New Seven Wonders of the World and the Additional Eighth!

New Seven Wonders of the World was a project that attempted to revive the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World concept in the modern time with a list of modern wonders. After the Declaration Ceremony on 07.07.07 and a successful announcement of the seven new candidates selected from voting of more than 100 million people, that attempt was a pure historic success indeed.

The origin of the idea of Seven Wonders of the World dates back to HerodotusHerodotus (484 BC – 425 BC) and Callimachus (305 BC – 240 BC), who made lists which included the Great Pyramid of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Statue of ZeusZeus at Olympia, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus, Colossus of Rhodes, and Lighthouse of Alexandria. All ancient wonders of the world except, Great Pyramid of Giza were destroyed by earthquake, fire, or other causes.

A Swiss-originated Canadian filmmaker and aviator Bernard Weber initiated a project in September 1999. The website of this project was launched in 2001. To be included on the new list, the wonders had to be man-made, completed before 2000, and in acceptable state o preservation. A total of 177 monuments were selected for consideration which was then reduced to final 21 nominations. The new Seven Wonders of the World were to be declared after voting the final 21 nominations. However, the Great Pyramid of Giza was removed from the final voting list – being the only remaining Ancient Wonder of the World, and was designated an Honorary New Seven Wonders Candidate.

The new Seven Wonders of the World include Great Wall of China, Christ the Redeemer (Brazil), Machu Picchu (Peru), Petra (Jordan), Pyramid at Chichen Itza, (Mexico) the Roman Colosseum, and the Taj Mahal (India). The Great Pyramid of Giza (Egypt) was added in to the list having an honorary status.

The same website that initiated the new Seven Wonders of the World project years ago had now also launched the Seven Wonders of Nature project as well. The 21 finalists of the Seven Wonders of Nature will be announced in July 2009 and the official new wonders of nature will be declared in the 2011. If you are a nature loving, eco-friendly, ardent admirer of wonders of nature then you better hurry up and vote for your favorite wonder you wish to see on the list of the Seven Wonders of Nature!