7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD 7 NEW NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD 7 Wonders of the World • Chichen Itza, Mexico • With a name meaning “At the mouth of the well of Itza”, Chichen Itza is the ruins of a Mayan civilization, dating back to about 600 AD. • It served as a political and economic center and housed magnificent buildings including, temples (including Temple of Warriors and Temple of Chac Mool), the Hall of the Thousand Pillars and the last Mayan temple, the pyramid of Kulkulkan. The site fell into disrepair over the centuries through various invasions, looting and abandonment. • Christ the Redeemer, Brazil • The iconic statue of Jesus Christ, standing a top Corcovado Mountain that overlooks Rio de Janeiro, is the symbol of peace, warmth and welcoming nature of the Brazilian people. It was designed by Heitor da Silva Costa, sculpted by French artist Paul Landowski and completed in 1931 after five years of construction. • The Colosseum, Italy • The mother of all sports stadiums, the Colosseum in Rome was built between 70 and 82 AD. At its height, the amphitheater could seat up to 50,000 spectators, who enjoyed various public spectacles including the infamous gladiator fights, animal hunts, executions and dramas. • The site was partially ruined after an earthquake, but still stands today as a testament to the prowess of Imperial Rome. • Great Wall of China, China • The 4,000 mile brick wall was erected to fortify the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against Mongol invasion. Construction first began in 8th century BC and the majority was completed during the Ming Dynasty between 1368 and 1644 AD. • Machu Picchu, Peru • One of the lost cities of the world, Machu Picchu is an awe-inspiring ruin of the Inca civilization. Check out our previous post on panaromic views from the top of Machu Picchu. • Petra, Jordan • Another lost city of the world, Petra dates back to the 6th century BC, when it was the capital city of the Nabataens, the masters of water technology. The stone-cut architecture, which survived centuries, makes it one of the most fascinating and beautiful sites in the world. • Taj Mahal, India • The majestic Taj Mahal in Agra is the most epic display of love in history. Emperor Shah Jahan built the marble mausoleum in 1630 AD to honor the memory of his deceased wife. • After its construction, legends insist the architect responsible for the design had his hands cut off so that he couldn’t create anything similar ever again. The Taj Mahal is considered the best representation of Muslim art in India and one of the new wonders of the world. 7 New Natural Wonders of the World • The Amazon • The Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest and is one of the world’s most diverse biological areas. It’s huge, covering 40% of South America, including Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. • Halong Bay, Vietnam • Halong Bay is a popular backpacker destination that features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various shapes and sizes, many of which are filled with caves. In the bay are several floating villages where local fishermen live. • Iguazu Falls, Argentina / Brazil • The Iguazu Falls are located on the border of Argentina and Brazil and they are made up of 275 cascades. The Iguazu Falls is one of the world’s largest waterfalls and it is more than 2,700m long. Access to the Falls is usually done through one of the three cities in the so-called triborder between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay and is one of the sites to see on a gap year in South America. • Jeju Island, South Korea • Jeju Island is a volcanic island that lies 230km from the southern coast of South Korea. The largest volcano is Hallasan and there are 360 other smaller volcanoes found nearby on the island. Jeju Island is the only special autonomous province of South Korea and it’s a popular tourist location for locals and tourists alike. • Komodo, Indonesia • Komodo is one of the 17,508 islands that make up Indonesia. It was made a national park in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon, an endangered species. It’s also famous for its pink beaches, one of only a few in the world. Due to its location to Bali, it’s one of the more visited islands in Indonesia • Puerto Princesa Underground River, Philippines • The Puerto Princesa underground river is located 50km north of Puerto Princesa on the island of Palawan in the Philippines. The entrance to the Subterranean River is a short hike from the town of Sabang. The Puerto Princesa underground river claims to be the world’s longest underground river at 8.2km and a lagoon marks the entrance of the cave. • Table Mountain, South Africa • Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa. The mountain has withstood six million years of erosion and hosts the richest, yet smallest floral kingdom on earth with over 1,470 floral species. It’s a popular tourist attraction in South Africa with people hiking to the mountain top.
