Seven Alternative Wonders Of The World

Over the years, there have been many landmarks that have been considered to be “Wonders of the World.” The first list that mentioned this came out prior to the AD days. This list contained the ancient wonders of the world and contained the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Mausoleum at Halicarnasus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and Pharos Lighthouse at Alexandria.

Then, there was a list of the New Seven Wonders of the World. These official ones are the Great Wall of China, Petra, the Roman Colosseum, Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal, and the Christ the Redeemer Statue. If they were to make a new list of more modern wonders, what would it look like? Here are our picks for the new Seven Alternative Wonders of the World.

The Eiffel Tower

There are a lot of manmade structures that have been placed into the lists of the Seven Wonders of the World, and it’s stunning to see that the Eiffel Tower didn’t make the cut in any of them. Located in Paris and created by engineer Gustave Eiffel’s company, it’s perhaps the most well-known structure in the world. Completed in 1889, the Eiffel Tower stands at over 1,000 feet and is visited by more than 7 million people each year.

The Golden Gate Bridge

Compared to a lot of countries around the world, the United States is extremely young, so it’s no surprise that there haven’t been any entries into the Seven Wonders of the World list. However, America has had plenty of manmade structures (and natural wonders) that should be considered for any of the lists. The first in mind is the Golden Gate Bridge, which is an Art Deco design that spans over 2,700 feet over the San Francisco Bay in California. Designed by Irving Morrow, the Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937.

The Statue of Liberty

Staying in the United States, the building that has become the overall symbol of the United States should truly be considered a wonder. As many know, though, the statue was designed by Frenchman Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and even put together in large part by Gustave Eiffel himself. The French gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States as a gift, and it currently stands on Liberty island, overlooking the New York Harbor.

Mount Rushmore

The third and final entry of American wonders on the list is Mount Rushmore, which is located in Pennington County, South Dakota. The sculpture was carved into the side of the Black Hills and was completed after more than a decade of work from start to finish. Mount Rushmore depicts some of America’s founding fathers, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln from left to right. Though it’s in a remote area, there are still more than 2 million people each year who make their way to see Mount Rushmore in person.

Big Ben

If you’re not from England and were asked to close your eyes and picture London, the first thing that your brain would probably come up with is Big Ben. The clock tower that sits at the end of the Palace of Westminster is now named the Elizabeth Tower officially, but everyone still refers to it simply as Big Ben, though it’s contested on whether it was named for Sir Benjamin Hall or Benjamin Caunt. Either way, the clock tower was completed in 1859 and stands over 310 feet tall.

Sydney Opera House

By far the newest structure on the list, the Sydney Opera House was completed in 1973 after more than a decade of construction. It has since become the most recognizable building in all of Australia as it overlooks the Sydney Harbour. The SOH has several venues within the structure and has hosted some of the biggest events in Sydney. The building was even considered for the New 7 Wonders of the World list but just missed the cut.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

You probably thought that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was already on one of the lists, but surprisingly it’s not. Originally breaking ground in 1173, it wasn’t until 1372 that the Tower of Pisa was completed. It started leaning long before completion, too, because of the soft ground it was built on. All these centuries later, the building still stands 183 feet in height. Of course, it has become one of the most photographed buildings in the world as people have to see it to believe it and want to remember their visit.