The list of the seven ancient wonders of the world includes the most famous monuments art of the ancient world. For their beauty, uniqueness and technical complexity, they were called miracles. The list has changed over time, but the number of miracles included in it has remained unchanged. According to some versions, the author classic version The list is considered to be the ancient Greek engineer and mathematician Philo of Byzantium, who lived in the 3rd century BC. e.

We have already talked about each of these miracles separately, therefore we advise you to also follow the links in the article, where many useful information. We will pay special attention to the Egyptian pyramids - the first wonder of the world, talking about each of the pyramids:

The Egyptian pyramids top the list of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World, which is not surprising, since they are the only wonders of the world that have survived to this day. These stone structures have become the greatest monuments of ancient Egyptian architecture. They served as tombs for the Egyptian pharaohs and were supposed to provide eternal housing for the immortal spirit of the rulers. The period of construction of the pyramids refers to the II-III millennium BC. During this time, more than a hundred of these structures were built. The largest of them is the pyramid of Cheops. Its original height was 146.6 m, and the length of the side face was 230.33 m. However, time and earthquakes have somewhat changed its appearance, and by now the height of this majestic structure reaches only 138.8 m, and the length of the side face is ~ 225 m The rest of the Egyptian pyramids are significantly inferior to it in size.

A thousand years after its creation in 1550-1397. BC. The Sphinx was buried under the sands of the desert. On the stele, located between the front paws of the Sphinx, a story is carved. It described how the young prince Thutmose, who hunted here, fell asleep in the shade of a stone body. In a dream, the Sphinx appeared to him in the form of Horus and predicted the future accession to the throne to the prince and asked him to free him from the sand. When Thutmose, a few years later, was on the throne under the name of Pharaoh Thutmose IV, he remembered his dream and carried out the first restoration. Apart from natural erosion, the most serious harm was caused to the Sphinx by the Mamluks, who beat off his nose with a shot from a cannon (Muslims were extremely negative about the image of a person). The statue was finally cleared of sand in the mid-1920s.

The statue, 57 m long and 20 m high, face width 4.1 m, face height 5 m, depicts a pharaoh who combines the power of man, god and lion. At the same time, the Sphinx is considered the head of the guard of the necropolis, he was identified with the god Horus

Pyramid of Cheops, the second pharaoh of the IV dynasty. This pyramid is still the largest architectural creation of human hands. At the base, it is a square with a side of 227.5 meters. The height during construction is 146.6 meters, and now the pyramid is 9 meters lower: the upper stones fell during earthquakes. The construction of the pyramid (and it was completed around 2590 BC) took 2.3 million stone blocks weighing two and a half tons each. The total volume of the pyramid is 2.34 million cubic meters. The faces of the pyramid are oriented to the cardinal points, and their angle of inclination to the base is 51o52". The entrance is located on the north side. Separate blocks, according to the Arab historian Abdel Latif (XII century), fit so precisely to each other that it is impossible to slip between them blade of knife.

There are no inscriptions or decorations inside the Cheops pyramid. There are three burial chambers. The burial chamber of the pharaoh is a room about 11 meters long, five meters wide and almost six meters high. The walls of the tomb are finished with granite slabs. The red granite sarcophagus is empty. Neither the pharaoh's mummy nor grave goods have been found. It is believed that the pyramid was plundered in ancient times.

The second largest ancient Egyptian pyramid. Located next to the Great Sphinx, as well as the pyramids of Cheops (Khufu) and Menkaure on the Giza Plateau. Built in the middle of the XXVI century BC. e. a structure with a height of 143.5 m was called Urt-Khafra. The base of the pyramid is a square with sides of 215.16 meters (that is, 410 cubits); the error from a perfect square is no more than 8 cm. The parallel approach is almost ideal and equals 1'15". The side faces are oriented along the four cardinal points with an error of no more than 5'26".

Height: 105.07 m (~ 200 king's cubits) Base side length: 188.60 m (~ 360 king's cubits) Perimeter: 754.4 m; Area: 35,570 m2 Volume: 1,237,040 m3 Tilt: 54°34" and 43°21"

The broken pyramid is an Egyptian pyramid in Dahshur, the construction of which is attributed to Pharaoh Snefru (XXVI century BC). The southern pyramid in Dahshur is called "broken", "cut" or "rhomboid" for its irregular shape. It is different from other pyramids ancient kingdom in that it has an entrance not only on the north side, which was the norm, but also a second entrance, which is open higher, on the west side. The north entrance is located at a height of about 12 m above ground level, leading to a sloping corridor that descends underground into two rooms with ledges. From these two rooms, a passage leads through the shaft to another small chamber, which also has a ledge in the form of a roof. The entrances on the north side of the pyramid were made during the Old Kingdom. This was due to the religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians. Why there was a need for a second, western, entrance - this remains a mystery. In this pyramid, no trace of the presence of the sarcophagus, which would be located in these rooms, was found. Sneferu's name was written in red ink in two places in the "broken" pyramid. His own name was found on the stele, which stood inside the fence of the small pyramid. To explain the non-standard form of the pyramid, the German Egyptologist Ludwig Burchardt (1863-1938) proposed his "increment theory". According to her, the king died unexpectedly and the angle of inclination of the faces of the pyramid was sharply changed from 54 degrees 31 minutes to 43 degrees 21 minutes in order to quickly complete the work. Kurt Mendelsohn suggested an alternative: the pyramid at Meidum and the southern pyramid at Dahshur were built at the same time, but an accident occurred at Medum - perhaps after the rains the casing collapsed - and this incident forced a hasty change in the angle of the sides of the pyramid at Dahshur, when it was already half built.

Located on the road to Faiyum, about 100 km south of Cairo. The form is non-standard. Consists of 7 steps, of which only 3 are visible today. Made of limestone blocks. It was built for Pharaoh Huni, the last ruler of the III dynasty. His son Sneferu expanded and enlarged the pyramid by adding an 8th step and making the sides of the pyramid smooth.

Base size 144 m Height (originally) 93.5 m Height (today) 65 m Slope 51°50"35.

In 393, the Roman emperor Theodosius I banned the Olympic Games as a pagan event. At the beginning of the 5th century, the statue of Zeus was transported to Constantinople, where after some time it died in a fire.

ancient wonder SvetaNo. 4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

In 550 BC, in the city of Ephesus, located in Asia Minor, the construction of a temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis was completed. It was a large white stone building, but history has not preserved it. detailed description. In 356 BC a resident of Ephesus named Herostratus burned the temple of Artemis in order to glorify his name. However, by the beginning of the 3rd century A.D. e. A new one was built on the site of the burnt church. The second temple of Artemis was larger than the previous one. Its width was 51 m, and its length was 105 m. The roof of the temple was supported by 127 18-meter columns installed in 8 rows. Inside the temple were installed statues of its builders - Praxiteles and Scopas.

At the end of the 4th century AD, the temple was closed by order of the Roman emperor Theodosius I, and then partially dismantled for new buildings.

ancient wonder of the worldNo. 5. mausoleum in Halicarnassus

This tomb was built in the middle of the 4th century BC. e. in the city of Halicarnassus, located on the territory of modern Turkey. It became a tomb for King Mausolus, the ruler of one of the regions of Asia Minor, and was named after him as a mausoleum. The tomb of Mausolus is a brick building lined with white marble. The Roman writer and historian Pliny the Elder claimed that the length of this structure was 60 m, and the height was 46 m.

