The Seven Wonders of the World have long been a source of fascination and inspiration for travelers. The “7 Wonders of the Ancient World” have been the longest-standing list (the first of its kind actually dates to 1st–2nd century BC!). But a campaign a decade ago for a New Seven Wonders stirred up huge interest in identifying which natural, cultural, and manmade sites should qualify as the most remarkable in the world.
As fun as it was to see the New Seven Wonders of the World (more on that below), we find that each and every country on Earth has something incredible to contribute. Let’s take a look at the formal lists, and then I’ll share the wonders broken down by country—wondering what’s of unparalleled significance in the Philippines, how about Japan, Australia, Spain, and so much more!
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The term “wonder” has no meaning if you don’t include the Grand Canyon.[/caption]
The new seven wonders turned out to be a popularity contest testing patriotism since it allowed unlimited amounts of votes—so the countries able to generate the most fervor had a leg up on others. That said, this global contest ignited huge interest and awareness for a number of incredible sites that had never previously been on the radar for a lot of tourists. The New 7 Wonders List looks like this:
And you can read more about the controversy surrounding the voting and naming of these seven sights here. And then take a look at those sites around the world that are true wonders of the world, no matter how the population votes. (This list includes which of the top 100 wonders in the world I’ve visited).
Well, now things are just getting a bit ridiculous. I do not believe that the 7 Wonders foundation has global heritage in mind. After a massive voting campaign for the new seven wonders, once that marketing opportunity had passed they announced yet another campaign, this time for natural wonders.
Here’s what the 7 Wonders of Nature List should have looked like.
Every place in the world has something to contribute to our understanding of place, culture, history, and nature. Dive into the lists below, which outline the seven wonders of each country in the world.
The Seven Wonders of the World is a fun list that has inspired a lot of people to look at other countries in a new light. The New Seven Wonders of the World furthered that fascination with the best natural and made-made beauty that every country has to offer. For that reason, my Seven Wonders …
Ladies, gentlemen and Kiwis of all ages, it’s time to dust off our categorization of the Seven Wonders of World series, inspired by the New 7 Wonders contest years back, and take a close look at all that New Zealand offers! It’s no secret we find it a fascinating country (enough that we profiled it …
Spain is a country that needs no introduction to the world on why visit—north to south the country has long attracted visitors keen to hike in the Pyrenees and explore Asturia, experience the cosmopolitan charm of Barcelona and the otherworldly landscapes in the Canary Islands. And through it all—travelers and locals enjoy world-class tapas, seafood, …
As I shared in Easter Island update, an organization has been taking votes for what should be considered the New Seven Wonders of the World. These seven wonders wouldn’t replace the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, but instead a more contemporary list of places worthy of awe and wonder. Before we get to the …
Australia is among the wealthiest countries in the world, and it’s the sixth-largest country by land size. Don’t be fooled by the size, though, as the interior is sparsely populated, and most of the life is lived along the eastern and southern rim of the continent. That means when you’re planning a trip to Australia, …
If you have been paying attention to the news the last several days, you might have heard that the New 7 Wonders Foundation released their list of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. You also might remember a similar announcement a few years ago for the New 7 Wonders of the World. The New 7 …
When the New Seven Wonders of the World came out, I added my two cents—it wasn’t always favorable, because there’s a lot that doesn’t make much sense in how that global contest panned out. Buy that list inspired me to look the countries—including the USA—that I visit with an eye toward the natural, manmade, and …
Great Pyramids and Sphinx The very fist list of wonders created by Herodotus in the 5th Century BC had the pyramids on the list. In 2,500 years, not much has changed. The Great Pyramids and the Giza Complex are still one of the most impressive sights in the world. The pyramids are from the Upper …
I bring you, in no particular order, the Seven Wonders of Japan. Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera is a Tendi Buddhist temple in Kyoto and is one of the oldest and best-known temples in a historic city filled with temples. The current building was built in 1633 by the third Tokugawa shogun and temples on the location …