List of the Latest 7 Wonders of the World

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The 7 wonders of the world campaign was started in 2001 by Swiss-born Canadian filmmaker, writer and adventurer Bernard Weber. He founded the New7Wonders Foundation which aims to provide protection for natural and man-made heritage and foster respect for the diversity of the earth.

New7Wonders claims that it does not withdraw funds from public subsidies, the government or taxpayers. All activities are funded entirely by licensing and commercial partnerships with companies. In fact, the positive effects of the campaign have resulted in increased economic, tourism and promotional value worth more than US$5 billion.

The determination of the newest 7 wonders of the world from 21 finalists was held in 2005-2007. The 21 finalists managed to beat 77 other potential prodigies globally. The selection also involved experts in the field of architecture and former UNESCO Director General Federico Zaragoza.

7 Latest Wonders of the World

The following is a list of the 7 wonders of the world published in 2007 by world.new7wonders.com along with a brief explanation quoted from the Britannica page:

1. Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is a former Mayan city ruin that stands on an area of 4 square miles (about 10 square kilometers). Located in the south-central state of Yucatan, Mexico. It is estimated to have been a military, political and religious center for 35,000 people. It was first inhabited in 550 AD because it had easy access to water.

The water sources among the limestone cave formations there are known as cenotes. The name Chichen Itza itself comes from the words chi (mouth) and chen (well) which refer to the large cenotes at the site, while Itza is the name of the Mayan people who settled. Since 1988, UNESCO designated it as a world heritage site.

2. Roman Colosseum

The Colosseum is also known as the Flavian Amphitheater which was built by the Flavian Emperors. The construction of this giant amphitheater began around 70-72 AD during the reign of Vespasian. The site can be found to the east of the Palatine Hill which used to be an artificial lake, but was later drained.

3. Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal, located in India, is also included in the list of 7 wonders of the world. The tomb complex in Agra, western Uttar Pradesh state, was created by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to immortalize his late wife Mumtaz Mahal. The wife died in childbirth in 1631 after being married to the emperor since 1612.

4. Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China stretches 8,850 km from Mount Hu near Dandong, Liaoning Province to Jiayu Pass, Gansu Province. In the 3rd century BC, Shi Huangdi (Qin Shi Huang), the first emperor of unified China (under the Qin dynasty) connected a number of defensive walls into one.

5. Petra

The ancient central city of the Arab kingdoms in Hellenistic and Roman times, Petra is located in southwest Jordan. The place was believed by the Israelites to be the location where Moses struck a rock and water gushed out. Because the valley is surrounded by peacock-patterned sandstone cliffs, 19th-century English minister John William Burgon called it the Red Rose City.

6. Christ the Redeemer statue

One of the next 7 wonders of the world is in Brazil, namely the Statue of Christ the Redeemer. The construction of the statue of Jesus Christ, which can be found in Rio de Janeiro, was completed in 1981. It is 30 meters high and its arms stretch horizontally for 28 meters.

7. Machu Picchu

The last of the 7 wonders of the world is Machu Picchu which is located about 80 kilometers northwest of Cuzzo, Peru. The ancient site of Inca ruins is located at an altitude of 2,350 meters between cliffs and ravines. This proud icon of the Inca City was approved as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1983.

MELYNDA DWI PUSPITA

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