- 7 hours ago
From mysterious silences to economic triumphs, these stories reveal the hidden forces shaping our reality.
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00:00If someone begins to hear whispers and voices in their head for some reason, and there's no one nearby,
00:06perhaps this person needs to seek professional help.
00:09Unless they're in one of these places where sound illusions and auditory hallucinations are tourist entertainment.
00:16So the first of such places is in the small Spanish town of Santiago de Compostela.
00:23Here you can take a walk in a small park and sit on a smooth concrete bench made in the
00:28shape of a semicircle.
00:30No one's sitting next to you, but you hear someone whispering,
00:32Hey buddy, how are you?
00:34It's pretty creepy, but it's not a phantom.
00:37It's the girl sitting at the other end, whispering something into the concrete back of the bench.
00:42Sound waves move through the smooth surface of the arc and reach your ears.
00:47You can whisper something too, and the girl will hear you.
00:50This unique structure is called the Bench of Whispers.
00:54It was built in 1916 and immediately became a popular place for romantic dates.
01:00At that time, there were stringent rules regarding the communication of boys and girls before marriage,
01:05but this bench allowed them to communicate more closely, but at a distance.
01:10Come here with your loved ones and try it out yourself.
01:14Our next location is the center of the universe.
01:17No, this is not the place with the fastest free Wi-Fi, but the name of a unique point in
01:22the small town of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
01:25Stand in the middle of this brick circle and shout something.
01:28You'll hear your voice getting louder and its echo spreading far away.
01:32This place is considered an anomaly because, according to legend, if you blow a loud horn here, people standing outside
01:40of the circle won't hear it.
01:42If you don't have a horn with you, you can debunk this myth with your voice.
01:46Just scream loudly and ask people standing nearby what they've heard.
01:51Of course, they'll hear you, but your voice will seem pretty distorted to them.
01:55Some are sure this strange effect is created thanks to sound waves getting reflected from the round wall of a
02:01large flower bed installed near the center.
02:04Even though today is the 21st century and science has stepped far forward, scientists still can't determine the cause of
02:11this sound anomaly.
02:12Perhaps you can.
02:14We've arrived in the northern part of New York State in the small but beautiful town of Lake George, surrounded
02:21by mountains and forests.
02:23And this city is built on a lake.
02:26Guess what it's called?
02:28Yes, it's Lake George.
02:30So besides the fact that this location is popular among fishing enthusiasts, thousands of tourists come here to scream as
02:37loudly as possible.
02:39Here's a young guy standing in the center of a concrete platform with an engraved compass and a cartographic image
02:46of the lake.
02:47He screams loudly, then leaves.
02:49It looks strange, but you decide to try it too.
02:52The sound of your voice is moving away and then returning to you as if someone hit it back with
02:57a tennis racket.
02:58You hear your distorted voice and scream again.
03:01Then, you take a step to the side and repeat.
03:05This time, the scream sounds as usual.
03:07You return to the center of the concrete compass, right to the intersection of two lines, and scream again to
03:14hear the bizarre echo.
03:16But people standing next to you don't notice anything.
03:19To them, you're just a weird screaming person with an ordinary voice.
03:24Do you see that low, semicircular wall around the platform on the lakeside?
03:28Perhaps sound waves resonate from it, which creates the effect.
03:32But why doesn't it resonate in other places with similar low walls?
03:37The answer may lie in the water and the mountains surrounding the place.
03:42What if sound waves change their shape when they hit the water and then the mountains?
03:47Okay, no one knows exactly what's going on here.
03:50Just have fun!
03:52Let's leave the beautiful embankments and parks and go inside the Grand Central Station in Manhattan.
03:58Here, among the noisy crowd, you can find a unique place near the domed intersection of the aisles on the
04:04lower floor.
04:05Press your ear to the smooth tile, and you will hear whispers and voices coming from the other end of
04:11this dome.
04:11These quiet sounds are so clear that you'll hear them even through the thousands of voices of people passing by.
04:19Such an acoustic effect is created with the help of perfectly symmetrical shapes of smooth arches.
04:25They're made of a unique material patented by Spanish tyler Rafael Gustavino.
04:31By the way, you can enjoy his other works in different places in New York.
04:36Welcome to Echo Bridge, located near Newton, Massachusetts.
04:39This architectural work of art was built in 1877 as a part of a large aqueduct.
04:46Now, it's an attractive place for tourists, thanks to its unusual acoustic effect.
04:51There are several platforms under the bridge where you can go down the stairs.
04:55So, go there and say something loudly.
04:58Your voice will be carried by a loud echo that can produce about 15 reverberations.
05:04Scream, hey, loudly, and you'll hear 15 hays flying off far into the forest.
05:10And if you produce an even louder sound, like a pot from a firecracker, then this place will repeat it
05:16about 25 times.
05:18According to one theory, the effect of the long echo is achieved because the sound is reflected between the arch
05:24and the water.
05:25Still, another hypothesis says that the unusual shape of the arch somehow enhances this sound phenomenon.
05:34Now, we're in the small English village of Thurbeland.
