The New Seven Wonders of the World

The final tally produced this list of the world's top human-built wonders:

• The Great Wall of China

• Petra in Jordan

• Brazil's statue of Christ the Redeemer

• Peru's Machu Picchu

• Mexico's Chichen Itza pyramid

• The Colosseum in Rome

• India's Taj Mahal

Source

So what happens to the old 7?

Apparently they aren't considered wonders anymore because they aren't still standing. I don't think they ever actually said why we needed new ones though...

The most interesting point in the article for me, was the fact that UNESCO is distancing itself and has no connection whatsoever.

Am I right in assuming that UNESCO effectively 'owns' the sites that become "World Heritage Sites"?

Should I be embarrassed that I haven't actually heard of 3 of those before?

Any why isn't Cambodia's Angkor Wat on that list? It is, for want of a better word, simply AMAZING. If I was dying in a week and could go to only one place, that'd be it. It's a pity it isn't appreciated as much as it should be. It has been overrun with tourists, who all want to take 'just a small souvenir.'

[edit on 7/7/2007 by watch_the_rocks]

Originally posted by Rhain
So what happens to the old 7?

The only original wonder still standing is the Great Pyramid at Giza. It retains its status.

I agree with Angkor Wat, watch_the_rocks! If I recall correctly it was one of the ones up for consideration that people could vote on. The list turned out better than I expected, some of the possibilities they put forward didn't seem all that amazing. In my humble lay-opinion the list is nice, with the exception of Taj Mahal and the Christ Redeemer statue - I mean, they're nice sites, but I kind of fail to see what's so special about them.

Hagia Sophia, and Saint Peter's Basilica, for example, are much more awe-inspiring to me than the Taj Mahal. And the Christ Redeemer statue, well, it's still not all that old, and is there anything special about it, other than it's size (and dramatic location)?