Angel Falls, Venezuela
The tallest waterfall in the world, Angel Falls is located in Canaima
National Park in Venezuela. The falls are more than 19 times higher than
Niagara Falls in New York.
The first Official New 7 Wonders of the World competition was held in
2007 and drew more than 100 million voters who chose seven winners from
hundreds of international entries.
Mud Volcanoes, Azerbaijan
The Mud Volcanoes refer to formations of "geo-excreted liquids and
gasses," according to its 7 Wonders of Nature entry. Of the earth's 700
mud volcanoes, 300 are found in Azerbaijan, where they have been known
to occasionally emit flames nearly 50 feet high.
Black Forest, Germany
The Black Forest has inspired legend and folklore for centuries with its
expansive woods bordered by the Rhine Valley in southwestern Germany.
Public voting
online and via phone for the competition is now under way. The
competition was established in 2006 by Swiss-born nature enthusiast
Bernard Weber and features 28 international finalists competing for a
position on the updated list of wonders. Voters also invited to chat
about their favorite finalists on Twitter and the New7Wonders Twitter
account has over 11,000 international followers to date.
Jeita Grotto, Lebanon
A compound of crystallized caves and rivers, the Jeita Grotto in Lebanon
is a geographical marvel with its stalactites, stalagmites and rock
formations. Taken all together, the caves are more than five and a half
miles long and its official entry states that it is also home to one of
the biggest stalactites in the world, hanging at near 27 feet long.
Grand Canyon, USA
The Grand Canyon in Arizona is the only destination in the continental
United States among the 28 finalists in the New 7 Wonders competition.
Carved by the waters of the Colorado River over the course of 6 million
years, the canyon is nearly 277 river miles long, 18 miles wide and 1
mile deep.
The New 7 Natural Wonders is based on the Seven Ancient Wonders of the
World, whose ancient, man-made landmarks include the pyramids of Egypt,
Temple of Artemis, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of
Alexandria -- all located in the Mediterranean.
Halong Bay, Vietnam
Located in the Quáng Ninh province in north Vietnam, Halong Bay is home
to nearly 2,000 islands and inlets along its 75-mile coastline. Among
its coves, caves, and beaches are floating villages of fisherman, who
count among their catch 200 species of fish and 450 different kinds of
shellfish. UNESCO recognized the area in 1994 as a world heritage site
due to its cultural value, geoclimatic history and scenic landscape
El Yunque, Puerto Rico
El Yunque National Forest, located on the tropical island of Puerto
Rico, is only 28,000 acres but is home to thousands of unique plans and
smaller wildlife creatures.
Weber has been public about the New 7 Wonders' aim to publicize natural landscapes as a treasured heritage.
"This campaign should contribute to the appreciation -- to the knowledge
-- of our environment, and not just the one in our country but
worldwide," Weber told The Associated Press in 2007. "If we or our
children want to save anything, we should first appreciate it."
Maldives Islands
The Maldives Islands, an island nation composed of more than 1,000
islands in the Indian Ocean, counts among its national ecological
treasures immense coral reefs beneath its waters, which are inhabited by
thousands of different fish species.
