10+ Pics Proving How Dramatically Our Planet Is Different Compared to Centuries Ago

The world is always changing, whether due to human intervention or natural phenomena, yet we are often unaware of it until we compare two images. Things might seem quite different from how they once did. Every site undergoes a physical change, and that transformation leaves a story behind that has to be recounted. Since their discovery, most areas have seen significant alterations, some of which are astonishing to our eyes.

1. El Castillo, Chichén Itzá, Mexico

El Castillo is a Mesoamerican step-pyramid found in the center of the Chichén Itzá archaeological site. In Frederick Catherwood’s illustrations, the temple was covered with dense vegetation. There are also twentieth-century photographs showing the temple partially surrounded by this vegetation.

The Mexican government was asked for permission to conduct investigations and restoration work in and around the Chichén Itzá region in 1924 by the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C. They began the project in 1927 with the help of archaeologists from Mexico. In April 1931, in an effort to support the theory that the Kukulcán temple’s building was built over an even earlier temple, the excavations began and proved the beliefs to be true.

2. Colosseum, Rome, Italy

The Colosseum is found in the center of Rome, Italy, not far from the Roman Forum. It’s the biggest ancient amphitheater ever built and is still considered the largest, despite its age. The Colosseum was first used for entertainment, which ceased in the early medieval era. Later it was reused for workshops, housing, and other purposes.

3. Oak Street Beach, Chicago, USA.

A popular summer destination is Oak Street Beach. Throughout the summer, this beach is the site of several well-attended amateur and professional volleyball competitions. The Lake Shore’s slope from Oak Street to the Chicago river was significantly gentler up until the late 1800s.

However, the building of a shipping dock near the river caused sand and silt to accumulate close to the north. Squatters moved in when the ground rose out of the sea, causing conflicts with lakefront property owners.

4. The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China was built by multiple dynasties and served as the border of ancient China states. Aside from defense, the Great Wall’s primary goals included border controls, allowing taxes on goods traveling along the Silk Road, regulating or promoting trade, and managing immigration and emigration.

5. Melbourne, Australia.

A photo from 1930 and one from today show how drastically the Australian city of Melbourne has changed since those days.

6. The Great Sphinx of Giza, Egypt.

The Great Sphinx is among the world’s largest sculptures. It is a colossal limestone statue of a recumbent sphinx located in Giza, Egypt, that likely dates from the reign of King Khafre (c. 2575—c. 2465 BCE) and depicts his face. The Great Sphinx is also one of Egypt’s most famous landmarks and is arguably the best-known example of sphinx art.

7. Hong Kong, China.

Hong Kong has come a long way in a short time, and the city has witnessed significant expansion since 1960, culminating in the gorgeous metropolis we know today.

8. Roman Forum, Central Rome, Italy

The Roman Forum is situated in central Rome. It is also known by its Latin name Forum Romanum. This place is considered a plaza that is surrounded by several ancient governmental building ruins.
For many centuries this plaza was the center of everyday life in Rome. There are also many famous and important buildings located next to the Forum.

This amazing place suffered its greatest losses during the Renaissance when Pope Paul III destroyed and exploited the monuments for materials to build the new Saint Peter’s Basilica.

9. Hoover Dam, USA

This dam is located on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona. And we can see how much the water level has dropped over the past decades.