This mausoleum existed for almost two thousand years and was finally destroyed only in the 16th century, when the knights of St. John dismantled its remains for the construction of a fortress.

ancient wonder of the worldNo. 6. The Colossus of Rhodes

In the III century BC, this giant statue was installed on Greek island Rhodes. Work on it lasted about 20 years. The result was a clay statue with a metal frame, trimmed with bronze sheets and depicting the sun god Helios. The height of this colossus, standing on a white marble pedestal, almost reached 36 m. About 13 tons of bronze and 8 tons of iron were spent on its manufacture.

Around 280 BC, on the small Mediterranean island of Pharos, located near the port of Alexandria, the construction of the world's first lighthouse was completed. This work took about 20 years. The height of the lighthouse of Alexandria was 135 m, and the light from it was visible at a distance exceeding 60 km. At the top of the lighthouse, a fire burned constantly, the light from which was directed into the sea with the help of polished bronze plates. During the day, a column of smoke served as a guide for sailors.

In the 12th century A.D. e. Alexandria Bay fell into disuse due to silt filling, and faros lighthouse has lost its meaning. In the XIV century, it was damaged by an earthquake, and then dismantled by Muslims to build a fortress.

There are many mysterious and mysterious places in the world. But only a few of them are recognized as genuine miracles, which were no longer equal on Earth! From this article you will find out which of the 7 wonders of the world have survived to this day, and which ones have sunk into oblivion forever. We present to your attention the 7 wonders of the world - the list consists of the following items:

This exclusive complex is included in the list of 7 wonders of the world. The basis of the gardens of Babylon was a monumental building in four tiers, erected in the shape of a pyramid. Hanging green spaces combined with fountains and ponds have turned it into a real oasis. According to an old legend, these gardens were created for the wife of the Babylonian ruler Nebuchadnezzar II named Amitis.

To keep the green miracle in a viable state, it was required a large number of water. The problem was solved at the expense of the human resource, or rather, slave labor. The slaves kept turning the wooden wheel, to which the skinskins were tied. This wheel took water from the river (according to another version - from some underground sources). Water was pumped to the uppermost tier, and from there it flowed down through a complex system of numerous channels.

After the death of the ruler Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon for some time became the residence of Alexander the Great. After the death of the great commander, the city began to gradually fall into disrepair, the gardens of Babylon were also left without proper care. After some time, a nearby river overflowed its banks, which led to the erosion of the foundation of the building.

Pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops

This currently existing geographical feature, which is also included in the list of 7 wonders of the world, sometimes called great pyramid Giza. It serves as the tomb of the Egyptian ruler Cheops (Khufu). The pyramid was built near Giza, a suburb of Cairo. It took the combined efforts of 100,000 people to create this miracle. According to the calculations of archaeologists, the work lasted about twenty years.

Zeus statue in Olympia

A truly monumental structure was erected in honor of the God of Thunder. The temple of Zeus was built entirely of marble, including even the roof. Around the perimeter of the sanctuary there were 34 columns made of limestone. The walls of the temple were covered with picturesque bas-reliefs with images, as well as the exploits of Hercules.

But not included in the list of 7 wonders of the world temple complex and a statue of Zeus. The ancient Greek sculptor Phidias worked on the realization of this masterpiece. The body of the god was created from ivory, a great variety of rare gems and about 200 kg of gold without the slightest admixture of ligature also took to decorate the statue. The eyes of the Thunderer seemed to be throwing lightning, and the head and shoulders shimmered with an unearthly light.

According to legend, lightning struck the center of the marble floor of the temple. This was regarded as an expression of approval from Zeus. An altar of copper was erected at the site of the blow. The statue of Zeus was destroyed in a fire that broke out in the temple in 425. There is another version, according to which it was transported to Istanbul, where the figure of the Thunderer burned down in 476.

The ancient city of Halicarnassus was famous for its residences of nobles, theaters and green gardens. But the list of 7 wonders of the world did not include these architectural beauties, but the tomb of the cruel ruler Mausolus. There were 3 levels in the mausoleum, the total height of the building was 46 meters. This man-made masterpiece mixed several architectural trends.

Traditional columns, as well as statues of horsemen and lions were used as decoration of the mausoleum. At the very top was a sculpture of King Mausolus, proudly seated in a horse-drawn chariot. The mausoleum stood for about 19 centuries, the reason for its destruction was a strong earthquake. An interesting fact - some fragments of the mausoleum went to the construction of the fortress of St. Peter.

The Pharos lighthouse was built in the 3rd century BC and is also included in the world famous list of 7 wonders of the world. This object was supposed to help sea ​​vessels safely navigate coastal reefs and avoid shipwreck. During the day, sailors were led by a column of smoke, and at night they could focus on flames.

The lighthouse of Alexandria towered 120 meters above sea level, its signals could be seen at a distance of up to 48 km. The upper part of the structure was decorated with a statue of Isis-Faria, who was revered as the patroness of navigators. To make the light flow as efficient as possible, the builders used an original system of curved mirrors.

The Pharos lighthouse, like many other objects from the list of 7 wonders of the world, was destroyed in a rather trivial way. It was destroyed by a powerful earthquake that occurred in the middle of the 14th century. Some fragments of the Lighthouse of Alexandria were discovered by scientists at the bottom of the sea during research in 1996.

The Colossus of Rhodes

This statue was made in honor of Helios (the sun god). It was assumed that the height of the figure would be 18 meters, but later it was decided to make it 36 ​​meters. The statue in the form of a god-youth was cast in bronze; it is located on a marble pedestal. Construction was carried out on a hill created artificially. Stones were placed inside the figure, which was done to increase the stability of the structure.

The sculptor Hares, who worked on the Colossus of Rhodes, made a miscalculation in determining the amount of materials needed. The master had to borrow a lot of money to be able to complete his masterpiece. Hares was completely ruined and surrounded by creditors, the sculptor committed suicide.

The Colossus of Rhodes was destroyed by an earthquake that occurred in 222 or 226 BC. The statue broke at the knees, and its fragments continued to lie in place for about 1000 years. The fragments of the Colossus were sold by the Arabs who captured Rhodes in 977. To take out parts of the sculpture, it was necessary to equip a caravan consisting of 900 camels.

By the way, have you ever wondered why there are only seven wonders of the world? In this case, we recommend that you read the article "" - and you will discover the secret meaning of this "lucky" number!

Album "From Wonders of the World to Wonders of Russia"

Description: This material will be useful for teachers. It is intended for students in grades 5 and 6. The material is useful and interesting information, which can be used in history lessons and in extracurricular activities.
Seven Wonders of the World- these are the oldest architectural monuments, which are rightfully considered the greatest creations of human hands. The number 7 was chosen for a reason. It belonged to Apollo and was a symbol of completeness, completeness and perfection. At the same time, the traditional genre of Hellenistic poetry was the glorification of the list of the most famous cultural figures - poets, philosophers, kings, generals, etc., or outstanding architectural monuments.
The first mention of the Wonders of the World occurs precisely in this era, when the victorious troops of Alexander the Great had already passed through Europe. The wide distribution of Greek culture in the territories that are part of the states that the great commander conquered ensured loud fame for individual monuments and architectural structures. But it should be noted that the "selection" of miracles occurred gradually. Some names have been replaced by others, and today the list of the most magnificent works of art and architecture includes:
1. Pyramids of Giza
2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon
3. Olympian statue of Zeus
4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
5. Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
6. Colossus of Rhodes
7. Lighthouse of Alexandria

Pyramids of Giza
One of the most ancient and, nevertheless, the brightest Wonders of the World are the Great Pyramids located in Giza (Egypt). The complex of Gisaean buildings is the greatest architectural monument ever created by man. In total, more than a hundred pyramidal structures were found on the territory of Egypt, but most of them did not stand the test of time.

