8. Hill Of Crosses - Lithuania
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0nX9PGRW64 In northern Lithuania lies the Hill of Crosses, a pilgrimage site covered in a huge number of crosses thought to be somewhere in the region of 100,000 at its last count. It is believed that the first crosses were placed at the site in order to express inhabitants desire for Lithuanian Independence. People have continued to place crosses since the 14th century but it is only in more recent years that the number of crosses has really risen, from only 400 in 1940 to 50,000 by 1990. Over the years crosses have been placed for all different kinds of reasons, such as a symbol of remembrance after the two World wars and more recently through the years that Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union. During this time, many Lithuanians placed crosses as a symbol of their identity although the hill came under threat when the Soviets attempted to bulldoze the site. The significance of the site is not only beautiful but also a haunting reminder of Lithuania's struggle for independence and determination for its own identity, making the Hill of Crosses a particularly unique place in the world.