05:37Among its attractions, there's an unusual tunnel with an acoustic anomaly inside.
05:42It was a railway line that connected Sheffield and Manchester.
05:45But it was closed in the 1980s.
05:48Now, it's a bicycle-slash-walking path.
05:51Inside, you can clap your hands and hear the sound lasting for about 20 seconds.
05:56Stand with your friend on different sides of the tunnel and try to communicate with each other.
06:01One word will overlay the previous one, and it will seem as if you're speaking with several people.
06:07The smooth concrete lining of the horseshoe-shaped tunnel and the 4,000-foot arc-shaped trajectory provide this reverberating
06:14effect.
06:15Even if you're not interested in acoustic tricks, you should still visit this tunnel because of its beauty and unique
06:21architecture.
06:23The sound of waves on the seashore has a meditative effect.
06:27Californian artist Peter Richards decided to amplify these sounds.
06:31He created a unique musical instrument called the Wave Organ.
06:37The artist installed it on the coast of San Francisco near the Crissy Field Recreation Center.
06:43This work of art consists of more than 20 long pipes made of concrete and PVC material resembling plastic.
06:49All the pipes go under the water and amplify the sound of waves beating against them.
06:55Gurgling loud voices evoke that calm, pleasant feeling you experience while watching a burning fire.
07:00You can enjoy it for a long time.
07:03Okay, we've learned about several acoustic anomalies and sound phenomena.
07:08Still, they're all created thanks to the joint work of nature and humans.
07:12So, let's end our journey with a unique place where only nature produces stunning sound effects.
07:18We're in Sagano Bamboo Forest, Japan.
07:21This is an authentic place untouched by people, in which the wind and bamboo stalks create a real acoustic show.
07:29Dense thickets of the forest creak, crack, and beat against each other.
07:33And all this is accompanied by the noise of foliage and the wind.
07:38All this mix of sounds has a charming effect.
07:42Thousands of tourists come here with professional recorders and microphones to record this music.
07:48And this is the main problem of the forest.
07:50Too many people here crack branches, click their cameras, speak to one another, and, thus, prevent you from hearing nature.
07:57So, come here early in the morning, or find a place away from all those tourists.
08:03Lie down on the ground, close your eyes, and enjoy.
08:08Now, when you think of Norway, things that come to mind are the sun that never sets in the summer.
08:13Unbelievable nature.
08:15The fact that it's one of the happiest countries in the world.
08:17Even white bears that freely roam in the wild.
08:20I'm guessing they're happy too.
08:22Already planning your trip to this dream country?
08:25Well, don't rush.
08:26You'll have to review your budget.
08:28Fuel there is 10-15% more expensive than in other Western European countries.
08:33A meal at a cafe for one person will cost at least 30 bucks.
08:37Plus, consider yourself lucky if you manage to find a hotel at $100 a night.
08:42If you Google the most expensive country in the world, you'll see this list.
08:47Switzerland, which is memishly expensive.
08:49The United States, duh, been there, know that.
08:52Luxembourg is not a surprise either.
08:54And then, all of a sudden, you see Norway.
08:57Just so you know, a family of four would need over 4 grand a month just to exist in Norway.
09:03And it doesn't even include rent.
09:05Specialists say that Norway is around 7% more expensive than in the U.S.
09:09Norway is a bit weird, though.
09:12Usually, the richest countries have national currencies that are stronger than the U.S. dollar.
09:17Take Swiss francs, for example, or the Kuwaiti dinar, which is literally the boss when it comes to currencies.
09:22Like, one Kuwaiti dinar can snag you 3.25 U.S. dollars.
09:27Now, here's where the mismatch comes.
09:29The Norwegian krona is dubbed the weakest currency in the West.
09:33Well, how come?
09:35In the wild world of global currencies, the Norwegian krona used to be a tough player known for smart money
09:42moves.
09:42But surprisingly, it is now the weakest currency in the West, taking a big hit in the last decade.
09:49It has fallen hard against the U.S. dollar and euro, causing concern for central banks and money folks worldwide.
09:55The oil price rollercoaster is a major factor in the krona struggle, as Norway relies heavily on oil exports.
10:02But even with oil prices relatively high, it remains historically weak against major currencies.
10:09The weak Norwegian krona is affecting everyday folks, too, with prices rising on almost everything due to heavy imports.
10:17Inflation is growing, leading to interest rate hikes by the Nordisk Bank.
10:21High interest rates are hurting the housing market and making life more expensive for Norwegian citizens.
10:27So, one of the supposed reasons for why Norway is so expensive might be weak national currency.
10:34What else is particular about Norway?
10:36Well, climate for sure.
10:38It may be hard to imagine a freezingly cold country plunging into riches.
10:42It's an imagery we usually see on social media with geotags Dubai, Saudi Arabia, or even Kuwait.
10:49And it makes sense to think now that all the riches are somewhere southward, as these places have strong oil
10:55-based economies and super-strong currencies.
10:58But in reality, better economies in the south are a current trend.
11:02Ever wonder why cold countries seem to be raking in the cash while the hot nations are just hanging out?
11:08Turns out, those living in chilly climates had to hustle just to survive winter.
