Lost Cities of the world

Lost cities are ancient settlements that were once thriving but have since been abandoned, buried, or forgotten due to natural disasters, war, climate change, or shifting trade routes. Here’s a look at some of the most fascinating lost cities around the world:

1. Machu Picchu (Peru)

• Civilization: Inca Empire
• Founded: 15th century
• Lost & Rediscovered: Abandoned in the 16th century, rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham
• Reason for Abandonment: Theories suggest disease, Spanish conquest, or strategic retreat
• Interesting Fact: It was never discovered by Spanish conquistadors, which helped preserve its structures.

2. Petra (Jordan)

• Civilization: Nabataean Kingdom
• Founded: 4th century BCE
• Lost & Rediscovered: Abandoned around the 7th century CE, rediscovered in 1812
• Reason for Abandonment: Decline of trade routes and earthquakes
• Interesting Fact: Known as the “Rose City” due to the pink sandstone cliffs

3. Pompeii (Italy)

• Civilization: Roman Empire
• Founded: 6th-7th century BCE
• Lost & Rediscovered: Buried in 79 CE, rediscovered in 1748
• Reason for Abandonment: Destroyed by Mount Vesuvius' eruption
• Interesting Fact: Volcanic ash preserved people, buildings, and murals, providing a snapshot of daily Roman life.

4. Angkor (Cambodia)

• Civilization: Khmer Empire
• Founded: 9th century CE
• Lost & Rediscovered: Declined in the 15th century, rediscovered in the 19th century
• Reason for Abandonment: Wars, climate change, and decline of the Khmer Empire
• Interesting Fact: The Angkor Wat temple complex is the largest religious monument in the world.

5. Tikal (Guatemala)

• Civilization: Maya Civilization
• Founded: 4th century BCE
• Lost & Rediscovered: Abandoned in the 10th century, rediscovered in the 19th century
• Reason for Abandonment: Climate change, warfare, and deforestation
• Interesting Fact: It was one of the most powerful Maya city-states, with massive pyramids and temples.

6. Troy (Turkey)

• Civilization: Trojans (Bronze Age)
• Founded: Around 3000 BCE
• Lost & Rediscovered: Destroyed multiple times, rediscovered in the 19th century
• Reason for Abandonment: Wars and natural disasters
• Interesting Fact: The setting of Homer’s "Iliad," featuring the famous Trojan War.

7. El Dorado (Legendary, South America)

• Civilization: Unknown (Believed to be Indigenous tribes)
• Founded: Mythological origins
• Lost & Rediscovered: Never found
• Reason for Abandonment: Likely a myth, based on Spanish explorers' exaggerations
• Interesting Fact: Thought to be a city of gold, leading explorers on fruitless quests.

8. Atlantis (Legendary, Possibly Mediterranean)

• Civilization: Unknown (Possibly Minoan or another prehistoric culture)
• Founded: Unknown
• Lost & Rediscovered: Never confirmed
• Reason for Abandonment: Allegedly sunk due to a cataclysmic event
• Interesting Fact: First mentioned by Plato in 360 BCE as an advanced civilization that disappeared beneath the sea.

9. Cahokia (USA)

• Civilization: Mississippian Culture
• Founded: 1050 CE
• Lost & Rediscovered: Abandoned in the 14th century
• Reason for Abandonment: Climate change, resource depletion, and political instability
• Interesting Fact: It was the largest pre-Columbian city in North America, home to tens of thousands of people.

10. Mohenjo-Daro (Pakistan)

• Civilization: Indus Valley Civilization
• Founded: 2500 BCE
• Lost & Rediscovered: Declined around 1900 BCE, rediscovered in the 1920s
• Reason for Abandonment: Climate change, changing river courses, or invasion
• Interesting Fact: Featured one of the world’s earliest drainage and sewage systems.

:

1. Machu Picchu (Peru)

• Civilization: Inca Empire
• Founded: 15th century
• Lost & Rediscovered: Abandoned in the 16th century, rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham
• Reason for Abandonment: Theories suggest disease, Spanish conquest, or strategic retreat
• Interesting Fact: It was never discovered by Spanish conquistadors, which helped preserve its structures.

2. Petra (Jordan)

• Civilization: Nabataean Kingdom
• Founded: 4th century BCE
• Lost & Rediscovered: Abandoned around the 7th century CE, rediscovered in 1812
• Reason for Abandonment: Decline of trade routes and earthquakes
• Interesting Fact: Known as the “Rose City” due to the pink sandstone cliffs

3. Pompeii (Italy)

• Civilization: Roman Empire
• Founded: 6th-7th century BCE
• Lost & Rediscovered: Buried in 79 CE, rediscovered in 1748
• Reason for Abandonment: Destroyed by Mount Vesuvius' eruption
• Interesting Fact: Volcanic ash preserved people, buildings, and murals, providing a snapshot of daily Roman life.

4. Angkor (Cambodia)

• Civilization: Khmer Empire
• Founded: 9th century CE
• Lost & Rediscovered: Declined in the 15th century, rediscovered in the 19th century
• Reason for Abandonment: Wars, climate change, and decline of the Khmer Empire
• Interesting Fact: The Angkor Wat temple complex is the largest religious monument in the world.

5. Tikal (Guatemala)

• Civilization: Maya Civilization
• Founded: 4th century BCE
• Lost & Rediscovered: Abandoned in the 10th century, rediscovered in the 19th century
• Reason for Abandonment: Climate change, warfare, and deforestation
• Interesting Fact: It was one of the most powerful Maya city-states, with massive pyramids and temples.

6. Troy (Turkey)

• Civilization: Trojans (Bronze Age)
• Founded: Around 3000 BCE
• Lost & Rediscovered: Destroyed multiple times, rediscovered in the 19th century
• Reason for Abandonment: Wars and natural disasters
• Interesting Fact: The setting of Homer’s "Iliad," featuring the famous Trojan War.

7. El Dorado (Legendary, South America)

• Civilization: Unknown (Believed to be Indigenous tribes)
• Founded: Mythological origins
• Lost & Rediscovered: Never found
• Reason for Abandonment: Likely a myth, based on Spanish explorers' exaggerations
• Interesting Fact: Thought to be a city of gold, leading explorers on fruitless quests.

8. Atlantis (Legendary, Possibly Mediterranean)

• Civilization: Unknown (Possibly Minoan or another prehistoric culture)
• Founded: Unknown
• Lost & Rediscovered: Never confirmed
• Reason for Abandonment: Allegedly sunk due to a cataclysmic event
• Interesting Fact: First mentioned by Plato in 360 BCE as an advanced civilization that disappeared beneath the sea.

9. Cahokia (USA)

• Civilization: Mississippian Culture
• Founded: 1050 CE
• Lost & Rediscovered: Abandoned in the 14th century
• Reason for Abandonment: Climate change, resource depletion, and political instability
• Interesting Fact: It was the largest pre-Columbian city in North America, home to tens of thousands of people.

10. Mohenjo-Daro (Pakistan)

• Civilization: Indus Valley Civilization
• Founded: 2500 BCE
• Lost & Rediscovered: Declined around 1900 BCE, rediscovered in the 1920s
• Reason for Abandonment: Climate change, changing river courses, or invasion
• Interesting Fact: Featured one of the world’s earliest drainage and sewage systems.