New Seven Wonders of The World
Below are pictures of the new seven wonders of the world. They have been elected by more then 100 million votes to represent global heritage throughout history by polls from the public, organized by a Swiss corporation called New Open World Corporation. The selection was made by free and paid votes, through telephone or online.
1- Petra (Jordan)
Perched on the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to A.D. 40).
Petra is famous for its many stone structures such as a 138-foot-tall (42-meter-tall) temple carved with classical facades into rose-colored rock. The ancient city also included tunnels, water chambers, and an amphitheater, which held 4,000 people.
The desert site wasn’t known to the West until Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt came across it in 1812.
2- Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu sometimes called the "Lost City", is a pre-Columbian city created by the Inca Empire. Machu Picchu is a 15th-century mountain settlement in the Amazon region of Peru.
The ruined city is among the best known remnants of the Inca civilization, which flourished in the Andes region of western South America. The city is thought to have been abandoned following an outbreak of deadly smallpox, a disease introduced in the 1500s by invading Spanish forces.
3- Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is possibly the most famous temple city of the Mayas, a pre-Columbian civilization that lived in present day Central America. It was the political and religious center of Maya civilization during the period from A.D. 750 to 1200.
Each of its four sides has 91 steps?one step for each day of the year, with the 365th day represented by the platform on the top.
4- Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal, in Agra, India, is the spectacular mausoleum built by Muslim Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to honor the memory of his beloved late wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Construction began in 1632 and took about 15 years to complete. The opulent, domed mausoleum, which stands in formal walled gardens, is generally regarded as finest example of Mughal art and architecture. It includes four minarets, each more than 13 stories tall.
Shah Jahan was deposed and put under house arrest by one of his sons soon after the Taj Mahal’s completion. It’s said that he spent the rest of his days gazing at the Taj Mahal from a window.
5- Colosseum
The Colosseum or Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre, is a giant amphitheater in the center of the city of Rome, Italy.
Originally capable of seating around 50,000 spectators, it was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles.I have been here..
6- Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in China, built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire during the rule of successive dynasties.
7- Statue of Christ the Redeemer
Statue of Christ the Redeemer, is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The statue stands 38 m (105 feet) tall, weighs 700 tons and is located at the peak of the 700-m (2296-foot) Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park, overlooking the city.
Other Links:
Today in History: Casey Jones Dies on the Cannonball Express (1900)
Today in History : The Battle of Alcatraz Begins 1946
