7 Wonders of the Ancient World

By: Mae Caissa H. Aberion

Great Pyramid OF Giza(also known as the Pyramid of Khufu)

• the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt.

• the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

• the only one to remain largely intact.

• was the tallest man-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years.

• was built as a tomb for Fourth Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Khufu.

• four faces of the pyramid are slightly concave, the only pyramid to have been built this way.

PASSAGE

Hanging Garden of Babylon is the only one whose location has not been definitively established.

• the only one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world that may not even have existed.

• most popular theory is that the gardens were built by king Nebuchadnezzar II to make his wife happy.

• If the gardens actually existed, it would have taken 8,200 gallons of water each day to keep the plants watered.

• gardens were thought to be about 75 feet high.• Many believe that if the gardens did exist they would have been located south

of Bagdad in Iraq.• Some historians and archaeologists believe that the gardens did exist and

were destroyed by war and erosion.• Some believe it was earthquakes that eventually devastated and destroyed the

gardens.• In the ‘Hanging Gardens', the plants did not actually hang. They grew from

many different levels of terraces (similar to balconies).• The word ‘hanging' comes from the Latin word ‘pensilis' or the translation of

the Greek word ‘kremastos'. It actually means overhanging instead of just hanging.

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.

also known less precisely as the Temple of Diana.

ARTEMIS

was an Olympian God, the daughter of Zeus and Leto. She was the goddess of the moon, and the goddess of the hunt. She was also the twin sister of Apollo.

• also known as the Temple of Diana.• first temple was built in approximately 800 BC.• The first temple was destroyed in the 7th century. Reconstruction began in

550 BC. It took about 10 years to rebuild it.• Some historians say it was destroyed due to a flood. Others believe it was due

to war.• second temple was approximately four times larger in area than the previous

one, rebuilt on the same site.• second time the temple was destroyed it was burned to the ground by

Herostratus. He set the fire to make himself famous. It backfired because anyone who spoke his name was then sentenced to death.

• temple was used at different times as a house of worship and as a marketplace.

• third temple lasted for about 600 years. When it was destroyed by the Goths in 268 A.D., it was never rebuilt.

• One of the reasons it was not rebuilt was because the cost of construction would have been too high.

• The site where the temple once stood is now a swamp.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece.

was about 42 feet tall.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was created by a sculptor named Phidias. It took him 12 years, from 430 to 422 BC, to complete the statue. Zeus was considered the king of the Greek gods and this magnificent statue was created to honor him. It was placed in the Temple at Olympia, a shrine to Zeus where Olympic Games took place every four years. The statue was destroyed by fire in the fifth century A.D

• Olympic Games were held every four years in honor of Zeus.• Zeus was considered to be the ‘Father of gods and men'. He was the king of

all the other gods.• was about 42 feet tall.• was made of a wooden frame and covered in ivory and gold panels.• The size of the Statue of Zeus was so large that if Zeus stood up he would

have put his head through the roof of the temple.• was destroyed by fire in the fifth century A.D. and there were no copies ever

found. All the details of the statue today are taken from depictions on coins and ancient Greek descriptions.

• was damaged by an earthquake in 170 BC but it was repaired.• Archaeologists discovered Phidias' workshop in the 1950s. During their

excavation they found the tools that he used to create the Statue of Zeus at Olympia.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was built by Artemisia after her husband Mausolus died. Mausolus and Artemisia had ruled over Halicarnassus and the region surrounding it for 24 years. When Mausolus died in 353 BC, Artemisia was reported to have been so broken-hearted she hired the most talented artists to create the most magnificent tomb in the world. The finished tomb was 147 feet tall and sat on a hill overlooking Halicarnassus.

• city of Halicarnassus where Mausolus and Artemisia ruled is now known as Bodrum, Turkey.

• word mausoleum originates from the name Mausolus. The term mausoleum became the name used for tombs built above ground from that time on.

• Mausolus' wife Artemisia was also his sister. It was common in those days for rulers to marry their sisters.

• Artemisia hired famous Greek artists to build the tomb. Two Greek architects Pytheos and Satyros designed the shape of the tomb. There were also a variety of artists who contributed various cultural influences to the tomb, including Greek, Lycian and Egyptian.

