know one by one

Through the centuries people have highlighted landscapes and buildings worth admiring. In fact, there is a list dating back to the 2nd century BC that recognizes seven wonders of the world. But, at the turn of the century, an initiative revealed the seven most notable sites. Among them 3 Latin American destinations.

What were the 7 wonders of the world

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, starting in the 2nd century BC, various observers compiled a list of seven architectural and sculptural works from the ancient Mediterranean and the Near East.

These were: the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

These seven wonders inspired the creation of other lists of attractions, both natural and man-made, by successive generations, adds Britannica.

What are the 7 wonders of the modern world

As the only one of these works that still survives is the pyramid of Giza, in 2000 a Swiss foundation launched a campaign to determine the new seven wonders of the world.

The campaign was voted by millions of people around the world. Among the final results, which were announced in 2007, three sites appear in Latin America. One by one, these are the new seven wonders of the modern world:

1. Great Wall of China

It was built around the year 220 BC by the first emperor Qin Shin Huang, who ordered the sections of previously built fortifications to be reunited, in order to create a defense system against the invasions of the peoples of the North, reveals the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture

The organization points out that construction work on the Great wall of China continued until the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), resulting in the largest military engineering work of all time. Since 1987 it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.

2. Chichen Itza, Mexico

Chichen Itzais aMayan city on the Yucatán Peninsula (Mexico) that flourished in the 9th and 10th centuries. According to UNESCO, this sacred city was one of the most important centers of the Mayan civilization.

Among the buildings that have survived the passage of time are the Temple of the Warriors, the Castle and the circular observatory known by the name of El Caracol. Due to its relevance, it has also been on the heritage list since 1988.

3. Petra, Jordan

Petra is one of the most famousarchaeological sites in the world. It is located in present-day Jordan in a remote valley, between sandstone mountains and cliffs. It is partly sculpted in rock and partly built in the middle of the mountains crisscrossed by passes and gorges.

According to UNESCO, in ancient times Petra was an important crossroads for commercial caravans that traveled between Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Phoenicia. Like the previous destinations, this site has been part of the World Heritage Site since 1988.

4. Machu Picchu, Peru

Another of the wonders of the modern world located in Latin America is Machu Picchu. Located at 2,430 meters high in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, the sanctuary is considered one of the most impressive architectural achievements of the Inca Empire. Since 1983 it has been part of world heritage.

5. Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

The emblematic Christ the Redeemer located at the top of Mount Corcovado in RIOde Janeiro (Brazil) is another notable destination. The emblematic construction began in 1926 and was completed five years later.

According to Britannica, the monument is made of reinforced concrete and measures 30 meters high not including its base, which measures about 8 meters, and its extended arms measure 28 meters. It is the largest Art Deco sculpture in the world. Christ the Redeemer is covered with about six million tiles.

6. Colosseum, Italy

The Colosseum in Rome is considered a feat of engineering built in the 1st century by order of Emperor Vespasian, notes Britannica. The amphitheater measures 189 by 156 meters and has a complex system of vaults. At its peak, the structure could accommodate 50,000 spectators who could watch gladiator fights and combats between men and animals.

7. Taj Mahal, India

The seventh wonder of the modern world is the Taj Mahal in India. It is an imposing white marble mausoleum built between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to perpetuate the memory of his favorite wife, explains UNESCO.

The encyclopedia adds that the mausoleum has semi-precious stones in geometric and floral motifs, a central dome surrounded by four smaller domes and an immense garden with a reflecting pool.