Unexpected and interesting facts about the most popular cities in the world (10 photos)

I decided to search the Internet for something interesting about different cities of the world. And I came across some unexpected facts. Of course, you already know some of this, and I knew some of it myself, but some things are surprising. I suggest you go on a little "trip" and learn a little more about different popular cities. I'm sure some things will surprise you.

New York: secret stations and sunny corridors

New York is not only the Big Apple and the 24-hour subway. In its depths there is the City Hall subway station, closed to ordinary passengers, opened in 1904. Its vaulted ceilings, colored stained glass windows and luxurious tiles remind us that the subway was once not just a means of transport, but a real work of art. Another city highlight is "Manhattanhenge". Several times a year, the setting sun lines up perfectly with the city streets, and then the rays of the sunset cut through the blocks, as if created especially for this celestial show.





Sydney: Opera "sails" made of an invisible mosaic blanket

Sydney is famous for its opera house in the form of snow-white sails. But few people know that these "sails" are covered with more than a million Swedish ceramic tiles 2x2 cm, each of which is slightly different in shade. Thanks to this sophisticated selection of shades, the surface reflects the sun, creating a unique play of light. Another oddity: in the coastal areas of the city, it is easy to see cockatoos walking on balconies and rooftops, as if this were their native tropical jungle, and not the urban center of Australia.



Berlin: More Bridges Than Venice, and a Ghostly Amusement Park

Berlin boasts a large number of bridges - about 960, which is more than the famous Venice. But there is an even more unusual attraction: the abandoned amusement park "Spreepark". It still has old carousels, rusty Ferris wheels and plastic dinosaurs covered in moss. This ghostly atmosphere reminds us that Berlin is not only a city of cultural events and museums, but also a place where the boundaries between past and present, reality and surrealism are erased.





London: Tiny Police and Crow Tenants

London is famous for the Tower, Westminster and Big Ben, but few people know about the smallest police station in the world. This tiny “law enforcement office” is hidden in a lamppost in Trafalgar Square! It appeared in the 1920s to discreetly monitor protesters. There are also ravens in the Tower, and their presence is not just an old legend. The birds are looked after by a special employee, the ravenmaster. According to legend, if the ravens leave the Tower, Britain will collapse. So the feathered "tenants" are quite

comfortable here.



Tokyo: Universal Vending Machines and an Earthquake Cactus

In Tokyo, in addition to futuristic skyscrapers, you can encounter truly exotic phenomena. Firstly, there are vending machines almost at every step - there are over 5 million of them in the city! From hot noodles to bouquets of fresh flowers - you can find everything. And in some offices, special structures have been installed that look like a huge metal "cactus". These structures are clever damping systems that reduce vibrations during earthquakes, which helps skyscrapers to stand despite tremors.



San Francisco: Parrot Flocks and the Random Color of the Golden Gate

San Francisco is known for its Golden Gate Bridge, but who would have thought that this bright orange-red color is just a happy coincidence! The bridge parts arrived covered with a protective primer of a bright shade. The engineers liked it so much that they decided to preserve this color, which later became a legend. The city is also home to a flock of wild parrots - "Telegraph Hill parrots" who escaped from domestic cages and adapted to the local climate. Now they amuse the residents with their exotic twittering.



Rome: ancient sea battles right in the city center

Rome is famous for the Colosseum and ancient ruins, but few people remember that in the first centuries of its existence, the amphitheater of the Colosseum was filled with water to simulate naval battles. Imagine: in the very heart of the Eternal City, "sea" battles thundered, with ships and gladiators fighting on artificial waves. And under the modern street Via dei Coronaari, archaeologists sometimes find ancient parts of Roman villas. The city literally consists of historical layers, where under the foundations of buildings you can find ancient columns and statues.



Moscow: Underground Legends and the Soviet Arcade Museum

Moscow is famous for its luxurious subway, but there are rumors about a secret metro line - "Metro-2", allegedly created for high-ranking officials. No one officially confirms it, but the legends live on. And in the capital there is also the Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines, where you can plunge into the world of archaic entertainment, throw a coin into the slot and try to win in "Sea Battle" or "Sniper". This is not just a museum, but a journey through time, immersion in the atmosphere of the USSR with all its naive technological wonders.



Paris: the underground city of the dead and the tube mail for letters

Paris captivates with its romance, but not all of its secrets lie on the surface. Kilometers of catacombs stretch under the city, where the remains of about 6 million people rest. In the 18th century, overcrowded cemeteries were moved underground, forming an eerie underground labyrinth. Another curious fact: before the advent of e-mail, Paris was entangled in a network of pneumatic mail - special tubes under the city delivered envelopes using compressed air. The age of "tube mail" has long passed, but the idea itself looks very "retrofuturistic".



Los Angeles: Oil Derricks Against the Backdrop of Hollywood Sets

Los Angeles is known for Hollywood and endless beaches, but this city hides one unusual feature: working oil derricks are hidden among the noisy streets. They are disguised as buildings, towers, and even churches so as not to spoil the view. And the old name of Los Angeles sounds like "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula" - a real linguistic "marathon". In addition, the famous inscription "HOLLYWOOD" was originally an advertisement for the residential complex "HOLLYWOODLAND". The last four letters were removed, and today it is the main symbol of the American film industry.