The Pyramid of Cheops
The largest of the Giza complex, the Cheops pyramid is the largest building structure in the world. Its base is a square with a side of as much as 227.5 meters. It is assumed that the original height of the structure was 146 meters, but several of the upper stones were destroyed, and today the pyramid is 9 meters lower.
Engineering studies have shown that the largest architectural monument of Giza consists of 2.3 million stone blocks, each of which weighs at least 2.5 tons. The total volume of the building is 2.34 million cubic meters. The faces of the pyramid are deployed to the cardinal points, and the entrance inside is from the north.
A distinctive feature of the structure is that every single building block is so well fitted to each other that even now, after several thousand years, it is impossible to stick even the thinnest blade between them. In addition, the researchers found that the mortar, which held the structural elements together, is superior in strength to any modern material.
The purpose of the pyramids
There are no inscriptions, drawings and decorations in the pyramid of Cheops. Inside the building there are three chambers, in the center of one of which there is a granite sarcophagus. At first it was assumed that the structure was a tomb. Long-term studies have either confirmed or refuted this assumption.
But neither the remains of the pharaoh, nor any utensils or things that, according to the tradition of that time, were buried with the deceased, were found. True, there is a high probability that the pyramid was simply plundered. However, some details in the hypothesis about the purpose of the structure do not agree with the version about the tomb.
However, let's leave historians and archaeologists questions about the origin and purpose of building such an amazing complex of buildings, the entrance to which is protected by the Great Sphinx - the largest monolithic sculpture on the planet. For us, the Pyramids of Giza, with which many legends are associated, remain one of the most striking and unusual examples of the height of engineering.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the second largest Wonder of the World. Unfortunately, this amazing architectural structure did not survive to this day, but the memory of it still survived.
The attraction is located near Baghdad, and today its stone ruins can impress simple tourist except for its scale. However, history testifies that the structure was one of the most beautiful creations of mankind.

Amazing gift for wife
The gardens were discovered by Robert Koldewey, who in 1989 was excavating near Al Hill. In the course of archaeological research, an extensive network of trenches was discovered, and in their cuts the scientist immediately recognized the legendary architectural monument.
The facts show that the Hanging Gardens were built at the behest of Nebuchadnezzar II, whose reign falls on the 6th century BC. The best engineers, mathematicians and inventors of Mesopotamia worked day and night to satisfy the request of the king to create a gift for his wife Amitis.
The latter was of Median origin, and those lands are known to have been filled with fragrances. blooming gardens and green hills. In stuffy Babylon, the queen had a hard time, she yearned for her native land. That is why the ruler decided to lay out an unusual park that would at least slightly remind his wife of his home.
Controversy over the Babylonian Miracle
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon have been described by many ancient historians. But there are still some doubts about the reality of this piece of engineering art. For example, Herodotus, who traveled around Mesopotamia sometime in the 5th century BC, did not say a word about this structure. Although, apparently, it was the most majestic and beautiful in Babylon.
Even the chronicles of the city itself do not mention the Gardens. However, Berossus, a Chaldean priest who worked on chronicles at the end of the 4th century BC. very clearly and clearly marked the building in his works. There is even an opinion that all historians, including modern scientists, relied on his descriptions, and they are too much embellished with the author's conjectures and judgments.
Some even believe that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon have been confused with similar parks that were created in Nineveh, located on the east coast of the Tiber. But the basis of the irrigation system of this monument was the design of Archimedean screws, which was invented in the 2nd century BC, while the construction of the Gardens dates back to the 6th century.
However, perhaps the Babylonians already had an idea about the special thread of such a screw, although they called the device differently. And be that as it may, the mystery of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon still excites the minds of scientists, archaeologists and historians.

Zeus statue in Olympia
The statue of Zeus in Olympia is the third wonder of the world, whose history began long before its creation - in 776 BC. Then for the first time in the temple, which was built in honor of the father of the gods, the participants of the next Olympic Games arrived.
Representatives of Asia Minor, Syria and Sicily, Egypt and, of course, Great Hellas were present at the opening of the greatest event in history. The first sanctuary of Zeus was built 150 km from Athens. But over time, the Games gained more and more political weight, so the rulers of Greece decided to build a new Temple.

Temple of Zeus
Construction lasted over 15 years, and in 456 BC. the world saw one of the most monumental and beautiful Houses of Zeus. The project was developed by the famous ancient architect - Lebon, whose creation had all the features of the famous Greek sanctuaries, but surpassed them in scope.
The Temple building was erected on a high rectangular platform. The roof was supported by 13 majestic columns about 10 m high and at least 2 m in diameter, and there were as many as 34 of them.
Creation of Phidias
The government of Hellas invited Phidias, a famous sculptor, to Athens, who managed to create something excellent - a statue of Zeus. The news of this work of art instantly spread throughout the ancient world, and the masterpiece took its place in the list of Wonders of the World.
The creation of the statue dates back to around 440 BC. The sculpture of the father of the gods was created mainly from the finest ivory. According to the description of eyewitnesses who managed to catch the statue in "good health", it had a very impressive size.
Its height was at least 15 m, the structure contained about 200 kg of gold, the modern monetary equivalent of which exceeds 8 million dollars. The opening of the statue of Olympian Zeus falls on 435 BC.
The fate of the statue of Zeus
Historical sources claim that in the second half of the 4th century AD. The temple of Zeus was closed by the Roman emperor Theodosius, who was a Christian and disliked the pagan beliefs of the Greeks.
In 363 the statue was moved to Constantinople. Although some facts indicate that this architectural monument did not survive the looting and destruction of the Temple, which took place at the end of the 5th century.
In 1875, the remains of the Temple of Zeus were found, and in 1950, archaeologists discovered the workshop of Phidias. Careful studies of the place where the architectural monument was found made it possible to recreate both the Temple itself and the statue of Olympian Zeus.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Ancient Greek Ephesus knew a period of unprecedented prosperity. Founded in the XII century BC, the city was the largest center of trade and radiated wealth and prosperity. Artemis patronized him. She, as is known, was the goddess of fertility and the patroness of animals, the protector of women in childbirth and hunters. Honoring her sacredly, the townspeople decided to build a majestic temple in honor of Artemis, which, moreover, was to significantly increase the income of the city.

Building a shrine
In the VI century BC. Harsiphron, the most famous architect, arrived in Ephesus. It was he who came up with the idea of ​​building a building of marble. According to his plan, the temple should have been encircled by two rows of impressive columns. At the same time, the master, apparently, had an outstanding engineering mind, since the project is the most complex and at the same time original of all that were being developed at that time. Since the city was rich and could afford the construction of such a large and expensive building.
But there was one obstacle - a deposit has not yet been found that can satisfy the appetites of the project. But soon, due to chance, a sufficient amount of stone was found, and the temple was successfully built. Monolithic marble columns deserve a special place in the construction of the building. They were transported here straight from the quarries located ten kilometers from the construction site. The foundation of the temple is aerobatics engineering thought.
The building was built on a swampy area, since the sad memory of the earthquakes that hit Hellas was still alive. A huge pit was dug on the site of the future building, which the builders filled with charcoal and wool. This, plus the rather unorthodox foundation of the Temple, should have been a guarantee that the building would withstand tremors of any power.
In the main hall of the Temple, an amazingly beautiful statue of the goddess Artemis was installed, the height of which was about 15 meters. It was very expensive, because quite often it was inlaid with precious stones and gold. Outstanding Greek artists and sculptors took part in the decoration of the building. Rumors about the beautiful shrine quickly spread throughout the ancient world, and subsequently the Temple of Artemis became one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The Fate of the Temple
It should be noted that Harsiphron did not have time to complete the construction. But the work was continued by his son, and after that by the architects Peonit and Demetrius. And so, around 450 BC. the world saw the unsurpassed Temple of Artemis. They say that if it survived to this day, it could outshine any of the currently existing masterpieces of architectural art. But, unfortunately, in 356 BC. Herostratus, obsessed with the idea of ​​becoming famous at any cost, set the building on fire.
The building was almost completely destroyed, of course, with the exception of those structural elements that were made of marble. After that, the Temple of Artemis was revived several times and again ceased to exist. But in 263 B.C. he was in last time plundered by the Goths. Finally, the “marble” health of the building was broken by swampy soil, as well as the Kaistra River flowing nearby. And it took scientists from all over the world several decades to restore the original appearance of the building.

mausoleum in Halicarnassus
Halicarnassus Mausoleum is the same age as the second Temple of Artemis. The same people who restored the shrine after the fire set by Herostratus took part in its construction. The building is a ziggurat, that is, at the same time a tomb, a sanctuary, and a monument. It should be noted that the name "mausoleum" comes from the name of the imperious and cruel ruler of Caria - Mausolus.

