might currently but visitors still aren’t allowed This be is dormant an advance, uncorrected proof. anywhere close to its crater. Despiteor looking Not for resale, duplication,
like a paradise for wildlife, a quick glance down reposting. Please do not quote without to the rainforest below will reveal vents releasing comparison to the finished book. 392°F gases and jagged paths left by tumbling rocks as big as houses! Be prepared to make a quick getaway: Just because Arenal is dormant now, that doesn’t mean things can’t suddenly change. In 1968, after 400 years of inactivity, the volcano erupted without warning and completely destroyed three villages, leaving a trail of havoc in its wake.
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CHAIN REACTION
Arenal was once considered one of the top ten most active volcanoes in the world—erupting an average of 41 times a day. It is located in the Central American Volcanic Arc— sometimes called CAVA — which is a chain of volcanoes between Guatemala and northern Panama.
STATES OF BEING
Since 2010, Arenal has been considered dormant. Volcanoes can be in one of three states: active (shows regular activity), dormant (has erupted in the past but is now quiet), or extinct (has not erupted in our historical time).
A SUDDEN This isAWAKENING an advance, uncorrected proof.
Before the 1900s, Arenal wasresale, thought toduplication, or Not for be extinct. But then in 1968, reposting. Please do not quote without it suddenly erupted, flinging comparison to finished book. giant rocks over halfthe a mile from its crater and covering 5.5 square miles of land with ash and lava. Three villages were destroyed, 87 people were killed, and livestock and crops were lost.
YOUNG AND OLD
At less than 7,500 years old, Arenal is considered to be quite a young dormant volcano. In comparison, the oldest active volcano in the world, Mount Etna in Italy, is more than 500,000 years old—and is thought to have erupted more than 200 times!
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DEADLY VENOM
The highly venomous Bothrops asper is just one of several species of snake found in the foothills of the volcano. Able to grow up to 8.2 feet in length, a bite from this deadly snake can lead to gangrene—or worse. So keep your feet tucked up on your magic carpet as you explore!
BIRD'S EYE VIEW
Despite its fiery reputation, the national park containing the Arenal Volcano is home to plenty of wildlife. More than 500 species of birds are found here, including toucans and hummingbirds.
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THE EMPEROR’S TOMB - Xi'an, China -
THE TOMB GUARDED BY AN ARMY Imagine setting out to dig a well, only to stumble across an army of life-size terra-cotta soldiers! That’s what happened in 1974, when farmers uncovered the archaeological find of the century—the burial site of the first Chinese emperor, Qin Shi Huang, who died in 210 BCE. The mausoleum is “protected” by around 8,000 life-size clay warriors—the TerraCotta Army—each with unique facial expressions and positioned according to their rank. In the center of it all, buried beneath a huge 83-yard mound, is the tomb of Qin Shi Huang. No one has entered the tomb for This is an advance, uncorrected more than 2,000 years . . . Will you dare to be the first?
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9
THE FIRST DYNASTY
In 221 BCE, ruler of Qin state Qin Shi Huang conquered six states at war to create the first unified nation of China and became its first emperor. He died 11 years later, in 210 BCE.
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AN ENTIRE ARMY
According to archaeologists, the Terra-Cotta Army was built to accompany Qin Shi Huang into the afterlife and protect him thereafter. The garrison consisted of an estimated 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots, and 650 horses.
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PIECE BY PIECE THE ELIXIR OF LIFE
It is thought that the tomb itself could contain a three dimensional map of China with lakes and rivers of liquid mercury, which the ancient Chinese believed could help one live forever. Qin Shi Huang did everything he could to find the elixir of life and achieve immortality, but not even the first emperor of China could outrun death.
It is said that more than 700,000 laborers worked on the army. Individual parts of the body were constructed in workshops before being sealed together with a substance called lute. Craftsmen were responsible for creating individual facial features. Finally, each figure was placed in a precise location, depending on its rank and role.
ETERNAL ENTERTAINERS
Not all the figures are soldiers. Pits dug around the tomb have revealed clay dancers, musicians, and acrobats—all full of life and mid-performance. Each figure is said to have its own unique facial expression and was once brightly painted, before the colors faded over time.
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EXCAVATION AND PRESERVATION
Archaeologists don’t want to open the tomb of Qin Shi Huang until the technology is advanced enough to preserve everything they might find inside. It is possible that the tomb will never be excavated because the Chinese government may choose to respect the burial rites of their first emperor.
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POVEGLIA - Venice, Italy THE HAUNTED ISLAND Venice is known as one of the most romantic places on Earth. But as you soar through the sky above Venice’s lagoon, you’ll discover a different story on Poveglia. In the late 1700s, this small uninhabited island was used as a place to confine— and then bury—people dying from the plague. The buildings were then converted into a psychiatric hospital, and Poveglia has been closed to visitors since the hospital shut down, in 1968. Today, the “Island of No Return” has a reputation as one of the most haunted places in Italy.
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13
ONE-WAY TICKET
The island first became a quarantine station for people with the plague in 1793. It was used as a hospital for anyone believed to be ill with the disease, so the healthy could be separated from the sick. If you were taken to Poveglia, the chances of you leaving were very slim. Over 100,000 people were buried on the island.
