Yucatán, Mexico
China
Rome, Italy
Peru
Jordan
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Agra, India
You may know about the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Only one - the Great Pyramid of Giza - still stands. So, Swiss film producer and aviator Bernard Weber launched a global voting campaign to let you, and millions of other people, create a new list. Unlike the list of Ancient Wonders, the New Seven Wonders list includes both ancient and modern structures from every part of the world. However, there are a number of prominent contenders that failed to make the cut, like Athen's Acropolis described below.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid and the tomb of Fourth Dynastypharaoh Khufu. Built in the 26th century BC during a period of around 27 years, it is the oldest of both The New and Ancient Seven Wonders , and the only one to remain largely intact. The Great Sphinx of Giza is a limestone statue of a reclining mythical creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. Facing directly from west to east, it stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile. The face of The Sphinx appears to represent the pharaoh Khafre.
The Acropolis of Athens, or "High City" is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance, the most famous being The Parthenon.
Chichén Itzá, a Mayan city on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, thrived between 300 and 900 AD under the Mayan tribe Itza. Among the most notable monuments is the stepped pyramid El Castillo “The Castle”, which rises 79 feet above the Main Plaza. A testament to the Mayans' astronomical abilities, the structure features a total of 365 steps, the number of days in the solar year. During the spring and autumnal equinoxes, the setting sun casts shadows on the pyramid that give the appearance of a serpent slithering down the north stairway to the stone snake head at the base. Chichén Itzá is also the home to the largest tlachtli(a type of sporting field) in the Americas.
Great might be an understatement. One of the world's largest building-construction projects, the Great Wall of China is widely thought to be about 5,500 miles long; a disputed Chinese study, however, claims the length is 13,170 miles . Work began in the 7th century BCE and continued for two millennia. Although called a “wall”, the structure actually features two parallel walls for lengthy stretches. In addition, watchtowers and barracks dot the bulwark. One not-so-great thing about The Wall, however, was its effectiveness. Although it was built to prevent invasions and raids, it failed to provide any actual security. Instead, scholars have noted that it served more as “political propaganda.”
The Colosseum was built in the first century by order of the Emperor Vespasian around 70AD. A feat of engineering, the amphitheater measures 620 by 513 feet and features a complex system of vaults. It was capable of holding 50,000 spectators, who watched a variety of events. Perhaps most notable were gladiator fights, though men battling animals was also common. In addition, water was sometimes pumped into The Colosseum for mock naval engagements.
In 1911, the American explorer Hiram Bingham was led by natives to the nearly inaccessible deserted Incan city on a Peruvian mountaintop. Since Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, became known to the Western world, its purpose has confounded scholars. What is known is that Machu Picchu is one of the few major pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact. The buildings were constructed of finely cut white granite blocks and no mortar was used. Despite its relative isolation high in the Andes Mountains, it features agricultural terraces, plazas, residential areas, and temples.
Mother Nature created her own wonders to enchant and put humans in awe at first sight. From mountain peaks to waterfalls, underwater marvels and dazzling sky optics, each natural wonder highlights a different aspect of the beauty of Earth's natural world.
Learn More!The ancient city of Petra is located in a remote valley in Jordan, nestled among sandstone mountains and cliffs. It is believed to be one of the places where Moses struck a rock and water gushed forth. Later the Nabataeans, an Arab tribe, made it their capital and it became an important trade center, especially for spices. Noted carvers, the Nabataeans chiseled dwellings, temples, and tombs into the sandstone, which changed color with the shifting sun. In addition, they constructed a water system that allowed for lush gardens and farming. At its height, Petra reportedly had a population of 30,000. The city began to decline, however, as trade routes shifted. A major earthquake in 363 caused more difficulty, and after another tremor hit in 551, Petra was gradually abandoned. Although rediscovered in 1912, it was largely ignored by archaeologists until the late 20th century, and many questions remain about the city.
Christ the Redeemer, a colossal statue of Jesus, stands atop Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro. Its origins date to just after WWI, when some Brazilians feared a “tide of godlessness.” They proposed a statue, which was ultimately designed by Heitor da Silva Costa, Carlos Oswald, and Paul Landowski. Construction began in 1926 and was completed five years later. The resulting monument stands 98 feet tall—not including its base, which is and additional 26 feet and its outstretched arm span of 92 feet. The largest Art Deco sculpture in the world, Christ the Redeemer is made of reinforced concrete and is covered in approximately six million tiles. The statue has often been struck by lightning, and in 2014 the tip of Jesus' right thumb was damaged during a storm.
This mausoleum complex complex in Agra, India is regarded as one of the world's most iconic monuments and a masterpiece of Muslim architecture. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahān in 1648 to honor his late wife. It took about 22 years and 20,000 workers to construct the complex, which includes an immense garden with a reflecting pool. The mausoleum is made of white marble that features semiprecious stones in geometric and floral patterns. Its majestic central dome is surrounded by four smaller domes and Shah Jahān unsuccessfully planned to have his own mausoleum made out of black marble. The Taj Mahal is one of many famous structures on the World Monuments Fund Watch List, which documents endangered landmarks. Pollution and environmental changes have jeopardized the wooden foundation and it has been claimed that unless the foundation is repaired, the Taj Mahal will collapse.