11:13Think building shelter, stockpiling food, and keeping that fire burning.
11:17Meanwhile, those basking in the sunshine had it a little easier with hunting and foraging year-round.
11:24This theory holds true even in the land down under.
11:27Sydney and Melbourne, the top dogs in Australia's wealth game, also happen to be some of the coldest cities,
11:33while Darwin, the warmest city, is lagging behind.
11:37Some might argue that this theory doesn't hold up when we look at ancient civilizations or modern hotspots like tropical
11:43Singapore.
11:44But hey, times change, and so does wealth generation.
11:48Back in the day, it was all about farming, but now it's more about industry and innovation.
11:53So, Norway may seem to have been bound to get rich historically and geographically.
11:58Still, it's not exactly so.
12:01Norway used to struggle a lot.
12:03Back in the day, it faced some tough times with harsh winters and tricky geography.
12:07They even had famines that pushed families to seek a better life in the U.S.
12:12So, how did Norway go from rags to riches?
12:16Yep, oil and gas played a big role.
12:18The country is small, but it has around 0.31% of all oil reserves in the world.
12:24But in Norway, there's more to the story than just black gold.
12:28For example, the top oil reserve is not some Arabic country, but Venezuela,
12:33which claims up to 20% of the world's liquid gold.
12:36Still, Venezuelan's economy is far from stable, so it's not all about oil.
12:43Although bested in forest size by other European nations,
12:47Norway was an unrivaled powerhouse in lumber during the Age of Sale.
12:51Thanks to its strategic fjord path,
12:54timber from its inland forests could quickly reach fjord-side mills and global markets.
12:58As railroads unlocked larger forest potential in other countries post the 19th century,
13:03Norway was Europe's timber king, bolstered by a world-class merchant fleet by the 20th century.
13:11The Norwegian timber wealth, coupled with early cooperative societal norms,
13:16spurred growth across several sectors, from agriculture to fishing and banking.
13:20Despite being labeled poor in the 19th century,
13:24Norway's GDP per capita outshone Eastern and Southern European nations.
13:28The nation's ascendancy continues beyond the discovery of its oil reserves.
13:33Norway is unique, with a small population but sprawling land.
13:38Despite its vastness, the Nordics are scattered and considered one of the most spacious countries globally.
13:44Much of the North's territory stretches beyond the Arctic Circle,
13:47offering harsh landscapes with thin topsoil covering the bedrock.
13:51The tough terrain in Norway, full of mountains and with a short growing season,
13:56limits arable land to only 2.2%, similar to Yemen.
14:00The scattered arable land in small valleys makes extensive farming impractical,
14:05a far cry from the efficient farming in the U.S.
14:08With a huge chunk of land and coastlines, but a small population,
14:13Norway makes some serious cash from its reserves.
14:16Plus, nature has been pretty kind in Norway,
14:19with rich fishing grounds, hydropower from rivers, and power from cold waters.
14:24And only then comes the little thing called oil.
14:27The late 50s saw a big discovery that changed everything for Norway's economy.
14:32Fast forward to today, and petroleum activities have been a major game-changer for Norway,
14:37feeding its economic growth and funding its welfare state.
14:42But Norway didn't just sit back and watch the money flow in.
14:46They made smart moves,
14:48like creating a sovereign wealth fund to manage their oil wealth for the long haul.
14:52The fund sees some big bucks,
14:54currently standing at 1.7 billion Norwegian crooner,
14:58or over 160 million U.S. dollars.
15:01Norway uses the interest from this fund to boost its annual budget,
15:04ensuring top-notch health care, education, and welfare for its citizens.
15:09And here's the kicker.
15:10Norway's not resting on its laurels.
15:12They're investing in sustainable technologies,
15:15like offshore wind power, to secure a bright future beyond oil and gas.
15:20Now, Norway may be expensive,
15:22but it can't compete with the world's costliest place to live, Monaco.
15:26It's almost four times more expensive than the global average.
15:29So, if you're looking to rub elbows with the rich and famous,
15:33look no further than Monaco.
15:34With property prices soaring to an average of over $50,000 per square meter in 2022,
15:41it's no wonder why this tiny country is a magnet for the la-di-da.
15:46However, there's a place that's particularly expensive for tourists.
15:50And I'm not talking about tourist traps.
15:52Neither Oslo nor Monaco can beat the prices in...
15:56Well, take a second to make your guess.
15:58Ready?
15:58Welcome to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan's capital.
16:02A gallon of milk costs a whopping 15 US dollars,
16:05while a standard internet subscription plan will set you back 168 US dollars a month.
16:11Calm down, you're not poor.
16:13It's just an economic glitch.
16:15The reason for these prices is simple.
16:17The Turkmen national currency exchange rate in relation to dollars is fixed and never changes.
16:23One dollar equals 3.5 minutes and has been so since 2015.
16:28Local prices in the local currency grew to inflation,
16:32making it not proportionate to prices in dollars.
16:34The exchange rate never changes.
16:36So, if you live there, such prices don't seem to be extraordinary.
16:40But if you come with dollars, you're in for a pricey trip.
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