New 7 Wonders of the World: 2021
The New 7 Wonders of the World are considered to be the most marvelous man-made wonders in the entire world. They are recommended for all to visit at least once in their lifetime. However, did you ever wonder why these wonders are limited to only 7? The number 7 has been highly valued in nature as well as human civilizations since eternity. As per numerous psychological experiments, it has been concluded that 7 is the largest sequence that can be memorized easily by the human brain. Moreover, the number 7 is also termed as the “Magical Number”.
7 Wonders of the Ancient World:
Human civilization has built many marvelous structures to inspire the World for centuries. The ancient 7 wonders of the world are believed to be listed out around 225 B.C by Greek historians. This list included the Great Pyramid of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Colossus of Rhodes, and Lighthouse of Alexandria. However, out of 7 of these, only one exists in the current world, which is the Great Pyramid of Giza.
7 Wonders of the Medieval World:
During the 19th and the 20th century, the list of 7 Wonders of the Medieval World came into being through various catalogs. The list included Stonehenge, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Colosseum, Hagia Sofia, the Great Wall of China, The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, and The Lost Porcelain Pagoda. However, there has been no clear understanding of the selection procedure of this list. Therefore, a need to nominate the New 7 Wonders of the World was felt.
The process to shortlist the New 7 Wonders of the World:
- The campaign to select the New 7 Wonders of the World was initiated in the year 2000. It was introduced by an organization based in Zurich, Switzerland, named the New 7 Wonders Foundation (N7W). They are also known as the 7 Wonders of the Modern World.
- Initially, under the advice of UNESCO, the nominees for the Seven Wonders of the Modern World were shortlisted. However, UNESCO later withdrew from the campaign due to their bylaws of giving equal value to all the heritage sites in the world.
- Thereafter, the organization worked in direct contact with the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
- The nominated list of 200 monuments was shortlisted down to 21 final monuments by 2006. Thereafter, a jury of panelists from the N7W visited each of the monuments and further initiated voting for the final list.
- Finally, on the 7th day of the 7th month of 2007, the New 7 Wonders of the World were announced in Lisbon, after receiving votes from more than 100 million people.
So what are the New Sever Wonders of the World? Let us know the list and know about them a bit.
7. THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
Being the longest man-made structure ever built, the Great Wall of China is a global tourist attraction. Its great length and historic value define its uniqueness.
It is a series of fortifications built by different emperors for over 2000 years, which were then joined together, resulting in the Great Wall. The purpose of this wall was to protect the people of China from its enemies. It also served as a barrier for the Country to separate the Chinese people and their culture from the rest of the World.
Replicating the dragon or snake twisting around mountains, deserts, and parks, the wall is stretched over 9,000 to 10,000 Kilometres. The 15 to 30 feet thick and 26 feet tall wall is enough to protect the country physically as well as psychologically.
The Great Wall is a mishmash of materials made up of brick and compacted earth at some places, while of wood and stone at others.
This endless wall surely deserves to be on the list of 7 Wonders of the Modern World!
6. CHICHEN ITZA, MEXICO
Chichen Itza is a pre-Columbian city built by the Maya civilization between the 9th and 12th centuries. Presently, only a few structures remain at this site, of which, ‘El Castillo’, the largest and most famous pyramid dominates the archaeological site. Standing still for almost 1500 years, the core of Chichen Itza is spread over 5 square kilometers. Chichen Itza stands for “The mouth at the well of Itza”.
The site is rich in many architectural styles. It is also believed that it gained its fame due to its closeness to the Xtoloc Cenote (underground source of freshwater).
El Catillo is known to be the tallest structure in the city, standing at a height of 98 feet. The pyramid is generally misunderstood as the Chichen Itza because of its popularity.
Some of the other man-made wonders of Chichen Itza are the Great Ball Court, the Temple of the Warriors, and the Sacred Cenote.
Chichen Itza made its way to the seven wonders of the modern world because of its culturally significant man-made wonders.