Start of construction
Despite the fact that already in the IV century BC. the state was a colony of the Persian Empire, Mausolus ruled imperiously and stubbornly, trying not to bend under imperial pressure. His position was so strong, and his connections so wide, that even after the suppression of the uprisings he had raised, he managed to remain on the throne. During the reign of the energetic and ambitious king, Helicarnassus became the capital of Caria.
At the same time, the construction of the tomb, which later entered the list of the seven most famous sights of the ancient world, was started long before the death of the ruler - approximately in 353 BC. The project of the Mausoleum was developed by Greek architects - Satyr and Pytheas. The sculptors Timothy, Leohar, Skopas and Briaxides were hired to decorate the building. In total, hundreds of talented craftsmen took part in the construction, whose names, unfortunately, have not been preserved in history.
R luxurious tomb for the king
The tomb was an imposing architectural complex with its own courtyard. A stone platform was installed in the center of the latter. A wide staircase led to the top, guarded by stone lions. Inside the building was decorated with bas-reliefs depicting scenes from ancient Greek legends and tales. The outer walls of the Mausoleum were covered with statues of gods and goddesses, and in the corners of the structure, huge guards-warriors carved from stone served.
The ziggurat was crowned with a marble chariot driven by four massive horses. The statues of the drivers depicted Mausolus himself and his sister-wife Artemisia. The height of this sculpture was about 6 meters, and the pyramidal roof of the tomb was supported by 36 7-meter monolithic columns.
The fate of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
When the ruler of Caria died, the construction of the Mausoleum had not yet been completed, and the decoration of the premises was completed only in 350 BC. The tomb survived both the conquest of Halicarnassus by the Macedonian and the attack of pirates at the beginning of the 1st millennium. But at the beginning of the 15th century, the Maltese visited Asia Minor, who finally destroyed the building, taking the marble and stone slabs for the construction of the fortress of St. Peter, which was located on the very spot where the palace of Mausolus and Artemisia stood. By the end of the 16th century, only one foundation remained from the Mausoleum.
The excavations of the tomb of Mausolus, led by Christian Jeppesen, were completed only in 1966-1977. Based on the found bas-reliefs, statues and other elements of the furnishings and construction, the appearance of the Mausoleum was restored. His design served as the basis for the construction of City Hall in Los Angeles, the Indiana Warriors Memorial, St. George's Church in London and many other architectural monuments of our time.

The Colossus of Rhodes
Rhodes was a major economic center of the ancient world. Located on the southwestern coast of Asia Minor, it often acted as a tasty morsel for the rulers of neighboring powers. So, in 357 BC. the famous king Mavlos became the new ruler of the city, and after 17 years the city fell into the possession of the Persian Empire. In 322 BC. Rhodes was conquered by Alexander the Great, but after his death civil strife began between the heirs of the great commander, and one of them - Antigonus - sent his son Demetrius to capture and destroy the rebellious city.

It should be noted that the long siege was not successful, and the commander was forced to retreat. On the shore of the island, his warriors abandoned a huge siege tower, which was a real engineering miracle of that time, and the enterprising people immediately decided to sell it. With the proceeds, it was decided to build a statue of Helios, the patron saint of Rhodes, in order to praise the sun god for having saved the city from the invaders.
The construction of the statue began around 304 BC. The creation of the Colossus was entrusted to Chares, a student of the famous ancient sculptor Lysippus. It was proposed to depict Helios standing, and in his left hand he had to hold a veil falling to the very ground, and with his right to cover his eyes from the sun. Despite the fact that such a pose did not correspond to some of the canons of sculpture of that time, the master understood that the huge statue would not stay on its feet if the Colossus pointed into the distance with his hand.
Three massive stone pillars served as the basis for a 36-meter statue. They were fastened with iron beams at the level of the shoulders of the Colossus, which was supposed to provide him with stability. Construction continued for 12 years, after which the world saw the greatest statue, the head of which was decorated with a radiant crown.
Death of the Colossus
Literally half a century later, the strongest earthquakes shook the island, and the legs of the Colossus of Rhodes broke. The statue of the god fell into the sea and lay off the coast for about 1000 years. The defeated giant was overgrown with legends, but in 977 AD. they decided to dismantle it, melt it down and sell it. The chronicles preserved data that it took 900 camels to transport the bronze with which the statue was decorated.
Modern interpretations of the great statue
The Colossus of Rhodes was included in the list of the Seven Wonders of the World. Currently, even some measures are being taken to restore the huge statue. According to some reports, the cost of a modern sculpture of Helios will be about 200 million euros. However, the idea of ​​creating monumental sculptures following the example of the Colossus of Rhodes was used much earlier - a statue of a woman holding a huge torch was installed in New York Bay. This monument is better known to the world as the Statue of Liberty, but its creation was based on the image of the Rhodes masterpiece.

Alexandrian lighthouse
The history of the seventh Wonder of the World - the Lighthouse of Alexandria - is associated with the foundation in 332 BC. Alexandria, a city that was named after the great Roman general Alexander the Great. It should be noted that during his career the conqueror founded about 17 cities with similar names, but only the Egyptian project managed to survive to this day.

Foundation of the city to the glory of the great commander
Macedonian selected the site for the founding of Egyptian Alexandria very carefully. He did not like the idea of ​​a location in the Nile Delta, and so the decision was made to set up the first construction sites 20 miles south, near the swampy Lake Mareotis. Alexandria was supposed to have two large harbors - one was intended for merchant ships coming from mediterranean sea, and the second - for ships sailing along the Nile.
After the death of Alexander the Great in 332 BC. the city came under the rule of Ptolemy I Soter, the new ruler of Egypt. During this period, Alexandria developed into a prosperous trade port. In 290 BC. Ptolemy ordered the construction of a huge lighthouse on the island of Pharos, which would light the way for ships going to the harbor of the city at night and in bad weather.
Construction of a lighthouse on the island of Pharos
The construction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria dates back to the 4th century BC, but the system of signal lights itself appeared only in the 1st century BC. The creator of this masterpiece of engineering and architectural art is Sostratus, a resident of Cnidia. The work continued for a little over 20 years, and as a result, the Lighthouse of Alexandria became the first building of this type in the world and the most tall building the ancient world, not counting, of course, the pyramids of Giza.
The height of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was approximately 450-600 feet. At the same time, the building was absolutely unlike any of the architectural monuments available at that time. The building was a three-tiered tower, the walls of which were made of marble slabs fastened with lead mortar. The most complete description of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was compiled by Abu el-Andalussi - the famous Arab traveler - in 1166. He noted that in addition to performing purely practical functions, the lighthouse served as a very noticeable attraction.
The fate of the great lighthouse
The Pharos Lighthouse has been illuminating the way for sailors for over 1500 years. But strong tremors in 365, 956 and 1303 A.D. badly damaged the building, and the most powerful earthquake of 1326 finally destroyed one of the greatest architectural structures peace. In 1994, the remains of the Lighthouse of Alexandria were discovered by archaeologists, and subsequently the image of the structure was more or less successfully restored using computer modeling.

