New 7 Wonders of Nature facts for kids
The New 7 Wonders of Nature was a special project that ran from 2007 to 2011. Its goal was to find seven amazing natural places around the world. People from all over the globe voted for their favorites in a big online poll.
This project was the second of its kind, created by Bernard Weber from Switzerland and his New 7 Wonders Foundation. Before this, they had a similar vote for man-made wonders, like the New7Wonders of the World. More than 100 million votes were cast in the nature poll before it ended on November 11, 2011.
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How the Wonders Were Chosen
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The search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature began in 2007. This was right after the successful campaign for the man-made wonders. Over 440 natural sites from more than 220 countries first joined the competition.
These places went through different stages. First, they were narrowed down to the "Top 77." Then, a group of experts helped choose 28 "Official Finalist Candidates." People could vote for these finalists until November 2011. During this time, the New 7 Wonders team tried to visit each finalist. This helped people learn more about these amazing places before they voted.
Challenges and Fair Play
Some people had concerns about how the voting happened. For example, a leader from Indonesia's tourism department mentioned some issues. They said the company running the campaign asked for a large fee to host a special event. They also suggested that if Indonesia didn't pay, their site, Komodo National Park, might be removed from the list.
The voting system also allowed people to vote many times. This meant that governments and tourism groups could encourage lots of voting for their local sites. They hoped that winning would bring more visitors and money.
In South Korea, for instance, the government and local officials strongly encouraged people to vote for Jeju Island. Millions of phone calls were made to help the island win. This effort cost a lot of money, estimated to be around $17 million.
The Winning Wonders
After all the votes were counted, these seven incredible natural places were chosen as the New 7 Wonders of Nature:
| Site(s) | Country/Countries | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Rainforest and River |  Brazil,  Bolivia,  Colombia,  Ecuador,  French Guiana (France),  Guyana,  Peru,  Suriname,  Venezuela |
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| Hạ Long Bay |  Vietnam |
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| Jeju Island |  South Korea |
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| Iguazú / Iguaçu Falls |  Argentina, Brazil |
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| Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park |  Philippines |
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| Komodo Island (National Park) |  Indonesia |
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| Table Mountain (National Park) |  South Africa |
 |
Other Amazing Finalists
Besides the seven winners, 21 other natural sites made it to the final list. These places are also incredibly beautiful and unique:
| Site | Country | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Bu Tinah Shoals |  United Arab Emirates |
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| Dead Sea |  Jordan  Israel |
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| Great Barrier Reef |  Australia |
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| Jeita Grotto |  Lebanon |
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| Kilimanjaro (National Park) |  Tanzania |
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| Masurian Lake District |  Poland |
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| Sundarbans |  Bangladesh |
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| Maldives |  Maldives |
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| Angel Falls | Venezuela |
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| Bay of Fundy (National Park) |  Canada |
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| Black Forest |  Germany |
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| Cliffs of Moher |  Ireland |
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| El Yunque |  Puerto Rico |
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| Galapagos Islands (National Park) | Ecuador |
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| Grand Canyon (National Park) |  United States |
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| Matterhorn / Cervino |  Italy,  Switzerland |
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| Milford Sound |  New Zealand |
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| Mud Volcanoes |  Azerbaijan |
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| Uluru (National Park) | Australia |
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| Vesuvius (National Park) | Italy |
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| Yushan (National Park) |  Taiwan |
 |
See also
In Spanish: Siete maravillas naturales del mundo para niños
- New7Wonders Cities
- New 7 Wonders of the World
- Wonders of the World
