The World Is Full Of Wonderful Things
Until time travel technology is possible, you can only visit one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World: the Great Pyramid of Giza. However, a 2007 contest announced a new set of wonders that you can actually visit. Let's get into the list, along with some wonders that almost made the cut.
1. The Great Wall Of China
The list is arranged by age rather than rank bit, even so, we'd rank the Great Wall of China at #1—after all, it's visible from space! Stretching 13,00 miles from Liaodong to the Gobi Desert, the Great Wall took over 2000 years to construct. Unfortunately, it was better as propaganda than as a defensive wall.
2. Petra
At the northwest corner of the Arabian Desert lies a rosy city carved out of sandstone. Petra was constructed around the third century BCE by the Nabataen people. While the Nabataens were nomadic, they were also expert carvers, chiseling a city with a water system out of the side of a rock face.
3. The Colosseum
When the Colosseum was constructed in the 1st century, it was used to stage mock sea battles, gladiatorial combat, and brutal executions. An estimated 80,000 spectators crowded the stands to watch the best in ancient Roman entertainment. Today, more than 7 million people visit the Colosseum annually.
4. Chichén Itzá
Egypt isn't the only place you can find pyramids—in the southeast corner of Mexico is one of the world's greatest ancient cities. Chichén Itzá had its heyday in the 9th and 10th centuries during the Maya Classic Period. The grand step pyramid is a testament to Mayan architecture and astronomical knowledge.
5. Machu Picchu
High in the Andes is a city so hidden that it was never conquered by the Conquistadors. Built arounf 1450 Machu Picchu was likely used as a mountain retreat for Inca nobles. It was abandoned rather than sacked, possibly owing to the difficulty of procuring water at such a high altitude.
6. The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal isn't just a massive mausoleum, it's a monument to one of history's greatest love stories. In 1631, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal as a final resting place for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Today, Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are united in the afterlife.
7. Cristo Redentor
Known as Christ the Redeemer in the English-speaking world, this massive statue of Jesus welcomes people to Rio de Janeiro. Cristo Redentor was constructed between 1922 and 1931; it's almost 100 feet tall. Due to its height and mountain location, the statue has been struck by lightning multiple times.
8. Stonehenge
While there are only seven official New Wonders, Stonehenge just barely missed out on making the cut. Construction started more than 5000 years ago, Stonehenge is even older than the Pyramids. The people who built Stonehenge left no written records, leaving its' origins shrouded in tantalizing mystery.
9. The Acropolis Of Athens
While the term "acropolis" simply means the highest point in a city, there is only one citadel that truly deserves the title. Exploring the ruins of this once-great meeting place lets you follow in the footsteps of Plato and Socrates. It genuinely shocks us that the Acropolis was not selected as one of the new wonders.
10. The Hagia Sophia
First a church, then a mosque, then a museum, now a mosque again Istanbul's Hagia Sophia has lived many lives. It's no understatement to say that the Hagia Sophia's massive dome and spacious ceilings literally changed architecture forever. It is also a monument to the shifting religious makeup of Istanbul.
Now that we've covered the "official" New Wonders of the World, more or less, let's look at some other wonders that deserve the title.
1. Angkor Wat
Let's continue looking at some other wonders that were nominated for the prize but didn't win. Angkor Wat is one of the largest religious sites in the world, measuring over 155 square miles. The temple itself is the centerpiece of a larger archaeological park.
2. Moai Statues
Also known as the Easter Island heads, these massive human heads were carved by the Rapa Nui people of eastern Polynesia around 1350. While half of the statues stand at the main quarry, hundreds stand on platforms around the island's perimeter. There are nearly 1000 Moai altogether.
3. Timbuktu
While being shipped off to Timbuktu is often used as a hyperbolic threat by parents, there are worse places to be sent. This bustling city was a vibrant metropolis in the Malian empire. After a visit by Mansa Musa, the richest man in history, Timbuktu became one of the most important cities in the Sahara.
4. The Alhambra
Beautifully melding Islamic and Spanish Renaissance architectural styles, the Alhambra is one of the most beautiful buildings in Spain. Construction began in 1238 and was continually modified until the Reconquista of 1492. During the Islamic era, the Alhambra was a separate city cut off from Grenada.
Jorge Fernández Salas on Unsplash
5. The Kremlin & Red Square
This next spot is shared by Moscow's most iconic sites. The Kremlin is a complex containing multiple cathedrals and one of many palaces used by the Romanovs. Red Square includes not only St. Basil's Cathedral but also Lenin's Mausoleum and the State Historical Museum.
6. Kiyomizu-Dera
It will likely surprise you that the one Japanese monument to be nominated for a Wonder of the World is not better known. This is only the case in the West. Kiyomizu-dera is one of the most sacred sites in Buddhism, attracting millions of pilgrims annually.
7. Neuschwanstein Castle
A fairytale palace built for the Mad King of Bavaria, Neuschwanstein's Romantic architecture has inspired thousands of artists and composers. Ludwig II combines both Medieval and Byzantine influences with 19th century technology—telephone lines included. While it looks spectacular, it's technically unfinished.
8. The Statue Of Liberty
Greeting milliions of immigrants and tourists for more than 100 years, the Statue of Liberty is the most enduring symbol of America. The statue was a gift from France to the United Statues, intended for the US centennial in 1876. Unfortunately, the Franco-Prussian War delayed construction until 1886.
Serena Repice Lentini on Unsplash
9. The Eiffel Tower
France's Iron Lady was constructed as the crown jewel for the 1889 World's Fair. While the Eiffel Tower received mixed reception when it was presented to the world, today it is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The Eiffel Tower's opening coincidended with the anniversary of the French Revolution.
10. The Sydney Opera House
Built in 1973, the Sydney Opera House is the newest monument proposed as a Wonder of the World. Between the architect resigning and ballooning costs, construction was...troubled to say the least. The interlocking shell design has made the Sydney Opera House one of the most recognizable buildings in the modern world.
