The Latest Seven Wonders of the World

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza was founded by the Maya in 400 A.D. and is located in the north central Yucatan Peninsula, now called Mexico. Chichen is located 75 miles from Merida and has a history of 1500 years. It was the primary location for different ceremonies and is believed to have been governed by priests. Chichen Itza means “At the mouth of the well of Itza”. The word Chi stands for ‘mouth’, Chen for ‘well’ and Itza for ‘the Itza tribe’. The people who lived there are believed to have sacrificed objects and humans to their god. Those who survived the ordeal were thought to be seers.

The site contains many buildings and temples of stone in various stages of preservation. The site is built in different architectural styles that show a cultural mix of Mayan and non-Mayan civilization. The Chichen Itza site has three divisions in total: the north, central, and south groups. One group is in the Toltec style, and the others give an idea about the Chichen Itzan culture. Since the site is one of the most famous Mayan Pyramids, it has been thoroughly researched by private agencies.

Chichen Itza is now a federal property maintained by Mexico’s national Institute of Anthropology and History. The best time for site seeing is either early morning or late in the afternoon.

Christ The Redeemer Statue

Christ the Redeemer is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The statue is 120 ft tall and weighs 635 tons. It is now a part of the modern Seven Wonders of the World. It is located on Corcovado Mountain at its peak 700 meters, or 2,300 feet high in the Tujuca Forest National Park overlooking the city. The statue is made of concrete and soapstone. As a symbol of Christianity, it has become an important icon of Brazil, with Jesus Christ appearing to open his arms wide to embrace the entire city below.

The 1850s marked the first time it was suggested to construct a statue of Christ on the top of Carcovado by Catholic priest Pedro Maria Boss. The request of the finance was sent to Princess Isabel to build this huge religious mountain. Initially, the idea was dismissed. Finally, in 1921, the Catholic Circle of Rio proposed plans for a large statue of Christ.

During this time, in order to gain more publicity, the group organized an event for a week where donations were taken from the public and signatures were taken for those who were in favor of building the statue. Most of the donations came from the Brazilian Catholics. A lot of suggestions were given; some suggested that the cross of the Christ should be represented along with Christ, or that the statue should be of Jesus with a globe in his hands. Finally, a statue of Jesus with open arms was chosen. Construction of this religious symbol took nine years to complete, beginning in 1922 and ending in 1931. It was struck by lightning in February of 2008 during an electrical storm. Several trees were felled, but the statue was left unscathed, owing to the fact that it was made with a top layer of soapstone, which is a good insulator.

Colosseum

The Colosseum is one of the greatest architectural accomplishments in the history of Rome. It was originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre and it is the largest amphitheater in the world. The Amphitheater was built to organize gladiator contests, animal hunts, dramas, and battle re-enactments. All of these were attended by the people and most of the entertainment was sponsored by a private party.

Built in the center of Rome itself, the Colosseum’s construction began sometime between 70 and 72 AD and was completed in 80 AD under the reign of Emperor Titus. It has a seating capacity of 50,000 spectators, and over the years has been damaged by natural disasters such as earthquakes and fires. Many restoration projects have updated and restored the Colosseum, but pollution and traffic continue to damage its interior.

Today, the Colosseum is used for multiple purposes. The Pope leads a procession on good Fridays called the station of the cross, and political organizations light the walls with gold light when capital punishment is abolished in countries around the world. The Colosseum of Rome has been given great importance by the media and various Hollywood movies have been shot in the amphitheater. The famous movie “Gladiator” was highly influenced by the Roman culture and the gladiator contests.

Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China, a memorable landmark, is the most popular tourist attraction in China. The Wall has fascinated the minds of many in the world and it is part of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Great Wall is the ultimate tourist destination for sightseeing. People from all over the world visit China to see this exotic architecture because it is one of the most appealing attractions of China. It has its share of fans including those who spread speculations about it being seen from the moon.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is a pre-Spanish, Inca civilization site located almost 8,000 feet above sea level. The site is located on a mountain ridge above the valley of Urubamba in Peru. The city is also called the “City of the Incas”. Machu Picchu is perhaps the most well known places affiliated with the Inca civilization.

Machu Picchu was built around 1450 for the Inca emperor Pachacuti, but was abandoned only 100 years later with the arrival of the Spanish. Although the city was known by the local inhabitants, it was not given global attention until 1911, when the American historian, Hiram Bingham, announced its presence to the scholar community. During his ensuing excavation, hundreds of artifacts were taken from the ruins and sent to Yale University of study. Recent discoveries also show that the site may have been visited by various other foreigners before Bingham, at which point even more artifacts were taken. The site was labeled as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.

Petra in the Arabah

Petra is a site in the Arabah, Jordan that was discovered by a Swiss explorer called Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812 and is considered to be, yet another splendid beauty in the history of mankind. Arabah is a section of the Great Rift Valley and it is located between the Dead Sea (north) and the Gulf of Aqaba (south) forming part of the border between Jordan (east) and Israel (west).

Petra represents the ancient world’s heritage culture. It is a beauty hidden behind layers of mountain. The ones who have seen it say it is a treasure beyond comparison. It is now said to be one of the seventh wonder of the world and it belongs to the UNESCO world heritage site. The entire red rose city of Petra has such a charismatic appeal that it attracts anyone & everyone who enters the city, taking them to a different world of divine beauty and mystery. Petra mainly is admired because of its picture perfect architecture, its complex structure, quality and the non mentionable mere size.

Petra is said to have its origin before 106 AD; its culture is said to have been flourished in almost 400 years old. The one’s who visited it say that it is a site that can never be forgotten. The city of Petra takes its name, which is the Greek word for “rock”, from the fact that it is most notable for its buildings and tombs that are carved directly into the red sandstone that serves as the city’s natural protection from invaders. Its popularity with tourists may also have a connection to the city’s Biblical significance. It is here where King Aretas called for the arrest of the Apostle Paul at the time of his conversion.

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a tomb situated in Agra, India. It was built by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is one of The Seven Wonders of the World and is said to be one of the finest exhibitions of Mughal art and architecture. The architecture has a mixture of Persian, Ottoman, India and Islamic influence. It was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.

Some legends say that after the Taj was built, the Mughal Emperor cut off the hands of all the men who built it so that the same masterpiece could not be made again. The Taj Mahal is located on the banks of the river Yamuna in Agra. It was built in 1631 and was completed in 1653, spreading over 32 acres of land.

The Taj Mahal is also called the Taj and is a symbol of love, known for its monumental beauty. The monument is one of the main tourist attractions in India. The beauty of the Taj goes beyond words and it is said that the place looks magnificent during the full moon. The word Taj Mahal means Crown Palace in English and it is made up off mainly white marble and colorful gemstones.