Various places around the world are considered to be of great significance and are known as the Seven Wonders of the World. Among them are the Colosseum in Italy, Petra in Jordan, Chichén Itzá in Mexico, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, Machu Picchu in Peru, The Taj Mahal in India, and the Great Wall of China. More than 100 million people voted in 2000 to determine seven new world wonders. Over 200 places were whittled down to just seven. A new list of the Seven Wonders of the World was released in 2017, including landmarks that are still in existence today as part of the list.
Here are the modern Seven Wonders of the World:
1. The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is the longest wall in the world! Several dynasties (ruling families) built the wall over hundreds of years (nearly 1,800) starting in approximately 220 BC. It was designed to protect areas from invasions by building watchtowers at the highest points. Millions of people visit the Wonder every year, which is actually composed of many overlapping walls that span 20,000 kilometres together. It is one of the world’s most famous landmarks.
2. Taj Mahal, India
As the result of Shah Jahan’s request to build this magnificent monument, 20,000 workers worked for 16 years. The structure was constructed in 1632 for the purpose of housing the tomb of Mumtaz, Shah Jahan’s wife. From an architectural perspective, the building exemplifies balance and symmetry, and its exterior marble walls change color from day to day. In the morning sun, the white marble looks a shade of pink. At night, it looks golden because it is illuminated by the moon. As one of the most impressive buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal is a popular place for couples to have their photo taken with the building in the background.
3. Petra, Jordan
An ancient city carved into rock, Petra is believed to have been built over 2,000 years ago by a group of Nabateans living in the Wadi Musa valley. However, little is known about these people. It eventually fell into disuse as a result of an earthquake that damaged the city in AD 363 and the Roman Empire in AD 106. Johann Burckhardt was a Swiss explorer who found the city ruins again in 1812.
4. The Colosseum, Italy
The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, was constructed between AD 70 and AD 80. For four centuries, it was used as a place for gladiator fights, animal hunts, and public executions. It was also possible to flood the floor to stage sea battles! Following the fall of the Roman Empire, the building served as a housing complex. A great earthquake destroyed parts of the building in 1349. The site remains an incredibly popular tourist attraction even with the damage done over the years.
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5. Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue is at the top of Corcovado Mountain. A 30 metre tall statue with a 28 metre arm span, the statue represents Jesus Christ as he spreads his arms over the city. The structure was completed in 1931, making it one of the newest wonders of the world. During its construction, Brazil was largely Catholic, so images of the Christ statue were present everywhere.
6. Chichén Itzá, Mexico
In the ancient Maya world, Chichen Itzá was the home of The Maya. A major political and economic centre for The Maya people, the city hosts the Temple of Kukulkán (named after the serpent deity), sometimes also referred to as El Castillo. It has 91 steps on each of its four sides. An extra step was added at the top of the temple to total 365 steps – one for each day of the year. A carving of Kukulkán can be found on the temple’s top.
7. Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is the ruins of a 15th century incan city built in the Andes Mountains. Its walls are carved into natural rock, and its other architectural elements were carved out of stone.
In some sources, the city was thought to have been used by the emperor, Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, as a royal retreat. In the 15th and 16th centuries, it was used, but abandoned slowly thereafter. To ensure the preservation of this site, the Peruvian government has begun to limit how many people can visit each year. It is a very popular tourist site today.