• Artemisia died two years after Mausolus, before the tomb was completed.• Most of the mausoleum was made of marble. It was surrounded by a

courtyard.• A staircase was built leading up the platform where the mausoleum stood.

There were stone lions flanking the staircase.• The mausoleum was raided by crusaders in approximately 1522 and any

treasures or the bodies of Mausolus and Artemisia were gone.• The Antipater of Sidon, who was in charge of listing the Seven Wonders of the

Ancient World, chose to include the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. His reason was that he considered it to be an aesthetic triumph.

The Colossus of Rhodes

The Colossus of Rhodes is a statue that was built on the Greek island of Rhodes between 292 and 280 BC. The statue was a depiction of the Greek Titan Helios and was meant to celebrate their victory over the ruler of Cyprus in 305 BC. At 98.4 feet high, the Colossus of Rhodes was one of the tallest statues of the ancient world. It only stood for 56 years until it was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC. When the ruler of Cyprus was defeated they left behind much of their equipment. The Rhodians sold the equipment and used the money to build the Colossus of Rhodes

• The Statue of Liberty has been referred to as the ‘Modern Colossus'. The Colossus of Rhodes was approximately 98.4 feet tall and Statue of Liberty stands at 111 feet, 6 inches, from her heel to the top her head

• stood on a 50 foot high white marble pedestal.• Both the Colossus of Rhodes and the Statue of Liberty were built as

symbols to freedom.• built in busy harbours.• took 12 years to complete.• was destroyed in an earthquake in 226 BC, but pieces of the statue lay

where it fell for centuries afterwards.• It was reported that it took approximately 900 camels to carry away all the

scrap metal.

The Lighthouse at Alexandria, Egypt.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was the first lighthouse in the world. Construction began in 290 BC and took twenty years to complete. When it was done it was the tallest building in the world at the time, except for the Great Pyramid. It was built on the island of Pharos, to help guide trade ships into its busy harbor at Alexandria, Egypt. The lighthouse was damaged by several earthquakes and eventually became an abandoned ruin. In 1994 some of the remains of the lighthouse were discovered by French archaeologists in Alexandria's Eastern Harbor.

• also known as the Pharos of Alexandria.• The city Alexandria was named by Alexander the Great. It was one

of 17 cities that he named after himself, but Alexandria was one of the few to survive. It is still a prosperous city today.

• was built beginning in 290 BC, many years after Alexander the Great's death.

• Ptolemy Soter was the ruler of Egypt who decided to build the lighthouse to guide sailors into the port.

• In today's money it would have cost about three million dollars to build. In 290 BC it cost 800 talents (the form of money in this time).

• thought to have been constructed of limestone blocks.• was approximately 450 feet tall.• Inside the lighthouse there were stairs that allowed people to

climb to the beacon chamber.• was the third longest to survive.• Today the city of Alexandria uses the symbol of the lighthouse on

the flag of the Alexandria Governorate as well as on their seal. It also appears on the seal of Alexandria University.

The 7 Wonders of Medieval Period

Stonehengeis a prehistoric monument

Stonehenge is located in Wiltshire, England, and is one of the most recognizable and famous sites in the world. Stonehenge consists of a ring of standing stones that have fascinated archaeologists, historians and the general public for many years. There are many different theories about when it was built, but most agree it was between 2000 and 3000 BC. Today Stonehenge is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and it is one of the Seven Wonders of the Medieval World.

• the Stonehenge monument itself is managed by English Heritage and owned by the Crown.

• the most well-known of over 900 stone ring monuments in the British Isles.

• Some people believe that aliens built Stonehenge but there has not been any proof of this theory. Stonehenge is often referred to when people discuss crop circles.

• Some of the more common theories about Stonehenge include: it was a religious place to worship; it was used for human sacrifice; it was a place of burial and cremation.

• Some believe that the tall stones are actually grave markers.• Some people believe that Stonehenge is actually a giant clock.• was built at least 300 years before the Egyptians built the pyramids• Visitors to Stonehenge used to be able to touch the stones but most of

the time today they are roped off.

Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa a historical archaeological site located in Alexandria, Egypt.

The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa is one of the Seven Wonders of the Medieval Ages. It is located in Alexandria, Egypt and is a historical archaeological site. The catacombs consist of several Alexandrian tombs. Although it was originally intended as a burial chamber for only one family, it was expanded to allow for many other people. These underground tunnels were built around the 2nd century A.D. and still exist today.

• was used as a burial ground from the 2nd to the 4th centuries A.D.• means Mound of Shards. The reason for this name is that there used to

mounds of terra cotta shards. These shards were once jars and other clay objects brought into the tombs by visitors. The visitors bring food and wine to consume during their visit but did not want to bring the dishes home. Instead of taking them from the ‘place of death' they would break them and leave them behind.

• built using ancient world ‘rock-cut technology'. The tombs were essential tunneled into the bedrock. The three levels of the Catacombs were cut through solid rock.

• The Catacombs are in very good shape today because they were covered for so many years and left undisturbed.

• The third level (lowest) of the Catacombs is under water today.• reach 100 feet down into the ground into solid rock.• the Catacombs were discovered by accident. A donkey lost its footing and

fell in through an access shaft. Excavators had been searching for the Catacombs since 1892 but had no luck until the donkey had his mishap.

• It's been said that the Catacombs are evidence of three cultures, religions and art that came together on Egyptian soil.

Porcelain Tower of Nanjing

considered to be one of the most beautiful temple towers in all of China

The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing is a pagoda built during the Ming Dynasty in the 15th century. The tower was designed by the Chinese Emperor Yong Le. It gets its name because it was built with porcelain bricks. The top three stories were destroyed by lightning in 1801 but it was soon restored. In the 1850s most of it was destroyed during the Taiping Rebellion. A Chinese businessman named Wang Jianlin donated the equivalent of $156 million U.S. to reconstruct the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing.

• also known as Bao'ensi which means ‘Temple of Repaid Gratitude'.• one of the Seven Wonders of the Medieval Ages. It also believed to be the

youngest of these seven wonders.• built as a Buddhist place of worship. It was also thought that it was meant to

honor Emperor Yong Le's parents, but some think it was only for his mother.• was also a place of pilgrimage until its destruction.• was nine stories tall and had an interior staircase that was 184 steps.• top of the tower was adorned with a golden sphere. Some descriptions

compared it to a pineapple.• At night the tower was lit with over 100 hanging lamps.• The site where the tower once stood has been cleaned up in preparation for

reconstruction of the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing

Hagia Sophia

is a great architectural beauty

Hagia Sophia began as a church, later becoming a mosque, and today serves as a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. Hagia Sophia was designed with a very large dome, and is said to have changed the history of architecture. Until the Seville Cathedral was built in 1520, Hagia Sophia had been the largest cathedral in the world for almost 1000 years. In 1931, after having been a mosque since 1453, Hagia Sophia was closed to the public. It remained closed for four years until the Republic of Turkey reopened it as a museum.

Interior of Hagia Sophia

• Sophia is the Greek word for wisdom. The full name of Hagia Sophia in Greek is ‘Shrine of the Holy Wisdom of God'.

• was dedicated to Logos. This was the second person in the Holy Trinity. This dedication occurred on the anniversary of the birth of Christ, December 25th.

• the third Church of the Holy Wisdom to have been built on the site. The two that were built earlier were destroyed due to rioting.

• When the church was turned into a mosque they removed the alter, the bells, iconostasis, as well as the sacrificial vessels.

• was the focal point of the Eastern Orthodox Church for 1000 years.• In the museum today there are both Islamic and Christian influences

and features• Because of the forty windows in Hagia Sophia it has become famous

for the mystical light that reflects about the nave (the area where worshipers sit).

• was designed by a physicist, a mathematician and a scientist.• visible for miles across the Sea of Mamara.• There are stone cannonballs outside the entrance to Hagia Sophia.

They are not simply stone statues. They were actually used by Mehmet the Conquerer in the 1453 battle to save the city (he was victorious).

