Looking for the New Seven Wonders
At over 6,000 kilometers long, the Great Wall of China is the longest system of walls in the world. Different chunks of the wall were built at different times and in different styles. The longest, continuous section is 2,500 kilometers long.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris was erected between 1887 and 1889 by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. The 300-meter-tall tower was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution
The gigantic stone heads of Easter Island have become the most famous work of culture from the entire Pacific Ocean region. The 887 statues were likely carved between 1100 and 1600 and are called Moais
The Coliseum in Rome has been one of the city's defining monuments since it was built in the 1st century AD. It was the largest amphitheater in the ancient world and the biggest theater in the world -- it was originally capable of seating 50,000 people. The building remained in use for fully 500 years -- well past the fall of Rome.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer reigns over the Brazilian mega-city Rio de Janeiro from the peak of Corcovado Mountain. The 125-foot-tall statue was inaugurated in 1931 and just celebrated its 75th anniversary in October.
Chichén Itzá is located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The Mayan city was founded between 435 and 455 and eventually became one of the most powerful cities in the Mayan Civilization. Civil war led to the city's long, slow decline in the 13th century
Angkor Wat in Cambodia is the largest complex of temples in the world. The site was the residence and sacred center for the Khmer royalty from the 9th to the 15th century. With around a million residents in the year 1000, it was the biggest city in the world at that time.
The Alhambra in Granada, Spain consists of a huge fortress complex complete with palaces, mosques and walls. The site was built between 1248 and 1354 by the Muslim rulers of the region, before Christians began to alter the buildings after conquering Grenada in 1492. The buildings are still considered one of the finest examples of Moorish architecture.
The Acropolis presides over the Greek capital city of Athens. While the site was occupied long before, the Parthenon and other buildings which are today considered part of the site were built during the Golden Age of Athens in the 5th century BC.
Stonehenge, located in the English county of Wiltshire, was likely erected between 2500 BC and 2000 BC but the site could be much older. In 1986, Stonehenge was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Exactly how the structure was built remains a mystery.
The Statue of Liberty at the entrance to New York Harbor was only erected in the late 1800s, but quickly became the most widely recognized symbol of freedom and democracy in the world. Some 46 meters high, it was given to the United States by France in 1886. 
The Pyramids in Egypt represdent the only site left over from the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Built some 2,500 years before Christ, the structures are considered not only the most famous sites in the region, but are perhaps the best-known cultural monuments in the entire world
The ancient town of Petra was carved out of stone cliffs in what is now Jordan. From the 3rd century BC until 100 A.D. the city was the capital of the Arab-speaking Nabataeans. The city became wealthy by controlling much of the trade in the region
The Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany is the stuff of fairy tales. Built by King Ludwig II -- often called Crazy King Ludwig -- in the latter half of the 19th century, the castle was rarely used by him or his family. 
The ruins of Machu Picchu were rediscovered in 1911, but it is thought that the Inca city was originally built in the 15th century. It's site, some 7,700 feet up in the mountains of Peru, provide the ruins with a stunning vista. The buildings are built out of stone blocks. 
The Kremlin in Moscow, including its myriad churches and palaces, is the historical center of the Russian capital. The site used to serve as the residence of the Russian czars.
The Sydney Opera House is by far the most famous building in all of Australia. The light arching sails are a thing of beauty -- and its construction impressive. The roof is made with over a million ceramic tiles.
The Taj Mahal was built from 1630 to 1648 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz-i-Mahal. The temple is erected on a 100 meter by 100 meter marble platform -- the four minarets are each tilted slightly away from the mausoleum so that, should they fall, they won't damage the main structure.
Timbuktu in the West African country of Mali literally means the well of the Buktu. The old town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 but continues to be threatened by desertification.
The Haghia Sophia in Istanbul was built in the 6th century as a Christian Church. When the Ottomans arrived in the 15th century, it was converted into a mosque and the minarets were built. Now, it is a museum and is considered a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture
The Otowasan Kiyomizudera in eastern Kyoto is perhaps the best-known site in the city and in Japan. The buildings date to the 17th century, but the site has hosted a temple since 798.
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