New 7 wonders of the world

The classic list of 7 wonders of the world appeared in the 3rd century BC. It included the greatest architectural, historical and cultural monuments of the ancient world. But the years passed, and more and more curiosities appeared in the world, which today can also be considered with all rights as the Wonders of the World, that is, the most outstanding creations of man.
And so 2001 was marked by the beginning of the New Open World Corporation project. Its main purpose was to select modern Wonders of the World, worthy of forever going down in history. So, the winners of the competition on July 7, 2007 were:
1. Great Wall of China
2. Taj Mahal
3. Colosseum
4. Machu Picchu
5. Petra
6. Chichen Itza
7. Statue of Christ the Redeemer

The great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is one of the oldest structures that has survived to this day, which, in its grandeur and grandeur, has no analogues even in modern world. Its history goes back to the 5th century BC, a time that was marked by the collapse of the Zhou state.
In its place, many small kingdoms were formed, which immediately began a bloody internecine struggle with each other for the legacy of a great empire. It was during this period of the "warring kingdoms" that the first foundation pits were dug and earthen ramparts were erected in order to strengthen the borders from aggressive neighbors.

Start of construction
And in 221 BC. the ruler of one of the kingdoms - Qin - the great Shi Huangdi managed to pacify the long-term blood feud. He was proclaimed the first Chinese emperor and during the 11 years of his reign he created a state with an effective system of administration and justice. It was he who came up with the idea to connect the defensive structures that already existed in the north of the empire with a single wall.
And by order of the ruler, his army, consisting of 300,000 soldiers, as well as about a million prisoners and slaves, began to build fortress walls. The Great Wall of China was built using a wide variety of building technologies. To protect the still unfinished fortifications in the area of ​​​​the construction site, numerous garrisons vigilantly served.
Followers of Shi Huangdi
After the death of Shi Huangdi, the work was continued by his successors - the emperors of the Han dynasty, who not only monitored the maintenance of the structure in proper order, but also lengthened the wall. The last important stage in the construction of the Great Wall of China falls on the reign of the imperial Ming dynasty, in 1368-1644.
From the middle of the 17th century, the need for a building disappeared, and time and natural factors immediately took up its stone sides. But, fortunately, most of the Wall has survived to this day. Moreover, the Chinese government once invested huge sums in its reconstruction.
New Wonder of the World
Already during the reign of the Ming Dynasty, fortifications stretched from the Shanhaiguan fortress, located on the shores of the Bohaiwan Strait, to Jiayuguan itself in the northwest of Gansu Province. Today, the length of the wall is 8,851.8 kilometers in total, which is an absolute and most likely unbeatable record in construction.
In 1962, the Great Wall of China took pride of place in the list of national monuments of China, and in 1987 it was accepted into common list UNESCO World Heritage Site. It should be noted that this is the only structure that can be seen from Earth orbit without the use of any optical instruments. And in July 2007, the Wall entered the list of New Wonders of the World, as one of the most impressive buildings in the history of mankind.

Mausoleum Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal is not in vain called the architectural gem of India. You will not find a more majestic and magnificent building in the whole country. This mausoleum embodies the memory of the tender love of the Muslim ruler Shah Jahan for his wife, a fabulously beautiful woman named Mumtaz Mahal. The future king of the Great Moghuls was still a young prince, when at the beginning of the 17th century he married a nineteen-year-old beauty. The newlyweds dearly loved each other and, despite the fact that the king had a huge harem, he simply did not pay attention to other women.

History of construction
Beloved wife gave birth to Shah Jahan six daughters and eight sons, but numerous births broke the woman's health, so when the fourteenth child was born, she died. The grief of the king was so great that he wished to take his own life. But responsibility for the state and other reasons kept the ruler in this world. Literally before the eyes of his retinue, he turned gray, and soon a two-year mourning was declared throughout the state, during which there was no place for holidays, dances, music and fun.
"Indian gem"
Somewhat later, a grandiose mausoleum was erected in the capital of the Mughal Empire - Agra. The construction of the Taj Mahal lasted over 20 years. More than 20 thousand people worked at the construction site, including the best Persian, Turkish, Samarkand and, of course, Indian architects and architects. The project was completed in 1653, and since then this amazing building has attracted millions of explorers and travelers.
Inside the Taj Mahal there are two tombs - the shah and his wife. But in fact, the burial is underground. The mausoleum is a five-domed building 74 meters high. It is located on a platform with 4 minarets, which are tilted away from the tomb, and adjoins the amazingly beautiful garden with an abundance of fountains and a pool. The walls of the Taj Mahal were made of translucent polished marble, which was brought to the construction site from a unique deposit 300 km from Agra.
The greatest monument of architecture
The great mausoleum has survived to this day. It is one of the most majestic and beautiful buildings on the planet. Every day it is visited by tens of thousands of tourists, due to which the “Indian pearl” replenishes the state treasury with considerable funds. Throughout the year, the Taj Mahal receives about 5 million visitors. In order to preserve the architectural monument road traffic in the Taj Mahal area was prohibited.
Not so long ago, cracks were discovered in the walls of the Taj Mahal. Scientists believe that the destruction of the building is associated with the shallowing of the Jumna, a river flowing in its immediate vicinity. But, nevertheless, the Taj Mahal remains one of the most unusual and majestic structures in the world. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in July 2007 took pride of place among the New Wonders of the World.

Coliseum
The Colosseum is one of the most majestic amphitheaters ever built by man. This famous ancient Roman monument still stands among the modern buildings of the Italian capital to this day. For a very long time, the Colosseum played a very important cultural role in the lives of the citizens and guests of Rome. A huge number of people gathered in its stands, who longed for one thing - bright and exciting spectacles. It was here that gladiator fights and animal persecution, sports competitions and naumachia took place.

The beginning of the history of the Flavian Amphitheater
The Colosseum is located on the Caelius, Palatine and Esquiline hills, that is, where the pond of the Golden House of Nero used to be. Initially, the building was called the Flavian Amphitheater (in honor of its founders) of the famous imperial dynasty. Construction continued for 8 years, and around 80 AD. the world saw one of the most capacious arenas.
Like any other Roman building of this type, the Colosseum has the shape of an ellipse, in the center of which is the arena, and its stands are arranged in the form of concentric rings. The perimeter of the outer ellipse of the Roman arena is 524 m, the major and minor axes are 187.7 and 155.64 m long, and the height of the walls of the amphitheater approaches 50 m. The results of simple calculations show that the Colosseum could easily accommodate about 50 thousand people. spectators. It is the most grandiose arena in the world, not counting modern stadiums that can accommodate over 100 thousand people.
The fate of the world's greatest arena
The Colosseum was deservedly considered a symbol of Roman greatness. Philosophers said that while it stands, the Great Empire will stand. Back in 264, during the reign of Decius, the millennium of Rome was celebrated in the amphitheater. History testifies that during this era, about 40 wild horses, more than 30 elephants, 60 lions and many other wild animals were killed in the arena. In 405, gladiator fights were banned by Emperor Honorius, and the Colosseum removed the laurels of the greatest arena in the world.
Toward the end of the 13th century, the Roman amphitheater was turned into a quarry. At the same time, 23 estates for aristocratic families were built from it. In the XIV-XV centuries, the Italians built 6 churches from the dismantled parts of the Colosseum, and at the end of the XV century, the office of the Pope was built from the material of the Colosseum. In the middle of the 16th century, the architectural elements of the amphitheater served as the basis for some Roman bridges. In 1744, the Colosseum was lit up in honor of the early Christian martyrs, and a cross was installed in the center of the arena.
In July 2007, the amphitheater was accepted into the list of New Wonders of the World. Today it is the most famous historical and architectural monument of Rome, annually attracting tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world.

