When you hear “The 7 Wonders,” you might think of ancient statues and pyramids. But what about the wonders that nature built? These are the locations so grand, so unique, and so powerful they almost defy belief. In this article, we’ll explore the famous list of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. We’re diving into what they are, where they are, and the incredible stories—from a volcano born in a cornfield to a waterfall that “thunders”—that make them legendary.
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1. Mount Everest
Location: On the border of Nepal and China (Tibet) in the Himalayan mountain range.
What It Is: The tallest mountain on Earth, with its peak soaring to 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet) above sea level.
Mount Everest, known as “Sagarmatha” in Nepali and “Chomolungma” in Tibetan, is more than just a mountain; it’s the planet’s highest point, a place where the troposphere brushes against the stratosphere. Its immense height is the result of a colossal geological collision that began over 50 million years ago when the Indian tectonic plate crashed into the Eurasian plate. This slow-motion impact buckled the crust, pushing up the land to form the entire Himalayan range.
What makes Everest particularly fascinating is that the rocks at its summit are actually marine limestone, meaning they were formed at the bottom of an ancient ocean. Today, this “roof of the world” represents the ultimate test for mountaineers, a symbol of human endurance against the unforgiving elements of extreme cold, hurricane-force winds, and dangerously thin air.
2. The Grand Canyon
Location: Arizona, United States
What It Is: A vast, steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River, measuring 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide, and over a mile (1.8 km) deep.
The Grand Canyon is a monumental masterpiece of erosion and a living library of Earth’s history. For millions of years, the relentless power of the Colorado River has sliced through the Colorado Plateau, carving a canyon so deep it exposes nearly two billion years of geological time. As you look from the rim to the river, you are literally looking back in time, layer by layer.
Its sheer scale is almost impossible to comprehend. The canyon’s immense size creates its own weather systems, and the vast differences in elevation between the rim and the canyon floor support a wide variety of ecosystems, from dense forests on the cooler rims to arid, desert conditions near the hot inner gorge. It is not just a visual spectacle; it is a profound testament to the slow, patient power of nature.
3. The Great Barrier Reef
Location: Off the coast of Queensland, Australia, in the Coral Sea.
What It Is: The world’s largest living structure and coral reef system, composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, stretching over 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles).
The Great Barrier Reef is the only living thing on Earth visible from space. This sprawling underwater metropolis was not built by humans but by countless tiny organisms known as coral polyps. Over thousands of years, these small creatures have built a massive, complex ecosystem that is home to an astonishing diversity of life.
It supports thousands of species of fish, sharks, sea turtles, mollusks, and whales, making it one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. The reef is not only a natural wonder but also a fragile one. It faces significant threats from climate change, particularly rising ocean temperatures that cause “coral bleaching.” Its vibrant beauty serves as a critical reminder of the ocean’s delicate balance and the urgent need for its protection.
4. The Harbor of Rio de Janeiro
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
What It Is: A stunningly beautiful natural harbor, also known as Guanabara Bay, surrounded by unique and dramatic mountains.
When Portuguese explorers first sailed into this bay on January 1, 1502, they mistakenly thought it was the mouth of a large river, so they named it “Rio de Janeiro,” or “January River.” What they had actually found was a massive natural harbor, one of the largest in the world by water volume.
The wonder of this harbor is not just its size, but its spectacular setting. The bay is framed by towering, weather-sculpted granite mountains that rise directly from the water’s edge. These include the world-famous Sugarloaf Mountain, a distinctively shaped peak guarding the harbor’s entrance, and the taller Corcovado Peak, which is crowned by the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. The fusion of the deep blue water, the green forests, and the bare rock peaks creates one of the most beautiful cityscapes in the world.
5. Victoria Falls
Location: On the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe in Southern Africa.
What It Is: A colossal waterfall on the Zambezi River. While not the highest or widest in the world, it is classified as the largest sheet of falling water.
Victoria Falls is a display of raw, thundering power. Locally, it is known as “Mosi-oa-Tunya,” which translates to “The Smoke That Thunders.” This name is perfectly fitting, as the waterfall creates a curtain of mist that can rise over 400 meters (1,300 feet) into the air and be seen from more than 40 kilometers (25 miles) away.
The falls are formed as the wide, placid Zambezi River reaches a massive crack in the earth—a basalt plateau—and plunges 108 meters (354 feet) into a narrow gorge. During the rainy season, the force is so great that the spray creates a permanent “rainforest” on the cliffs opposite and sends a deafening roar that echoes for miles. It is a truly multi-sensory experience.
6. Parícutin Volcano
Location: Michoacán, México
What It Is: A cinder cone volcano that was “born” in 1943, allowing humans to witness the entire life cycle of a volcano for the first time.
Parícutin is the only wonder on this list that humans saw begin. In 1943, a Mexican farmer named Dionisio Pulido was working in his cornfield when the ground began to swell, smoke, and hiss. Within 24 hours, a cone 10 meters (33 feet) high had formed. Within a week, it was over 150 meters (500 feet) tall.
The volcano remained active for nine years, eventually growing to a height of 424 meters (1,391 feet) from its base. The slow-moving lava flows completely buried two nearby villages, Parícutin and San Juan Parangaricutiro. Miraculously, no one was killed by the lava. Today, the volcano is dormant, and visitors can hike across the solidified lava fields to see the haunting sight of the San Juan church steeple, the only building that survived, still jutting out from the black, volcanic rock.
7. The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)
Location: High-latitude regions around the Arctic Circle (also exists in the south as the Aurora Australis).
What It Is: A mesmerizing, natural light display in the night sky.
The Aurora Borealis is a truly celestial wonder—a silent, dancing light show created by the sun. The phenomenon begins when the sun releases a stream of charged particles, known as the solar wind. As these particles travel millions of miles through space and strike Earth’s magnetic field, they are funneled toward the magnetic poles.
When these particles collide with gas atoms (like oxygen and nitrogen) in Earth’s upper atmosphere, they excite the atoms, causing them to release energy in the form of light. The different colors are the result of different gases: oxygen typically glows green (the most common color) and red, while nitrogen produces blue and purple. To witness the aurora is to watch a direct, visible connection between our planet and the star at the center of our solar system.
Frequently Asked Questions About 7 Wonders Of The World
Here are the most asked questions about 7 wonders of the world.
Is there an official list of the 7 Natural Wonders of the world?
This is the most common question, and the answer is no—at least, not in the same way as the AncientWonders. The list in this article is the most traditional and widely accepted one, first compiled by the news network CNN in 1997. Other organizations and global polls have created their own lists, but this is the one most people refer to as the “7 Natural Wonders.”
What is the “New7Wonders of Nature” list?
You may also see a list called the “New7Wonders of Nature.” This is a different list that was created from a global public poll run by the New7Wonders Foundation and announced in 2011. That list includes the Amazon Rainforest, Ha Long Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo Island, Puerto Princesa Underground River, and Table Mountain.
Why is the Parícutin Volcano on the list with giants like Everest and the Grand Canyon?
While it’s not the biggest or tallest, Parícutin is on the list for a completely unique reason: it’s the only wonder that humans witnessed from its exact beginning. In 1943, a farmer in Mexico watched as a crack opened in his cornfield. That crack grew into a volcano that remained active for nine years, allowing scientists to study the entire life cycle of a volcano for the very first time.
Is the Great Barrier Reef really a single “thing”?
Yes, and it’s the largest living “thing” on Earth. It’s not one single reef, but a massive, interconnected system of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. It stretches for over 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles) and is so enormous that it is the only living structure that can be seen from outer space.
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