New Seven Wonders of the World

TRIBUNE

The Seven Wonders of the World are a group of places around the globe that are considered to be of great global significance. 

In years past, the wonders of the world include ‘The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt; The Hanging Gardens of Babylon; The Statue of Zeus at Olympia; The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus; The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus; The Colossus of Rhodes; and The Lighthouse of Alexandria.

However, in 2000, a campaign was started to decide on the new seven world wonders. In 2017, the new list of the seven wonders of the world was finalised, and these wonders are discussed in this article.
1. The Great Wall of China 

The Great Wall of China was built from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD on the northern border of the country as the great military defence project of successive Chinese Empires, with a total length of more than 20,000 kilometers which makes it the longest wall in the world. 

The Great Wall begins in the east at Shanhaiguan in Hebei province and ends at Jiayuguan in Gansu province to the west. The wall was built to defend areas from invasions and millions of people visit it every year.

2. Taj Mahal, India

The Taj Mahal is considered to be the greatest architectural achievement in the whole range of Indo-Islamic architecture and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage. It is an immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife. 

The Taj Mahal is located on the right bank of the Yamuna River in a vast Mughal garden that encompasses nearly 17 hectares, in the Agra District in Uttar Pradesh. 

Ustad-Ahmad Lahori was the main architect of the Taj Mahal.

3. Petra, Jordan 

Petra is an ancient city carved into the rock. It is one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, where ancient Eastern traditions blend with Hellenistic architecture. It is thought that it was built over 2,000 years ago by a group of people who lived in the Wadi Musa valley, called the Nabateans. However, not much is known about the Nabateans. The city fell during the Roman Empire in AD 106 and an earthquake in AD 363 damaged the city, which resulted in it eventually falling into disuse. The city ruins were rediscovered in 1812 by a Swiss explorer called Johann.

4. The Colosseum, Italy 

The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, was built between AD 70 and AD 80. The Colosseum is the main symbol of Rome. It was used for gladiator fights, animal hunts, and public executions for four centuries. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, the architectural masterpiece was actually used as a housing complex. Then, in 1349, a great earthquake destroyed parts of the structure. Despite the damage done over the years, it remains an incredibly popular tourist attraction today with over 6 million people visiting it. 

5. Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

Christ the Redeemer is a statue located at the summit of Corcovado Mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It is the largest Art Deco design ever built in the history of the world. The statue shows Jesus Christ with his arms spread out over the city. The statue is 30 metres tall, with an arm span of the statue is 28 metres.

French Paul Landowski designed the statue, and Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa was the engineer. The monument was built from concrete and soapstone. 

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