The world is
full of magnificent wonders that are of tremendous interest to
historians, scientists, as well as ordinary human beings. Here is a
list of some of the most spectacular wonders in the world, both manmade and natural:
Manmade Wonders
- The Leaning
Tower of Pisa, Italy:
This
amazing bell tower was built between the years 1171 and 1350. The
builders of the tower realized that it was leaning in 1178, but
construction continued. Today, it attracts more than a million visitors
every year.
- The Mayan
Temples of Tikal,
Guatemala:
These enchanting pyramidal temples were built between the 7th
and 9th
centuries, and they represent the rich cultural heritage of the
Pre-Columbian Mayan civilization.
- The Parthenon, Greece: This
5th
century ancient temple was dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, and
it is the most important building from ancient Greece that is still
standing.
- Eiffel Tower, France: This
imposing tower measures 1,063 feet high, and it is the tallest
structure in Paris. It was built for the International Exposition in
the year 1889, and today, it stands as the symbol of the famous city.
- Banaue Rice
Terraces, Philippines:
Regarded as the 8th
Wonder of the World by the Filipinos, these rice terraces cover an area
of 4000 square miles on the mountains of Ifugao. They were made by the
ancestors of the Batad people about 2000 years ago.
- Suez Canal, Egypt: This
119-mile long canal was opened in the year 1869. It enables ships to
travel from Europe to Asia without going around the African continent.
It is regarded as one of the most important waterways in the world.
- Terracotta
Warriors, China: This
magnificent monument is made up of over 8000 terracotta life-size
figures representing soldiers, horses, officials, acrobats, musicians,
and chariots. Its construction was ordered by Qin Shi Huangdi around
210 BC.
- Angkor Wat, Cambodia:
This 12th
century Hindu and Buddhist temple is one of the most important
religious sites in South East Asia. It is the best preserved temple in
the Angkor Archaeological Park, and it features very intricate classic
Khmer architecture.
- Forbidden City, China: As
the residence of 24 Chinese emperors from the Ming to the Qing
dynasties, this imperial palace complex comprises of 980 buildings and
8,707 room bays. It covers an area of 7,800,000 square feet, and it is
home to the Palace Museum.
- Alhambra, Spain: This
beautiful palace and citadel was formerly the residence of the Moorish
rulers who governed Granada. It displays an exquisite combination of
Islamic and Christian architecture, and it is presently one of the most
popular tourist spots in Spain.
- Easter Island, Chile:
Hundreds of mysterious statues can be found on this island. These
massive stone structures were crafted about 400 to 1,000 years ago, and
it is believed that they were made to honor dead ancestors.
- Statue of
Liberty, USA: This
towering statue reaches a height of 305 feet, and it is located at the
New York Harbor. It was a gift from the French Government, and it
symbolizes the freedom of the American people.
- Stonehenge, Britain:
This monument is made up of massive stones that are laid in a circular
pattern. It was constructed between 3000 and 1600 BC, and up to today,
nobody knows for sure why and how it was built.
Natural Wonders
- Angel Falls, Venezuela:
This 2,937-foot high waterfall is known as the tallest waterfall in the
world. It is situated in the Canaima National Park of Venezuela.
- Mount
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania:
Rising to a height of 19,330 feet, the Kilimanjaro is the highest
mountain in the African continent. It is an inactive volcano that has 3
volcanic cones, and it offers a most spectacular view of the
surrounding regions.
- Niagara Falls, Canada and
USA: The Niagara Falls is North
America’s most powerful waterfall.
Although it is not very high, it has an extensive width that allows an
average of about 4 million cubic feet of water to pass over its crest
line every minute.
- Columbia Ice
Fields, Canada: This
enormous ice field covers an area of 125 square miles, and it has a
depth that ranges from 328 to 1,197 feet. It stretches from the
northwestern end of Banff to the southern tip of the Jasper National
Park.
- Galapagos
Islands, Ecuador:
These islands feature a diverse variety of endemic animal species,
which are of great interest to naturalists.
- Amazon
Rainforest, Brazil:
With
a total of 1.4 billion acres of forested area, the Amazon Rainforest is
the largest forest in the world. It is home to a wide array of plants
and animals, and it is one of the prime spots in the world for
ecological tours.
- Ngorongoro
Crater, Tanzania:
This crater is the largest unflooded and unbroken volcanic caldera in
the world. It has an area of 102 square miles and a depth of 2000 feet.
- Yellowstone
National Park, USA:
Spanning an area of 3,742 square miles, the Yellowstone National Park
is one of the largest national parks in North America. It is also home
to the Yellowstone Caldera, which is the biggest volcano in the
continent.
- Ayers Rock, Australia:
This gigantic sandstone rock formation is one of the most well-known
natural wonders in Australia. It has a base circumference of 5.8 miles
and a height of 1,142 feet. It is a sacred site to the aboriginals.
- Iguazu Falls, Argentina:
The entire waterfall system of the Iguazu is made up of 275 falls,
which are scattered over 1.67 miles on the Iguazu River. It is one of
the top natural attractions in South America.
If you are
planning to visit any of these wonders, you should plan ahead of time
to ensure a hassle-free trip. It is a good idea to secure single
trip travel insurance before
your trip, so that you will have all your medical expenses covered if
accidents should happen.
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