Christ the redeemer• Christ the Redeemer is a

statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is 39.6 metres tall, weighs 700 tons and stands on top of a mountain overlooking the city. A symbol of Christianity, the statue has become an icon of Rio and Brazil.

Christ the Redeemer Christ the Redeemer was designed by was designed by Brazilian engineer Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa Heitor da Silva Costa and sculpted by Paul and sculpted by Paul Landowski a French Landowski a French monument sculptor monument sculptor of Polis origin. of Polis origin. Construction began Construction began in 192in 19211 and ended and ended in 1931. in 1931.

Why is it a Why is it a Wonder? The Wonder? The statue‘s open arms statue‘s open arms are a symbol of are a symbol of both welcome and both welcome and protection, a protection, a gigantic statement gigantic statement of love and faith. of love and faith.

Machu Picchu

• Machu Picchu is an Inca city high in the Andes Mountains

' of Peru. The Spanish conquistadors destroyed other Inca cities, but never found Machu Picchu. It was only discovered in 1911.

Machu Machu Picchu was Picchu was built more than 500 built more than 500 years ago. It is said years ago. It is said that the Inca ruler that the Inca ruler Pachacuti cov- ered Pachacuti cov- ered the buildings in the the buildings in the city with gold. About city with gold. About 750 people lived 750 people lived there and used the there and used the city for astrological city for astrological and religious cer and religious cer emonies. emonies.

The most important The most important buildings in the city buildings in the city are the Temple of the are the Temple of the Sun and the Room of Sun and the Room of the Three Windows. the Three Windows. Why is it a Wonder? Why is it a Wonder? Machu Picchu is a Machu Picchu is a place of magic and place of magic and mystery: a hidden city mystery: a hidden city in the clouds. And the in the clouds. And the last evidence of a last evidence of a long-gone empire. long-gone empire.

The great wall of china

• The Great Wall of China is the largest man-made structure in the world. It stretches across the mountains and deserts of China for thousands of kilometres and can be seen from space!

The Great Wall is The Great Wall is actually a series of actually a series of walls. The first one was walls. The first one was built 2,000 years ago built 2,000 years ago to protect the northern to protect the northern borders of China from borders of China from the Mongol invaders. It the Mongol invaders. It was then built and was then built and rebuilt and extended rebuilt and extended until the 17th century, until the 17th century, making it the longest making it the longest building job ever! building job ever!

Millions of people Millions of people worked on the Great worked on the Great Wall over the centuries. Wall over the centuries. They were not paid for They were not paid for their work and were fed their work and were fed only enough food to only enough food to keep them alive. keep them alive. Countless workers lost Countless workers lost their lives in the process their lives in the process and many of them were and many of them were buried in the Wall. There buried in the Wall. There is an old Chinese saying: is an old Chinese saying: 'Each stone in the wall 'Each stone in the wall represents a life lost in represents a life lost in the wall's con struction. ' the wall's con struction. '

No one knows for sure No one knows for sure how long the Great Wall how long the Great Wall of China is, but it's of China is, but it's probably about 6,400 probably about 6,400 km long. In 2007, km long. In 2007, researchers set out to researchers set out to measure the Great Wall measure the Great Wall and to study its route. and to study its route. The project will take The project will take four years. Why is it a four years. Why is it a Wonder? It's the largest Wonder? It's the largest man-made monument man-made monument ever created.ever created.

Taj mahal

• The Taj Mahal at Agra is India's most famous building. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1630 in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. She died giving birth to their fourteenth child, and her last wish was to be buried in a tomb 'such as the world had never seen before.

20,000 men worked 20,000 men worked on the Taj Mahal, on the Taj Mahal, creating a beautiful, creating a beautiful, white marble building white marble building which gleamed in the which gleamed in the sunlight and was sunlight and was reflected in the waters reflected in the waters of the pool. Sadly, of the pool. Sadly, Shah Jahan became ill Shah Jahan became ill in 1657, and this in 1657, and this caused a war between caused a war between his four sons.his four sons.

The third son killed his The third son killed his rivals, took the throne rivals, took the throne and put; his father in and put; his father in prison. However, when prison. However, when Shah Jahan died, his son Shah Jahan died, his son allowed him to be buried allowed him to be buried at the Taj Mahal with his at the Taj Mahal with his wife. Why is it a wife. Why is it a Wonder? The Taj Mahal Wonder? The Taj Mahal is not only a beautiful is not only a beautiful building, but it's also a building, but it's also a symbol of one man's symbol of one man's undying love. undying love.

