Surely you've heard of the 7 Wonders of the World or even wanted to visit one of them. This list has been updated since 2007 by Bernard Weber, founder of New Open World Corporation. This list of the 7 Wonders of the World was chosen through an open voting process on the internet and social media in which more than 100 million people participated. Once the voting was over, it was called the 7 Wonders of the Modern World.
In this article we are going to tell you about the 7 wonders of the modern world, their characteristics and origin.
7 Wonders of the Modern World
Historically, must-see lists have developed around different artistic disciplines. There are even indications that the Greeks had performed these tasks. So, contrary to what it may seem, They are not an invention of the internet or social media.
The most famous of them are the Seven Wonders of the World, places that deserve to be visited at least once in a lifetime. The Dutch painter Maerten van Heemskrerck completed the list in the XNUMXth century with seven monumental paintings: the Great Pyramid of Giza (the oldest of the Seven Wonders and the only survivor), the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, the statue of Zeus in Olympia, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the lighthouse of Alexandria.
However, one suspects that not all of these wonders of the world were real and were nothing more than literary exaggerations. There is no doubting the wonders of the modern world. They are as real as they are available to visit today.
The 7 wonders of the modern world
These are the seven wonders of the modern world, according to the popular vote:
Chichen Itza (Mexico)
The majestic archaeological site of Chichen Itzá is located in the heart of the exuberant jungle of Yucatán. The majesty of the Kukulkan Pyramid leaves no doubt as to why it remains a wonder of the world and has re-established its status in the XNUMXst century. On its court you can see bas-reliefs that represent the beheading of players. The observatory's doors and windows are impressively aligned with the stars in the sky on certain dates. The steam baths are another of Chichén Itzá's most impressive attractions. If you'd like more information about the natural aspects of the region, you can consult this link.
Gran Muralla China
Fearing invasions mainly from nomadic Mongolian tribes, China built this huge fortification in the north of the country between the XNUMXth century B.C. And in the XNUMXth century AD it was the largest project ever developed.
If all his influence is taken into account, the Great Wall stretches 21.200 kilometers across the vastness of China. The wall begins at what is now the North Korean border and runs through the Gobi desert.
Huge fortifications stretch across deserts, cliffs, rivers, and mountains at more than 2000 meters above sea level. It is divided into different sections and uses the topographical features as a natural extension of its walls. In 1987 UNESCO listed the Great Wall as a World Heritage Site.
Petra (Jordan)
Although 80% of Petra's wealth is still hidden, Petra's grandeur is unmatched. Located in the desert of southwest Jordan, this archaeological site dates back to 300 BC and served as the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. Entering Petra is a spectacle in itself: the narrow Al Siq gorge. The city is filled with tombs and temples carved into pink sandstone cliffs and is known as the "Rose City." Probably the most famous building is Al Khazneh (also known as the Treasury), a 45-meter-high temple with an ornate Greek-style façade.
The Colosseum in Italy
The Colosseum was built in a valley between the Palatine, Esquilino and Serlio hills on a small lake that Nerone used to build the Domus d'Oro and later dried up. Emperor Titus inaugurated the Colosseum in the year 80, but the work, including the top floor, was not completed until two years later.
at its inauguration more than 5.000 wild animals were sacrificed in one of the largest social events of the Roman Empire. Architecture and history coexist in one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Its structure was specially designed to house up to 50.000 spectators, arranged according to their social class, who gathered to witness gladiator fights, executions, battle re-enactments or animal hunts.
Taj Mahal (India)
Although the romantic stories about its origins are the most widespread (the Taj Mahal responds to the emperor's love for his favorite wife), the truth is that the Taj Mahal was a mausoleum built by order of Emperor Shah Jahan to publicize the world the wealth of his kingdom. The same wishes were echoed in Shalimar Gardens in Lahore, Red Fort in Delhi or Jama Masjid.
The Taj Mahal has survived the test of time without any damage. Although the mausoleum is the most famous part, the Taj Mahal is actually a set of buildings, gardens, lakes and fountains organized in perfect symmetry and contained in a rectangular area of 580 x 305 meters. It includes two mosques, one of which is not used because it does not face Mecca, three Iranian-style gates, three red brick buildings, a central fountain, and four cross-shaped water bodies.
Christ of Corcovado (Brazil)
Urban geography, oceans, mountains and jungles. The Christ of the Corcovado, also known as Christ the Redeemer. The dimensions of this colossal sculpture are simply amazing: the Christ the Redeemer is 30 meters high and weighs 1.200 tons. It stands majestically above an 8 meter high pedestal on top of Cerro del Corcovado, 710 meters above sea level in the Tijuca National Park.
It can be seen from almost anywhere in the city, so it is said that Christ embraces and protects the "Cidade Maravilhosa" (City of Wonders) of Rio de Janeiro from his privileged enclave.
Machu Picchu, Peru)
The sacred Inca citadel in the heart of the Peruvian Andes, built around 1450 and discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911, still hides the mystery of why the Incas built Machu Picchu.
Due to its strategic location on top of a high mountain, there are several theories about its importance to the Incas. Some consider it a great mausoleum built for the Inca Pachacutec, while others see it as an important administrative and agricultural center whose farmlands served to support its inhabitants. However, it is also believed that it was used as a necessary link between the Andes and the Peruvian Amazon or as a rest residence for the Inca governors.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the 7 wonders of the modern world and their characteristics.