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7 Wonders Of The World (New, Natural + Ancient)

The seven wonders of the world are sites that we would all love to visit. They are marvels of engineering, earths beauty, teamwork and human ingenuity. We have created a list of wonders for the ancient, the modern and the natural wonders and gone into more detail on each one below.

7 New Wonders Of The World

# Name
1 Petra
2 Machu Picchu
3 Great Wall of China
4 Chichen Itza
5 Taj Mahal
6 Christ The Redeemer
7 The Colosseum

7 Ancient Wonders Of The World

# Name
1 Great Pyramid Of Giza
2 Hanging Gardens Of Babylon
3 The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
4 Statue Of Zeus At Olympia
5 Temple Of Artemis At Ephesus
6 Colossus Of Rhodes
7 Lighthouse Of Alexandria

7 Natural Wonders Of The World

# Name
1 The Grand Canyon
2 The Northern Lights
3 Victoria Falls
4 Great Barrier Reef
5 Paricutin Volcano
6 Mount Everest
7 Harbor Of Rio De Janiero

1. Petra

The Monastery Petra

Petra is an ancient city in Jordan that was crafted into an archaeological masterpiece by the Nabataeans, a civilisation who thrived on trading incense. They turned rugged sandstone desert enclave into wonder of the world.

The Treasury Petra With Two Camels In Front

Masters of design, the Nabataeans crafted unassuming cliffs into the 50+ meter marvels. Their city was once home to 20,000 citizens. Today it is a site enjoyed by millions of tourists from around the globe.

petra-by-night

The first major temple that many people come across when entering the site is the Treasury, an, elaborate, 50m tall temple at the end of the kilometre long Siq.

the siq at petra

Many people stop once they have seen one or two temples but there is so much to see inside this 60 square kilometre city including the Monastry, High Place Of Worship, Bedouin Village, Kings Tombs, Siq and so much more.

2. Machu Picchu

machu picchu

Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Andes Mountains in Peru. It is an Inca site that was built in the 15th century. The site is made up of many temples, terraces, and palaces. Machu Picchu is known for its dramatic location on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley. Thousands of tourists visit the site each year.

Lady walking up the inca trail

Machu Picchu was re-discovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. Since then, it has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in South America.

sunset machu picchu

There are several ways to get to Machu Picchu. The most popular route is by train from the city of Cusco. Visitors can also hike the Inca Trail, which leads to the site from Cusco. Other options include flying into the nearby city of Aguas Calientes and taking a bus up to Machu Picchu, or arriving by boat on the Urubamba River.

3. Great Wall Of China

great wall of china

The Great Wall Of China is one of the most impressive and well known tourist destinations in the world. It stretches for over 5,500 miles across China and is made up of several different wall segments. The wall was originally built to protect the Chinese Empire from invasion by neighboring nomadic tribes, and has served as a symbol of Chinese strength and power for centuries.

sunset at the great wall of china

Today, the Great Wall is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world, who come to marvel at its impressive size and history. The wall can be toured by foot, bike, or car, and there are numerous sections that are open to the public.

hilly section of the great wall

Emperor Qin Shi Huang began construction on the Great Wall around 200BC, and it has been rebuilt and modified many times over the centuries. The current wall is a combination of several different wall segments, some of which date back over 2,000 years.

4. Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is a Mayan archaeological site located in the Mexican state of Yucatán. It is considered one of the most important and largest Maya sites ever discovered. The city was built by the Maya civilization around the 5th century AD.

The city is famed for its intricate stone carvings and architecture, as well as its large pyramid, El Castillo. Chichen Itza was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Today, the site is visited by thousands of tourists each year.

Columns of the Thousand Warriors in Chichen Itza

There is much debate among archaeologists as to the true purpose of Chichen Itza. Some believe that it was a religious site, while others believe that it served as a political and economic center. Whatever its purpose, the city is a remarkable example of Maya architecture and art.

5. Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and people come from all over the world to see it. The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

taj mahal at night

The Taj Mahal is an imposing structure made of white marble. It is located on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra, and it is said that its beauty is unmatched anywhere in the world. The Taj Mahal is open to visitors from sunrise to sunset.

Taj Mahal Side-On View

The Taj Mahal is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, and it is definitely worth a visit for anyone who is interested in history or architecture. It is a beautiful structure that has stood the test of time, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who sees it.