City of Machu Picchu
On the territory of modern Peru there is one old Mountain peak which the Indians called Machu Picchu. It is located at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level, offering amazingly beautiful views of the valley of the Urumamba River. It is here, at the foot of Mount Machu Picchu, that one of the oldest cities is located, which is often called the "city among the clouds."

The origin of the "city in the sky"
Archaeologists believe that this lost city of the Incas was created as the winter residence of the ruler of this ancient people- Pachacuteca - literally a century before the Spaniards came here. In 1532, when brave conquistadors and adventurers obsessed with a thirst for gold invaded the Inca empire, every single one of the inhabitants of the city mysteriously disappeared.
Machu Picchu was one of the three houses of Pachacutec and along the way served as a shrine. The city had a very modest size and contained about 200 buildings. City buildings were built from high-quality processed stone blocks, fitted to each other so tightly that most of the buildings of Machu Picchu have survived to this day. The abandoned settlement was accidentally discovered only at the beginning of the 20th century by the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham. A few decades later, the legendary Inca trail was found leading through the Urumamba Valley straight to the city.
Attractions of the residence of the ruler of the Incas
highlight ancient city are extensive terraces on which the Incas were engaged in agriculture. The "decorated room" found against the western wall of the main temple is a clear indication of how skilled these people were. The foundation of the room is made of two imposing stone blocks with carved three-dimensional peaks.
The Temple of the Three Windows is the most mysterious structure of Machu Picchu. According to Bingham's hypothesis, trapezoidal windows facing east were symbols of Pachacutec's ancestral home. But since architectural style The city belongs to the late Inca period, the reliability of such an assumption raises certain doubts among archaeologists.
The new Wonder of the World Machu Picchu received UNESCO World Heritage status, after which it turned into a bustling center mass tourism. About 2,000 travelers visited the city daily. But in order to preserve the city, UNESCO demanded that the number of visitors be reduced to 800 people a day. On July 7, 2007, Machu Picchu was selected as a New Wonder of the World, and since February 2012, it has been excluded from the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger.

rock city Petra
The ancient city of Petra is one of the most amazing monuments of architecture. It is carved in solid rock, and a huge number of secrets and omissions hovers around its origin. It is believed that the city was founded by the Nabataeans - nomadic tribes, who in the VI-IV centuries BC. managed to subdue the vast territory on which Jordan, Syria and Israel are located today.

Great city in the desert
Due to its favorable location at the crossroads of wide trade routes, Petra prospered and grew rich over the years. For many years it was a real salvation for merchants and travelers from scorching sun. However, in the IV century BC. abandoned for reasons still unknown. Perhaps the inhabitants were driven out of the cool stone shade by the lack of water. But most likely the city was abandoned due to the loss of significance of its location in the very depths of the rocky Jordanian desert.
The city of Petra is carved into the red sandstone rock. Outwardly, the architectural elements that have survived to this day resemble Roman architecture. On the territory of the city, archaeologists managed to find many temples, palaces, tombs and even an ancient theater. The buildings of Petra were built over many centuries, so there is an incredible interweaving of echoes of the culture of different eras.
At various times, Edomites, Nabataeans, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs owned Petra, and in the 12th century BC. The city was taken over by the Crusaders. After the VI century AD. construction stopped, and gradually one of the most amazing settlements on the planet was empty. The first European to visit famous city, is the Swiss traveler Johann Burckhardt. It is thanks to him that a detailed description of the structure of Petra, as well as sketches of some of its attractions, has been preserved.
Main Attractions
The main city attraction is the Treasury - a huge building with a solid facade carved from the rock. The majestic colonnade with an amphitheater, crowning the kilometer-long canyon of the Siq, also arouses admiration. They are the legacy of Roman culture in the history of Petra. Also of note is the aqueduct that supplied water to the city. It was a complex system of terracotta pipes that collected moisture from all sources located within a radius of 25 km from the city.
Ed-Dair deserves special attention - a huge monastery carved right into the rock at the top of the highest cliff in the canyon. For some time it even served as a Christian church. While excavating the monastery, archaeologists discovered here the tomb of the Nabataean king. You can climb to it along a staircase carved in stone, consisting of 800 steps.
Center for mass tourism and the New Wonder of the World
Today, Petra is one of the busiest tourism centers in the world. Every year, about half a million people come here to see this amazing creation of human hands with their own eyes. In July 2007, Petra, a little earlier included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, became one of the New Wonders of the World.

City of Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza - holy city Maya - located 75 miles in eastbound from Merida, the capital of Yucatan. Archaeologists consider the ancient settlement, covering an area of ​​about 6 square miles, one of the world's greatest architectural monuments. Previously, several hundred structures were located here, but most of them have not survived to this day. The surviving buildings, of which there are about 30, are of great interest to archaeologists, scientists and researchers.

ancient center culture and religion
Archaeologists conditionally divide the remains of the city into two parts - the first contains buildings erected by the Maya around the 6th-7th centuries AD, while the second is a monument of the culture of the Toltecs who lived in Yukotan in X-XI centuries. Apparently, the population of Chichen Itza experienced a rather acute lack of water. This is evidenced by numerous cenotes - wells with steep smooth walls.
It was during the Mayan period, which is associated with an unprecedented flourishing of science and art, that the city acquired a high status of a cultural and religious center. A striking confirmation of this are the buildings erected in this period - the Deer House, the monastery and the church, Akab Dzib, the Pali House, the Temple with three lintels and the Red House. After the Mayan civilization declined, the reasons for which are still shrouded in a dense shadow of mysteries and mysteries, cities like Chichen Itza were used for burials and some rituals.
City symbols
One of the most famous buildings preserved in Chichen Itza is the Pyramid of Kukulkan, which the locals often call El Castillo. The height of the structure is 23 m. On the day of the spring and autumn equinoxes in the afternoon, the sun illuminates the western balustrade of the main staircase so that an image of 7 isosceles triangles is formed, placed in a special order. Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the figure created by the sun's rays most of all looks like a huge snake crawling towards its head. And to see this breathtaking sight, every year on March 20 and September 21, thousands of tourists gather here.
Another attraction - Huego de Pelota - is the largest playground ever created by the Maya. It should be noted that there are eight more such structures in the city, but the “Large Ball Game Field” significantly exceeds them in size - its length is 135 m. Special attention attracted by the paintings carved on the walls that enclose the Huego de Pelota. They depict very cruel scenes, and scientists believe that they are directly related either to the practice of sacrifice, or to the illustration of the game, which serves as a substitute for bloody war.
The fate of the city
After 1194, Chichen Itza was completely empty, and there are numerous rumors and legends around what caused the departure of the inhabitants of the city. It should be noted that the tough policy of the Spaniards, who ruled America in the 11th century, involved the execution of Mayan clergy, as well as the destruction of ancient books and manuscripts. Therefore, no more or less plausible information about mysterious history this ancient civilization.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer
The statue of Christ the Redeemer is installed on top of the Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro. The monument is a symbol of the city and Brazil. Every year, millions of travelers and tourists come here to see with their own eyes the majestic statue of Christ, as if taking the whole modern world into his arms.

