The world is full of amazing places and structures that showcase the beauty and diversity of nature and human civilization. Some of these places and structures are so remarkable that they have been recognized as wonders of the world by various organizations and experts. But what are the seven wonders of the world? How are they chosen? And what makes them so wonderful?
In this blog post. We will explore the answers to these questions and learn more about the seven wonders of the world in different categories: ancient, natural, and modern.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
The seven wonders of the ancient world are a collection of monuments and landmarks from ancient times that were chosen by ancient Greek travelers and writers as examples of the most impressive and awe-inspiring creations of human art and engineering. The original list of seven wonders included:
The Great Pyramid of Giza:
The oldest and largest of the three pyramids in Egypt, and the only one that still stands today. It was built around 2560 BC as a tomb for the pharaoh Khufu. And it is considered one of the most precise and complex structures ever made. It is also the oldest of the seven wonders.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon:
A legendary garden that was said to be built by King Nebuchadnezzar II in the 6th century BC for his wife Amytis, who missed her homeland of Media. The garden was described as a series of terraces filled with exotic plants, flowers, and trees, watered by an ingenious irrigation system. The garden was also said to have a palace, statues, and fountains. However, there is no archaeological evidence that the garden ever existed, and some scholars doubt its existence.
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia:
A gigantic statue of the king of the Greek gods, made by the sculptor Phidias around 435 BC. The statue was about 12 meters (39 feet) tall and made of gold and ivory. It was housed in a temple at Olympia, where the ancient Olympic Games were held. The statue was destroyed by fire in the 5th century AD.
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus:
A magnificent temple dedicated to the goddess of hunting, wildlife, and fertility. It was built in the 6th century BC by King Croesus of Lydia, and rebuilt several times after being destroyed by fire, flood, and invasion. The final version of the temple was completed around 323 BC, and it was one of the largest and most beautiful buildings in the ancient world. It had 127 columns, each 18 meters (60 feet) high, and a statue of Artemis made of gold, silver, ebony, and other precious materials. The temple was destroyed by a mob led by a Christian preacher named John Chrysostom in 401 AD.
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus:
A monumental tomb built for King Mausolus of Caria, a Persian satrap (governor), by his wife and sister Artemisia II in the 4th century BC. The tomb was about 45 meters (148 feet) high and decorated with sculptures, reliefs, and friezes by famous Greek artists. It was considered one of the finest examples of classical architecture and art. The tomb was damaged by earthquakes and plundered by crusaders in the Middle Ages.
The Colossus of Rhodes:
A colossal statue of the sun god Helios that stood at the entrance of the harbor of Rhodes, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. It was built between 292 and 280 BC by Chares of Lindos, a student of Lysippos, one of Alexander the Great’s sculptors. The statue was about 33 meters (108 feet) tall and made of bronze plates over an iron framework. It was one of the tallest statues in the ancient world. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria:
A towering lighthouse built on the island of Pharos, near the city of Alexandria in Egypt. It was constructed in the 3rd century BC by Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander the Great’s generals and successors. The lighthouse was about 120 meters (394 feet) high and had a fire at the top that served as a beacon for ships. It was also equipped with a mirror that reflected sunlight during the day and a magnifying glass that amplified the fire at night. The lighthouse was damaged by several earthquakes and finally collapsed in the 14th century AD.
The Seven Natural Wonders of the World
The seven natural wonders of the world are a collection of natural phenomena and formations that display the beauty and diversity of nature. They were chosen by CNN and the Seven Natural Wonders organization in 1997, based on criteria such as uniqueness, geographical significance, ecological importance, historical legacy, and popularity. The list of seven natural wonders includes:
The Aurora Borealis:
Also known as the Northern Lights, a spectacular display of colorful lights in the sky caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with the earth’s magnetic field. The aurora can be seen in high-latitude regions such as Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, Iceland, and Russia. The best time to witness this wonder is during the winter months, when the nights are long and dark.
The Great Barrier Reef:
The largest coral reef system in the world, covering an area of over 344,000 square kilometers in the Coral Sea off the coast of Australia. The reef is home to more than 1,500 species of fish, 4,000 species of mollusk, 400 species of coral, and many other marine animals and plants. Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular destination for tourists and divers. The reef is threatened by climate change, pollution, overfishing, and coral bleaching.
The Grand Canyon:
A massive gorge carved by the Colorado River over millions of years in Arizona, USA. The canyon is about 446 kilometers long, up to 29 kilometers wide, and over 1.6 kilometers deep. It reveals layers of rock that date back to nearly two billion years ago. The canyon is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a national park that attracts millions of visitors every year. The canyon offers stunning views, hiking trails, rafting trips, and cultural and historical attractions.
Paricutin:
A cinder cone volcano that erupted in 1943 in a cornfield in Michoacan, Mexico. The volcano grew rapidly from a fissure in the ground to a height of 424 meters in just one year. It continued to erupt for nine years, until 1952, producing lava flows that buried two villages and changed the landscape. Paricutin is considered to be the youngest volcano in the world and one of the few that humans have witnessed from its birth to its death. It is also a symbol of Mexican culture and folklore.
