New Seven Wonders of the World

Since ancient times, people have achieved breathtaking success by creating monumental structures. Unfortunately, only one of the ancient wonders of the world remained - the Pyramids of Giza. But since July 7, 2007, there are now officially seven new wonders of the world. It would not be wrong to call these the modern wonders of the world. These modern wonders are the result of an online survey by an organization in Switzerland that included a total of 200 monuments and important structures. However, the seven new wonders of the world are controversial, as the votes reflect the personal opinion, or the same person may vote more than once. Although it was impossible for us to visit the seven wonders of the ancient period, you have the chance to experience these breathtaking seven new wonders.

1. Chichen Itza, Mexico

The important ruins of Chichén Itzá are located in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Founded in 440, the city lived its heyday from 600 AD to the 13th century. The Kukulcán pyramid, built in Mayan style, is especially impressive, with a height of 24 meters located in the center of the city. It has 365 steps and is also associated with the spring and autumn solstices - for on these days, a serpent-like shadow curls up from the steps of the pyramid.

2. Great Wall of China, China

The largest structure ever built would not be a must in the list of the new seven wonders of the world, so the Great Wall of China rightfully managed to enter the top 7. The Great Wall of China was built to keep the invading nomadic tribes away from Mongolia. Being so majestic and tall, this wall in Chinese roughly translates as “Unimaginably tall wall.” The rumor that the Great Wall of China can be seen from space goes back to the story of an English antique dealer who lived in the 18th century. However, this assumption from that century has not been proven. The wall is not a one-shot structure; it is made up of many individual protective walls built over the centuries. The entire construction process of the Great Wall of China took from the 5th century to the 17th century. Its length is about 8,850 kilometers. Research shows that approximately 21,000 kilometers of walls have been built throughout history. If you want to walk this whole wall, it will take you about 18 months.

3. Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

The Statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado, or Mount the Hunchback, is one of the symbols of Rio de Janeiro, along with the Sugar Loaf Mountain. The statue itself is 30 meters high and stands on an eight-meter pedestal. In other words, the statue, with a total height of 38 meters, rises above the city with open arms. The statue, which was started to be built in 1922 for the 100th anniversary of Brazil’s independence, was completed in 1931 due to a lack of funds. Due to its exposed location, the statue is, unfortunately, unintentionally an ideal lightning rod, which is why it is struck by lightning 3 to 6 times a year. In 2014, lightning even broke the statue’s thumb. The statue, which has a very important place, especially for Catholics, welcomes millions of tourists every year. The statue of Christ the Redeemer, which impresses with its magnificence and size, is also breathtaking with its view of Mount Corcovado.

4. Colosseum, Italy

Colosseum, in the capital of Italy, was once the largest amphitheater not only in ancient Rome but in the world. It was built between 72 and 80 A.D. in an elliptical shape, 156 meters wide, 188 meters long, 527 meters in diameter, and 48 meters high. Even if only the ruins of the Colosseum in Rome can be seen today, the magnificent building that was once covered in marble and decorated with 160 surreal sculptures is still impressive. Equipped with four floors and 80 entrances, it housed 50,000 to 80,000 people - an architectural masterpiece of those times! The real name of the Colosseum was Amphitheater Flavium. The amphitheater was then often called the Colosseum, as it sits next to a colossal statue erected by Nero.

5. Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu is a well-preserved ruined city in Peru. The meaning of the name is “old mountain.” The city was founded by the Incas in the 15th century at an altitude of 2,350 meters in the Andes, between the Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu mountains. Established with a ladder system, the city consisted of 216 stone buildings. When the Spanish invaded about 100 years later, the Incas abandoned the city. The forgotten city survived for centuries until it was accidentally rediscovered in 1911. Many mysteries lurk around this place today, as little is reported about the lifestyle and customs of the Incas. Today, about 2000 tourists come to the old Inca city every day.

6. Petra, Jordan

Petra is a site that flourished in ancient times in present-day Jordan. The city became known and famous for its monumental funerary temples, which are particularly impressive as their facades are carved directly into the rock walls. Meanwhile, the wonderful backdrop of the ruins has served as a backdrop in movies like “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” or “Transformers – Revenge of the Fallen.” Petra was founded as a tent city in the 4th century BC. It was gradually replaced by permanent structures. Once the capital of the Nabataean Empire, the city flourished in the 1st century BC. Petra means the thing about the rock. However, the original name of the city was probably Reqem, Reqmu, or Rakmu, which means something red or colored and refers to the color of the rocks in the area.

7. Tac Mahal, India

The majestic building made of white marble is one of the most popular destinations in India. Located in the city of Agra, the building was built between 1631 and 1648 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan of India in the 17th century as the tomb of his wife, Persian princess Arjuman Bano Begum. The building took 17 years to complete. It is made entirely of precious marble and decorated with numerous precious stones and diamonds. The Taj Mahal is approximately 58 meters high and 56 meters wide. There are beautiful gardens around it.