Monument construction
The history of the monument goes back to the 16th century, when the Portuguese navigators dubbed Corcovado Peak "Mountain of Temptation". In 1921 (a year before the anniversary of Brazil's independence), the well-known publication "O Cruzeiro" announced the collection of funds for the construction of the monument, as a result of which over 2 million flights were collected.
The Christ the Redeemer statue was designed by Carlos Oswald. In 1927, the first models of the monument were constructed, and Costa Hisses performed all the necessary calculations. Pedro Viana and Heitor Levy took part in the construction of the monument, as well as the sculptor Paul Landowski, who modeled and made the plaster head and arms of the statue.
A whole army of engineers and technicians worked on the creation of the sculpture. It was decided to replace the steel frame of the monument with reinforced concrete, and the outer layer of the monument was made of soapstone, specially imported to Rio de Janeiro from the Swedish Lymhamn deposit.
The construction lasted about 9 years, and in 1931 the world saw the majestic statue of Christ the Redeemer, which for a long time was not equal in scale all over the world. The height of the monument is 38 meters, and the weight of the entire structure, taking into account the base, exceeds 1100 tons. The arm span of the statue is approximately 23 meters, and the head and arms of Christ the Redeemer weigh about 54 tons.
The Majestic History of Christ the Redeemer Statue
In 1965, the monument was consecrated by Pope Paul VI, and in 1981, on the day of the 50th anniversary of the monument, John Paul II was present at the solemn feast. The statue of Christ the Redeemer was restored three times - in 1980, 1990 and 2010. In 1932 and 2000, the night lighting system of the statue was modernized, and today it stands out in a special way against the background of the starry sky at night.
It should be noted that the statue of Christ the Redeemer passed the strongest storm in July 2008, which destroyed several nearby neighborhoods of Rio. The monument was saved by the same soapstone, which acted as a dielectric and extinguished lightning discharges on the surface of the statue. To date, the monument is in excellent condition.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer took pride of place in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and on July 7, 2007, at the initiative of the New Open World Corporation, it was included in the list of New Wonders of the World.

7 wonders of Russia: the greatness and beauty of the country

Everyone knows the Seven Wonders of the World. Their history is studied by scientists all over the planet, many scientific works have been written about them, presentations, messages, reports, chapters in textbooks are devoted to them. Secrets and legends are associated with each of the unusual world heritage sites of Russia and UNESCO, there are many facts and unconfirmed information. On June 12, 2008, the world learned that the 7 Wonders of Russia were published - to choose these objects from a huge number of ancient, mysterious, mystical and just very beautiful places, which abound in the corners of the country, was quite difficult. The project, aimed at identifying the most beautiful places in Russia, was initiated by the Izvestia newspaper in collaboration with the Mayak radio station and the Rossiya TV channel in 2007. In 2008, as a result of a popular vote, the most iconic and amazing sights of the country were chosen - 7 Wonders of Russia.
The list of 7 wonders of Russia includes: 1. Pillars of weathering Man-Pupu-ner in the Komi Republic. 2. Elbrus peak in Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria. 3. Lake Baikal in Buryatia. 4. Valley of Geysers on the Kamchatka Peninsula. 5. Mamaev Kurgan, the monument "Motherland". 6. Monument of palace and park art "Peterhof", St. Petersburg. 7. St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow.
Of the seven wonders of the world in Russia, 4 belong to the class natural objects, three - to monuments of architecture and park art.

Lake Baikal, Buryatia
In Buryatia, where Lake Baikal is located, it is called Baigal Dalai or Baigal Nuur. The deepest lake in the world has tectonic origin and is a UNESCO protected site. Included in the 7 Wonders of Russia, Baikal is often called the sea - its dimensions are really impressive: the width is from 24 to 80 km, the length is 632 km. The very shape of the majestic and very beautiful reservoir is also interesting - in the form of a crescent.

Interesting to know. The crystal clear waters of the "father of Baikal", a member of the Great Seven Wonders of Russia, are also unique - you can see every pebble at a depth of 40 meters, and the minimum amount of mineral salts makes it possible to use Baikal water as distilled water.
The name “Father Baikal” was given to the object of the 7 Wonders of Russia because of an ancient legend. Baikal had 336 sons and only one daughter, Angara. The sons constantly replenished Baikal with their waters, and the Angara gave its waters to the Yenisei, whom she fell in love with. Angered by Baikal, he cursed his daughter Angara by throwing the rock Shaman-stone at its source.

Valley of Geysers, Kamchatka Territory
The Valley of Geysers is hidden in one of the volcanic gorges of the Kronotsky Reserve, it can only be reached by helicopter. 250 kilometers on the way over the tundra, ridges, hills, taiga ravines and acid lakes - and a person finds himself in a different world filled with fountains of swirling vapors, light smells of sulfur and rain splashes, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. Walking along a walking path with wooden decks, you can observe 30 large geysers and many small springs, throwing jets of boiling water (+95 °C) up to tens of meters. Hot mud pots have also been preserved. Due to the well-heated soil, the slopes of the valley are overgrown with lush greenery of grasses and trees. The Geysernaya River flows along the bottom of the gorge, which never freezes.

Mamaev Kurgan and Motherland, Volgograd Region

During the Great Patriotic War, Mamaev Kurgan became the scene of bloody battles. The struggle for Mamaev Kurgan, marked on military topographic maps as "Height-102.0", lasted 135 days out of 200 days of the Battle of Stalingrad. In 1959 - 1967, a memorial complex was erected on this site - "To the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad". On the hill, in a mass grave, 34,505 soldiers found eternal rest. 200 granite steps lead from the foot to the top of the mound (according to the number of days of the battle). The statue "Motherland is calling!" is installed here. It is a figure of a woman 87 meters high with a raised sword in her hands. This is one of the tallest monuments in the world. (For comparison: the height of the Statue of Liberty in the United States reaches only 46 meters). The figure of a woman-mother is an allegorical symbol of the Motherland, calling her sons to fight the enemy.

Peterhof, St. Petersburg

Founded in the 1710s by Emperor Peter I, Peterhof became a luxurious royal residence and a kind of triumphal monument, symbolizing the successful entry of Russia to Baltic Sea. Palaces, alleys, graceful sculptures and greenhouses with outlandish plants are united in a single ensemble. But the main pride of Peterhof is its fountains. 176 fountains and 4 cascades operate without a single pump. Hydraulic engineer V. Tuvolkov created a unique fountain conduit: 20 km from here springs flow from which water flows down channels and locks into pools due to the difference in heights, and from there it rushes through underground pipes to the fountains and cascades of Peterhof.

Basil's Cathedral, Moscow

Basil's Cathedral is the same symbol of Russia and Moscow as the Eiffel Tower is for Paris and France, the Statue of Liberty is for the USA and New York, or the Taj Mahal is for India and Agra. St. Basil's Cathedral was built by Ivan the Terrible in 1555-1561 as a sign of victory over the Kazan Khanate. In plan, the temple is an eight-pointed star: 8 churches symbolize 8 days falling on the days of decisive battles for Kazan. They are grouped around the 9th, central church, personifying the king's state idea of ​​united lands. The name of the cathedral was given by a chapel built in 1588 and consecrated in honor of St. Basil the Blessed.

Weathering pillars, Komi

The top of the Man-Pupu-ner mountain is crowned with remains of bizarre shapes. These giant pillars, 30 to 42 meters high, were created over 200 million years under the influence of water and wind. According to legend, the pillars were giants who wanted to destroy the local people - the Mansi. But as soon as their leader-shaman saw the sacred mountain - Man-Pupu-ner, he threw his tambourine in horror, and his companions turned into stone idols.

Elbrus, Caucasus

On the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia, there is a two-headed Elbrus - the highest point in Russia. The height of the western peak of Elbrus is 5642 m, and the eastern one is 5621 m. The mountain is famous for its glaciers that feed mountain rivers, mineral springs spread at the foot, and bewitching views. Few mountains of volcanic origin surpass Elbrus in height: for example, highest peak Africa - the Kilimanjaro volcano - is only 253 meters higher than the "Russian miracle".

