The Wonders of the World
- Annie Mason
- Jan 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 15
Did you notice I didn’t say Seven Wonders? That’s because it isn’t that easy. People have been making lists of extraordinary natural and human‑made places for thousands of years. The Greek historian Herodotus (484–425 BC) was the first to write down what became known as the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. A Grrek poet a few hundred years later named them for sll to see. Side note: the number seven was considered powerful, rich, and lucky in many early cultures — which is partly why it stuck.
Fast‑forward to the 1990s, when a Swiss filmmaker revived the idea and the world rediscovered its fascination with “wonders.” The hope was that giving a place this kind of recognition might help protect it. Sadly, history shows that war, neglect, and time have destroyed most of the original ancient wonders. But today, the title still carries weight — and with it, the hope that these remarkable sites might be preserved for future generations.
If, like me, you want to see them all — whatever list you choose to follow — here’s a guide to get you started.
Today we have a few 7 Wonders lists. These Include:
The Original 7 Ancient Wonders: This list is much disputed but seems as close as we get to the original list made thousands of years ago.Of these wonders, 4 were destroyed by earthquake, 2 were destroyed by fire, and only 1, the Pyramids of Giza remains.
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus- Turkey
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus- Greece
Colossus of Rhodes- Greece
Lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt
You may ask yourself, Are there any of these ancient wonders left that we can still see? I asked myself the very same question, and over the years I’ve dragged my husband — and often three children in tow — across continents to find out. I wanted to see if it was still possible to visit each of these legendary sites. I’ve managed to reach them all, and I feel truly blessed that, at different stages of my travelling life, they were still accessible to curious wanderers like me. But I’m sorry to say… there isn’t a lot left of most of them. And if you ever drag three teenagers to a pile of rocks in the back of Turkey, they may be less than impressed. Still, if these wonders are on your list — or simply on your mind — here’s a quick look at what you can expect to see at each site today.
1. Great Pyramid of Giza — Egypt
What it was: The largest and oldest of the pyramids, built as the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu.
What you can see today: The pyramid itself is still standing and remarkably intact. You can also visit the Sphinx, smaller pyramids, and some interior chambers.
Status: The only ancient wonder still surviving.
---
2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon — Iraq
What it was: A legendary multi‑tiered garden said to have been built in ancient Babylon.
What you can see today: No confirmed remains. The ruins of Babylon can be visited, but the gardens themselves may have been mythical or located elsewhere.
Status: Lost to history.
---
3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia — Greece
What it was: A massive gold‑and‑ivory statue of Zeus housed in the Temple of Zeus.
What you can see today: Ruins of the temple, foundations, and columns. The archaeological museum displays artefacts from the site.
Status: The statue was destroyed; only the temple ruins remain.
---
4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus — Turkey
What it was: One of the largest temples of the ancient world, rebuilt several times.
What you can see today: A single reconstructed column and the temple foundations. The nearby ruins of Ephesus are extensive and beautifully preserved.
Status: Mostly destroyed.
---
5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus — Turkey
What it was: The monumental tomb of Mausolus, decorated with sculptures.
What you can see today: Foundations and scattered stones at the site. Some sculptures are displayed in the British Museum.
Status: Ruins only.
---
6. Colossus of Rhodes — Greece
What it was: A giant bronze statue of the sun god Helios, said to stand over 30 metres tall.
What you can see today: Nothing of the statue remains. You can visit Mandraki Harbour, traditionally believed to be its location.
Status: Destroyed by an earthquake.
---
7. Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos) — Egypt
What it was: A towering lighthouse guiding ships into Alexandria’s harbour.
What you can see today: Underwater remains near Fort Qaitbey, with some stones incorporated into the fort’s structure.
Status: Destroyed by earthquakes; fragments survive underwater.
Because only one of the original Ancient Wonders still exists, and so many extraordinary places have been created or discovered since, it was inevitable that the old list would eventually be reconsidered. In fact, a Swiss organisation called New7Wonders took on this challenge in 2001, launching a global campaign to create a modern list of wonders based on public votes. Millions of people participated, and the result became the best‑known contemporary list of “New Seven Wonders of the World.”
Great Wall of ChinaChina700 BC
Chichén ItzáYucatán, MexicoAD 600
Machu PicchuCuzco Region, PeruAD 1450
Christ the RedeemerRio de Janeiro, BrazilAD 1931
Giza Pyramids and Giza Necropolis (honary status only- ) Egypt2560 BC
Not to be outdone by the New7Wonders campaign, a separate group came together in 2008 to create the first global list of natural wonders. And, as you might guess, the conversation hasn’t stopped there — new suggestions continue to emerge so that more extraordinary places can be recognised and protected. But the most widely accepted list today includes seven iconic natural landmarks found across the world.
These sites are celebrated for their scale, beauty, geological significance, and the sense of awe they inspire — the same qualities that have drawn travellers for centuries.
Aurora Borealis (also known as the northern lights)-
Harbor of Rio de Janeiro- Brazil
Grand Canyon, USA
Great Barrier Reef-Australia
Mount Everest- Nepal
Victoria Falls- Zimbabwe
Parícutin, Mexico
Good luck checking them all out and adding a few more personal fav's to the list!
Comments