The New Seven Wonders

"Our Heritage is our Future"- after months of speculations and conjectures, the final 7 have been declared. With the ultimate verdict coming from the world community, the coveted new seven wonders are listed, followed by the their significances.

1. Chichen Itza, Mexico- Served as the political and economic hub of the Mayan civilization.

2. Christ Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil- A 38 meter tall statue of Christ, perched atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it took 5 years to construct the statue, and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931.

3. The Great Wall of China, China- Dating from 220 BC, this is the largest man-made monument ever to have been constructed and "is the only monument visible from space".

4. Machu Picchu, Peru- Built in the 15th century by the Incan Emperor Pachacútec, this is an extraordinary settlement lying halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. A wonder in itself, going by its location in the clouds!

5. Petra, Jordan- Situated on the edge of the great Arabian Desert, Petra was the sparkling capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). The tunnel constructions and water chambers, a 4000 capacity Graeco-Roma-styled theater, the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade on the El-Deir Monastery, exemplifies the high culture of the Middle East.

6. The Roman Colloseum, Italy- Dating from over 2000 years, this amazing amphitheater in the centre of Rome was built to give favors to successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire.

7. The Taj Mahal, India- Completed in 1658, this majestic mausoleum was built by Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaj Mahal. It's an epic of love created in white marble.

But my own judgement is somewhat different-

Instead of the Roman Colloseum, I vote for the Acropolis, Greece. The symbol of the Greek Civilization, the Acropolis was believed to radiate power and protection for its citizens.

I think, Kremlin/St. Basil, Russia, deserves to be in place of the Christ Redeemer!


The finalists-

The Acropolis, Greece
Alhambra, Spain
Angkor, Cambodia
Statues of Easter Island, Chile
Eiffel Tower, France
Hagia Sophia, Turkey
Kiyomizu Temple, Japan
Kremlin/St. Basil, Russia
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
Statue of Liberty, USA
Stonehenge, United Kingdom
Sydney Opera House, Australia
Timbuktu, Mali

Whatever our individual judgments be, let's work for the restoration and preservation of these monuments that symbolize the human race itself.