THE DOCTOR
The psychiatric hospital was apparently This is an advance, uncorrected proof. run by a doctor who A SANCTUARY performed nightmarish or Not for resale, duplication, Originally, Poveglia experiments on his reposting. Pleasepatients. do not quote withouthosted Italians seeking However, his to escape invasions in comparison toreign thewasfinished book. nearby cities and towns cut short when he fell from the twelfthin 421 BCE. However, century bell tower and in 1379, Poveglia itself died. Legend says he was came under attack pushed by an evil spirit, from an enemy navy and some say that the and its inhabitants bell could still be heard were moved to tolling years after it had Giudecca—another been removed from the island in the Venetian tower altogether! Lagoon—leaving Poveglia deserted.
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NATURE RETURNS
The abandoned hospital still stands, despite the fact that it closed more than 50 years ago. The buildings are now covered in plants that grow up the crumbling walls and through the broken windows, slowly consuming the supposedly haunted structures.
A FANCY FUTURE
In recent years, the Italian government had been trying to sell the island, hoping that someone might turn the hospital into a This is an advance, uncorrected proof. luxury hotel, but no sale has been announced yet, despite Not for resale, duplication, or the fact that Venice is one of the most popular reposting. Please do not quote without tourist destinations in the world. Strange . . . book. comparison to the finished
CLOSE ENOUGH
Since it’s closed to visitors, Poveglia is the only place in the whole of the Venetian Lagoon that is not served by any public transportation. However, if you’re brave enough you can book a boat tour, which is the closest you can get to this eerie mass burial site.
VENDESI
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THE LASCAUX CAVE - Montignac, France WHERE TIME STANDS STILL Discovered by four teenage boys in 1940, the cave of Lascaux is famous for its incredible prehistoric artwork. The 6,000 painted figures, animals, and engravings are thought to be up to 20,000 years old and created by early humans. Steer a careful course through the cave’s passages—they are so fragile that they have been sealed off since 1963. By the lamplight, you’ll see the images are mainly of animals, including red deer, horses, bison, and creatures thatis have extinct for uncorrected hundreds of years. proof. This anbeen advance,
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MAN AND BEAST
The only image of a human in the cave shows a fight between a man and a bison in which the man appears to have been struck and the bison has been stabbed by a spear. Other paintings depict horses, ibex, lions, a bear, and an auroch (an extinct species of cattle last seen in 1627).
NOT-SO-FUN FUNGI
Opening the cave to the public caused the art inside to begin to fade and also led to the growth of fungi, bacteria, and crystals on the walls. This caused serious damage to the paintings. The cave was closed in 1963, but despite efforts to preserve the art, the fungi spread further into the cave. In 2009, 300 experts from around the world came together to find a solution and work on new ways to preserve the site continues to this day.
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY comparison to the finished The cavebook. was discovered on September 12, 1940, by 18-year-old Marcel Ravidat. He and his three friends discovered the cave just a few days after his dog, Robot, had fallen down a fox hole as they walked the hill of Lascaux. In 1979, the cave was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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THE NEXT BEST THING
Those without a magic carpet can visit Lascaux II, a perfect replica of the original cave. Opened in 1983, this replica cave is situated only 219 yards from the original.
ANCIENT VALLEY
The cave is close to an ancient town called Montignac, which is perched on the banks of the Vézère river. Another twenty-four decorated caves can be found in the Vézère valley . . . but none quite as impressive as Lascaux.
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book. ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY The artists that worked 20,000 years ago used different minerals to achieve the shades of color seen in the paintings: hematite was used for red and charcoal for black. They would have used their fingers, pieces of charcoal, or brushes made from hair to apply the pigments. Scientists think that they worked by the light of lamps, using animal fat as a fuel.
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AREA 51
- Nevada, United States THE MYSTERIOUS MILITARY BASE According to the U.S. government, Area 51 is a military base in Nevada where the U.S. Air Force tests top-secret combat aircraft. But is that true? As you silently soar through the desert night sky, see if you can spot anything. In 1989, Bob Lazar claimed that the U.S. government was keeping an alien spacecraft here, and that he saw a briefing document containing a photo of an alien. Since then, stories of alien visits, teleportation, and other strange activities have surfaced, which, of course, the U.S. government denies . . . But how can we be sure when Area 51 is off limits to the public and under twenty-four-hour guard?
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THE FIRST UFOs
Conspiracies first began to surface about alien aircraft in 1947 when a UFO (unidentified flying object) crashed into a ranch in the Roswell region of New Mexico. However, the U.S. military was quick to claim that the object was just a weather balloon.
MILITARY SECRETS
In 1955, according to the U.S. government, the area was chosen as a testing site for the Lockheed U-2, a new aircraft designed for highaltitude military observation (spying). But officials only admitted that Area 51 even existed almost 60 years later, in 2013. Why all the secrecy?
