Seven Natural Wonders of the World

Seven Natural Wonders of the World
Name	Seven Natural Wonders of the World
Caption	The Grand Canyon, one of the designated wonders.

Seven Natural Wonders of the World is a contemporary list that highlights extraordinary natural landmarks across the globe. Unlike the ancient Seven Wonders of the World, this collection focuses on geological formations and ecosystems of immense scale and beauty. The project was initiated by CNN and later organized by the Seven Natural Wonders organization to promote global awareness and conservation. These sites are celebrated for their unique characteristics and profound impact on visitors and scientific understanding.

List of the Seven Natural Wonders

The officially designated wonders span multiple continents and represent diverse natural phenomena. The list includes the Aurora Borealis, the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef, Harbour of Rio de Janeiro, Mount Everest, Parícutin, and Victoria Falls. This selection was finalized through a global poll and expert consultation conducted in the early 21st century. Each site was chosen for its unparalleled grandeur and its status as a definitive example of natural forces.

Selection and criteria

The selection process was managed by the Seven Natural Wonders organization, founded by Phil Kessel. Primary criteria included superlative natural beauty, unique geological significance, and ecological importance. Public voting via the Internet and input from geological and environmental experts like those from UNESCO's World Heritage Site program informed the final decisions. The aim was to create a list that was both geographically representative and scientifically credible, distinguishing these sites from other notable landmarks like Niagara Falls or the Amazon Rainforest.

Description of each wonder

The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is a celestial light display predominantly seen in high-latitude regions like the Arctic Circle, caused by collisions between charged particles from the Sun and gases in Earth's atmosphere. The Grand Canyon, a immense gorge carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, exposes nearly two billion years of geological history. The Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland, Australia, is the world's largest coral reef system, visible from outer space and home to immense biodiversity.

Harbour of Rio de Janeiro, or Guanabara Bay, is a stunning natural harbor framed by iconic peaks including Sugarloaf Mountain and Corcovado. Mount Everest, part of the Himalayas on the border between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region, is the highest point on Earth's surface above sea level. Parícutin in Michoacán, Mexico, is a cinder cone volcano that dramatically rose from a cornfield in 1943, providing a unique case study for volcanologists. Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe is one of the largest and most famous waterfalls globally.

Conservation and threats

These wonders face significant environmental pressures requiring international cooperation for preservation. The Great Barrier Reef is severely threatened by coral bleaching driven by climate change and pollution from agricultural runoff. Mount Everest and its surrounding regions contend with issues of waste management and the impacts of commercial climbing expeditions. Victoria Falls has experienced variable flow rates linked to droughts potentially influenced by broader climatic shifts.

Organizations like the International Union for Conservation of Nature and national bodies such as the United States National Park Service for the Grand Canyon work on protective measures. The Aurora Borealis faces the indirect threat of light pollution from expanding human settlements in regions like Scandinavia and Canada. Conservation efforts often align with the frameworks of UNESCO and existing designations as World Heritage Sites.

Cultural and historical significance

These landmarks hold deep cultural, spiritual, and historical meaning for indigenous and local populations. Victoria Falls, known as *Mosi-oa-Tunya* ("The Smoke That Thunders"), is a sacred site for local tribes and was documented by explorer David Livingstone. The Grand Canyon is integral to the heritage and creation stories of several Native American nations, including the Hopi and Havasupai.

Mount Everest, named for surveyor George Everest, is known as *Sagarmatha* in Nepal and *Chomolungma* in Tibet, holding spiritual significance in Buddhism and Hinduism. The Harbour of Rio de Janeiro has shaped the history and identity of the city of Rio de Janeiro, influencing everything from colonial settlement to modern cultural events like Carnival. These sites have also inspired countless works of art, literature, and exploration, cementing their place in global human heritage.

Category:Natural landmarks Category:Lists of natural wonders