The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
The ruins are located on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula about 50 miles inland south of the Caribbean coastline. Chichén Itzá translates as "At the Mouth of the Well of the Itza," which is a reference to a nearby Sacred Cenote (where offerings were made drived from the city's water supply). This was a powerful city for the Mayans acting as a trading center for cloth, slaves, honey and salt. The most familiar ruin at the site is El Caracol which served as a sophisticated astonomical observatory.
Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Towering over the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this 125-foot statue is an art deco style designed by Heitor da Silva Costa. The statue was carved by a French sculptor Paul Landowski. It took five years to complete which included the pedestal and chapel that was ready to accommodate 150 people. The statue cost approximately $250,000 to build and most of the money was raised through donations.
The Roman Colosseum (70 – 82 A.D.) Rome, Italy
The Roman Colosseum was constructed as an amphitheater which could hold 50,000 people and that had 80 different entrances. The base of the building covers six acres and is roughly the height of a 12-15 story building. The Colosseum was built between 70 and 80 A.D. People gathered to watch gladiator events as well as battle reenactments, animal hunts and executions.
There are parts of the Great Wall that date as far back as 2,500 years ago. This was originally constructed to protect their territories from invasion. Emperor Qin Shi-huang ordered General Meng Tian to extend the walls after 220 BC. The wall was made as a defensive system originally, but now has become a major tourist attraction. The Great Wall has multiple walls spanning for approximately 4,000 miles, making it the longest manmade structure.
Machu Picchu, overlooks the Urabumba River Canyon. The area is thought by scholars to have been a sacred archaeological center for the nearby Incan capital of Cusco. This site can only be reached by foot, train or helicoptor.
Petra is the capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV. The site recieves a lot of credit for having a number of incredible structures carved into stone, a 4,000-seat amphitheatre and the El-Deir monastery. This site was likely used from 9 B.C. to 40 A.D.
The Taj Mahal of Agra is directly on the banks of the River Yamuna. The magnificent structure was made out of love by Emperor Shah Jahan dedicated to his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The building is made out of pure white marble, gemstones and other surroundings. The Taj Majal also includes formal gardens filled with raised pathways, sunken flower beds and a linear reflecting pool.
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