These Famous Landmarks Are Empty Because Of Coronavirus
There are some places throughout the world that are usually crowded with tourists almost everyday of the year, but due to the recent outbreak of COVID-19 people are expected to stay put in their homes. The quarantine has led to these major landmarks being deserted and empty. Once people stopped coming to these places new photos of the abandoned landmarks have popped up showing how much Coronavirus has impacted the planet. Major tourist attractions such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Times Square, beaches, and sports arenas have been left alone for weeks with no expected visitors for a while.
Times Square Looks Unrecognizable Now
Times Square is arguably one of the most crowded tourist attractions in the world. It's centered right in the middle of Manhattan, New York and is filled with tons of chain stores, fast food restaurants, and souvenir shops. When in the middle of Times Square it's difficult not to notice the extravagant bright lights at all corners.
Due to COVID-19 regulations, the state of New York is on lockdown, which means people cannot leave their homes, except to get essential services such as groceries or take-out food. Now, the streets are completely empty with almost every store closed for business.
Hollywood Walk Of Fame Is Missing The Stars
One popular tourist hub is the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. Visitors are almost always crowding the streets to get glimpses of attractions such as the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, and the celebrity stars that line the sidewalks.
It's difficult for Californians to remember a time when this busy Hollywood street corner wasn't filled with tourists. Like the majority of the world the entire state of California is on lockdown, so the usually crowded attractions are left deserted. Since California has one of the largest populations it's essential that people stay in their homes until the number of cases significantly drops.
No One Is Going To The Colosseum
Italy has certainly been one of the countries that has suffered the most during the COVID-19 outbreak. No one is allowed in or out of the country and people have not been able to leave their homes for weeks. Many of the doctors and nurses are feeling overwhelmed with the large number of cases, but it looks like things are starting to lighten up a bit.
Since everyone is avoiding going out in public all of the major landmarks are shut down. The Colosseum in Rome, Italy is usually packed with visitors but now sits empty waiting for the Coronavirus to be over.
The Sydney Opera House Is Off-Limits
Australia has recently put up more restrictions to help control the spreading of Coronavirus. People were starting to gather at outdoor areas such as the Sydney Opera House, but the rules have turned more strict. The government now urges all Australians to stay home under lockdown.
Police also have the power to fine people who aren't adhering to the new quarantine measures including being out with a group of larger than two people or someone leaving their home without a reasonable excuse. The borders into the continent have closed and international travelers who arrive are forced to quarantine in hotels for at least 14 days.
The Eiffel Tower Is Doing Something Special At Night
It's an odd sight to see a famous attraction such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France completely empty during the middle of a sunny day. France has issued many restrictions to stop the spreading of COVID-19 and is issuing fines to people who don't follow government guidelines.
Every evening the Eiffel Tower is lighting up in bright gold colors as a thank you message to everyone working during the pandemic. The Eiffel Tower's busiest time is during the summer months, so hopefully the lockdown will be lifted by then.
The Taj Mahal Has A Record-Breaking Closure
India is one of the top three most populous countries in the world, so they need to take extra precautions to make sure everyone stays safe. They have shut down all museums and monuments until further notice and are encouraging people to stay home.
One of the most famous landmark closures is the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, which has been around since 1648. After almost four centuries of being open to the public, this is only the third time in history that it has closed down. Each year around seven million tourists come to see it in person, but now the monument remains completely deserted.
The Great Wall Of China Is Slowly Working Its Way Toward Reopening
The Great Wall of China was built over 2,300 years ago and remains the longest wall in the world at 13,170 miles long. It can even be seen from outer space. Since China is where the Coronavirus originated it's finally starting to see some landmarks become partially open as cases wind down.
China started out very strict with making sure everyone was staying quarantined at home in order to not overwhelm the healthcare workers who are extremely stressed and tired. For months the Great Wall of China has remained empty, but slowly more people are starting to visit.
Seeing The Golden Gate Bridge Gave Cruise Passengers Relief
The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most visited landmarks in the world. The city of San Francisco has been very resilient in trying to keep COVID-19 at bay by enacting a stay-at-home order in early March that extends to at least May.
This photo shows the Grand Princess cruise ship that had been idling at sea for days with over 3,500 passengers. No one was allowed to leave the ship because there were passengers who tested positive for Coronavirus. It finally got to dock at Port of Oakland in early March.
The Great Pyramid Of Giza Shares Uplifting Messages
Anyone visiting Egypt would most likely want to check out the Great Pyramids of Giza. These are one of the oldest man-made structures in history and brings in thousands of tourists every year. Even though Egypt is more widely spread out than other countries it is still putting stay-at-home restrictions on its residents.
To bring their spirits up the Great Pyramid was lit up in vibrant colors with messages that said, "Stay safe," "Stay home," and "Thank you to those keeping us safe." Even a structure that's existed for over 4,000 years can bring messages of hope in the present day.
