SEVEN WONDERS OF THE MODERN WORLD

1. GENERALITIES.-
The New Seven Wonders of Modern World are the monuments that became winners in a
public and international contest celebrated on July 7th 2007 in Estádio da Luz, in Lisboa,
Portugal. Inspired in the list of Seven Wonders of Ancient World and realized by a private
enterprise named New Open World Corporation. More than one hundred million votes,
through the internet and SMS, resulted in new ranking. The initiative started from Swiss
businessman Bernard Weber, founder of this enterprise.
2. CHOSEN WONDERS OF THE MODERN WORLD.-
2.1. CHICHÉN ITZÁ (MÉXICO).-
Chichén Itzá is located at the Yucatan Peninsula, in México. It’s about the ruins of a
ceremonial city that corresponds to Ancient Mayan Civilization. Chichén Itzá was founded
in 525 A.D. and its name means Boca del Pozo de los Brujos de Agua. This ceremonial
center was used from the 4th Century, but its maximum splendor was in the 10th Century. Its
prosperity is over with the arrival of the Spanish and the discovery of America. The three
most important buildings are El Caracol or Astronomical Observatory, El Templo de los
Guerreros and the step pyramid, called El Castillo o El Templo de Kukulcán.
2.2. ROMAN COLOSSEUM (ITALY).-
The Roman Colosseum is one of the most impressive constructions that stands up of the
Ancient Rome. Its construction was finished in 80 B.C. by Emperor Titus, it’s continued by
his father, the Emperor Vespasian. Various festive activities were taking place to entertain
the public. The originally called Flavian Amphitheatre of the Italian capital city, had the
capacity for 50.000 spectators, accommodated in 80 rows of stands, the closest places of
the arena were for the Emperor and the Senators, as the places keep away from the arena,
social strata who occupied them descended. They could enjoy the gladiators show, fights
between wild animals and sometimes, slave clashes with these beasts.
2.3. CHRIST THE REDEEMER (BRAZIL).-
Statue of Christ the Redeemer or also known as Cristo de Corcovado is a big Christ of
Nazareth statue, located at the top of the Corcovado Hill, at Tijuca National Park, standing,
with the open hands and looking towards the city and the port of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. It
measures 38 meters high, and was inaugurated on October 12th 1931, during almost five
years in its construction. Statue of Christ the Redeemer was created by Paul Landowski, a
big French sculptor. This wonder of the World is made of reinforced concrete and weighs
more than 1000 tons.
2.4. THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA.-
The Great Wall of China is an ancient Chinese fortification, which was built and rebuilt
between the 5th Century B.C. and the 16th Century (Modern Age) to protect Chinese Empire’s
northern border during successive imperial dynasties against attacks of Xiognu nomads
from Mongolia and Manchuria. Counting its ramifications and secondary constructions, it is
estimated that it is around 21.200 kilometers long from the border with Korea, to the edge
of the Yalu River, to the Gobi Desert, along an arch that delineates approximately the
southern edge of Mongolia, although today only 30% of it is preserved. On average it
measures 6 to 7 meters high and 4 to 5 meters wide.
2.5. MACHU PICCHU (PERU).-
It’s located at Cusco Department, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District, over the
Sacred Valley of the Incas, at a height of 2.430 meters and situated 80 kilometers northwest
of Cusco city, Peru and where the Urubamba river flows. which crosses the mountain range
and originates a canyon with a tropical mountain climate. Macchu Picchu was built by the
ancient Inca Civilization as a sanctuary and is considered as a masterpiece of Engineering
and Architecture. The Spanish, who conquered Peru, never knew about its existence and it
wasn’t until 1911 when it was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham, an American archeologist.
It’s believed that Machu Picchu was one of many resting places for first Inca Emperor,
Pachacutec, although by his ceremonial nature and some of the best constructions of the
city, it could be considered that it was actually a religious sanctuary, dismissing suppositions
of some research experts that supposed it also could be a military zone.
2.6. PETRA (JORDAN).-
It’s a stone city built in the 7th Century B.C. It was dug and sculpted in stone and founded by
Edomites. The city is located in Arava Valley, which is extended from Dead Sea until Gulf of
Aqaba, in Jordan. Petra is a huge city that was once an important town to pass, because it
met the silk, incense and spice routes that connected to the south of Arabia, China and
India, with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome. It has many buildings, but the most impressive
and beautiful are The Treasure or Al-Khazneh and the Monastery Ad-Deir.
2.7. TAJ MAHAL (INDIA).-
Taj Mahal was built between 1631 and 1648, by order of the Mongolian Emperor Shah Jahan
to perpetuate the memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during her fourteenth
delivery. The name of Taj Mahal means “Crown Palace” or “First Lady’s Palace” and is the
place where the woman lies, whose memory has been perpetuated, with her husband.