Wonders of the World facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about natural and man-made phenomena and structures of the world. For other uses of "Wonders of the World", see Wonders of the World (disambiguation).

Map of places listed in various Wonders of the World lists

Have you ever wondered about the most amazing places and things on Earth? People have been making lists of the world's most incredible natural spots and human-made buildings for thousands of years! These lists are often called the Wonders of the World.

The very first known list was called the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It showed off the most amazing buildings created by people long ago. This list was made by Greek travelers and only included places around the Mediterranean Sea and the Near East. The number seven was chosen because the Greeks thought it meant perfection and plenty. It also matched the number of planets they knew about (five) plus the Sun and Moon.

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Wonders from Other Times
Modern Wonders of the World
Images for kids
See also

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The Great Pyramid of Giza, the only ancient wonder still standing today

Ancient Greek writers like Herodotus and Callimachus were among the first to make lists of seven wonders. Their original lists are lost, but we know about them from other old writings.

The classic Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were:

Great Pyramid of Giza: Located in Giza, Egypt. This is the oldest wonder and the only one still standing today!
Colossus of Rhodes: A giant statue in the harbor of Rhodes, a Greek island.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon: Said to be in Babylon, near modern-day Hillah, Iraq. Some think they might have been in Nineveh.
Lighthouse of Alexandria: A huge lighthouse in Alexandria, Egypt.
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus: A grand tomb in Halicarnassus, a city in modern-day Turkey.
Statue of Zeus at Olympia: A massive statue of the god Zeus in Olympia, Greece.
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus: A beautiful temple in Ephesus, near modern-day Selçuk, Turkey.

Wonders from Other Times

Later on, especially in the 1800s and early 1900s, people started making new lists. They called them things like "Wonders of the Middle Ages." However, these lists probably weren't made during the actual Middle Ages. The idea of a "Middle Age" didn't become popular until much later.

Many buildings on these "medieval" lists were actually built long before the Middle Ages. They were just very famous and impressive around the world. Some examples often found on these lists include:

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa: An underground burial place from the 2nd century in Alexandria, Egypt.
Colosseum: A huge arena from the 1st century in Rome, Italy.
Great Wall of China: A long series of walls built across northern China. Some parts are over 2,700 years old!
Hagia Sophia: A grand building from the 6th century in Istanbul, Turkey. It has been a cathedral and a mosque.
Leaning Tower of Pisa: A famous bell tower from the 12th century in Pisa, Italy, known for its tilt.
Porcelain Tower of Nanjing: A tall pagoda from the 15th century in Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Stonehenge: An ancient stone monument in Wiltshire, England. It was built around 5,000 years ago.

Modern Wonders of the World

Following the old tradition, many groups and people today have made their own lists of wonders. These lists include both old and new creations, and even natural places. Here are some of the most well-known modern lists.

Engineering Wonders of the Modern World

The CN Tower in Toronto, Canada

In 1994, the American Society of Civil Engineers created a list of Seven Wonders of the Modern World. They wanted to celebrate the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century.

Channel Tunnel: Connects the United Kingdom and France under the English Channel. It's the longest undersea tunnel in the world.
CN Tower: Located in Toronto, Canada. It was the tallest freestanding structure in the world for many years.
Empire State Building: A famous skyscraper in New York City, United States. It was the world's tallest building for a long time.
Golden Gate Bridge: A beautiful suspension bridge in San Francisco, United States. It was the longest of its kind when it opened.
Itaipu Dam: A huge dam on the Paraná River between Brazil and Paraguay. It's one of the largest hydroelectric power plants.
Delta Works and Zuiderzee Works: Massive water control projects in the Netherlands. They protect the country from the sea.
Panama Canal: An artificial waterway that lets ships travel between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It's one of the biggest engineering projects ever.

USA Today's New Seven Wonders

The Old City of Jerusalem

In 2006, the American newspaper USA Today and the TV show Good Morning America announced their "New Seven Wonders." These included both natural and human-made marvels. They even added an eighth wonder, the Grand Canyon, because so many viewers wanted it included!

Potala Palace: A historic palace in Lhasa, Tibet.
Old City of Jerusalem: An ancient part of Jerusalem, Israel.
Polar ice caps: The huge ice sheets at the Earth's North and South Poles.
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument: A large protected marine area in Hawaii, United States.
The Internet: The worldwide network that connects computers and people.
Mayan ruins: Ancient cities and buildings built by the Mayan people in Mexico.
Great Migration of Serengeti and Masai Mara: The amazing journey of millions of animals in Tanzania and Kenya.
Grand Canyon: A massive canyon in Arizona, United States.