• Work on Hagia Sophia continues today, depending on funding and available resources.

Leaning Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a freestanding bell tower located in the city of Pisa in Italy. Like its name suggest, it actually does lean to one side. The tower started to lean during construction because the foundation was built on soft ground that had difficulty supporting the weight. The lean became worse as construction continued for several decades. Between 1990 and 2001 it was stabilized and the lean was partially fixed.

• is a circular shape and has eight floors. The 7 bells are located on the eighth floor.• In Italian the Leaning Tower of Pisa is Torre pendente di Pisa.• was built as a freestanding bell tower for the cathedral in Pisa.• On the side where the tower is lower because of the lean it stands at 187.27 feet. On the

high side of the tower it stands at 186 feet.• The tower weighs about 14,500 tons. That's a lot of weight for a building to have to

support when it has been leaning since it was built.• There are approximately 294 steps on the north side and 296 steps on the south side of

the tower.• took 344 years to build, beginning in August 1173.• began to lean in 1178 once construction on the second floor had begun. The lean was

due to one side sinking into the soft ground.• construction was stopped twice, the first time for 100 years, the second time in 1284.

Both times it was due to wars.• Inside the tower there are seven bells. Each bell represents one note of the musical

major scale.• Nobody seems to be able to pinpoint the identity of who the actual original architect

really was.• became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Also included in this designation were

the cathedral, cemetery and the baptistery.• Some people have suggested that the tower should be straightened. The people have

Pisa had said they would rather see it fall over than be straightened. After all, how could you call it the Leaning Tower of Pisa if it didn't lean?

7 wonders of the World

Christ Redeemer

Christ the Redeemer is a statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil that was built as a symbol of Brazilian Christianity. In 1850, the idea of building a religious monument was first suggested by a Catholic Priest. It wasn't until 1920 when a group petitioned for support to build a landmark statue that it became a reality. The design was chosen from several ideas and construction began in the 1920s, taking nine years to finish. Today, Christ the Redeemer is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

A view of the Corcovado before the construction, 19th century.

• the largest art deco statue in the world. It is 98 feet tall (not including the 26 foot pedestal), and the arms stretch to 92 feet wide.

• weighs approximately 635 tonnes.• located in the Tijuca Forest National Forest, at the top of the Corcovado

Mountain.• considered an icon of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil• the 5th largest statue of Jesus.• The money to build Christ the Redeemer came from Brazil's Catholic

community.• The chosen statue is meant to show that Christ loves all and will embrace all

that come to him.• The stones that were used to build Christ the Redeemer came from Sweden.• The statue was completed in 1931. It officially opened on October 12, 1931.• In 2003 there were escalators, elevators and walkways installed. These made

it possible to access the platform that surrounds Christ the Redeemer.• This statue became one of the New Seven Wonders of the World on July 7th,

2007.

Great Wall of China

Across the historical northern borders of China is a wall built of stone, wood, earth and other materials. It was built to protect the Chinese Empire from invasion as well as to impose border control and control immigration and emigration. It was built by more than one emperor and the majority of its reconstruction occurred during the Ming Dynasty. The wall includes watch towers, barracks and also allowed signals to be sent by smoke and fire. Archaeological surveys have estimated the length of the wall to be about 13, 171 miles long.

• was a series of several walls that were eventually joined together. The first were built in the 7th century BC.

• The wall served several purposes such as protection, control, taxes, immigration and emigration, and it was even used as a transportation corridor.

• One of the Seven Wonders of the Medieval World.• was classified as one of the world's great national and historical sites by

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1987.