OUTRAGEOUSThis CLAIMS is an advance, uncorrected proof. What really put Area 51 in Not for resale, duplication, or the spotlight was a series of claims madereposting. by a man Please do not quote without called Robert “Bob” Lazar. He comparison to the finished book. stated that he had worked at S-4, a mysterious site near Area 51, where his job was to reverse-engineer flying saucers from space. Lazar was later said to be a fraud who lied about his employment at Area 51 and his entire education. But Lazar claimed the U.S. government had erased all of his records in an attempt to discredit his claims . . .
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SUPER JETS
UNEARTHLY SIGHTINGS
Area 51 lies within the Nevada Test and Training Range. Some of the planes tested at the site include the SR-71 Blackbird, with a top speed of more than 2,100 miles per hour. Foreign fighting planes recovered by the U.S. military were also tested on this site, as a way of better understanding the technology used by enemy forces.
Many people claim to have seen UFOs in the skies over Area 51. But could these UFOs have just been advanced aircrafts developed by the military? U-2Â planes were able to fly several thousand yards higher than commercial planes of the time, confusing many airplane pilots who saw them fly overhead.
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PARADISE RANCH
People working at Area 51 fly in and out of a special terminal at McCarran International Airport on unmarked planes. Area 51 has sometimes been referred to as Paradise Ranch— to make the place sound more attractive to people going to work there.
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THE QUEEN’S BEDROOM
- London, United Kingdom THE ROYAL RESIDENCE Every year, more than half a million people tour Buckingham Palace—the official London residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. But there’s one room that is strictly off limits: the Queen’s bedroom. Aside from her staff and family, no one knows exactly where her bedroom is and there are no official photos or descriptions of it. But we do know that Buckingham Palace is guarded by both the British Army and the Metropolitan Police, and that an armed guard sits outside her room all night—wearing slippers so as not to wake Her Majesty. So tread softly as you This is your an magic advance, uncorrected proof. disembark carpet here or you’ll wake the corgis!
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ROOM TO SPARE
There are 775 rooms in Buckingham Palace, including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms. And it should come as no surprise that the Palace has the largest private garden in London, covering nearly 40 acres.
UNINVITED GUEST
The only person who could give us a true description of the Queen’s bedroom is Michael Fagan, who famously broke into her room in 1982 after climbing up a drainpipe. This is one of two times he has managed uncorrected proof. to break in— duplication, or according to Fagan himself.
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THE PEOPLE'S PALACE
More than 50,000 people are received at the Palace each year as guests of state banquets, lunches, dinners, receptions, and garden parties. This helps to explain the 800 members of staff working within the Palace walls!
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QUEEN VICTORIA When she moved in, in 1837, Queen Victoria was the first monarch to use Buckingham Palace as her official residence. She made an appearance on the palace balcony in 1851, starting a tradition for all future royals.
LIFE OF LUXURY
Buckingham Palace also has its own chapel, post office, indoor swimming pool, staff cafeteria, doctor’s office, and cinema. However, its largest room is the ballroom, a 120-foot-long and 59-foot-wide masterpiece.
THE BFG This is an advance, uncorrected proof. In the book The BFG by Roald Dahl, Sophie Not for resale, duplication, or visits the Queen reposting. Please do not quote without and describes her comparison to the finished book. bedroom as a large and lovely room with a rich carpet, gilded chairs, a dressing table, and a bed. Despite being caught trespassing, Sophie is lucky enough to get an official invitation inside . . . unlike Michael Fagan!
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28
SNAKE ISLAND
- São Paulo, Brazil WHERE SNAKES RULE THE LAND There are some places in the world you can’t set foot and some places you wouldn’t want to . . . The island of Queimada Grande is both! Lying 20 miles off the coast of Brazil, it is closed to visitors for one very good reason: It’s covered in deadly snakes. Up to 4,000 of them live on this one tiny island—in the grass, in the bushes, and in the trees. And these aren’t just any snakes. The snakes here are golden lanceheads, one of the most venomous species of viper in the world. Just one bite can melt your flesh, so be careful not to fall off your magic carpet here . . .
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CLEVER HUNTERS
With few small mammals to hunt, the snakes mainly feed on two species of bird: the southern house wren and the tyrant flycatcher. Hiding in the trees, a snake waits for its prey—then strikes, injecting the bird with a venom that acts so quickly that it disables the bird before it can escape.
SSSSSSTATISTICS
According to studies, there could be as many as five snakes for every 10 square feet of island—or to put it another way, if the island’s rainforest was divided into soccer fields, there would be more than 60 snakes per field, and more than two snakes per player! This This ishas antheadvance, means that Snake Island largest concentration of venomous snakes Not for in resale, the world.
uncorrected proof. duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
FLESH-MELTING
The venom of the golden lancehead is said to be around five times more powerful than the venom of any other snake in South America. The venom is so potent that it can melt the skin around the bite as soon as the snake strikes.
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BITTER END
It is believed that the last people to live here—a lighthouse keeper and his family—all died from snake bites. Some stories say they were bitten as they tried to escape the island, while others suggest that the snakes slithered through an open window in the lighthouse. Either way, the island has now remained uninhabited for almost a hundred years.
SELECTION PRESSURE
The snakes became stranded on the island around 11,000 years ago when sea levels rose and the island was cut off from mainland Brazil. With only birds that are quick to fly away available as prey, the snakes evolved to produce a fast-acting venom. The result was a venom far stronger than that of any snake on the mainland.
