Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England
The beauty of Stonehenge lies in the mystery that surrounds its making. Just how exactly did they transport those 50ton stones all the way from Wales, by boat and stack them all together? No technology from the time could sustain the weight and distance. Also, just exactly why was this mysterious ring of stones built in the first place?
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel, this 342-metre tall metal structure was his entry into the 1889 World Fair; it was never designed to be permanent but is now considered Paris’ most famous cultural icon.
Big Ben, London, England
Big Ben is actually not a tower, it is in fact the bell that is inside the Elizabeth Tower which forms part of the UK Houses of Parliament.
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Our very own Taj Mahal is one of the most magnificent demonstrations of love in the world. This marble white building is a mausoleum commissioned by Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favourite wife who died before him. This is the first of the New7Wonders of the World to be on our list.
Statue of Liberty, New York City, New York, USA
The Statue of Liberty was actually a gift of friendship from the French to the Americans and was also built by the creator of the Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel! It was dedicated in 1886 and is now a major symbol of liberty and freedom in the United States.
Colosseum, Rome, Italy
This great ampitheatre was completed in 80AD and covers an area of 6-acres! It was once the prime location for gladiator fights, cart races, animal fights and many more forms of Roman entertainment. This incredible landmark is one of the New7Wonders of the World.
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
The Sagrada Familia is an enormous Catholic Church designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. Construction on this incredible landmark began in 1882, but Gaudí died in 1926 and by then not even a quarter of the structure had been completed. The church is now on track to be completed by 2026, 100 years after the architect’s death. However, don’t let this incompletion deter you, it is already a UNESCO Heritage Site and an awe-inspiring landmark to behold.
Great Wall of China, China
This wall is over 21,000 km long and over 2,300 years old; it is the largest man-made structure to date and incredible landmark to visit. For more information take a look at our Great Wall of China Fact File. This insanely vast wall is also one of the New7Wonders of the World.
Petra, Jordan
Source: Seetheholyland.net
Our penultimate landmark belonging to the New7Wonders of the World list is Petra, the Lost City of Jordan. Previously unseen by the Western World, this lost city was in ruins for years! Carved into the pink rocks it is a maze of rooms and great buildings that will leave you breathless.
Parthenon, Athens, Greece
Construction of The Parthenon was completed in 438BC at the height of the power of the Athenian Empire, to honour the Goddess Athena. Since then it has been a mosque and a Christian church and the centre of much controversy surrounding its marble reliefs. From 1800-1803 Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin took the marbles from The Parthenon and transported them to the UK. Since then they have been sold to the British Museum and the Greeks have been actively trying to get them back since 1983!
Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Our final New7Wonder of the World is the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was created by a French sculpture named Paul Landowski and was built by engineers Heitor da Silva Costa and Albert Caquot. It sits on top of a 700m mountain overlooking the whole of Rio de Janeiro. The statue is 30m tall and stands on an 8m tall pedestal and it opens its arms for 28m!
Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab, India
The Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple is the most holy Sikh Gurdwara in the city of Amritsar. If you visit the Harmandir Sahib you will find the holy Sikh text: Guru Granth Sahib, kept inside. The Harmandir Sahib has four entrances to symbolise the openness and acceptance of the Sikh people of all religions.
Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
Source: Jay Bergesen
The Pyramids of Giza are one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World; constructed in approximately 2560BC these structures have withstood wars, natural disasters and modernity and remain standing strong today.