• was being built it was commonly referred to as ‘the longest cemetery on earth'.• It is estimated that more than one million people died during construction. It is

also the longest structure in the world built by man.• Qin Shi Huang was the first to have extensive walls constructed. Qin is

pronounced ‘chin' and is how the word China came to be.• Before the 20th century, the Great Wall of China was rarely depicted in any

Chinese art• Due to erosion, there is a section of the Great Wall that may disappear in the

next 20 years.• In the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Great Wall of China was the finish spot for a

cycling course

Machu Picchu( “Old Mountain.” )

Machu Picchu is an Inca site in Peru that is thought to have been built as an estate for Pachacuti, an Incan emperor. It was built in the 15th century, approximately around 1450. It was abandoned as a place for Inca rulers in about 1572. It was discovered by the outside world in 1911and has since become a tourist attraction. By 1976 at least 30% of the site had been restored and those restoration efforts still continue today

• also known as the Lost City of the Incas.• located on the eastern Andes mountain slopes in a tropical mountain forest.• 7,970 feet above sea level.• Yale Professor Hiram Bingham is thought to be one of the first non-Peruvians

to lay eyes on the site in 1911.• was named a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981, and two years later, in

1983 UNESCO classified it as a World Heritage Site.• one of the most important historical Latin American sites and covers an area

of 32,500 hectares.• was built with polished dry stone walls.• under threat from several different sources. These include too many

tourists, and the fact that weather and earthquakes can make access difficult.

• To visit the site today it takes either a four day or two day journey by foot. It can also be reached by train that only takes a few hours.

• One of the reasons Machu Picchu may have been abandoned is because of an outbreak of smallpox.

Roman Colosseum; Roman Italy ( Originally called “The Flavian Amphitheater” )

The Colosseum is an amphitheatre in the center of the city Rome, in Italy. It is also known as the Flavian Amphiteatre. It is the largest amphitheatre in the world and considered to be one of the greatest Roman architecture and engineering works. It was used for a variety of events and could hold 50,000 people. Earthquakes and stone robbers left it in ruins, but part of it still stands today.

• also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre because it was built during the Flavian dynasty. It got the name Colosseum because of a statue that was located alongside the amphitheater called ‘the colossus of Nero'.

• Construction began in 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian.• It took 60,000 Jewish slaves to build the Colosseum. It was built of stone and concrete.• He built underground tunnels to hold slaves and animals. He also built a gallery to the top for additional seating.• Several different events were held in the Colosseum including gladiator contests, mock battles and animal hunts,

and dramas that were based on Classical mythology. If they held a mock sea battle they flooded the Colosseum with water.

• There were also re-enactments of famous battles and executions held in the amphitheatre.• was used for entertainment for 390 years.• Some of the events and games that were held in the Colosseum lasted for up to 100 days.• In the early medieval era it was no longer used for entertainment purposes. Eventually it was used for workshops,

housing, religious quarters, a quarry, a fortress and even as a Christian shrine.• In the early medieval era it was no longer used for entertainment purposes. Eventually it was used for workshops,

housing, religious quarters, a quarry, a fortress and even as a Christian shrine.• one of the most popular Roman tourist attractions today.• has become a symbol against capital punishment.• Today, any time anyone in the world has their sentence of death commuted (overturned) or they are released, the

lights in the night time illumination of the Colosseum change from white to gold. This color change also occurs whenever a jurisdiction abolishes the death penalty as well.

has over 80 entrances and can accommodate about 50,000 spectators

Petra: Jordan ( also known as Rose City)

Extraordinary entrance

Petra is the most popular attractions in Jordan for tourists and also one of the world's most famous historical archeological sites. It is an ancient city located between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. The city is half man-made and half carved into the rock and had a water conduit system that is also one of the reasons the city is famous. It is often referred to as the Rose City because of the rose color of the rock from which the city was carved. The Western world knew nothing of Petra until a Swiss explorer introduced it in 1812.

• was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985• UNESCO also described Petra as ‘one of the most precious cultural

properties of man's cultural heritage'.• was the center of caravan trade, an important junction for the silk trade.• Petra is the Greek word for rock.• approximately 800 structures in Petra. The most famous is Pharoah's

Treasure, a mausoleum.• was captured by Muslims in the 7th century and by the Crusaders in the

12th century.• was used as one of the settings in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last

Crusade• Only 15% of Petra has been explored by archeologists. The rest remains to

be discovered.