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VATICAN “SECRET” ARCHIVES - Rome, Italy -
THE POPE'S PRIVATE COLLECTION Next to the Vatican Library is a place full of mystery, where centuries of secrets are kept away from public view. Housed within a heavily protected part of the Vatican are 35,000 volumes of historical papers sorted into 53 miles of shelving. Because of the secrecy surrounding these archives, there have been a number of theories about what might be hidden on its shelves. Some say they contain mysterious devices; others claim they hold documents with the date for the end of the world . . . Regardless, be on your guard as you peruse these shelves—only qualified scholars with very good reason for their research are allowed to enter these archives, and they can only view documents that are more than 75 years old. So if you get caught, you’d better think of a good explanation for being here!
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OUT-THERE THEORIES
One of the strangest theories that has been circulated about the Vatican Archives’ contents is that documents can be found there that prove the existence of extraterrestrial life—and that real-life aliens could actually be living within the archives’ fortress-like walls!
HIDDEN SECRETS
An Italian priest and scientist named Father Pellegrino Maria Ernetti allegedly created a device that many like to think is hidden in the archives. The chronovisor is said to reveal past and future events, and was created by Ernetti so that he could record evidence of Christ’s crucifixion.
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book. VISIONS OF HELL
Another document held in the archives is the third in the series of the Three Secrets of Fátima. This legendary series of “visions” was apparently given to three shepherds in Portugal by an apparition of the Virgin Mary. The first secret talked about Hell, and the second confirmed that the First World War would come to an end but that a second would follow. Rumors abound that a false version of the third secret was released by the Vatican in June 2000, but the Vatican disputes that any reference to apocalyptic revelations is being kept hidden.
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UNDERGROUND BUNKER
LETTERS OF NOTE
Aside from supposed aliens and terrible prophecies, the archives hold plenty of interesting records that we know to be real. This includes an almost 200-foot-long scroll detailing the trials of the Knights Templar, and a letter from Mary, Queen of Scots to Pope Sixtus V a few months before her execution. There is also a very angry letter demanding that Pope Clement VII allow King Henry VIII to cancel his marriage with Catherine of Aragon so that he could marry Anne Boleyn.
The archives have a reading room for those lucky enough to step inside its walls and boast an underground fireproof bunker to protect the most valuable and fragile documents.
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
The person to have first named the archives may have unintentionally drawn attention to it; the use of the word “secret” comes from the Latin word secretum, which actually means “private.” If it had been called the Vatican Private Archives, perhaps people would imagine a shelf of boring paperwork and would not be half so intrigued. In fact, in October 2019, the Pope issued a letter to change its official name to the Vatican Apostolic Archives.
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HOLY CITY
The home of the archives, Vatican City, is the smallest country in the world. But for such a small country, it has an enormous amount of cultural and religious influence, hosting some of the most important religious sites and artworks on the planet—such as St. Peter’s Basilica.
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TOMB OF GENGHIS KHAN - Unknown Location -
THE RESTING PLACE OF A LEGENDARY LEADER
This
Since Genghis Khan was one of the most famous and powerful rulers of all time, you might expect his funeral in 1227 to have been a is an advance, proof. memorable event. uncorrected But in fact, no one knows where
or howfor he was buried. duplication, Legend has it that or Genghis Khan Not resale, didn’t want anyone to know where he was laid to rest, so reposting. Please do not quote without the 2,000 people at his funeral were killed by hundreds comparison of soldiers, who to thenthe killedfinished themselves.book. The ground was then trampled by horses and a river was diverted over it to hide the tomb’s location. To this day, no one knows where the great leader is buried. So, unless you want to anger the spirit of Genghis Khan, it’s probably wise that you fly low and keep the location to yourself.
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EARLY YEARS
We don’t know much about Genghis Khan’s early life, as few people could read or write at the time, so nothing was recorded. There isn’t even a single reliable portrait of him. But we do know that he was born the son of a local tribal leader in around 1162, near Delüün Boldog in Dadal, and that his birth name was Temüjin. He wasn’t given the name Genghis Khan (which scholars think meant “universal ruler”) until he unified several tribes in 1206.
A POISONED CHILDHOOD Genghis KhanThis had a difficult is an advance, uncorrected proof. start to life. When he was just nine years old, a Not for resale, duplication, or rival tribe poisoned reposting. Please do not quote without his father, who was a tribal leader. His comparison to the finished book. father’s followers then abandoned Khan and his family, forcing them to survive on the Mongolian-Manchurian grasslands. Later, after being kidnapped and forced into slavery, he managed to escape and go on to amass an army of his own followers, allowing him to build a reputation as a ferocious warrior and leader.
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A GRAND EMPIRE
Genghis Khan is known for conquering much of Central Asia. He founded a world-famous empire that eventually became the largest unbroken land empire in history. By the time of his death, Khan ruled everything between the Pacific Ocean and the Caspian Sea . . . and one quarter of all the people on Earth!
