THE UNUSUAL MONUMENTS OF CANADA

Сокирко Я.О.

г.Озёры, МБОУ СОШ №, 10 класс

THE UNUSUAL MONUMENTS OF CANADA

Canada is an independent federative state. It is one of the most developed countries. Canada consists of ten provinces and two territories. It is situated on the North American continent. In size Canada is the second in the world after Russia. Its area is almost 10 million km2. The capital of Canada is Ottawa, which is situated on the bank of the Ottawa River. It is famous for its beautiful parks. It is also known as the city of bridges.

Canada is one of the largest countries in the world and a popular English-speaking country for tourists. Every year millions of tourists visit it with different reasons. Some want to study English there, some to visit their friends or relatives, but the majority arrives to discover numerous Canadian attractions. The country is full of sights indeed. There are architectural, natural, cultural, historic and other types of sights.

WORLD'S FIRST UFO LANDING PAD

Built as part of the Canadian centennial celebration in 1967, St. Paul, Alberta has an official UFO landing welcome site. Weighing just over 130 tons, the large flat concrete structure contains a time capsule to be opened on the 100-year anniversary of the pad’s opening in 2067. A large map of Canada made from stones from each of the provinces adorns the rear of the pad. In the 1990’s, a rounded, saucer-shaped tourist information center was opened on the site containing a museum of UFO memorabilia including photographs of alleged landing sites, mysterious cattle mutilations, and crop circles. Some of the items on display at the center were purchased from the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies. This organization was founded by one of the scientists who famously worked on the United States Air Force UFO study called Project Blue Book.

THE VEGREVILLE PYSANKA

Located in Vegreville, Alberta, the world’s largest easter egg (in the fashion of a Ukranian Easter egg or "pysanka") weighs in at 5000 lbs, is 31 ft. tall, and 18 ft. wide, and took over 12,000 hours to complete! More than a sculpture, it’s actually a giant jigsaw puzzle, constructed of over 3500 pieces of aluminum. Created mathematically, there are 524 star-shaped pieces and 2208 equilateral triangles. The egg is something of a mathematical landmark, its creation representing the first mathematical or geometric definition of an egg shape, and the first practical application of mathematical curve known as a "B-Spline." The egg is tilted at a 30 degree angle and a strong wind turns the egg like a giant weather vane. The symbolism of the egg is described in the original booklet: "By beginning at either end of the Egg in sequence, 5 distinct symbols are inherent in the design. The radiating gold star on the end section, symbolizes Life and Good Fortune... The 3 colors, bronze, silver and gold are rich colors symbolizing Prosperity. Bronze (charcoal brown) is the basic color of the design and suggests the Good Earth, the land on which our forefathers struggled for existence." Vegreville has one of the largest Ukrainian populations in Canada - don't miss the annual Vegreville Pysanka festival, usually held in July.

THE WORLD'S LARGEST DINOSAUR

As if the t-rex wasn't large enough, this Canadian monument is four larger than the real thing. Roaring at the Canadian sky, The World's Largest Dinosaur in the town of Drumheller is surprisingly inviting. The over-sized thunder lizard is surrounded by smaller dinosaur statues spread throughout the town, but the tyrannosaurus rex towers above them all (and over the buildings as well) at 86 feet high. The landmark is so large in fact that visitors can enter the landmark and climb over 100 steps into the mouth of the beast, from which they can take in the impressive view of Drumheller and the surrounding wilderness. There are a number of dinosaur statues around the world, but since this Canadian creature was built over four times as large as a real tyrannosaurus rex, it holds the Guinness World Record for World's Largest Dinosaur.

BANFF MERMAN

A mysterious taxidermy man-beast of the seven seas.
In business since 1903, the Indian Trading Company in Banff features many unusual finds for the eclectic shopper. Watching them all quietly is their oldest resident: Mr. Banff, the Merman. Little is known about the specific history of this mysterious half-fish, half terrifying taxidermy experiment, but it was most likely acquired by the shop's legendary proprietor Norman Luxton around 1915. Following adventures as a gold prospector and an ill-fated attempt on an around-the-world canoe expedition (he was lucky to survive), Luxton returned to Banff where he became a successful entrepreneur, a newspaper man, and an honorary chief of the Stoney native American tribe. In addition to the Trading Post, Luxton founded the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum, and today his former home is preserved as a museum. Conflicting stories of the merman's origin pit the idea of Luxton purchasing the gaff from a mysterious Javanese salesman against the legend of Luxton building the beast himself. Mummified mermaids have a long history, with some dating back centuries, but they really hit their stride as part of the sideshow circuit when P.T. Barnum got into the action with an elaborately planned hoax in 1845. Supposedly caught in the waters of Fiji by a sailor, the so-called "Feejee Mermaid" was actually a taxidermy gaff of a monkey sewn to a fish, and detailed in papier mache... and that lucky sailor was none other than Barnum's accomplice. Despite the deception, Barnum's wild success in showing his monstrosity of dubious origin led to a peak in popularity for this particular kind of fanciful creation, and they joined sideshow line-ups and wonder cabinets around the world. Today there are several mummified mermaids to be found, of various appearances and origins from Japanese temples to Seattle's Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, but Banff may have the only mer-man.

THE MUSHROOM HOUSE

The Mushroom House in Whistler, Canada, is the result of 22 years of work by artist/creator Zube. "The interior design is based on the anatomy of a tree," one real estate blog for the area boasts. "All aspects of the décor reflect this motif, from the womblike hues of the Jacuzzi room in the 'roots' to the vivid leaf greens on the walls in the 'canopy.'” The Mushroom House basks in pure sunlight. The external design of The Mushroom House was inspired by the glacial rock formations found in Emerald Estates. As the home took shape, fascinated onlookers dubbed it The Hobbit House, Bedrock, and finally, The Mushroom House. This unique house was completed in 2002 and features mosaic floors, an amazing stonework fireplace, stained glass windows, and unobstructed views of Wedge and Armchair Mountains.

Сокирко Яна Олеговна, 89637242173

Учитель: Плигина Ирина Игоревна, 89175974678