What Are 7 Wonders of Modern World?

The original Seven Wonders of the World was first described in 225 B.C. and contained astonishing manmade structures across the Ancient Greek and Roman Empires. Over the centuries, six of those wonders were lost to time. The Great Pyramids of Giza, the list’s only survivors, is one of the most visited landmarks in the world.

The New 7 Wonders Foundation based in Switzerland announced a contest to nominate seven landmarks as the Seven Wonders of the Modern World to inspire a new generation of travelers. More than 100 million participants worldwide voted on more than 200 candidates. The final list was revealed in 2007. Today, tour companies offer packaged trips that allow travelers to visit all selected wonders in a single month-long journey.

Three of the Wonders are located in the Americas. Chichen Itza in Yucatan, Mexico, is an ancient Mayan temple. The Itza people created the site sometime in the 9th century as a sacred calendar. In addition to several stone temples and structures, Chichen Itza contains the largest existing tlachtli field, a popular sport in pre-Colombian Mexico.

The other American wonders are much more modern. Machu Picchu in Peru was built sometime in the 1400s and discovered in the 20th-century. Machu Picchu was once a bustling city inhabited by the Inca, the indigenous people of Peru. The ancient ruins are more than 7,000 ft above sea level in the Andes Mountains. Travelers must trek on foot or rent a helicopter to reach the summit.

Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro was erected in the mid-1920s in response to the horrors of World War I. It was sculpted in the art deco style popular at the time. The 98-foot tall statue stands on Corcovado Hill and overlooks Rio below.

The remaining four Wonders are located throughout the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. The oldest of these is the Great Wall of China, completed in 700 BCE. Walls had been used in Ancient China for centuries to keep out invaders. China’s first Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, combined several walls to create what is now known as the Great Wall. Later dynasties fortified and expanded the wall.

Today, the wall stretches more than 13,000 miles. Few visitors walk the entire length of the wall. Instead, travelers select sections based on their location. For example, the portion stretching from Jinshanling to Simatai is popular due to its beauty. Visitors also flock to sections of the wall near other impressive sites, such as the Forbidden City.

The Taj Mahal is also in the Asian continent, located in Northeast India. Indian Emperor Shah Jahan constructed the intricate palace in the 17th-century honor of his deceased wife, Noor. The Taj Mahal is made from precious materials, such as marble and quartz stone.

The City of Petra in Jordan is the second oldest site on the list. At its height, the city was the center of the spice trade. Petra has many unique features, including entire facades carved directly from the sandstone mountainsides. Archeologists believe that more than 80 percent of the city remains undiscovered.

The final Wonder is the Roman Colosseum in modern-day Italy. It is the largest building of its kind in the world. During the days of the Roman Empire, thousands of residents would gather in the Colosseum to watch gladiator fights.

Travel Is Good for Your Mental Health

Travel can be an exciting adventure, and much more than drinking margaritas on a sun-kissed beach. Traveling has been shown in studies to increase your physical health and creativity. When you start visiting new places, you are bound to learn more about the people who live there, including their culture, history, and background. A growing body of scientific research suggests that experiencing a new place can also benefit your mental and emotional health.

One of the significant psychological benefits of travel is its ability to alleviate tension and anxiety. Working under stress strains the mind and body, and can wreak havoc on your physical health. According to the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, holidays can help people cope with stress by removing them from environments or activities associated with stress. Relieving the tension and anxiety associated with your job enables your mind to rest and recover. A holiday allows you to recharge your batteries, making you more productive and focused when you return. Additionally, enabling your mind to unwind and de-stress on holidays can help reduce your risk of heart attack and improve your sleep. For some people, the benefits of their trip can last five weeks or longer after they return.

By traveling to a new country and immersing yourself in its culture, you can improve your cognitive flexibility. Additionally, it increases “thought depth and integrativeness,” thereby enhancing your creativity. However, simply traveling to a new city or nation will not suffice. It is critical to remember that traveling inspires creativity only when one engages with the local culture. Additionally, more extended travel enhances your productivity, problem-solving abilities, and may even improve your chances of promotion at work.

Another way that travel benefits mental health is that it improves your mood. Apart from the apparent fact that you are not required to report to work, traveling allows you to escape the daily grind. During vacations, you can fill your days with activities you enjoy that you may not have time for during the year due to a hectic schedule. The novel events and experiences assist in rewiring your brain, and invariably enhance your mood and offer you a greater sense of fulfillment in life. According to a Cornell University study, anticipating a vacation can significantly improve your satisfaction, even more than anticipating the acquisition of something concrete, such as a new automobile.

Souvenirs, photographs, and videos are other travel benefits, as they can reawaken positive memories and emotions when viewed later. Travel memories are frequently associated with pleasant feelings, such as when you attempt something new or the thrill of visiting a new location that makes you feel at ease with yourself and those around you. When traveling in a group, those experiences transform into exciting stories and lead to friendships that could last a lifetime.

Traveling, especially to a foreign nation, is a life-changing experience for many people. It has the potential to broaden your thinking in ways you might never have imagined possible. When you travel to new locations, meet new people, and learn new things, your perspective on life will undoubtedly shift.

Exploring new places might also serve as a reset button if you're healing from a significant life change. By traveling and connecting with the world, you can develop a new interest in life and the world around you. Additionally, the invaluable lessons learned along the way make you more aware of and receptive to new experiences.

Travel can also improve your decision-making abilities. Travel is a decision-making process throughout. From organizing a vacation to deciding on a restaurant to visit or where to travel, you must be resolute and actively lead the way. If you are confident in making small judgments, it will strengthen your resolve to make larger ones in your everyday life.