6. Christ The Redeemer

Christ The Redeemer

Christ The Redeemer is one of the most iconic symbols of Brazil. It is also one of the largest statues in the world at the top of the Corcovado mountain. Christ The Redeemer overlooks Rio de Janeiro, and was built in 1926. It has been a symbol of hope for the people of Brazil ever since.

The statue is made of concrete and soapstone, and it is 30 meters tall. It was designed and built in an art deco style by Heitor da Silva Costa and French sculptor Paul Landowski. The statue took nine years to build, and it was opened on October 12, 1931.

Christ The Redeemer has been a popular tourist destination for years. Millions of people visit each year. It has also become a popular spot for weddings and other special occasions.

7. The Colosseum

the colosseum on a sunny day

The Colosseum is and amphitheater commissioned to be built in Rome by Emperor Vespasian in ~72 AD and opened by his son Titus in 80 AD. It was used for gladiatorial contests, animal hunts, and plays. The colosseum could hold 50,000+ spectators.

the colosseum at night

When the colosseum opened 100 days of games commenced in Italy and over 5,000 animals were slaughtered. Its perimeter is over 500 meters and it stands ~50 meters high.

the inside of the colosseum

1. Great Pyramid Of Giza

Great pyramid of giza

The Great  Pyramid of Giza is an ancient Egyptian pyramid built on the Giza plateau. The pyramid was built as a tomb for the pharaoh Khufu, who ruled from 2589 to 2566 BC. The Great Pyramid Of Giza is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and is the only one of the ancient wonders in existence today.

sphynx in front of giza pyramid

The Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years standing at nearly 150 meters. The Great Pyramid was originally covered with a casing of polished white limestone, but only a few blocks remain at the base of the pyramid.

great pyramid of giza by night

The Great Pyramid has been the subject of extensive archaeological study for many years and there is still much debate surrounding its construction. Many theories have been put forward as to how it was built and by whom. The most popular theory is that it was built by thousands of slaves working under the direction of a team of engineers.

2. Hanging Gardens Of Babylon

rendered image of the hanging gardens of babylon

The Hanging Gardens Of Babylon were destroyed in an earthquake in the 6th century AD, but their legend lives on. The gardens were said to have been built by Nebuchadnezzar II, who ruled Babylon from 605 BC to 562 BC. He was said to have built them for his wife, Amytis of Media, because she missed the lush countryside from where she lived.

The gardens were said to have been built on top of a hill, with terraces that stretched down to the river below. The terraces were filled with beautiful plants, trees, and flowers, and there was even a pool of water at the bottom of the hill.

The gardens were one of the most beautiful sights in the ancient world, and they attracted visitors from all over. Unfortunately, they were destroyed in an earthquake around the 2nd century BC, and we only have descriptions of them from ancient writers.

3. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was built in the 4th century BC for Mausolus but was destroyed by multiple earthquakes in the 1st millennium AD. Today we can see the ruins where it used to be in Turkey. The Mausoleum was famous for its ~50m height and its elaborate decorations. It was built as a tomb for Mausolus and sat atop a hill overlooking the city.

ruins at the mausoleum at halicarnassus

4. Statue Of Zeus At Olympia

Statue Of Zeus At Olympia

The Statue Of Zeus At Olympia was created by Greek sculptor Phidias and was decorated with ivory, gold and other precious materials. The statue was erected in the Temple of Zeus around 4th Century BC.

The statue was a towering ~13 meters high and is one of the most imposing sculptures from the ancient world. It depicts Zeus seated on a throne, holding a thunderbolt in his hand. The statue was intended to represent the king of the gods as the ultimate authority and power.

5. Temple Of Artemis At Ephesus

Temple of Artemis of Ephesus at Miniaturk

The Temple of Artemis was first built in around the 9th century BC. It was then ruined in a flood before being rebuilt around 550BC by King Croesus of Lydia. Again it was destroyed and this time it was by arsonist Herostratus in 356BC.

temple of artemis ruins

The final form of the Temple was funded by the Ephesian citizens and it was form that became one of the seven wonders of the world. It stood for hundreds of years again before being destroyed again. A model of the Temple has been created at Miniaturk in Istanbul Turkey.

