The Great Pyramids at Giza were one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, and are the only monument on that list to have survived intact to the modern day. Built around 2500 B.C., these three triangular tombs were made for the pharaoh Khufu (also known as Cheops), his son and his grandson. They consist of millions of limestone blocks; although theories abound, no one is quite sure to this day how they were constructed. At more than 450 feet tall, for several millennia the Great Pyramid of Khufu was the tallest man-made structure in the world.
Within sight of the Great Pyramids is another iconic monument of ancient Egypt, the Sphinx. Its origin and purpose are still hotly debated today, but it has been known since ancient times and was probably built in the reign of the pharaoh Khafra, Khufu's son, about 2500 B.C. Representing a crouching lion with a human head, the Sphinx is the largest sculptural monument in the world, standing 66 feet high and 240 feet long. One of the Sphinx's many mysteries is its missing nose; it is unknown when or how it was lost.
The ancient Egyptian temple at Abu Simbel is impressive for two reasons: its size and scale, and the fact that it was wholly relocated to its present spot in 1968 so as not to be lost under the waters of nearby Lake Nasser when the Aswan Dam was completed. It is the subject of one of the most impressive feats of architectural and archeological engineering attempted. Built by Ramses II in 1244 B.C., the temple complex was partly buried in the desert sands until the 18th century. It's famous for the four massive seated statues that adorn its front, all representing Ramses himself.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization classified Dougga in Tunisia as a World Heritage Site in 1997, noting it as ""the best-preserved Roman small town in North Africa." The site has many noteworthy archaeological monuments, from triumphal arches to various temples to the renowned Antonian Baths, but it's the Roman-style theater that stands out from the crowd. Built in 168 B.C., it could seat 3,500 spectators in the open air. The theater is still used today to present classical theater during festival season.
The Mosque of Uqba is in Kairouan, Tunisia, the fourth holiest city in Islam. It is the oldest mosque in North Africa, founded in 670 A.D., and an important pilgrimage site for Muslims. The decor is austere compared to later, more decorative Islamic architecture, but the complex is massive, covering 9,000 feet, and its impressive minaret reaches a height of 115 feet.
The Makam Echahid is in Algiers, the capital city of Algeria. It's a modern monument to the country's struggle for independence and is dedicated to everyone who died for the cause of national freedom. Constructed in the 1980s, this sculpture consists of three gigantic palm fronds rendered in concrete. One represents agriculture, one represents industry and the third signifies Algerian culture. Together, they tower more than 300 feet into the sky.
