It's hard to believe: 10 facts about London that you did not know

1. London stone: no one knows what it is and where it came from

Protected by the imposing grille on Cannon St, London Stone is an absolute mystery. The first information about it dates back to 1100 AD, but it probably existed before that. This monolith literally represents a stone - that is, there is no inscription, no markings, no hint of its purpose. We have no idea how he turned out to be here, or even why. The only thing that is known is that it must be stored securely.

2. London Bridge once destroyed a tornado

Joking aside. In 1091, the F4 tornado (the second in power on the Fujita scale) demolished more than 600 houses, killed two people and destroyed the London Bridge, which was then wooden. Later it was built of stone.

Photos: flickr.com by Michael S. Schwarzer

3. There were three great fires in the city

If the London Bridge had been restored from the stone before, it probably would not have happened. Two fires (in 1135 and 1212) began on the wooden London Bridge, and the third enveloped London in 1666 and destroyed most of the city.

4. The statue of George Washington stands on American soil

See this pedestal? In fact, he is part of the United States. In 1921, America's oldest enemy became its closest ally. Then in the States they decided that they should send a statue of their beloved George Washington to England, and in England they agreed that it must be installed. The only person who was against it - oddly enough, George Washington. Once he stubbornly stated: My foot will never set foot on the British land! - and everyone believed that he was speaking seriously. What kind of English made the decision? Bring the land from Virginia and place under the pedestal.

Photo: flickr.com by LaTur

5. In London there is a postal railway

She has only eight stations and has not worked for more than ten years, but still exists. Its fun trains, just 2 feet wide, have been delivering mail throughout the city for 70 years - from Liverpool St to Paddington.

6. London was the capital of six countries. Simultaneously

During World War II, London became the home of government representatives from many countries. The first president in exile was the Polish, then he was joined by the heads of Norway, Belgium, Holland and France, who were temporarily stationed in the British capital.

Photos: flickr.com by Daniel

7. Under the Aldgate metro station there are more than a thousand buried bodies

How did it happen? The plague is all to blame. This is the place where the bodies of people who died from this disease were massively buried by people, previously shaken by a frightened priest.

8. London lost 21 rivers

The word lost here is used more figuratively. In fact, the rivers still exist, they are just underground, and the reason is that the city is literally built on them. Most of the rivers still flow under our feet through underground pipes.

Photo: flickr.com by Julien Braconnier

9. On Adam Street there is a fake residence of the Prime Minister

Is this the 10th house on Adam Street or on Downing Street, where the prime minister lives? The owners of the house decided to make themselves an exact copy of the door at the famous address.

10. Pea soup killed 12 thousand Londoners

In 1952, Great was able to hide London. Because of its yellow-black color, formed after the connection of thick fog with smoke, soot and exhaust gases, was able to get the name pea soup. Hundreds of thousands of people were hospitalized, and 12,000 of them died.

Photos: flickr.com by Colourblind Bob