Seven Wonders of the World
Lists of Ancient and Modern Marvels of Engineering and Nature
Feb 7, 2008
The simple question, “What are the seven wonders of the world?” can field a range of answers, all of which are correct. Many lists have been compiled with minor disagreements occurring even in ancient times.
The following lists include structures that embody mans’ desire for beauty and drive to master his environment and also the worlds most awesome natural formations.
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Greek writers compiled the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and it is therefore not surprising that they represent the world as known in Greek culture during ancient times. There have been several differing lists discovered, but most generally agree on six of the seven wonders that are now accepted. The Great Pyramid is the only structure from this list that remains standing today.
The seven wonders of the ancient world are:
- The Great Pyramid, Egypt
- The Hanging Garden, Babylon
- The Statue of Zeus, Olympia
- The Temple of Artemis, Ephesus
- The Mausoleum, Halicarnassus
- The Colossus, Rhodes
- The Lighthouse of Alexandria
Seven Wonders of the Modern World (source: American Society of Civil Engineers)
Chosen by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 1994 from international nominations, the following man-made structures were considered the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th Century.
- Channel Tunnel, crossing the English Channel connecting England and France
- CN Tower, Canada
- Empire State Building, USA
- Golden Gate Bridge, USA
- Itaipu Dam, Brazil/Paraguay border
- Netherlands North Sea Protection Works, The Netherlands
- Panama Canal, Panama
Seven Wonders of the Natural World
- Mount Everest, Nepal
- Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe
- Grand Canyon, USA
- Great Barrier Reef, Australia
- Northern Lights
- Paricutin Volcano, Mexico
- Harbour of Rio de Janiero, Brazil
Seven Wonders of the Medieval Mind
- Stonehenge, England
- The Colosseum, Italy
- The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Egypt
- The Great Wall of China, China
- The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing (Bao’ensi – The Temple of Gratitude), China
- The Hagia Sophia (The Church of the Holy Wisdom), Greece
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
New Seven Wonders of the World
In recent times, it has been undertaken to produce an updated list of what people internationally perceive to be the modern wonders of the world. Nominations were allowed conforming to strict guidelines and voting was open to the general public internationally through SMS and online votes. The results were announced in Lisbon on the 7th July 2007.
This same group is now taking nominations for a New Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
The new seven wonders are:
- Chichen Itza, Mexico
- Christ Redeemer, Brazil
- Colosseum, Italy
- Taj Mahal, India
- Great Wall of China, China
- Petra, Jordan
- Machu Picchu, Peru
Seven Wonders of the Industrial World
This isn’t an official list, but rather a documentary series produced by the BBC in 2004. It’s intention, similar to the Modern World Wonders compiled by the ASCE, is to showcase the engineering marvels that have shaped the modern world.
- The SS Great Eastern, England.
- The Brooklyn Bridge, USA
- Bell Rock Lighthouse, Scotland
- London Sewer System, England
- The Panama Canal, Panama
- The Transcontinental Railway, USA
- The Hoover Dam, USA
Inspiring Achievements
No matter which list is reviewed, the engineering and structural achievements and the stories behind them are inspiring. The marvels of nature are no less awe-inspiring. These lists encompass locations and constructions that truly are wonders of ancient and modern times.
The fates of some of the ancient and medieval structures are outlined in Jonathan Glancey's book Lost Buildings (Cameron House, 2008)
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