Chichén Itza (Yucatan, Mexico) The ancient city of Chichén Itza is located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. This well-known Mayan city served as a religious, political and economic center spanning several hundred years. The Pyramid of Kulkulkán -- also known as El Castillo -- is probably the most recognized ruin of Chichén Itza. This step pyramid stands approximately 80 feet high. It has nine terraces and four sets of stairs. Each staircase has 91 steps. If you include the top platform as a step, then the pyramid has a total of 365 steps – one for each day of the year! advzlclu
Christ the Redeemer Statue (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) This statue of Jesus is one of Rio de Janeiro's most widely recognized monuments. It stands 98.5 feet tall atop the summit of Mount Corcovado, which itself rises more than 2,300 feet high. It weighs approximately 700 tons and is made of concrete and soapstone. To see the statue up close, you can ride a cogwheel steam engine train up the steep 2.3-mile slope. At rail's end, there are an additional 200+ steps to climb to reach the foot of the statue. adv
Great Wall of China (China) The Great Wall is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-west line across the historical northern borders of China in part to protect the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups or military incursions. Several walls were being built as early as the 7th century BC; these, later joined together and made bigger, stronger, and unified are now collectively referred to as the Great Wall. Especially famous is the wall built between 220–206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. Little of that wall remains. Since then, the Great Wall has, on and off, been rebuilt, maintained, and enhanced; the majority of the existing wall was reconstructed during the Ming Dynasty. Including the branches, it covers approximately 4,500 miles.aoyllmpclzpe
Machu Picchu (Cuzco Region, Peru) Built in the 15th century, this ancient Incan city is nestled between two peaks – Machu Picchu (Old Peak) and Huayna Picchu (New Peak) at an elevation of 7,710 feet. It is often called the lost city of the Incas, because it was hidden amidst the lush forest and clouds for more than three centuries. Yale professor Hiram Bingham rediscovered the city in 1911. Since then, excavation research suggests that the city was home to about 1,200 residents at its peak. glyv
Petra (Ma’an Governorate, Jordan) Located in southwest Jordan are the ruins of the ancient city of Petra. Massive temples, tombs and monuments have been cut into the surrounding sandstone cliffs. Petra, which is Greek for "rock," is also known as "the city in the rock." Perhaps the most impressive Petra structure is the Sik al-Khazneh, also known as the Treasury. It is an elaborately carved and embellished tomb. Besides the decorative tomb facades and monuments, Petra is also known for its highly organized water system, which included ceramic pipes, intricate water channels and cisterns. lpnoaglyv
Taj Mahal (Agra, India) This 42-acre marble mausoleum complex located in Agra is a stunning and well-known Indian landmark. Shah Jahan, the fifth Mogul Emperor, built it as a memorial to his deceased wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. Construction, which started shortly after Mahal's passing in 1631, spanned more than two decades. It required more than 20,000 laborers and cost several million rupees. zpe
Colosseum (Rome, Italy) Built in Rome sometime around AD 70, it was the first freestanding amphitheater. Others in that era were dug out and built into the sides of hills or mountains to provide stability. Gladiator contests, group combats, battle reenactments, and other productions were held there to an audience of nearly 50,000. Today, even after some renovations in the 1990s, the wear and tear from poor weather, natural disaster and vandalism show. Nonetheless, visitors flock to this amazing sight daily. upulglyvvul
DISCLAIMERS and CREDITS: Not a scientific study. Text and information provide by Wikipedia. List does not include Mother Nature’s Wonders.
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