Seven Natural Wonders of the World

Victoria Falls

There isn't one official list of the seven natural wonders of the world. But many groups have made their own. Here's one famous list put together by CNN in 1997:

Aurora: Also known as the Northern and Southern Lights, seen in the Earth's polar areas.
Grand Canyon: A huge, deep canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States.
Great Barrier Reef: The world's largest coral reef system, off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
Harbor of Rio de Janeiro: A beautiful natural harbor in Brazil.
Mount Everest: The tallest mountain in the world, on the border of Nepal and China.
Parícutin volcano: A volcano in Michoacán, Mexico, that grew quickly in the 1940s.
Victoria Falls: A massive waterfall on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

New 7 Wonders of the World (Global Vote)

El Castillo at Chichen Itza

In 2001, a Swiss group called New7Wonders Foundation started a worldwide online vote. People chose the New 7 Wonders of the World from a list of 200 famous places. The Great Pyramid of Giza was made an honorary candidate because it's the only ancient wonder still standing.

Great Wall of China: Built over many centuries in China.
Petra: An ancient city carved into rock in Ma'an, Jordan.
Christ the Redeemer: A large statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Machu Picchu: An ancient Inca city high in the mountains of Peru.
Chichén Itzá: A large Mayan city ruin in Yucatán, Mexico.
Colosseum: The ancient Roman amphitheater in Rome, Italy.
Taj Mahal: A stunning marble mausoleum in Agra, India.
Giza Pyramids: The famous pyramids in Giza, Egypt (honorary candidate).

New 7 Wonders of Nature (Global Vote)

Jeju Island

The same group that chose the New 7 Wonders of the World also ran a global poll for the New 7 Wonders of Nature. This vote happened from 2007 to 2011.

Iguazu Falls: A huge system of waterfalls on the border of Argentina and Brazil.
Hạ Long Bay: A beautiful bay with thousands of limestone islands in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam.
Jeju Island: A volcanic island in South Korea.
Puerto Princesa Underground River: A long underground river in Palawan, Philippines.
Table Mountain: A flat-topped mountain overlooking Cape Town, South Africa.
Komodo Island: An island in Indonesia, home to the Komodo dragon.
Amazon rainforest: The largest rainforest in the world, covering parts of many South American countries.

New 7 Wonders Cities (Global Vote)

Calle Crisologo, Vigan City

The New7Wonders group also organized a global vote to choose the New 7 Wonders Cities. These are entire cities recognized for their unique qualities.

Seven Wonders of the Underwater World

The Great Barrier Reef

CEDAM International, a group focused on ocean preservation, created a list of "Seven Wonders of the Underwater World." In 1989, marine scientists chose these places that they felt needed protection.

Palau: An island nation known for its rich marine life.
Belize Barrier Reef: A large coral reef system off the coast of Belize.
Great Barrier Reef: The famous reef off Australia.
Deep-sea hydrothermal vents: Hot springs on the ocean floor that support unique life forms.
Galápagos Islands: Islands in Ecuador famous for their unique wildlife.
Lake Baikal: The deepest and oldest freshwater lake in the world, in Russia.
Northern Red Sea: A part of the Red Sea known for its clear waters and coral reefs.

Seven Wonders of the Industrial World

Bell Rock Lighthouse

British author Deborah Cadbury wrote a book about "Seven Wonders of the Industrial World." This book and a BBC TV show explored seven amazing engineering feats from the 1800s and early 1900s.

SS Great Eastern: A huge British steamship launched in 1858.
Bell Rock Lighthouse: A lighthouse built in the North Sea off Scotland in 1810.
Brooklyn Bridge: A famous bridge in New York City, United States, opened in 1883.
London sewerage system: The system of pipes and tunnels that handles waste in London, England.
First transcontinental railroad: A railway line that connected the eastern and western United States in 1869.
Panama Canal: The artificial waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, finished in 1914.
Hoover Dam: A massive dam on the Colorado River in the United States, completed in 1936.

Seven Wonders of the Solar System

Enceladus

In 1999, Astronomy magazine listed the "Seven Wonders of the Solar System." These are amazing features found in space!

Enceladus: A moon of Saturn that has geysers of water.
The Great Red Spot of Jupiter: A giant, long-lasting storm on the planet Jupiter.
The asteroid belt: A region between Mars and Jupiter filled with many small rocky bodies.
The surface of the Sun: The bright, visible surface of our star.
The oceans of Earth: The vast bodies of saltwater that cover most of our planet.
The Rings of Saturn: The beautiful rings made of ice and rock that orbit Saturn.
Olympus Mons: An enormous volcano on Mars, the tallest mountain in our Solar System.

Images for kids

Map of places listed in various Wonders of the World lists
The Great Pyramid of Giza, the only wonder of the ancient world still in existence
CN Tower in Toronto, Canada
Old City of Jerusalem
Victoria Falls
El Castillo at Chichen Itza
Jeju Island
Calle Crisologo, Vigan City
The Great Barrier Reef
Bell Rock Lighthouse
Enceladus