The roman colosseum

• The Roman Colosseum was built between 70 and 72 AD and was in use for 500 years before it was damaged by an earthquake. It still stands as one of the greatest buildings of ancient Rome.

The name 'Colosseum' The name 'Colosseum' came from a colossal came from a colossal statue of Emperor statue of Emperor Nero that stood nearby Nero that stood nearby for many years. This for many years. This open-air theatre and open-air theatre and sports arena could sports arena could seat 50,000 people seat 50,000 people who watched gladiator who watched gladiator fights, executions and fights, executions and other spectacles. other spectacles. Gladiator fights were a Gladiator fights were a popular form of popular form of entertainment in entertainment in ancient Rome.ancient Rome.

Gladiators were Gladiators were specially trained people specially trained people - slaves, criminals, - slaves, criminals, prisoners of war - who prisoners of war - who fought each other (as fought each other (as well as wild animals) to well as wild animals) to death, while blood-death, while blood-thirsty crowds cheered thirsty crowds cheered them on. Why is it a them on. Why is it a Wonder? The Wonder? The Colosseum is a Colosseum is a masterpiece of ancient masterpiece of ancient Roman architecture. Roman architecture. Besides, almost every Besides, almost every sports stadium today is sports stadium today is based on its design. based on its design.

The city of petra

• The city of Petra was hidden in the mountains of Jordan for thousands of years when a young Swiss explorer Johan Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812.

You have probably You have probably seen Petra's Alkazneh seen Petra's Alkazneh ('The Treasury‘('The Treasury‘)) in the in the last scenes of last scenes of Indiana Indiana Jones and the Last Jones and the Last Crusade. Crusade. It's only part It's only part of the lost city of of the lost city of Petra, one of the Petra, one of the earliest known earliest known civilizations in the civilizations in the Middle East. Middle East.

Temples, tombs, Temples, tombs, and other buildings and other buildings in Petra are all in Petra are all carved into the carved into the sandstone cliffs. A sandstone cliffs. A poet described it poet described it as 'a rose-red city as 'a rose-red city half as old as time.half as old as time.

Petra fell into ruin in Petra fell into ruin in the 7th century and the 7th century and was unknown to was unknown to Europeans until the Europeans until the 19th century. Why 19th century. Why is it a Wonder? is it a Wonder? Petra is an example Petra is an example of beauty combined of beauty combined with creative with creative engineering. engineering.

Chichen itza

• The city had pyramid-shaped temples and palaces, large squares, markets, baths and an astronomical observatory. Although all the buildings of Chichen Itza are now a natural stone colour, most were probably painted - some a bright red - and decorated with carvings and murals.

Why is it a Wonder? Why is it a Wonder? Chichen Itza is a Chichen Itza is a monument to a monument to a civilization which civilization which has completely and has completely and mysteriously mysteriously disappeared. The disappeared. The Egyptians were not Egyptians were not the only people who the only people who built pyramids. The built pyramids. The Maya built them, Maya built them, too. too.

Deep in the heart of Deep in the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula the Yucatan Peninsula lies Chichen Itza, a lies Chichen Itza, a former centre of the former centre of the ancient Maya ancient Maya civilization. Although civilization. Although scientists know little scientists know little about the Maya (they about the Maya (they had no written had no written language), it is language), it is believed that the believed that the construction of construction of Chichen Itza began Chichen Itza began around the 7th century around the 7th century and continued for and continued for about 200 years. about 200 years.

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINATHE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

TAJ MAHALTAJ MAHAL

THE ROMAN COLOSSEUMTHE ROMAN COLOSSEUM

THE CITY OF PETRATHE CITY OF PETRA

CHRIST THE REDEEMERCHRIST THE REDEEMER

CHICHEN ITZACHICHEN ITZA

MACHU PICCHUMACHU PICCHU

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA PERUTHE GREAT WALL OF CHINA PERUTAJ MAHAL BRAZILTAJ MAHAL BRAZILTHE ROMAN COLOSSEUM INDIATHE ROMAN COLOSSEUM INDIATHE CITY OF PETRA CHINATHE CITY OF PETRA CHINACHRIST THE REDEEMER ITALYCHRIST THE REDEEMER ITALY

CHICHEN ITZA MEXICOCHICHEN ITZA MEXICOMACHU PICCHU JORDANMACHU PICCHU JORDAN

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