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AFRICA
| Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou The Ksar, a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls, is a traditional pre-Saharan habitat. Ait-Ben-Haddou is a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco. |
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Luxor Temple: Avenue of Sphinxes The Avenue of Sphinxes at the entrance to the temple. These sphinxes have human heads, whereas the ones at Karnak (the other end of the original avenue) have a rams head. A mosque can be seen in the background. |
| Chapman's Peak Drive This 10 km drive is cut into the side of sheer mountain walls, between layers of brilliantly coloured sedimentary rock. There are great views over Chapman's Bay and back to the Sentinel and Hout Bay. It is one of the great scenic drives in the world. |
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Kilimanjaro is, of course, the highest and most famous mountain in Africa. A massive dormant volcano, it rises isolated from east African savannas teeming with wildlife. No other mountain in the world rises so high so alone, with no range of other peaks for support. Kilimanjaro has two principal summits: Kibo, the highest, is a high, rounded crater rim, with Uhuru Point on the rim the highest point in Africa. Mawenzi (16,893'/5149m) is a subsidiary cone to the east and the third highest peak in Africa, after Kibo and Mt. Kenya. The mountain's famous equatorial snows are found mostly on the highest slopes of Kibo, and there is very little glaciation due to the dryness of the climate. |
| Luxor Temple Temple of Luxor, like that of Karnak, was built by a succession of Pharaohs. The Temple of Luxor was built mainly by Amenhotep III and Ramses II, although Akhenaten and Tutankhamun contributed to the complex. After the death of Tutankhamun, Horemheb destroyed almost all the inscriptions that carried his name. It is believed that Horemheb did this to please the priests of Amun who associated Tutankhamun with Akhenaten, the heretic king. |
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Marabout, Atlas Mountains, Morocco |
| Mosque, Timbuktu, Mali, Western Africa Mosques: There are three Mosques classified as World Heritage Sites. The Djingareiber Mosque is the oldest and probably the land mark most closely associated with Timbuktu. Built in 1325 by an Andalusian architect, the Djingareiber Mosque is shaped like a pyramid at its base and has conical towers. |
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It is the one and only Wonder which does not require a description by early historians and poets. It is the one and only Wonder that does not need speculations concerning its appearance, size, and shape. It is the oldest, yet it is the only surviving of the Seven Ancient Wonders. It is the Great Pyramid of Giza. The great pyramid is believed to have been built over a 20 year period. The site was first prepared, and blocks of stone were transported and placed. An outer casing (which disappeared over the years) was then used to smooth the surface. |
| Although it is not known how the blocks were put in place, several theories have been proposed. One theory involves the construction of a straight or spiral ramp that was raised as the construction proceeded. This ramp, coated with mud and water, eased the displacement of the blocks which were pushed (or pulled) into place. A second theory suggests that the blocks were placed using long levers with a short angled foot. |
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Valley of the Lions Temple at Wadi as-Subua Just south of the Dakka Temple is Wadi as-Subua (Wadi es-Sebua) where two temples are located. It is known as the Valley of the Lions because of the sphinxes that once lined the avenue leading to the first temple. It was constructed by Amenhotep III and added to by Ramesses II. Unfortunately, most of the decorations were defaced by early Christians. The front is free standing and the rear was rock-cut. This temple consists of a sanctuary, a court, a hall and pylons. It was originally dedicated to the Nubian version of Horus, but was later rededicated to Amun-Re. |