FAKE NEWS & CONSPIRACY THEORIES
C O N S P I R AC Y H O T S P O T S F O R T H O S E WHO MARVEL IN THE UNKNOWN WORDS BY SOPHIE OLVER IMAGE BY GLENN CARSTENS-PETERS ON UNSPLASH Our planet is home to many spectacular and mysterious constructions and places, some ahead of their time, others too complex for explanation. Rather than your average holiday, why not take an adventure to a conspiracy hotspot? Whether you’re a conspiracy theorist, or just intrigued into how anyone could ever believe these theories, check out these eight destinations that marvel in the unknown. Pyramids of Giza, Egypt Over 4,500 years old and located in Giza, Egypt’s famous pyramids rise from the desert as monumental tombs for ancient pharaohs and queens. Made up of millions of precisely placed sculpted stones, weighing at least two tons each, many wonder how these magnificent structures were built. Searching for an explanation, some turn to aliens, others to time travel or levitation; the speed of light and the geographic coordinates for the Great Pyramid align. Although these tombs were constructed by the many hands of an advanced civilisation, why not explore the endless conspiracy of these immense wonders yourself? Nazca Lines, Peru Believed to be around two millennia old and over eighthundred miles long when combined, these white lines, accompanied by three-hundred geometric shapes and seventy animal and plant figures, including a spider and hummingbird, are randomly etched into the Peruvian desert, 250 miles from Lima. Although local museums explain how the ancient pre-Inca people carved these geoglyphs, because of their age, size and precision, many believe that aliens drew them. Exactly why they were made is unknown; some say they aligned with constellations, others with ritual sites related to water and fertility. Take a flight, climb the nearby observation tower, or hike up surrounding foothills to view these worthwhile phenomena. 30
Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany Ingolstadt in Bavaria is known for its Audi Forum and classic cars museum, but unknown to the typical tourist is the city’s relation to the Illuminati. In 1776, university professor Adam Weishaupt founded the secret society to oppose religious influences on society and foster a space for free speech, yet within a decade Bavarian authorities shut it down. Since then, the Illuminati has become fuel for the world’s greatest conspiracies, and many still believe that Ingolstadt remains a topsecret meeting place for powerful Illuminati members, including Beyoncé and Madonna. Ingolstadt is a perfect destination for true conspiracy theorists. Area 51, Nevada, USA Area 51 in the Nevada desert is a United States Airforce facility situated eighty-three miles north of Las Vegas. Yet, the site’s secretive nature has led some to believe that Area 51 is researching and experimenting on aliens and their spacecraft. Although Area 51 is permanently closed to the public, drive down the Extra-Terrestrial Highway and visit the nearby town of Rachel to immerse yourself in extra-terrestrial discussion with the local community. Tour guides will take you to lookout points where you can get an aerial glimpse inside the base, watch parties stake out for UFO sightings, and there are plenty of alien-themed outposts. Stonehenge, Salisbury, UK Constructed around five-thousand years ago, Stonehenge is England’s famous stone monument, yet how the stones, each averaging at thirteen feet tall and twenty-five tons, arrived there is a mystery. In the Middle Ages, myths arose that a giant brought the stones from Africa to Ireland, and then using magic the wizard Merlin transported the stones to Salisbury. More recently, however, some people FAKE NEWS