MAGNIFICENT MARKSMEN
In order to keep Genghis Khan’s army well trained, a gorugen (meaning “great hunt“) was held each year. Each soldier was provided a single arrow, with which they would be expected to hunt an animal to contribute to the great feast that followed.
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WAR HORSES
At the heart of Genghis Khan’s army were 23,000 horsemen, each armed with composite bows and hand axes. Being mounted on horseback gave his warriors a huge advantage. They were well trained, fast, and, thanks to a clear chain of command, able to change tactics quickly, which allowed them to adapt to each battle situation.
MYSTERIOUS DEATH
No one knows exactly how Genghis Khan died. Some reports suggest an infected wound, others blame a fall from a horse, and some say it was murder. No matter what it was, no one can dispute that he’d built up a long list of enemies by the time he died!
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MARIANA TRENCH
- Western Pacific Ocean THE DEEPEST PLACE ON EARTH This
Many people have been to the highest place on Earth, but very few have been to the deepest: the isbottom an advance, uncorrected of the Mariana Trench. Getproof. ready for your
Not for duplication, ears to popresale, as you dive your carpet (andor submarine) down to the deepest point the Mariana up to 36,200 reposting. Please doofnot quoteTrench, without feet below seato level—more than 6,500 feet deeper than comparison the finished book. Mount Everest is tall! Down here, the pressure from all the water above is more than 1,000 times greater than at sea level, which is the equivalent of having 50 jumbo jets sitting on top of you. Unsurprisingly, only seven people have ever been down this far—making you the eighth!
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UNDER PRESSURE
The deepest spot in the Mariana Trench is called Challenger Deep. At more than 36,000 feet below sea level, it’s not surprising that so few have ventured this far down. One famous explorer of the trench, James Cameron, made the journey in a oneperson submersible with steel walls 2.5 inches thick to cope with the huge amount of pressure pushing in on them!
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Challenger Deep
EARLY EXPLORATION
The first manned trip to the Mariana Trench was in 1960. Lieutenant Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard ventured down in a vessel called a bathyscaphe for the U.S. Navy.
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MEASURING DOWN
The Mariana Trench stretches more than 1,500 miles, has an average width of 43 miles, and is crescent shaped.
AN UNDERWATER GRAVEYARD Mariana Trench
Because of the intense pressure, complete darkness, and nearfreezing temperatures— ranging from 33 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit—there are no fish on the ocean floor this far down. The sea bed is a yellowish color due to all the decaying vegetation and animals deposited there.
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LIFE IN THE DEEP
Although fish are unable to survive in the Mariana Trench, other sea life thrives within its waters. Giant amoebas more than 4 inches across have been discovered there, along with crustaceans and translucent sea snails!
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AIR FORCE ONE
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- Up in the sky THE PRESIDENT'S PLANE
Being the president of the United States has its benefits, and one of those is Air Force One. While the name “Air Force One� can refer to whatever plane the president happens to be traveling in, it usually refers to one of two very special Boeing 747-200B series aircraft that carry the tail codes 28000 and 29000. Since each plane is equipped with super-secure communication equipment and onboard electronics that are hardened against attack, they are perfect mobile command centers. And since they can refuel midair, they have an unlimited range too. All in all, they are almost as good as a magic carpet!
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A FAST FLYER
The current pair of planes are easily identified by their blue and white designs. Each plane is extremely fast—reaching speeds of over 693 miles per hour, which is close to the speed of sound!
AIR FORCE TWO If it is the vice president who is aboard instead, the plane is renamed Air Force Two.
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LONG-HAUL FLIGHT
Several cargo planes usually fly ahead of Air Force One to make sure the president has everything they need for a flight to a remote location.
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FULLY EQUIPPED
Air Force One has extra living quarters for those who accompany the president, as well as two food preparation galleys that can feed 100 people at a time. This is on top of a dining room and the president’s bedroom and bathroom.
ONBOARD TECHNOLOGY
The commander-in-chief has everything they need on board to run the country, including secure communications equipment able to encrypt and scramble messages. There’s also Wi-Fi, multifrequency radios, and 85 telephones! The plane This also has its own conference room.is an
advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book. THE FLYING DOCTOR A medical doctor attends every flight made by Air Force One. Inside the plane is a medical suite with its own operating table, two beds, and a full pharmacy, as well as resuscitation equipment in case anyone on board falls ill. If the president travels abroad, a full medical team (who have flown over in advance) awaits the president’s arrival there, ready to take over in any emergency.
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HASHIMA ISLAND
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. - Nagasaki, Japan -
Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without THE ABANDONED ISLAND comparison to the finished book.
Out at sea, 11 miles from the city of Nagasaki, is the abandoned Hashima Island, or Gunkanjima. Once a hub for undersea coal mines, it was one of the most densely populated places on Earth in the twentieth century. But today you’ll struggle to spot a single soul as you float above the island’s walls—the whole place now resembles a ghost town. It’s believed that many people died here from poor working and living conditions during the World War II. Even though tourists are able to visit a small section of the island today, more than 95 percent is deemed too dangerous to explore and is strictly off-limits. As time goes on, the buildings are slowly being swallowed up by nature and vegetation, making this creepy setting the perfect location for a horror film!
