Top 10 Dark Truths About Famous Tourist Attractions
#10: The Burj Khalifa Was Built by Underpaid Workers
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Burj Khalifa, United Arab Emirates Also known as Khalifa Tower, the Burj Khalifa is not only the tallest skyscraper in Dubai, it’s the tallest one on Earth. It stands at over 2500 feet, and was opened to the public in 2010. The impressive building exists mainly thanks to the efforts of Asian laborers. However, these migrants were severely underpaid and overworked. To make matters worse, their living quarters were also awful. Sadly, this is not the only human rights controversy in the United Arab Emirates, with these kinds of violations being rather common. The good news is that there are rights groups fighting against exploitation and working to change things.
#9: Yellowstone Has Deadly Waters
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Yellowstone National Park, United States Yellowstone National Park is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. However, since most of the park is untamed, one does need to keep safety in mind while visiting. The book “Death in Yellowstone,” details the many ways people have lost their lives while there. Though run-ins with wildlife and falls are to be expected, the most deadly part of Yellowstone is the incredibly hot hydrothermal water. People have ignored the caution signs, venturing near geysers and hot springs without realizing the risk. As you can imagine, this does not end well. If you do take a trip to Yellowstone, be very careful and respect all the warnings!
#8: Pirates of the Caribbean Had Real Skeletons
Disneyland, United States Disneyland, California is home to the famous Pirates of the Caribbean ride. But a long-running legend claims that when the attraction opened in 1967, there were literal human bones in it! Apparently, the team, which was overseen by Walt Disney himself, wanted it to be a truly authentic experience, and you can’t have pirates without skulls and crossbones. So as the story goes, they headed over to UCLA’s Medical Center to get some. The bones are said to have eventually been replaced with fake ones. Still, rumors persist that some of them, like the ones on the headboard above the skeleton pirate’s bed, are real.
#7: The Pigs Don’t Have It Easy
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Pig Beach, the Bahamas Known as Pig Beach, Big Major Cay is a remote island in the Bahamas that’s home to multiple piggies. While they’re adorable, life for them is reportedly rather difficult. Pigs are fair-skinned, and without mud or sunscreen, they run the risk of getting badly sunburned. To make matters worse, the ones on Pig Beach also rely on humans for food, which means they’re often not getting the nourishment they need. Many of them have even passed away, probably due to eating sand. It’s not just the pigs that are in danger, either — tourists are too. While the animals regularly interact with visitors, they can still get violent. So you may want to reconsider taking a picture with one if you’re in the Bahamas.
#6: Maya Bay Had to be Shut Down Due to Tourists
Maya Bay, Thailand It’s not uncommon for a place to become really popular after a movie is filmed there. That’s what happened with Maya Bay in Thailand, after the release of the Leonardo DiCaprio film, “The Beach.” Tourists flocked to see the gorgeous waters, and while their dollars were welcome, the overwhelming amount of damage they did was not. The situation got so bad that Maya Bay had to be closed in 2018 for the safety of its ecosystem. Thanks to the help of some determined environmentalists, it has since reopened to the public, albeit with restrictions. Here’s hoping it can remain a clean, serene destination moving forward.
#5: A Slave Helped Create the Statue of Freedom
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Statue of Freedom, United States Despite its name, the Statue of Freedom that sits atop the U.S. Capitol was partially constructed by an enslaved man. In 1860, Clark Mills was hired to cast the now-famous monument. His slave, Philip Reid, worked with him and the other laborers. Reid was only compensated on Sundays for his work, with the rest of his money going directly to Mills. Yet he played an integral role in making the statue, notably getting it separated so it could be taken to the foundry. His contributions are a big part of why the monument as we know it exists today. Reid became a free person in 1862, before the monument was officially erected.
#4: There’s a Death Zone Near the Summit of Mount Everest
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Mount Everest, Nepal & China No mountain on Earth beats Everest when it comes to height above sea level. So it’s not surprising that many climbers have taken on this Himalayan wonder. However, conquering Mount Everest is no easy feat, and over 300 people have lost their lives attempting the trek. Due to the height and altitude, climbers deal with acute mountain sickness, avalanches, wind, icefall, and more on their journeys. To top it all off, close to the summit is the “Death Zone,” where many have succumbed to various dangers. There’s also a spot known as “Rainbow Valley,” where one will see the bodies of those who didn’t make it.
#3: The Twisted Story of Mount Rushmore
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Mount Rushmore National Memorial, United States Every year, scores of tourists visit Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. Carved into it are the heads of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Theodore Roosevelt. Though it’s hailed as a national monument, Mount Rushmore sits on land considered sacred by Native Americans that belonged to the Indigenous groups living there. After the US government stole said land, they decided to bring more tourism to the state. The original idea for the attraction involved focusing on figures with ties to the West, including Sacagawea and Crazy Horse. However, this concept was abandoned when sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who reportedly harbored racist beliefs, was hired. Today, Indigenous people continue to protest Mount Rushmore, fighting for the land it was built on to be returned.
#2: The Dark Forest
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Mount Fuji, Japan Japan’s highest mountain, Mount Fuji, is truly a sight to behold. Yet at its base, you’ll find the Aokigahara forest, which has sadly been the site of lots of tragedy. Indeed, it’s commonly thought to be populated by yūrei, ghosts found in Japanese folklore. As such, many links have been made between the forest and death throughout the decades — But not just because of legends and myths. Unfortunately, many people have taken or tried to take their own lives there, a problem that persists today. It’s become such a prevalent issue that to combat it, there are now trailhead messages with information regarding mental health and helplines.
#1: The British Museum is Filled With Stolen Antiquities
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British Museum, England In 1753, The British Museum first came to be. Since then, it’s accrued roughly 8 million pieces, which is no small feat. There’s just some rather major controversy regarding the ways these objects were acquired, since many were taken during British colonization efforts. This isn't the sole museum to have done this. The Louvre in Paris has also kept artwork that does not belong to the French, though there have been restitution efforts. Some of the contested pieces held in the British Museum are the Rosetta Stone, the Benin Bronzes, and the Parthenon Marbles. While the establishment has acknowledged these claims, most of its stolen pieces haven’t been returned.