SOUVENIR AREA

BLUE CHAPEL, PETRA

Taj Mahal: Agra, India(referred as the “crown of palaces”)

The Taj Mahal in India was built by a grief-stricken emperor Shah Jahan. His wife Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631 while giving birth to their 14th child. Construction of the Taj Mahal began one year later and it was built to be the final resting place of Mumtaz Mahal. Different types of marble from all over the world were used to build this mausoleum. Today, millions of people come from all over the world to visit this famous and beautifully designed Islamic tomb in Agra, a city in northern India

• Mumtaz Mahal was Shah Jahan's third wife. Her name was originally Arjumand Bano Begum but when she married Shah Jahan she was christened as Mumtaz Mahal which means ‘Jewel of the Palace', or ‘Chosen One of the Palace'.

• Taj Mahal means ‘crown of places'.• took approximately 20 years and approximately 20,000 workers to complete.• There were also about 1000 elephants used to transport the materials needed

for construction.• Taj Mahal complex also has additional mausoleums, a mosque, a reflecting

pool and large garden to add to its beauty.• stands at 561 feet tall.• material used to build the Taj Mahal is white marble. The marble used in

construction was brought from many different countries.• The color of Taj Mahal appears to change color depending on the time of day.

The color change also depends on whether there is moonlight at night.• UNESCO has designated the Taj Mahal as a World Heritage Site and it is also

one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The ‘New' Seven Wonders of the world were chosen by people voting from all over the world.

• Taj Mahal was built for Mumtaz Mahal, Shah Jahan was also laid to rest in the tomb alongside his late wife.

Chichen Itza, Yucatan Peninsula

• a world-famous complex of Mayan ruins on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula.• Chichen Itza also means ‘at the mouth of the well of the Itza'.• It was one of the largest Maya cities and also had the most diverse

population in any Maya population. It covered five square kilometers.• There is a wide variety of architectural styles that is attributed to the fact

that Chichen Itza had such diverse population and culture.• All the buildings of Chichen Itza are made from stone. It's also thought that

the Maya did no use the wheel to build any of their temples, pyramids or palaces.

• considered to be one the Seven Wonders of the New World.

CHAC MOOL

TEMPLE OF THOUSAND WARRIORSTEMPLE OF CHAC MOOL

BALL COURT AT CHICHEN ITZA

7 Wonders of Underwater

Palau home to one of the most beautiful and intact marine environments in the world

• an archipelago of over 500 islands, part of the Micronesia region in the western Pacific Ocean.

Belize Barrier Reef

 

world's second largest coral reef.

• a very large coral reef located off the coast of Central America’s country of Belize.

• the reef notably contains the largest blue hole known on Earth, the Great Blue Hole.

• officially known as the ‘Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System.• second largest coral reef on Earth and largest reef of the northern hemisphere

is Belize Barrier Reef.• covers an area of 963 square kilometres (372 square miles), and is

approximately 300 kilometres (186 miles) in length.• was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, and later marked as

endangered in 2009, mostly due to illegal hunting, fishing and timber removal.• Species discovered in the vicinity of Belize Barrier Reef include 65 coral

species, 350 species of mollusc, more than 500 fish species, as well as numerous other species; while it is said that 90 percent of the reef’s total number of species have not yet been discovered.

• home to seven designated and protected reserves, 450 sand islands known as ‘cays’, plus three ring shaped reefs known as ‘atolls

• popularly visited by tourists for its prized snorkelling and scuba diving attractions, with more than 128,000 tourists visiting the reef annually.

• Many bird species can be found in the area of the Belize Barrier Reef, as well as vulnerable or endangered species like the American crocodile, a number of turtle species, and the West Indian manatee.

Great Barrier Reef

• is blessed with the breathtaking beauty of the world's largest coral reef. • covers 132, 973 square miles along the coast of Queensland, Australia.• made up at least 900 separate islands and 2 900 individual reefs.• There are 400 species (different types) of corals in the Great Barrier Reef.

Coral reefs are made up of many thousands of individual animals called coral polyps that form colonies.

• There are 215 species (different types) of birds .• There are 1500 species of fish on the Great Barrier Reef.• There are 6 species of Turtles.

Deep-Sea Vents

• a fissure in a planet's surface from which geothermally heated water issues.

• commonly found near volcanically active places, areas where tectonic plates are moving apart, ocean basins, and hotspots.

