The largest cemeteries in the world: list, description, features and interesting facts

As stated in the famous joke, no one will come out alive from an alteration called life. That is why most of the villages, not to mention the cities, have their own cemeteries. Among them there are real giants, occupying huge areas and having a centuries-old history, on which millions of people are buried. However, only a few can answer the question of where is the largest cemetery in the world, or what is considered the oldest pogost the oldest of the existing ones.

Corraumor (Sligo County)

Before you find out which cemetery is the largest in the world, it is worth to get acquainted with the oldest known places of mass burial of people of prehistoric period. According to scientists, this title is rightfully owned by Corraumor, located in the county of Sligo in Northern Ireland. This cemetery is the oldest megalithic complex and covers an area of 4 km. It was found 60 ancient burials, the oldest of which refers to the Neolithic Age. In other words, people at Corraumor cemetery were buried earlier than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. Most of the tombs are dolmens laid out of stones of a certain shape, and the largest is a stone pyramid with a base diameter of 34 meters, called Listogil.

Kidron Valley (Jerusalem)

Until the Nativity of Christ for many centuries, one of the most ancient pogosts of Judea, which is more than 3 thousand years old, was included in the category "The biggest cemeteries in the world". It is in Jerusalem and is known as the Kidron Valley. Scientists have calculated that at the moment there are buried at least one million people. It is interesting that this cemetery is functioning, and on it, and to this day, the funeral ceremonies of the deceased are performed. Moreover, places for burial are very, very expensive, moreover, they are sold out for many years to come, because according to the beliefs of Jews, Christians and Muslims, God's judgment of the children of Adam will take place in the Kedron Valley. To this end, the Lord will descend there from the top of the Maslenitsa mountain and begin sending sinners to hell, and the righteous to heaven.

The Kidron Valley is often mentioned when talking about the most amazing and beautiful cemeteries in the world, as there are several ancient churches and luxurious tombstones in this territory, which are not one hundred years old.

Wadi al-Salam (An-Najaf)

It is in this city that one should go to those who seek an answer to the question about which is the largest cemetery in the world. It is located in the south of Iraq, on the right bank of the Euphrates, and its population is about 900 thousand people. The city is considered sacred for Shiite Muslims and is annually visited by millions of pilgrims. The main attraction of An-Najaf is the Wadi al-Salam cemetery, whose name in Russian translates to "Valley of Death". About 6 million people have found refuge in its 6-square-kilometer area, including many Islamic saints and imams of Iraq. The burial density is an example of 1 sq. Km. M, which contradicts the generally accepted sanitary norms. At one time, UNESCO was going to include the Ananjaf cemetery in the list of World Heritage sites, but the US military command, under whose control the city was located, required postponing the discussion of this issue.

Calvary (New York)

From the graveyards of the Western Hemisphere in the list of "The largest cemeteries in the world" leadership belongs to the cemetery Golgotha. It is located in New York, and it is buried more than three million people. It consists of 4 sectors located at a distance from each other, was founded in 1848 by the Roman Catholic Church. By the way, in the first half of the 20th century it was on Calvary that prominent representatives of the mafia were buried, and there were also shot some episodes of the famous film "The Godfather" by Francis Ford Coppola.

Northern (Rostov-on-Don)

In the list of "The largest cemeteries in the world" there are burial places located on the territory of our country. Moreover, the Northern Cemetery of Rostov-on-Don even entered the famous Guinness Book of Records as the largest on the European continent. It occupies 350 hectares, and more than 355 000 people are buried there. The northern cemetery is relatively young: it will soon turn 45 years old. On the territory of the churchyard there is the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the columbarium, and at the main entrance there is the Poklonniy Kamen, crowned with an Orthodox cross.

La Ricoleta (Buenos Aires)

Now that you know which places of eternal rest are included in the category "The biggest cemeteries in the world", it is worth saying a few words about the most beautiful of them. Among these, of course, is La Ricoleta. It is located on the South American continent, in the capital of Argentina. On its territory are magnificent crypts of marble, reminiscent of mini-palaces. Many of them are decorated with statues sculptured by famous sculptors, others are excellent copies of masterpieces of world art.

Pere Lachaise (Paris)

This cemetery is among the most famous and visited on the planet. Suffice it to say that Napoleon Bonaparte himself is the founder, who signed the corresponding order in 1804. A total of 30,000 people are buried in Pere Lachaise, including Oscar Wilde, Isidore Duncan, Balzac, Edith Piaf, Sarah Bernhard and others. There also found the last refuge of famous representatives of the Russian emigration and some Decembrists.

Maramures (Sapynca)

Many, probably, will be surprised, having heard the epithet "cheerful" with reference to a cemetery. However, this still exists and is the main attraction of the village Sapyntsa in the Romanian Judaism Maramures. Most of the wooden crosses of this rural churchyard are carved by the local master Stan Petrash, who decorated them with drawings in the style of naive art and provided jokes with epitaphs.

Now you know the largest cemeteries in the world and the graveyards, claiming to be the most luxurious, famous and even fun.

Death is the finale of everyone's life, therefore cemeteries should be regarded as memorials dedicated to people who have left one or another trace in the life of their family or even entire states.