The Seven Wonders of the World

        The Seven Wonders of the World are a group of places that are considered some of the most important and remarkable structures. The current wonders are the Great Wall of China, Chichén Itzá, Petra, Machu Picchu, Christ the Redeemer, Colosseum, and the Taj Mahal. On July 7th, 2007, over 600 million people voted for the new Seven Wonders of the World!

Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China took around 2,300 years to build (680 BC – 1681 AD). The Great Wall of China was built to protect China from foreign invaders. The average height of the Great wall is about 7.8 meters (26 feet), but in some parts, it reaches up to 14 meters (46 feet)! It is 21,196 kilometers (13,171 miles) long! It is the longest structure in the world. This “wall” isn’t really just a wall, it is a series of fortifications bordering China. This includes beacon towers, barriers and fortresses along the wall. The wall is made up mostly of bricks and cut stone, however, there are interesting things like rice mortar to make the bricks stick together! The Great Wall of China is a really cool thing, and I hope you get to learn even more interesting facts about it!

Chichén Itzá

        Chichén Itzá is located in Yucatan, Mexico. It was founded around 6 AD, possibly by the ancient Mayans. Many people think Chichén Itzá is a pyramid, but it is actually a popular place in Mexico. The pyramid is called Kukulkan. Kukulkan is also known as “El Castillo” meaning, the Castle. Some think the Mayans found Kukalkan there and an even older civilization really built it, but others think the Mayans built it. The Mayans made Chichén Itzá their home, and they turned it into a powerful center of religion, commerce, and government. Kukulkan is 30 meters (98 feet) tall, and it is 55.3 meters (181 feet) long. It is made from limestone bricks. It has a total of 365 steps! Chichén Itzá gets almost 2 million visitors every year! If you ever go to Mexico, you should consider going to Chichén Itzá! 

Petra

Petra is an ancient city in southwestern Jordan. Petra is the center of an Arab Kingdom in Hellenistic and Roman times. Petra’s biblical name is Sela, which translates to “rock.”  85% of Petra is underground. Petra is over 2,000 years old, and was built in the 3rd Century BC by the Nabataeans filled with tombs, monuments, palaces, temples and houses carved into the sandstone cliffs. The Nabataeans were known as nomadic merchants that became very wealthy. The Nabataeans built Petra as a center for trade and commerce, and they established a small but powerful kingdom. Petra is commonly referred to as the Lost City, it is also known as Rose City. This famous site is featured in many popular movies, and is a very interesting place!

Machu Picchu

     Machu Picchu is an Inca Citadel in southern Peru. Machu Picchu is known for artistic, architectural and land use achievements, and is one of the most significant legacies of the Inca civilization. It is often referred to as the “Legendary Lost City of the Inca”, because it was hidden in the Peruvian jungles, until 1911 when it was found by Hiram Bingham. Many archaeologists believe this citadel was built in 1450, for the Inca Emperor Pachacuti. Machu Picchu has three main structures, The Temple of the Sun, The Temple of the Three Windows, and Intihuatana. The Temple of the Sun is a sacred temple used for making sacrifices, and worshiping, only priests and high-ranked Incas were allowed inside. The Temple of the Three Windows was a large room made up of massive boulders, and had three giant holes, as windows. Intihuatana is a carved stone that had religious and astronomical purposes. This is truly an amazing place that gets over a million visitors a year!

Christ the Redeemer

Christ the Redeemer is a statue of Jesus, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the peak of Mount Corcovado. This statue was built from 1922 to 1931, taking about nine years to build. Christ the Redeemer is the tallest statue in South America at 30 meters (98 feet) tall, excluding the pedestal which is 8 meters (26 feet) high. The armspan of Christ the Redeemer is 28 meters (92 feet) wide. This project was funded by donations from the citizens of Brazil. One of the many things that Rio de Janeiro is known for is this very statue! Christ the Redeemer was built to show the divinity of Jesus Christ and the riches of his Paschal Mystery. The Paschal Mystery teaches Catholics that living, dying, and rising are a part of their religion, being Christians. This statue was built with Jesus’ arms wide open, symbolizing that everyone is welcome. The statue is a symbol of love, peace, and reconciliation!

Colosseum

   The Colosseum is located in the center of Rome, Italy. The construction started 72 AD, and was opened in 80 AD. The Colosseum was built as an amphitheater of entertainment for the people of Rome. Some events that took place here were gladiator fighting, prisoner execution/sacrificing, mythology dramas, and animal hunts. You may notice that part of the Colosseum looks like it's missing. That is due to a severe earthquake that happened in 1349. After the stone and debris that fell off, it was reused to build other structures such as palaces, churches, and hospitals. The visiting hours of the Colosseum from January to March are 8:30am-5:00pm, April to September are 8:30am-7:15pm, and October to December are 8:30am-4:30pm. This famous amphitheater is a great tourist attraction to visit! 

Taj Mahal

This famous ivory-white marble mausoleum is located in Uttar Pradesh, India. The Taj Mahal’s construction started in 1632, and ended in 1648. The construction was initiated by the emperor, Shah Jahan. He built the Taj Mahal to honor his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal. There is a tomb in the center of the 42 acre Taj Mahal, this includes a mosque and a guest room, in honor of Mumtaz. This prestigious mausoleum demonstrates Muslim art and is globally recognized as a masterpiece of world heritage! The Taj Mahal was built out of brick-in-lime mortar, marble, and precious stones. Due to all the pollution in the world, the mausoleum is slowly transitioning from white to yellow. The Taj Mahal is a great place to tour when you’re in India!

Fun Facts!

• The Seven Wonders of the World were picked on 07/07/2007

• The Great Wall of China would take about a year and a half to walk

• On top of the pyramid of Chichén Itzá is a feathered snake

• Petra has over 1,000 tombs

• Machu Picchu is earthquake resistant

• Christ the Redeemer is struck by lightning about three to six times a year

• The Colosseum can seat up to 80,000 people

• The Taj Mahal changes its colors three times a day