Interesting Facts About the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China stands as one of the seven wonders of the world, a structure known world-wide for its impressive engineering feats and size. However, the Great Wall did not begin as a single barricade designed to unify and protect the people of China, but has only become the unifying symbol after centuries of construction and wa.
According to the Smithsonian, several million people visit the Great Wall of China each year. However, the tourism is taking a toll on the preservation of the wall. In addition, the desertification of the land around the wall also takes its toll. When the wall was build, forests within 60 miles of the wall were destroyed so that invaders could not catch the defenders by surprise. However, this loss of foliage has accelerated the desertification of the area.