The New Seven Wonders of the World

We are all aware of the Seven Wonders of the world and how the list has been around for long. Well, in the year 2000 a new initiative was started as part of a Millennium project to choose a new list of the wonders of the world from an existing number of 200 monuments around the world.

The voters were not a group of experts but rather voting was open to every one on planet earth. Voting was done on the internet and also via phone calls.

More than 100 million votes were cast and in July 2007 a new list based on seven years of voting was released. That list is known as The New Seven Wonders of the World and they are as follows:

1. Christ the Redeemer Statue, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: This is a giant statue of Jesus Christ located at the peak of the 700-Meter Corcovado Mountain overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Christ the Redeemer Statue

This statue is a very strong and visible symbol of Christianity in Brazil and it has become a powerful icon for both the city of Rio and the country as a whole.

Construction started in 1922 and was completed in 1931.

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2. The Great Wall of China: This wall is the longest man-made structure in the world with an incredible lenght of 4,000 miles (6,400 km).

Great Wall of China

It was built between the 5th Century B.C and the 16th Century to keep out invasing Mongol tribes from the north, among other things.

Many parts of the wall still remain standing even till today. It is so awesome that it is visible from space.

3. The Colosseum, Rome, Italy: This massive structure was built between A.D 72 and A.D 80 and was built for only one major reason: To stage deadly and bloody combats of gladiators and wild animals for public viewing.

Collosseum, Exterior

It could comfortably seat about 55,000 spectators, it is 188 Meters long and 156 meters wide, the shape is elliptical.

Collosseum, Interior

Modern stadium designs and architecture are borrowed from structures like these.

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4. Petra, Jordan: This ancient city on the edge of the Arabian Desert was the capital of King Aretas of the Nabataean Kingdom and was built between 400 B.C and A.D 106.

Petra

This city with vividly vibrant colours was carved directly onto the cliff faces and is a stunning sight to behold.

It sat empty and in near ruins for centuries and it's exact location was unknown to the Western World until the early 1800's when a traveler from Europe disguised himself in Bedouin costume and got access to this ancient and mysterious city.

This ancient city was featured in the Hollywood movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

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5. The Taj Mahal, India: Located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh region of India. It was built between 1632-1653 by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Taj Mahal

It is one of the most universally admired masterpieces in the world and the style and design copies elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian Architectural styles.

Taj Mahal (Wonders of the World)

6. Pyramid at Chichen Itza, Yucatan Peninsular, Mexico: Chichen Itza which served as the political and economic center of the Mayan Civilisation was a very famous city which has some amazing structures some of which are:  The Pyramid of Kukulkan, The Temple of Chac Mool, The Hall of a Thousand Pillars, and The Playing Field of the Prisoners.

Most of these structures are still standing even till today and they have been incredibly preserved.

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7. Macchu Picchu, Peru: Built by the Inca's around 1450, it is located about 2,430 meters above sea level on a mountain ridge.

Macchu Picchu

The city was abandoned by it's inhabitants probably due to an outbreak of Smallpox during the Spanish conquest and remained "lost" for over three centuries before it was re-discovered by Archaeologist Hiram Bingham in 1911.

Macchu Picchu is today one of the most stunning icons of the fallen Inca civilisation.

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