5. PETRA, JORDAN
Petra, surrounded by historical and architectural jaw-dropping features is a city located in southern Jordan. The most astonishing features of Petra are its rock-cut architecture and the water conduit system.
The city name Petra was derived from the Greek word ‘Petros’, which means rocks. It is also named the “Rose City” due to the color of the carved stone.
Petra houses approx 800 tombs; therefore, it is also famous as “The Royal Tombs”. The Treasury is the most renowned tombs of all, which is estimated to be 2000 years old. This archaeological city is also believed to be one of the oldest in the world.
The city wouldn’t have existed without its water conduit system, which was used as storage and source of water supply.
Petra gained much popularity after being filmed in various notable movies.
The half-built and half-carved city from the 1st century is a gem hidden in mountains, which leaves no chance to be missed.
4. MACHU PICCHU, PERU
Machu Picchu, a heavenly site located at the top of the mountains, with an altitude of 8000 feet. The city is spread over 80,000 acres of land and means “Old Mountains” in Quechua.
This city, built in the 15th century was abandoned after 100 years. However, it was rediscovered in the 20th century, when it was covered completely by jungle.
The agricultural terraces, waterfalls, stone pathways, and, granite buildings merging in the mountains are no less than a magical beauty. The three important structures of Machu Picchu are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows.
It was also named the “Fantastic city above the clouds” and is unquestionably a mesmerizing place to visit.
3. CHRIST THE REDEEMER, BRAZIL
Christ the Redeemer is an Art Deco style, 98 feet tall statue of Jesus Christ with arms wide open. It is situated on a 2,300-foot tall mountain. The statue standing as a symbol of Christianity towers the city.
The concrete and soapstone statue rises up to 125 feet, including its pedestal, and the length of the open arms measures 92 feet. It weighs more than 630 tons. The huge dimensions of the statue make it easily visible from the city below. The construction of this wonder lasted for seven years, after getting started in 1922.
The massive concrete statue could not have easily survived the tropical climate of Rio. Therefore, a set of lightning rods were installed into the structure of the statue.
The statue can be accessed through elevators, escalators, and numerous walkways. The inside of the statue is only accessible to the workers through the staircase for restoration purposes.
It youngest of all the New 7 Wonders of the World and is not even 100 years old.
2. COLOSSEUM, ROME
The Colosseum, the largest amphitheater of the world, situated in Italy was built in 80 A.D. It took almost 9 years to complete its construction.
The stone and concrete amphitheater can be accessed through 80 entrances and can house 50,000 visitors. The amphitheater was made to hold Gladiator fights, animal hunts, chariot races, drama, and plays. At times, it was filled with water to make it look like an Ocean in which boat battles were held.
Colosseum went through severe damages due to earthquakes and robbery. However, it survived to make its way to the 7 Wonders of the Modern World.
You can enter into another world if you go into the basement of the Roman Colosseum. It holds rooms for gladiators who waited during the battles, hallways, and cages where wild beasts were kept.
The stage can be accessed through ramps and lifts. It is a remarkable feature of the amphitheater which allows a grand entry to the participants.
The view of the arena, the underground tunnels, the grandstand, and the galleries, everything will leave you in surprise when you visit the center of Rome.
1. TAJ MAHAL, INDIA
The Taj Mahal, an ivory-white marble mausoleum was built by Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor, as a memorial to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal in 1648. The tomb is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture, which combines elements of Islamic, Indian, Ottoman, Persian, and Turkish styles.
The tomb is the point of attraction of a 42-acre complex, which includes a mosque, guest house, and many Mughal gardens.
Taj Mahal was built as a symbol of love and was worth the wait as it took 22 years for its construction to complete.
It is believed that the white marble reflects the sky, so the monument changes its color throughout the day. The Taj Mahal looks pinkish in the early morning, milky white at noon, sparkling golden during sunset, and shimmering silver in the moonlight. It is surely one of the must-visit New Seven Wonders of the World.
Surely, we all are awed with the beauty of these New Seven Wonders of the World. All of us must plan a visit to each one of these man-made wonders of the world to admire their beauty and to learn about the completely distinct cultures of our very own planet.