Why The Royals Left Buckingham Palace
With members of the British royal family testing positive for Coronavirus, they've had to temporarily leave Buckingham Palace to stay safe. The Queen recently addressed the country in a rare live broadcast saying she expects the United Kingdom to overcome the hurdles of the Coronavirus.
Since she falls into the at-risk category due to her age the Queen needs to be extra cautious to protect herself against the virus. Her son Prince Charles has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming one of the more high-profile cases. As of right now, Buckingham Palace isn't set to open back up to the public until July 25.
Fenway Park Has No One In Sight On Opening Day
Throughout the world sports stadiums and arenas have closed down due to COVID-19. Spring sports such as baseball have been canceled or postponed, which left many sports fans outraged. Baseball season cancellations have only happened a handful of times because of strikes, but this is the first time a public health outbreak caused it.
Usually, stadiums such as Boston's Fenway Park are very packed on opening day, but this photo shows what it looked like on opening day this year. The good news is some sports stars who are still getting paid during the lockdown have been donating their checks to various charities.
Surfrider Beach Lacks Surfers
Surfrider Beach is usually one of the most crowded beaches on the planet with surfers who come from all over to ride the waves in Malibu, California. Due to California's new Coronavirus regulations, public places such as beaches and parks are closed until further notice.
Even if people are outside they still have a chance of catching the virus in a number of ways. The best way to stop the constant spreading is to make non-essential places off-limits for the time being. Those who want to be outside should either stay in their backyards or go for a quick stroll in their neighborhood.
The Tokyo Tower Is All Lit Up For No One To See
Millions of people were anticipating the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, but COVID-19 has led to its postponement to the following year. Japan has advised everyone to stay at home and has recently seen a rise in cases within the last couple of days.
Since people aren't leaving their houses many of the busy sections of the city have been abandoned. People usually are shoulder to shoulder when they're in the city, but this photo of the Tokyo Tower is an example of what the majority of the major landmarks are like now.
It'll Be A While Until People Can Go To Disneyland
When Coronavirus made its way to the United States Disneyland was one of the first major tourist attractions to close down. They initially were supposed to open on April 1, but have since extended the date indefinitely because no one can pinpoint when it will be safe to open spaces with large crowds.
This is only the fourth time Disney Parks have unexpectedly closed and the only time the parks have been closed longer than one day. It was also announced that when they do reopen many of the employees will be furloughed.
How Central Park Transformed During The Pandemic
Springtime in Central Park is usually one of the busiest times of the year because people come for the nice weather and beautiful scenery. New York is, unfortunately, one of the worst places to be in the United States right now because of the massive amounts of Coronavirus cases.
There are so many reported cases that Central Park has actually been turned into a temporary hospital with people working around the clock to make sure that everyone gets proper treatment.
Rush Hour Is Non-Existent
When Coronavirus first came to the United States it was tracked in Seattle, Washington. After about a month the cases there have started to decrease and many of their resources have been redistributed to other parts of the country.
All across America many of the major freeways and roads have become almost deserted with very few cars passing through at a time. In some places, people can be fined for just driving around without a reasonable excuse such as getting groceries or picking up medication. This photo shows what the normally jam-packed freeway in Seattle currently looks like.
Harvard University Is A Ghost Town
COVID-19 has forced almost all schools to release students and have classes taught exclusively online. The campus at Harvard University near Boston, Massachusetts has become almost like a ghost town with no students or faculty in sight. Most universities have told their students that they will not be returning for spring classes.
This means that there are thousands of students who won't have a graduation ceremony or get to participate in end of the year activities. There aren't any schools that have a set date on when students can return, but most are hoping by the beginning of the next school year.
The Lincoln Memorial Will Remain Temporarily Closed
It wouldn't be a trip to Washington D.C. without seeing some of the historic monuments. Tourists usually crowd places such as the Lincoln Memorial, but there are very few coming to see it right now. The memorial has been open since May 30, 1922, and usually expects around eight million annual visitors.
Due to the lockdown, the Lincoln Memorial and many other major landmarks in D.C. have been temporarily closed. Soon after it was closed the United States reported the highest number of cases of Coronavirus than the rest of the world.
The Redeemer Looks Down On No One
This aerial view of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil shows how truly empty the streets are at the moment. The Christ the Redeemer statue is one of the top things visitors come to see in Brazil, but since people are advised to stay home there isn't anyone there.
The Art Deco sculpture was created by Paul Landowski, Heitor da Silva Costa, Albert Caquot, and Gheorghe Leonida after the Catholic Circle deemed there to be "Godlessness" in society. It was completed on October 12, 1931, and is considered to be one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
The Bean Has A Solemn Reflection
One of the most unique public sculptures in the United States is Cloud Gate, also known as The Bean, in Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois. Some might not know that inside Cloud Gate are wooden frames and beams that help support the 110-ton structure while it shrinks and expands.
People come from all over to find their reflection in the iconic metallic structure, but by the looks of this photo, people are staying away. Similar to almost everywhere across the globe Illinois officials have put the state on lockdown, meaning the citizens are supposed to be self-quarantining inside their homes.