• The black smokers found deep under the sea. They release the darkest and hottest plumes.

Galapagos Islands a series of volcanic islands.

• a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. • considered one of the world's foremost destinations for wildlife-viewing• A province of Ecuador, it lies about 1,000km off its coast. Its isolated

terrain shelters a diversity of plant and animal species, many found nowhere else.

• Charles Darwin visited in 1835, and his observation of Galápagos' species later inspired his theory of evolution.

Lake Baikal is a rift lake in the south of the Russian region of Siberia.

 Baikal. Sunset view from the ice grotto on the island of Kharantsy

• an inlet of the Indian Ocean between Asia and Africa.• The Gulf-of-Aden and the Bab el Mandeb sound connect

the sea to the ocean.• The Gulf of Aqaba, Sinai Peninsula and the Gulf of Suez connect

the Red Sea to the ocean in the Northern part

Northern Red Sea is the world’s largest harbor of sand with an expansive stretch of land and serene beauty all around. 

• considered one of the most beautiful submarine paradises of the world.

• called sometimes an underwater “Garden of Eden” and is considered by CEDAM one of the seven Underwater Wonders of the World.

• The Red Sea is a salt water inlet of the Indian Ocean which is between Asia and Africa.

• This large natural channel is around 1900 Kilometers length, between 100 to 300 Kilometers breadth and about 500 meters depth.

• Its water sometimes turned a slightly red, due to the blooming of a particular kind of microorganisms known as “Red Algae” (Cyno-bacteria or Trichodesmium Erytreum).

• This also the reason of its name; since, it is a literal translation from the Greek phrase “Erythra Thalassa” that literally means Red Sea.

• inhabited by 1000 different kinds of fish, more than 1000 species of invertebrates and around 400 different types of corals; almost 10% of these species are endemic

7 Wonders of Nature

Amazon Rainforest and Riveris the largest tropical rainforest in the world.

• Amazon rainforest is a moist, broadleaf forest.• covers most of the Amazon Basin in South America. The basin is 2.7

million square miles while the Amazon covers 2.1 million square miles of it. If the Amazon rainforest was a country, it would rank 9th in size

• nine nations that have the Amazon rainforest in their borders are: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

• Amazon rainforest accounts for more than half of the entire world's remaining rainforests.

• home to 10% of the known species in the world.• home to 205 of the bird species in the world.• There are over 40,000 different plant species and approximately 2.5

million insect species in the Amazon rainforest.• also referred to as the ‘Lungs of the Planet' because it produces more

than 20% of the world's oxygen.• If you were caught in the rain in the Amazon you would have about 10

minutes to find your umbrella. The trees are so tightly packed that it can take 10 minutes for the rain to reach the ground below.

Ha Long Bay is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests.

• means 'descending dragon bay'. • Many of the more than 1960 islands have secluded beaches, grottos and

caves.• There are 450 different mollusks and 200 different species of fish in

Halong Bay.• Most of the islands in Halong Bay are limestone. This limestone has been

forming for over 500 million years.• Some of the islets (small islands) rise from the water to heights of up to

330 feet.• There are both an oceanic and seashore bio-system and a tropical

evergreen bio-system in this region.• There are 60 widespread faunal and 14 widespread floral species in this

region.• UNESCO classified the core of Halong Bay as a World Heritage Site in 1994.• Halong Bay was classified as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012.

Iguazu Falls the largest waterfalls system in the world

• There is a legend that explains how the falls were created. A god was to marry Naipi, a beautiful woman. This woman canoed away with her lover, angering the god. The god was enraged and sliced the river, which not only created the falls but condemned the two lovers to fall for eternity.

• falls are 1.7 miles long, divided by islands along its edge. These falls range from 197 to 269 feet high. The average height of most of the falls is 210 feet.

• actual number of waterfalls fluctuates depending on the water level and how much water is flowing. The number ranges from 150 to 300 falls at any given time.

