There are many places around us that are considered to be unique and magnificent to the extent that they are called the wonders of the world and this is because they surprise us to be left astonished by the magnificence of what we see. The wonders of the world include man-made structures and natural sites that attract many people from around the world every year and dazzle them by their unprecedented beauty that cannot be found anywhere. There are several lists that present to us the wonders of the world and they differ in the places and sites that they present because they depend on using different criteria without being restricted to using a specific one, but the only feature that is common amongst the lists is using number seven which was believed by the Greeks to represent plenty and perfection. The wonders of the world are not only ranked amongst the most fascinating places in the world and the most popular tourist attractions that are visited by a large number of tourists throughout the year, but they are also considered to be must-see places for those who like travelling around the world and discovering new and awesome places which are really unique in their beauty. Let’s get more information about the top 10 must see wonders of the world and where they are located.
10. Aurora
It is one of the most stunning and awesome natural wonders that can be found in this world. The word “aurora” has two Latin meanings; the “sunrise” or the “goddess of dawn”. This unique phenomenon is a natural light display that appears in the sky of two main regions which are the Antarctic and Arctic ones. It appears in the form of a band that can be clearly seen at night when the sky is dark and it comes in different colors such as red, green and blue.
9. Grand Canyon
It is one of the most famous tourist attractions that can be found in the United States and it is visited by many tourists from around the world. The canyon was carved 17 million years ago by the Colorado River in the state of Arizona, United States. The width of the canyon is 18 miles (29 km), the depth is 1,800 meters (6,000 feet) and the canyon stretches to cover 277 miles (446 km).
8. Great Barrier Reef
It is the largest coral reef system that can be found in this world and is also the biggest structure that is made by tiny living organisms. It is located in the Coral Sea, Australia and consists of more than 2,900 individual reefs in addition to 900 islands that stretch to cover more than 2,300 km (1,400 miles). The Great Barrier Reef was selected in 1981 as a World Heritage Site.
7. Great Wall of China
It is one of the oldest tourist attractions that you can find in this world. It is a series of fortifications that were built across the northern borders of china for protecting the Chinese Empire from any intrusions or incursions by nomadic groups and military forces. The Great Wall of China was built in the 7th century BC from different materials such as brick, wood, stone and other materials and it measures about 13,171 miles (21,196 km).
6. Petra
It is a historical city that is located in Ma’an Governorate, Jordan and was built in the 5th century BC. Petra is also called the Rose City and this is because of the rose color of the stone that is used for carving the city with its magnificent structures. Petra is considered to be a symbol of Jordon and is the most visited tourist attraction in the country. The city remained unknown for a long time especially to the Western world until it was seen by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812.
It is an Inca site that is also known as Machu Pikchu and was built in the 15th century. The site is located in Cusco Region, Peru 2,430 meters (7,970 ft) high above the sea level. It can be found on a mountain summit that is situated above the Sacred Valley through which the Urubamba River runs. The site was built by Incas in 1450 as an estate for their emperor Pachacuti according to most of the archeologists.
It is a large city that is situated in the municipality of Tinum, Yucatan, Mexico and was founded in c. AD 600. The archeological site was built by the Maya people of the Terminal Classic and this city is renowned for the diversity of its architectural sites and this diversity is caused by the wide variety of population in this Maya city. This city is considered to be the most visited archeological site in Mexico and its ruins attract millions of tourists from around the world every year.
It is an elliptical amphitheatre that is also referred to as the Flavian Amphitheatre and is located in the center of Rome, Italy. Constructing Colosseum started in 70 AD and it was completed in 80 AD. It was built of stone and concrete and the number of spectators that it could accommodate is estimated to be approximately 50,000 to 80,000. This structure was considered to be the largest amphitheatre constructed by the Roman Empire and it is still the world’s largest amphitheater till now.
There is no one who does not know this magnificent place as it attracts millions of tourists every year. The word Taj Mahal means in English the Crown of Palaces. Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum that is located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India and its construction started in 1632 to be completed in 1653. It was built in memory of Mumtaz Mahal who is the third wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. It is considered to be one of the most important architectural sites in the world since it is a combination of various architectural styles such as the Persian, Turkish, Ottoman, Indian and Islamic styles. The magnificence of this building and its architectural style makes it called “the jewel of Muslim art”.
1. Great Pyramid of Giza (Honorary Candidate)
It is the only original wonder to survive till now and this is why it is named on different lists as an honorary candidate. The Great Pyramid of Giza is also referred to as the Pyramid of Khufu which is the name of its owner “the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu”. The pyramid is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and is the only one to remain without being destroyed. The Great Pyramid is located in El Giza, Egypt and was built in 2560 BC. The pyramid was built to be used as a tomb for King Khufu. The Great Pyramid is 146.5 meters (481 feet) which made it ranked as the tallest man-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years. The Great Pyramid of Giza is now out of several lists that present the 7 wonders of the world.
