The Pyramids of Giza — Egypt
Location: Giza, Egypt (Africa)
The Pyramids of Giza are the oldest of the landmarks we have studied — and they are the ONLY one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that still stands today!
Fun facts:
- Built about 4,500 years ago (around 2560 BC!) — that is REALLY old
- The Great Pyramid was the tallest structure on Earth for over 3,800 years!
- Built as tombs for Egyptian pharaohs (kings)
- The Great Pyramid is made of about 2.3 MILLION stone blocks
- Each block weighs about 2.5 tons (as heavy as a car!)
- Perfectly aligned with the stars
- Nobody knows exactly HOW they were built — it is one of history's greatest mysteries!
The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids without modern machinery — no cranes, trucks, or power tools. They used human labor, ramps, and incredible engineering knowledge.
How did they move 2.3 million car-sized blocks of stone? Historians think they used wooden sledges, water to reduce friction, and ramps. But there are still debates!