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New 7 World Wonders

Everyone has heard of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World; the Pyramids at Giza and the hanging gardens of Babylon for example, but what about the New 7 World Wonders? In 2001 the New 7 Wonders Foundation ran a global contest over the internet to determine a new list of 7 world wonders. They made their announcement on July 7, 2007 after 100 million votes were cast from virtually every nation on the planet.

Three of these winners are located in Latin America and can be visited on our tours, indeed two of them; Machu Picchu and Christ the Redeemer (Corcovado) are often combined. The third, Chichen Itza is best visited on a tour of the Mayan world of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. The 7 winning landmarks are as follows:  

Chichen Itza, Mexico - Mayan City

Chichen Itza is a famous grouping of Mayan pyramids that covers an area of six square miles and is located 75 km east of Merida, the capital of the State of Yucatan, Mexico. The primary pyramid is the main attraction and has a huge square base with stepped sides and reaches a height of 75 feet. At the time of writing it was possible to visit the interior but one shouldn’t do it if claustrophobia is a problem.

The pyramid gets its name, “Castle of the Plumed Serpent”, from its frequent use as a place of worship with the plumed serpent serving as a popular idol in the cultures of Mesoamericans. Other pyramids in the central ruins include the Chichen Chob, or Red House, the Observatory, the Church which housed a nunnery and the Temple of the Carved Panels. 

chichen itza christ the redeemer

Christ the Redeemer, Brazil – the Corcovado

At the top of the Corcovado mountain overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. It is considered one of the tallest statues in the world with a height of 38 meters of which 30 meters is the Christ figure itself which has a span of 28 meters from one fingertip to the other on the outstretched arms. Located in the plinth of the statue is a small chapel. It was designed by a French sculptor named Paul Landowski and is constructed from reinforced concrete. The view is incredible and is a must-do visit while in Rio and something that will never be forgotten.

The Great Wall, China

Built during the rule of a succession of dynasties to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire, the Great Wall of China saw its origins during the Qin Dynasty between 221 and 206 BCE and saw its greatest amount of construction during the Ming dynasty between 1388 and 1644 CE. It is approximately 8,850 kilometers in length and starts at Shanhaiguan in the east running to Lop Nur in the west. It is considered the world’s longest structure ever made by man and one of the largest ever built in terms of surface area and mass.

machu picchu Taj Mahal

Machu Picchu, Peru

Located 8,000 feet above sea level along the Urubamba River in Peru are the ruins of Machu Picchu. It is the famous citadel of the Inca Empire and is an architectural jewel, defined by its natural surroundings and constructed to follow the natural curves and majestic terrain of the surrounding landscape. The citadel has urban and agricultural sectors, the urban one being 10 hectares in size and the agricultural being 20 hectares, with squares, palaces, temples, stairways, water fountains and workshops running through both. Terraces of different types and sizes comprise the agricultural sector and were designed to prevent erosion and facilitate the growing of crops. Machu Picchu is the highlight of a tour to Peru along with the old Inca capital of Cusco.

Petra, Jordan - Ancient City

Petra is an ancient city in Jordan, located two hours north of Aqaba at the edge of the Wadi Araba desert. Hills of colored sandstone surround the city which has protected it from invaders over the years. The city itself contains over 800 monuments that include tombs, buildings, funeral houses, temples, baths and streets, all carved as well in sandstone displaying the artistic and technical handiwork of its inhabitants.

The Roman Colosseum, Italy

One of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering, the Roman Colosseum is located in the center of Rome. It was constructed between 70 and 80 AD and was large enough to hold 50,000 spectators. Gladiatorial and public spectacles were originally held there with later use in the early medieval era for housing, workshops, a fortress and quarters for a religious order.

The Taj Mahal, India

The Taj Mahal is south of New Delhi on the right bank of the Yamuna River. It was built by the emperor Shah Jahan to memorialize his queen, Mumtaz Mahal, a princess of Muslim and Persian descent. The Taj Mahal complex measures 310 meters by 550 meters and consists of five major architectural components that include the main gateway, the gardens, the mosque, the rest house and the main mausoleum.