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BLACK GOLD
Hashima Island was once the site of a thriving coal-mining operation— for almost a century, from 1887, it was filled with workers. In 1959, the population reached its peak of 5,259 people. But when the petroleum industry replaced the use of coal in the 1960s, the population gradually declined until the island’s official closure in 1974.
A WORLD WONDER This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Hashima Island is now a Not for resale, duplication, or protected area and was made an official UNESCO World Heritage reposting. Please do not quote without site in 2015. This recognizes the comparison to the finished book. contribution it made to Japan’s Industrial Revolution from the 1850s onwards.
BUILT TO LAST
In 1916, a seven-floor apartment block was built for workers. It was the first large, reinforced concrete building in Japan and was built in a way that could withstand damage from a typhoon.
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THE BATTLESHIP The island has been given the name Gunkanjima, meaning “battleship island,” because its shape is similarlooking to the silhouette of a battleship.
A CLOSER LOOK
Those that dare can take a boat tour around the island and see the decaying apartment buildings up close. But because of the extreme weather around Hashima, the tour is only able to run for a limited number of days each year.
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. FADED GLORY Not for resale, duplication, or Hashima is known for its eerie atmosphere since its cramped reposting. Please do not quote without architecture—originally used to house the miners—is now overgrown comparison tothe the finished book. and slowly falling apart. Due to corrosion from seawater, buildings look particularly barren and even from the sea it’s easy to see how empty and spooky Hashima is . . . The island has such a unique look that it was used as a setting in the James Bond film Skyfall!
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CATACOMBS OF PARIS - Paris, France THE LABYRINTH OF BONES You might think twice about venturing into the catacombs of Paris when you discover that many who have attempted it in the past become irretrievably This proof. lostisinan theadvance, bony bowelsuncorrected of the city . . . Hidden beneath
resale, duplication, or of tunnels the Not streetsfor of France’s capital city, this labyrinth contains the bones of around six million people. Their remains reposting. Please do not quote without were moved here from surrounding cemeteries in the late comparison to the finished book. eighteenth century and are laid out in creepy burial chambers called ossuaries. The tunnels span more than 186 miles, but only a fraction of them are available to public tours. The rest of the catacombs are unmapped and closed off to the public in case people get lost . . . and some have!
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PURPOSE-BUILT
The tunnels were originally quarries that were dug for stone— but they were abandoned after major collapses of the ground in the mid-eighteenth century.
DECORATIVE DISPLAYS
In the main ossuary most of the bones are hidden behind a wall— a wall made of rows of leg bones alternating with rows of skulls. Workers arranged the bones in shapes, such as circles and hearts. The most well-known arrangement is called the barrel—a large pillar surrounded by neatly placed skulls and tibiae (the larger bone between the knee and ankle).
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or AN OVERCROWDED CITY Human remains were first transferred to reposting. Please do not quote without the tunnels in 1785, mainly from the Saintscomparison to the finished book. Innocents cemetery—the largest in Paris. At the time, Paris was growing quickly and the Parisians were running out of space to bury their dead. To stop the spread of disease, it was decided that the human remains needed to be moved elsewhere.
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A ROMAN NAMESAKE
The catacombs were named after the sixty-or-so ancient underground burial places found under the city of Rome.
GETTING LOST
SECRET SOCIETIES
All kinds of secretive activities have taken place in the catacombs over the centuries. In 2004, police ventured beyond a sign that said, “Building site: no access� and triggered a recording of guard dogs barking. They then discovered a huge 4,300-square-foot cave housing a full-size cinema, with amphitheater-style seating carved into the rock floor.
The catacombs were opened to the public in 1809 and became a huge draw . . . for the living and the dead. In 2017, two teenagers were rescued and treated for hypothermia after being lost in the catacombs for three days.
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SIX FLAGS
- Louisiana, United States THE TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION As we all know, the problem with most amusement parks is the time spent waiting in line. But at Six Flags in New Orleans there are no lines . . . Six Flags was closed
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. down after Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana in August 2005, Not duplication, and the parkfor wasresale, left flooded under more thanor 3 feet of water for a whole month. Now the is abandoned, reposting. Please doentire not 140-acre quotesite without and the park is patrolled by the New Orleans Police Department. comparison to the finished book. Meanwhile, the pirate ship, roller-coasters, Ferris wheel, and bumper cars turn to rust, and the only sound is the drone of the cicadas that have taken up residence . . . That, and the whoosh of your carpet as you glide by.
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THE BIG SCREEN
If you thought an abandoned park would make a great setting for a movie, you’d be right. Parts of Jurassic World and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters were filmed here. Don’t get any ideas, though: Entering the park is strictly prohibited unless you have special permission.
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FUTURE PLANS
Since the park closed, many people have come up with ideas for what to do with the space— including turning it into a shopping center or reopening it as a new theme park—but nothing has happened yet.
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NATURE TAKES OVER
Nature is gradually reclaiming the park, as plants—including trees—have begun to grow on some of the rides. Wild animals, such as boar, snakes, and even alligators, have also started to make the theme park their home.
JAZZLAND
The park first opened in 2000 under the name Jazzland, since New Orleans is widely regarded as the birthplace of jazz.
