What are the famous 7 wonders of the world? An old question that probably makes most of us perk up and think that we know the answer. It may be tricky than you imagine naming all the seven wonders of the world.
The ancient “7 wonders of the ancient world” were grouped by Philo of Byzantium in 250 B.C. and since then, just stating the Seven Wonders” is now no longer specific for someone to understand the parameters. Our world is filled with the most special features that are both natural and man-made. Some of the manmade creations include tombs, churches, mosques, temples, buildings, monuments, and even cities. These structures have survived the test of time and they continue to leave several awestruck with their skill. There are many in this world, but only seven are selected, which are the best.
At present, as decided by the New 7 Wonders Foundation, the famous 7 wonders of the world include The Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu, the Chichen Itza, the Colosseum, The Great Wall of China, Petra, and Christ the Redeemer. Added to this list is the Great Pyramid of Giza, though it is regarded as an honorary candidate rather than being a wonder of the world.
Famous 7 Wonders of the World
The Great Wall, China
Built from 220 B.C. to A.D. 1644 by numerous emperors and dynasties
Now considered as a Chinese national symbol, the huge Great Wall of China was built over almost 1800 years. The Great Wall of China is, in fact, many walls that overlap; the blended length of those layers is estimated to be about 10,000 to 20,000 kilometers. The design of this wall, which is built across ridges and mountain passes makes tactical use of natural land. The best-preserved part of the wall runs east to west from the southeastern Liaoning Province to the Northwestern Gansu Province. The Ming dynasty improved and maintained these areas from 1368 to 1644.
The Taj Mahal, India
Built from 1632-48. Made by the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan.
The Taj Mahal is one of the ultimate architectural achievements of the Mughal era, which ruled most of the Indian areas from 1526 to 1761. It took about 20,000 workers and 16 years to construct. This building indicates the Mughal architectural style, stressing balance, and symmetry. In recent years, restoration efforts have been focused on safeguarding the monument from pollution.
Petra, Jordan
It was constructed in the 4th century B.C to 2nd century A.D. by the Nabatean Kingdom.
The city of Petra was constructed by the Nabateans. They lived in the Wadi Musa valley for over 400 years, in an area strategically situated alongside the early spice and sild trade routes. The city was captured by the Roman Empire in A.D. 106.
The Hellenistic facades are shaped directly into the canyons and use the natural landscape as guides. Today, the monuments are susceptible to flash flooding in the Wadi Musa.
The Colosseum, Italy
Constructed A.D. 72-82. Built by Flavian emperors during the 1st century of the Roman Empire. The Colosseum, an amphitheater with arcades and half-columns is a perfect example of the architectural innovation of the Roman Empire. It was used for hunting shows and public executions for almost four centuries. After the drop of the Roman Empire, it was used briefly as a housing complex.
The mining of the Colosseum’s materials and earthquake damage have left about one-third of the actual structure in place. Popularly known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, the Colosseum in Italy is an oval-shaped amphitheater situated in the center of Rome in Italy. Constructed with sand and concrete, its construction started under Emperor Vespasian in AD 72 and it was finished by his successor, Titus, in 80 AD. It is the biggest amphitheater in the world and can host nearly 80,000 spectators. During ancient times, it was utilized for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles like mock sea battles. Its other activities include popular battle re-enactments, animal hunts, mythological dramas, and executions. Today, it is one of the famous 7 wonders of the world and an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome.
Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
Constructed in 1926 to 31. Commissioned by the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro. The Christ statue in Brazil, the most newly constructed of the new Seven Wonders, stands about 125 feet tall. At the time of constructing this statue by the Catholic Church in the 20th century, more than 90 percent of Brazilians were Catholic. Pictures of the Christ statue are produced across Brazil. The statue weighs 1,145 tons to sustain its huge arm span, it was made with reinforced concrete. It is regarded as the largest Art Deco sculpture in this world.
It is located on top of a 710-meter tall mountain. One of the biggest renovation challenges presented by the statue is matching with the color of those six million stone tiles.
Chichén Itzá, Mexico
Built-in the 5th to 13th century by the Maya-Toltec civilization. Chichen Itza was an old Maya city that finally became part of the Maya-Toltec civilization. It prospered till around A.D. 1200 and later joined a political alliance with the cities of Uxmal and Mayapan. It had been abandoned by the time Spanish came in the 16th century. Archaeological excavations started in the early 19th century.
The remnants feature temples that exemplify Maya innovation in science and astronomy. The Temple of Kukulkan has 365 steps. One for each day in the Haab solar calendar. This temple is crowned by a carving of Kukulkan, popularly known as Quetzalcoatl.
Chichen Itza is an archaeological site situated in the Tinum Municipality of Yucatan State in Mexico. It was a big pre-Columban city constructed by the Maya people and was probably one of the great cities. It is one of the popular archaeological sites in Mexico. It includes buildings like the EI Caracol or Chichen Itza, Grand Ballcourt, Temple of the Warriors, and several others. It was selected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Built by the Incas in the mid-15th century.
It is a pre-Columbian Incan settlement. One of the few that remain intact. Located on the eastern slope of the Andes Mountains, it was possibly built as a royal retreat for the Incan ruler Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, not meant for the visit by the masses. In use from the mid-15th century to the mid-16th century, it was finally abandoned, though the reason behind it is still not clear.
Although the Incan empire was ruled by the Spanish in 1532, the adventurer did not find the site; it was finally “discovered” in 1911. The architecture was incorporated into the natural land, its terraces and walls cut out into the rock. These days, it is reached either by climbing the Incan trail through the Andes or through the train.
To preserve the structures in a better way, the Peruvian government has started to restrict the number of hours tourists spend at the site.
These are some of the popular 7 wonders of the world. If you are among those who love to travel and want to see different places, then start visiting these places one by one. Seeing these 7 wonders of the world is a must for travelers.