6. Colossus Of Rhodes

Colossus Of Rhodes Site

The Colossus Of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek sun god Helios, which was erected in the harbor of the island of Rhodes in 280 BC. A sculptor named Chares of Lindos built the 30 meters high monument that was built to celebrate the strength of the city after withstanding a year long assault from Demetrius Poliorcetes. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC and the people of Rhodes did not rebuilt the statue.

Colossus Of Rhodes Site

7. Lighthouse Of Alexandria

Lighthouse Of Alexandria Drawing

The Lighthouse Of Alexandria was was constructed in the third century BC and was destroyed by a series of earthquakes. It is said to have been over 100 meters tall and was the tallest building in the world in its heyday. It was mostly destroyed by an earthquake in 1303 and Qaitbay, the Sultan of Egypt used much of the stone to build  a fort on the same site.

1. The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is one of the natural wonders of the world and is located in Arizona. The canyon has been carved our through erosion over millions of years and is a mile deep in some places.

It is home to a variety of wildlife, including coyotes, deer, and bald eagles. Visitors can hike, bike, or raft through the canyon or simply enjoy its beauty from the rim. The Grand Canyon is definitely a must-see for anyone visiting Arizona.

2. The Northern Lights

Northern Lights Aurora borealis

The northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are an amazing sight to behold, and can be seen in many places around the world.They are caused by the interaction of energised particles from the sun interacting with the earth's magnetic field. When the two fields collide, the charged particles from the sun are drawn towards the north and south poles of the earth. These particles interact with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, causing them to give off light.

The northern lights can be different colors depending on what type of gas is being excited. The most common colors are green and yellow, but they can also be red, blue, or purple. The best time to see the northern lights is during the winter, when it is dark for most of the day.

The northern lights are a spectacular sight to behold, and are definitely one of the seven wonders of the natural world. If you ever have the chance to see them, make sure you take advantage of it!

3. Victoria Falls

victoria falls

The Victoria Falls are located between Zambia to the north and Zimbabwe to the south. It is over 1700 meters wide and has a drop of 108 meters. The falls were formed when the Zambezi River cut through a basalt plateau.

The Victoria Falls are often called the "Smoke that Thunders" because of the mist created by the falls. The falls can be viewed from both Zambia and Zimbabwe, and there are a number of lookout points on either side.

4. Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system on Earth, and hosts an incredible diversity of marine life. The reef stretches for more than 1,400 miles, making it not only the largest reefs in the world, its the longest too. And its colors are truly spectacular – the reef is a rainbow of blues, greens, and pinks.

The Great Barrier Reef is under threat from climate change, ocean acidification, and coral bleaching. If we don’t take action to protect this natural wonder, it could be lost forever. That’s why it’s so important that we do everything we can to safeguard the reef as it’s not just a beautiful place, it’s a vital part of our planet.

5. Paricutin Volcano

Paricutin Volcano

The Paricutin Volcano is located in the state of Michoacán, in Mexico. The volcano started to form on February 20, 1943, when farmer Dionisio Pulido was working in his field and noticed a strange crack in the ground. Pulido notified the authorities and soon after, the volcano started to emerge from the earth.

6. Mount Everest

Mount Everest

Mount Everest is a mountain located in the Himalayas. It is the tallest mountain in the world, with a peak elevation of 8,849 meters. The mountain was first summited in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

Today, thousands of people attempt to summit it each year. Climbers contend with extreme weather conditions and low oxygen. Many have lost their lives trying to summit Mount Everest.

Despite its dangers, Mount Everest continues to draw climbers from all over the world. Its beauty and challenging terrain make it one of the most aspirational mountains to climb in the world.

7. Harbor of Rio De Janiero

Harbor of Rio De Janiero

The harbor was built to accommodate the ever-growing city of Rio De Janiero and to allow for easy access to the ocean. It is located at the mouth of Guanabara Bay and features a large number of jetties, piers, and breakwaters. The harbor has played a vital role in the growth and development of Rio De Janiero and continues to do so today. The harbor is also an important transportation hub, serving as a gateway for maritime traffic entering and exiting the bay.

That concludes our list of the seven wonders of the world. We have explored thousands of years of earths beauty and human ingenuity. I now challenge you to visit every single one of them!

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