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NATURAL DISASTER
Katrina was one of the worst hurricanes in U.S. history, causing up to 160 billion U.S. dollars–worth of damage to property and the death of at least 1,800 people.
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VALLEY OF DEATH
- Kamchatka, RussiaTHE HAZARDOUS CANYON As you might expect from the name, there’s a very good reason why tourists aren’t allowed into Kamchatka’s Valley of Death . . . While guileless hikers might not spot much cause for concern at first in this remote volcanic gorge, they’ll soon discover that the air here is filled with invisible poisonous gases that can kill without warning. As one animal strays into the area and dies, so another one follows, all attracted by the chance of eating the one before. Bears, foxes, wolverines, eagles, and lynxes have all met their deaths here. So be sure to steer your magic carpet at a safe altitude . . .
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PREDATORS AND PREY
Due to the mix of gases here, animal carcasses take a long time to decay . . . and therefore a long time to stop attracting other animals. When the valley was discovered, over 200 carcasses of animals and birds were collected. Animals such as rodents and small birds were most common, but even animals as big as bears, foxes, and eagles were found in the Valley of Death.
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BOILING HOT
The Valley of Death measures approximately 6,500 by 1,600 feet. It lies at the foot of the Kikhpinych Volcano and 4 miles from the Valley of Geysers, which is an area with more than 40 geysers (springs that jet hot water).
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A CLOSE CALL
The deadly valley was only discovered in 1975 when vulcanologist V. L. Leonov stumbled across an area littered with animal corpses. A place nearby had previously been studied by geologists but the Valley of Death remained unknown. Even more worrying, the main part of the valley— known as the Main Death Ground (MDG)—was located less than 1,000 feet from a hikers’ rest stop!
POISONOUS FUMES
The reason this valley is deadly to anyone who enters it is due to a high concentration of dangerous gases, such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and carbon disulfide.
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. A SAFE VIEWPOINT Not for resale, duplication, or WARNING SIGNS Visitors without a magic reposting. Pleaseworking do not without If scientists in thequote area carpet can only view the experienceto headaches, overheating book. comparison the finished Valley of Death from the safety of a special observation deck, which has been built a safe distance away.
temples, dizziness, or general weakness, then they know to get out fast! Often, they will climb up in altitude to get some fresh air and will recover relatively quickly from the dangerous fumes.
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THE SVALBARD GLOBAL SEED VAULT
- Spitsbergen, Norway THE SEEDS OF SALVATION Everyone knows that animals can go extinct like the dinosaurs did, but what about plants? And, perhaps more importantly, what about the plants we eat? To make sure this doesn’t happen, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault has been created deep inside a mountain on a remote island, halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The vault currently holds backup seeds from more than a million different crop varieties, from all over the world. To make sure the seeds are kept safe, private visits inside the vault are not allowed. And though you might feel tired after flying your carpet such a distance to get here, be sure to stay alert to theuncorrected potential threat ofproof. polar bears as you approach! advance,
This is an Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
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SCORES OF SEEDS
Paid for by the Norwegian government, the vault first opened its doors in February 2008 and received deposits of over 320,000 different kinds of seeds in its first year. Whichever country deposits the seeds controls when their seeds can be taken out of the vault.
DEEP INSIDE
While the entrance may be visible, the vault itself is buried more than 328 feet inside the mountain, and 427 feet above sea level, to protect it from future rising tides.
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. NICE AND COLD The ice and thick Not for resale, duplication, or rock help a cooling reposting. Please do not quote without system keep the seed samples frozen—and comparison to the finished book.
protected for future use—at a temperature of –0.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
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A BUNKER FOR PLANTS
There are more than 1,700 gene banks around the world, but Svalbard is the back up for all of them in case of war, accident, equipment malfunction . . . The vault has been built to withstand any kind of natural or human-made disaster.
PLENTY OF ROOM
The vault can store 4.5 million varieties of crops and a maximum of 2.5 billion individual seeds. The vault currently holds close to a million samples, with varieties from all over the world. This makes it the most diverse collection of food crop seeds in the world.
FAR AWAY
Svalbard is the furthest distance to the north a person can fly on a commercial flight, so it is about as far away from the rest of the world as it is possible to be.
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THE AMBER ROOM - Unknown Location THE “EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD” Given as a gift to Peter the Great of Russia in 1716 and installed in the sumptuous Catherine Palace in 1755, the Amber Room is made almost entirely out of a see-through gemstone called—you guessed it— amber. Valued at up to $500 million, the Amber Room would be an amazing sight to behold . . . if anyone knew where to find it! When the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, they looted Catherine Palace and shipped the amber panels back to a castle in Germany—and that’s whereuncorrected the story ends. Despite This is an advance, proof. the many theories, nobody whatduplication, happened to the panels Not for knows resale, or after the end of the war . . . Perhaps all that’s needed to track reposting. Please do not quote without them down is a magic carpet and a bit of luck?
comparison to the finished book.