• Three cities in three countries, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, have access to Iguazu River• Two-thirds of Iguazu Falls are on the Argentina side.• Of all the waterfalls in the world, Iguazu has the highest annual average flow, more than Niagara Falls.• Iguazu Falls is taller than, and twice as wide as Niagara Falls.• Iguazu Falls was formed as the result of a volcanic eruption. This eruption left a large crack.• The most impressive falls of Iguazu Falls is called ‘The Devil's Throat'. It is a U-shaped chasm where 14 falls plunge

more than 350 feet.• There are approximately 2000 plant species in the rain forests around Iguazu Falls.• Iguazu Falls can be seen in many movies including: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Miami Vice,

Mr. Magoo, and many more.• Iguazu Falls was declared one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature on November 11, 2011. It is also a UNESCO World

Heritage Site

Jeju Islands is defined by its volcanic landscape full of craters and cavelike lava tubes.

Bonsai Garden Mount Hallasan

• highest mountain in South Korea, Hallasan (Halla Mountain), is located on Jeju Island. The peak of the mountain looks like a giant crater.

• a popular honeymoon destination for Korean newlyweds. It has beautiful beaches and waterfalls that take one's breath away. It is a tropical paradise.

• Jeju Island is one South Korea's nine provinces.• Jeju Island has also been called the ‘Hawaii of Korea'.• It has also been nicknamed Samdado which means the ‘island of three

abundances'.• The three abundances this refers to are the wind, rocks and women. The women

are said to be extremely beautiful.• Jeju Island is home to 947 insects species.• It is also home to 8 different reptiles, 8 different amphibians, 198 different types

of birds and more than 17 mammals.• Jeju Island is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. This list was created from

a global pole taken from 2007 to 2011

Komodu Island

a national park in Indonesia

• covers an area of 390 square kilometers. It is 15km wide and 30km long.• There are 2000 people that live on the island as permanent residents.• The religions of the people that live on the island are Hindu, Christianity, and

Islamic.• Komodo Island is part of a chain of islands known as the Lesser Sunda Chain.• Komodo Island's rainy season is from January to March. Although this is the

rainy season, Komodo Island does not get the torrential rain that the rest of Indonesia experiences.

• Komodo Island is believed to have been formed approximately 1 million years ago.

• In 1991, Komodo National Park was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.• Komodo Island became one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature on November

11,2011

Puerto Prinsesa Undergroundis a protected area of the Philippines located about 80 kilometres north of the city centre of Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

• river is 8.2km long and flows underground through natural rock formations such as caves, stalactites, and stalagmites.

• Only 4.3km of this are easily traveled by tourists. If tourists wish to travel the other 3.9km they have to obtain a special permit. In some of this 3.9km it is possible to wade in the river.

• Inside the open chambers of the trip down Puerto Princesa Underground River, it's common to hear the bats chattering. Tourists usually wear helmets as the bats also have a tendency to poop on them.

• The monkeys in Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park are so used to being fed by people that they will now grab food from visitors.

• The river is also called the St. Paul Underground River.• Puerto Princesa Underground River was once believed to be the longest

underground river in the world. This was proven false when a longer underground river was discovered in Mexico.

• Puerto Princesa Underground River was designated as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature on January 28, 2012.

Table Mountainthe only natural site on the planet to have a constellation of stars named after it – Mensa, meaning “the table

• Table Mountain is featured on Cape Town's flag.• It got its name because of its flat top.• highest point of Table Mountain is 3,563 feet above sea level. It's called

Maclear's Beacon for the man who built a stone cairn at the site in 1865

• today there are more than 350 trails to the top of Table Mountain.• Table Mountain has many sandstone caves. The largest is Wynberg.• The original name of Table Mountain was Howrikwaggo. Translated

this means ‘mountain in the sea' or ‘sea mountain'.• Table Mountain is one of the most popular visitor destinations in Cape

Town and approximately 800,000 people visit it each year.• The most common animal found on the mountain is a mammal that

resembles a guinea pig called the rock hyrax or the dassie. Although it resembles a guinea pig, its closest relatives are the sirenian and the elephant.

• It is thought to be one of the oldest mountains in the world. The rocks of the mountain are approximately 600 million years old.

• Table Mountain is 6 times older than the Himalayas. It's 5 times older than the Rocky Mountains.

• Table Mountain is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.