On the 7th of July 2007 the official unveiling of the new 7 wonders of the world was made during a declaration ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal. The list voted for by over 100,000 million people, shown below are the newest wonders, they are not in any order of ranking.
Chichen Itza Mexico
Situated between Cancun and 72 miles from Meirda in Mexico, the ruins of Chichen Itza are the most visited site in the Yucatán. Due to this, it can get very busy and you should aim to arrive early or late and stop overnight nearby. Apart from the crowds another reason to avoid the midday rush is the sun is very hot. The temple itself comprises of a number of different structures including the enormous pyramid "El Castillo" which served as temple to the god Kukulkan, the temple of the Warriors or 1,000 Columns; the Ball-court and the well or cenote. The famous archaeological site that once served as the political and economic center of the Mayan civilization. It has underground rivers and natural wells which surround the site and limestone used in the construction of this stunning piece of architecture.
Taj Mahal, India
Due to its stunning beauty one of the most well known pieces of Architecture in the world is the Taj Mahal. Built in 1631 by the Moghul emperor Shah jahan in honor of his wife Mumtaz s Mahal who died giving birth to the 14th child. It took 22 years to complete with over 20,000 people working on it throughout the course it's construction and at a cost of 32,000,000 rupees. Situated in the city of Agra the Taj Mahal is a "UNESCO World Heritage site" built entirely out of white marble.
Petra, Jordan
Jordan's biggest tourist attraction is another world heritage site relatively new as far as tourists go, but is well known due to it being featured in various films from Indiana Jones last Crusade, Passion in the Desert, Mortal combat, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. Although many people have seen pictures and read about Petra, you need to actually see it to appreciate the full splendor of this spectacular location. Petra was carved out of the rock by the Nabataen Arabs during the 6th Century BC and is almost camouflaged by the rust- colored sandstone hills surrounding it.
Christ Redeemer Brasil Situated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the monumental Christ Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) statue is known throughout the world. Although only built in 1931, it has become one of the new seven wonders of the world. It is one of the tallest statues in the world with a height of over 100ft and standing on top the 2400 ft. tall Corcovado Mountain. The views from the top of the mountain are spectacular, giving a 360 degree viewpoint overlooking the party capital of Brazil Rio de Janeiro. Since it was built, the tourists and locals have flocked to the statue. Using an electrified train travelers are taken through the worlds largest urban forest to the base of the monument. The statue took 5 years of planning and 5 years of building to complete.
Colosseum Rome
Italy One of the biggest tourist attractions in Rome, the Colosseum has visitors from around the world queuing up to see this huge amphitheater. Originally capable of holding 50,000 people and over 2000 years old, it was used by the Gladiators and what would be classed as "Blood sports" to entertain the spectators. Instantly recognizable the Colosseum is a must see when visiting the Eternal city as so much of it still survives after Earthquakes and stone robbers have done the best to destroy it. The elliptical amphitheaters architecture is a complex series of arches and stone and a symbol of the once mighty Roman empire. Situated in the center of Rome it is easily accessible from the airports. The city of Rome is served by 2 airports, Leonardo Da Vinci and Ciampino International airports where a taxi, bus or train can be caught to the town center.
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China the longest wall ever built, is 6300 KM long and stretches from the coast to the desert. Built to defend the Northern Empire of China against invaders, it was built over a period of 2000 years. The Wall is a huge tourist attraction with thousands of visitors every day, with the vast majority of tour companies going to Badaling section of the wall (50 m/75 km from Beijing) it can get quite busy especially in during holiday times. The other sections of the wall catering for tourists but less busy, include Mutianyu (45 mi/70 km from Beijing) and Simatai (55 mi/90 km from Beijing) for the more adventurous as it is has not been reconstructed but sweeps over a number of high mountains, but offers amazing sunsets and sunrises.
Machu Picchu
Peru Machu Picchu is a city located 2300 (7546 ft) meters above sea level in the Andes Mountains in modern Peru. Symbolic of the Inca empire, Machu Picchu was rediscovered in 1911 by archaeologist Hiram Bingham and often referred to as " the lost city". Built around 1450 and only used for around 100 years before the invasion by the Spanish. Most tourists to the site are eager to visit the city using the world renowned Inca Trail, although not for the unfit is a truly exhilarating experience which you will never forget. The Inca Trail usually takes about 4 days to walk up mountain passes into the cloud forest with a spectacular sight on the fourth day of the sun rising over the ancient citadel from the "Sun Gate"
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