The original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was a list compiled by the Greeks some 2,000 years ago. Today only one remains: the pyramids of Giza, in Egypt. Last Saturday (2007.07.07 - notice the numbers) saw the unveiling of the new Seven Wonders of the World, as voted by millions of people from around the world. The project started six years ago and the 21 candidates were voted on during the past year. The voting process was not without controversy, however - you can read about it in the L.A. Times. Pictures and descriptions of the new Seven Wonders below are from Time Magazine.
Chichen Itza once served as the political and economic center of Mayan civilization. The city housed masterpieces like the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars, the Playing Field of the Prisoners and the pyramid of Kukulkan, which was the last Mayan temple.
The 124-foot statue of Jesus stands atop the Corcovado Mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Built in 1931, it took five years to construct and symbolizes the warmth and welcoming spirit of the Brazilian people.
Almost every sports stadium today is created based on the design of the Colosseum, built between 70-82 A.D. Located in the center of Rome, the amphitheater could seat up to 50,000 spectators who watched public spectacles like the infamous gladiator fights.
The largest man—made monument ever built at about 4,000 miles in length, the wall was originally built to help create a united defense system and prevent invading Mongol tribes out of China. Construction began around the 8th century B.C. and efforts to revive it took place from 1368 — 1644 A.D.
Machu Picchu, which means "old settlement," is located halfway up the Andes Plateau—in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. Originally a 15th century Incan settlement, the magnificent city was "lost" for three centuries, then rediscovered in 1911.
Petra, located on the edge of the Arabian desert, was home to Aretas IV, king of the Nabataeans, who were masters of water technology. The facade of a 138 ft.—high Hellenistic temple on the El-Deir Monastery—an example of traditional Middle Eastern culture—sits within the Palace Tombs of Petra.
The white marble mausoleum is believed by many to be the best representation of Muslim art in India. The Taj Mahal was built around 1630, an order from Muslim emperor Shah Jahan, to honor the memory of his beloved late wife.
On a related note, one of the natural/cultural sites nominated for UNESCO's World Heritage List is from Jeju-do. The selection is carried out by the World Heritage Committee, which was established by the United Nations in 1972, and the long list of 830 sites includes the Statue of Liberty and the Great Wall of China. It's a kind of honor, except it also signals the fact that these sites are "endangered" and in need of protection. For a complete list of the eight sites nominated this year, see Natural Sites Nominated for the World Heritage List [Time Magazine].
Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes
Lava tubes are natural conduits formed by volcanic lava flow. The tube system at Jeju Island is thought to be the world's longest.