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HIDDEN TREASURE
This
During the Second World War, Nazi soldiers were famously tasked with finding priceless art and transporting it back to Germany. The Nazis were known for hiding is anvaluable advance, items in uncorrected very hard-to-reach proof. placesresale, and did notduplication, document where or Not for they were being kept.
reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
A FAILED PLOT
As the Nazi forces approached Catherine Palace, officials tried to hide the amber panels behind a layer of wallpaper—but the soldiers weren’t fooled. They tore down the Amber Room and packed it up into 27 crates to be shipped to Königsberg Castle in Germany, where it reportedly went on display for two years.
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NAZI PLUNDER
It’s thought that the Nazis looted around one in five of all the artworks in Europe, including famous works by old masters such as Raphael, Vermeer, and Michelangelo, as well as modern masterpieces by Van Gogh, Klimt, and Pissarro. Experts estimate that around 100,000 pieces are yet to be recovered, including objects in crystal and silver.
AMBER RESIN
Amber is actually fossilized tree resin and sometimes has small animals and plants encased in it— just like in Jurassic Park. Over six tons of amber were used to construct the Amber Room’s contents, such as its beautifully ornate paneling.
SUNKEN TREASURE
Many believe the panels were accidentally destroyed by the Soviet Army This is an advance, uncorrected proof. during a 1944 air raid on Königsberg Castle, while Not for resale, duplication, or others reported watching reposting. Please do not quotethewithout panels being loaded on a Nazi ship called the comparison to the finished board book. Wilhelm Gustloff, which was sunk by a Soviet submarine in 1945.
THE SECOND AMBER ROOM
A reconstruction of the room—also in amber—began in Catherine Palace in 1979. It finally opened to visitors in 2003.
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SURTSEY ISLAND
- Atlantic Ocean A PRISTINE ECOSYSTEM Ever wanted to go somewhere untouched by humans? Just 20 miles off the south coast of Iceland, Surtsey Island was formed by volcanic eruptions in the 1960s and has been kept free from human interference ever since. Would-be visitors are banned from going ashore, diving in the surrounding waters, disturbing the natural features, leaving waste, or introducing any organisms, minerals, or soils. The only people who are allowed on Surtsey are the very careful researchers studying how animals and plants colonize This is an advance, uncorrected proof. new land. Incredibly, 89 species of birds and 335 species of invertebrates already been recorded. Perhaps Not for have resale, duplication, or you should keep your carpet up in not the sky for this without final stop on reposting. Please do quote your journey—in case you become a new discovery!
comparison to the finished book.
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A NATURE HAVEN CLOSE CONTACT
The closest the average person can get to a good look at Surtsey (without getting in a huge amount of trouble!) is by looking out the window of a plane as it flies by the island.
The island is home to a whole host of animals, including seals, puffins, gulls, fulmars, and guillemots, as well as slugs, spiders, and beetles. Birds began to nest on the island three years after the eruptions ended and began to use plants to make nests. A colony of gulls has been seen on the island since 1984, while Atlantic puffins have only been nesting there since 2004.
THE GOD OF FIRE
There’s a good reason that
Surtsey was named after This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Surtur, a Norse god of fire. Not for resale, duplication, or It was formed from volcanic reposting. Please do not quote without eruptions that produced a of ash more than comparison to the finished book. column 5.5 miles high!
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A WONDER OF SCIENCE
Surtsey is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its great scientific value as a “pristine natural laboratory” that provides scientists with information about how plants and animals colonize new land.
GUANO FERTILIZER
The growth of the seabird population is very important as their poop—called guano— acts as an important fertilizer for any plants on the island. The first plant to grow on Surtsey sprouted in the spring of 1965. Moss started to appear in 1967, followed by the growth of lichens in 1970. Within the first 20 years of the island’s existence, 20 species of plants were identified.
ERODING AWAY
The undersea volcanic eruption that formed the island lasted from November 1963 to June 1967. Coastal erosion has already halved the size of the island, and it is predicted that it will remove another two-thirds of land before it begins to slow.
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Further information: AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Find out more about people, animals, and cultural artifacts around the world and through history. amnh.org
ATLAS OBSCURA
An online guide to the world’s hidden wonders. atlasobscura.com
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Discover what natural wonders can be found in your area. nps.gov
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Explore art, history, culture, and science through one of the world’s largest museums. si.edu
NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Learn about historic preservation across the United States. savingplaces.org
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST
Find out more about many of the locations in this book— and other protected places around the globe. whc.unesco.org
The illustrations were created in pen and ink and colored digitally. Set in Poster Brush, Ranga, and Zilla Sla. Library of Congress Control Number 2020939749 ISBN 978-1-4197-5159-2 Text copyright © 2021 Patrick Makin This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Illustrations copyright © 2021 Whooli Chen Bookor design by Nicola Price Not for resale, duplication, Edited by Jenny Broom © 2021 Magic Cat reposting. Please do not quoteCover without First published in the United Kingdom in 2020 by Magic Cat Publishing Ltd. First published in comparison to the finished book.
North America in 2021 by Magic Cat Publishing, an imprint of ABRAMS. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Printed and bound in China 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Abrams Books are available at special discounts when purchased in quantity for premiums and promotions as well as fundraising or educational use. Special editions can also be created to specification. For details, contact specialsales@abramsbooks.com or the address below.