Victoria Falls:
A waterfall on the Zambezi River that forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe in southern Africa. The waterfall is about 1.7 kilometers wide and 108 meters high, making it the largest sheet of falling water in the world. It is also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means “the smoke that thunders” in the local Tonga language, because of the spray and noise that it produces. The waterfall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction that offers activities such as bungee jumping, rafting, kayaking, and wildlife viewing.
Mount Everest:
The highest mountain in the world, with an elevation of 8,848 meters above sea level. It is part of the Himalayan mountain range that stretches across Nepal, China (Tibet), India (Sikkim), Bhutan, and Pakistan. It was first climbed by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. Since then, more than 4,000 people have reached its summit, while many others have died trying. Mount Everest is revered by many cultures and religions as a sacred place and a symbol of challenge and adventure.
The Harbor of Rio de Janeiro:
Also known as Guanabara Bay, a natural harbor surrounded by mountains and hills in Brazil’s second-largest city. The harbor is one of the largest and most beautiful in the world, with an area of about 380 square kilometers and a coastline of about 130 kilometers. It is also home to many islands, beaches, forts, monuments, and landmarks, such as Sugarloaf Mountain, Corcovado Mountain with the statue of Christ the Redeemer (one of the New Seven Wonders of the World), Copacabana Beach, and Ipanema Beach
The Seven Wonders of the Modern World
The seven wonders of the modern world are a collection of engineering marvels and architectural achievements that represent the best of human innovation and creativity in the 20th and 21st centuries. They were chosen by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1994, based on criteria such as technical complexity, feasibility, functionality, and aesthetic appeal. The list of seven wonders includes:
The Channel Tunnel:
Also known as the Chunnel, a railway tunnel that connects England and France under the English Channel. It is the longest undersea tunnel in the world, with a total length of 50.5 kilometers, of which 37.9 kilometers are underwater. Completed in 1994, after six years of construction and more than a century of planning. It carries high-speed trains, cars, and trucks between London and Paris in about 35 minutes. It is also a symbol of European cooperation and integration.
The CN Tower:
A telecommunications and observation tower that stands at 553.3 meters in Toronto, Canada. It was completed in 1976, after three years of construction. It was the world’s tallest free-standing structure until 2007, when it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Still the world’s tallest tower and one of the most recognizable landmarks in Canada. It offers panoramic views of the city and Lake Ontario. As well as attractions such as a glass floor, a revolving restaurant, and an edge walk.
The Empire State Building:
A skyscraper that rises at 381 meters (443 meters with antenna) in New York City, USA. It was completed in 1931, after only one year and 45 days of construction. This was the world’s tallest building until 1972, when it was overtaken by the World Trade Center in New York City. It is still one of the most iconic buildings in the world and a symbol of American culture and history. It has been featured in many movies, books, and songs, such as King Kong, An Affair to Remember, and New York, New York. Also has an observation deck that offers spectacular views of the city and its surroundings.
The Golden Gate Bridge:
A suspension bridge that spans 2.7 kilometers across the Golden Gate Strait, connecting San Francisco and Marin County in California, USA. It was completed in 1937, after four years of construction. It was the world’s longest and tallest suspension bridge until 1964, when it was surpassed by the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City. Still one of the most beautiful and elegant bridges in the world and a symbol of San Francisco and California. It has a distinctive orange-red color that contrasts with the blue water and sky. It also has pedestrian and bicycle lanes that allow visitors to enjoy the scenery and experience the bridge up close.
The Panama Canal:
A waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean through the Isthmus of Panama in Central America. It is about 82 kilometers long and consists of three sets of locks that raise and lower ships to different water levels. It was completed in 1914, after more than three decades of construction and thousands of lives lost due to disease, accidents, and political turmoil. One of the most ambitious and challenging engineering projects ever undertaken by humans. It is also one of the most important and strategic waterways in the world, facilitating global trade and commerce.
The Itaipu Dam:
A hydroelectric dam that spans 7.7 kilometers across the Paraná River on the border between Brazil and Paraguay. It is the world’s largest power plant by installed capacity (14 gigawatts) and energy generation (103 terawatt-hours per year). It was completed in 1984, after 18 years of construction and cooperation between two countries that were once rivals. Provides electricity to more than 75 million people in both countries. As well as environmental benefits such as flood control, water supply, and wildlife conservation.
The Netherlands North Sea Protection Works:
Also known as Delta Works or Deltawerken, a series of dams, sluices, locks, dikes, levees, storm surge barriers, and other structures that protect the low-lying areas of the Netherlands from flooding by the North Sea. It is the largest flood protection system in the world, covering about 700 kilometers of coastline and 16,000 square kilometers of land. It was completed in 1997, after more than 50 years of construction and planning. This was a response to the devastating North Sea flood of 1953. Which killed more than 1,800 people and damaged more than 200,000 buildings. It is also a testament to the Dutch ingenuity and perseverance in reclaiming and defending their land from the sea.
Conclusion
The 7 wonders of the world are more than just lists of places and structures. They are expressions of human curiosity, creativity, and achievement. Also reminders of the beauty and diversity of nature and culture. They inspire us to explore, learn, and appreciate the world we live in.