The primacy of compiling a list of the 7 seven wonders of the world of the Ancient World is attributed to Antipater of Sidon, who sang them for centuries in his poem:

I saw your walls, Babylon, on which it is spacious

And chariots; I saw Zeus at Olympia,

The Miracle of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Colossus of Helios

And the pyramids are the work of many and hard works;

I know Mausolus a huge tomb. But I just saw

I am the chamber of Artemis, who raised the roof to the clouds,

Everything else faded before him; outside of Olympus

The sun sees no beauty equal to it anywhere.

At different times, with the construction of new buildings, they tried to change the list of 7 wonders of the world of antiquity, but in the final version, only the lighthouse of Alexandria appeared from the new ones, which overshadowed the grandeur of the walls of Babylon.

Some include here all the pyramids of Egypt, some of the great pyramids of Giza, but for the most part, only the largest of them, the pyramid of Cheops, is perceived as a miracle. The pyramid is also considered the oldest miracle on the list - its construction is estimated at about 2000 BC. Despite its old age, this is the only building of the 7 old wonders of the world that has survived to this day.

Created by order of the king of the desert Babylon Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife, these gardens were supposed to console and remind her of her distant homeland. The name of Semiramis, the Assyrian queen, appeared here by mistake, but, nevertheless, was firmly entrenched in history.

The statue was created for the temple in a large religious center Ancient Greece- Olympia. Giant Zeus sculptor Phidias struck local residents so much so that they decided that Zeus himself personally posed for the master.

In the ancient large port city Ephesus especially revered the goddess of fertility Artemis. In honor of her, a huge and majestic temple was created here, which was included in the list of 7 ancient wonders of the world.

The rich king Mausolus wished to erect a mausoleum-temple in Halicarnassus, incomparable to anything in beauty. The best masters of that time worked on the construction. The work was completed only after the death of Mausolus, but this did not prevent him from going down in history forever.

In honor of the great victory, the inhabitants of Rhodes decided to build a huge statue of the god Helios. The plan was carried out, but this miracle did not last long, and was soon destroyed by an earthquake.

To navigate ships near the large port of Alexandria, it was decided to build the largest lighthouse at that time. The building immediately overshadowed the walls of Babylon and took its place in the list of the seven wonders of the world of antiquity.

Pyramids of Giza

Every person, regardless of the level of education and social status, since the school bench I heard about seven wonders of the world, representing greatest monuments human civilization since ancient times. Few remember the entire list, and almost all of them have not been preserved, however, in our time, attempts are being made to compile new, alternative lists of attractions that can compete with the ancient creations of human genius.

The first who tried to formulate human achievements in the form list of wonders of the world, were the ancient authors of ancient Hellas, whose written heritage has survived to this day.

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Zeus statue in Olympia

The "father of history" Herodotus was the first to point out the architectural marvels that existed in his time. His work mentions three majestic buildings on the Greek island of Samos - a mountain tunnel, a temple of Hera and a dam.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Starting with Herodotus, the list of sights grew, changed and supplemented by other Greek authors, until it was formulated in its final form as a list of seven points.

Historically and geographically 7 Wonders of the Ancient World are related to the territories conquered by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC.

They were scattered over all the territories of the Oikumene - from ancient egypt to Babylon and ancient Greece.

mausoleum in Halicarnassus

The most ancient wonder of the world, but ironically the only one that has survived to this day is the main Egyptian attraction - The Pyramid of Cheops included in the complex. When choosing the new seven wonders of the world, the pyramid was awarded the title of "Honorary Candidate".

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

Second wonder of the world, semi-mythical Hanging Gardens of Babylon, existed for 7 centuries, until they died in a flood of the 1st century BC.

Third miracle, huge Temple statue of Zeus at Olympia, made of ivory, precious woods and inlaid with gold, stood for 9 centuries, but burned down in a fire in the 5th century AD.

In the Turkish city of Selcuk, you can still see the ruins of the fourth wonder of the world, Temple of Artemis in, which at one time exceeded the size of Jupiter's huge temple.

Statue of the Colossus of Rhodes

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus lasted longer than all other attractions ancient world(with the exception of the Pyramid of Cheops).

An amazing architectural monument stood proudly for 19 centuries, but the elements overcame it too - the mausoleum was destroyed by an earthquake.

Lighthouse in Alexandria

The ruins of a colossal structure can currently be seen in Bodrum, Turkey.

Earthquakes also destroyed two other ancient monuments - a bronze statue of the Colossus of Rhodes(destroyed in the III century BC) and in Egypt (was destroyed in the XIV century).

New seven wonders of the world

At the beginning of the 21st century, on July 7, 2007, on the day of the "three sevens", in the capital of Portugal, Lisbon, new seven wonders of the world were named, each of which may well compete with the lost architectural treasures.

The project was organized by the non-profit organization New Open World Corporation (NOWC) at the initiative of the Swiss Bernard Weber. The selection of new seven wonders of the world from the famous architectural structures of the world took place via SMS, telephone or the Internet. As part of the selection of attractions, about 100 million votes were accepted, but since the conditions did not prohibit voting several times, this list became questionable almost immediately after publication.

However, at present it is the most famous of these ratings and therefore, along with it, it is the main reference point for tourists actively traveling around the world with

The great Wall of China

One of the undisputed leaders of the list is one of the largest and oldest architectural monuments in the world. Its total length is 8851.8 km, in one of the sections it runs near Beijing. Construction began in the 3rd century BC. e. during the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. One fifth of the then population of the country, i.e., about a million people, took part in the construction.

Today, the wall is a symbol of China, both for the Chinese themselves and for foreigners. At the entrance to the restored part of the Wall, you can see the inscription made by Mao Tse Tung - "If you have not visited the Great Wall of China, you are not a real Chinese."

Machu Picchu

The famous statue of Jesus Christ, with outstretched arms and eyes on the city, rises on top of Corcovado's mountain. At the foot of the monument is installed viewpoint with amazing views of sandy beaches, a huge bowl, a bay and a peak Sugarloaf, similar in shape to a lump of sugar.

White Temple Wat Rong Khun

Along with the main lists of wonders of the world, there are and continue to be compiled new, alternative lists - author's and based on the results of surveys.

statue of liberty in new york

As a modern alternative to the famous the Pyramid of Cheops the glass pyramid of the Parisian (France) was proposed.

The most striking among modern temple complexes is the Buddhist one opened in 1997 in Thailand. This temple, according to journalists, is quite capable of overshadowing the ruins Temple of Artemis in Among other similar structures - built in 1604 in Amritsar (India), in (Japan) and Sagrada Familia in Barcelona (Spain).

Angkor Wat temple complex, Cambodia

Dubai "Garden of Miracles"(UAE), where on an area of ​​72 thousand square meters. m grow 45 million flowers, also (according to journalists) can compete with hanging gardens Semiramis. The royal botanical kew gardens(Great Britain), Royal Park of Flowers Keukenhof(Netherlands) and gardens (France).

Compare with 137 meters Lighthouse of Alexandria in beauty today, lighthouses are capable of Lindau(Germany) and lighthouse "Cape Florida"(USA). And the lighthouse Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) almost catches up with Alexandria in height - 133 meters.

Acropolis in Athens

Statue of Zeus at Olympia according to the logic of journalists, today it can outshine golden buddha in (Thailand) - the world's largest golden statue of a deity. At the same time, it does not matter at all that the Buddha is far from being as severe and angry as Zeus the Thunderer.

And at Mausoleum at Halicarnassus there were followers in the modern world, this title was awarded to the mausoleum and Mausoleum of V.I. Lenin in Moscow.

Palace and fortress of the Alhambra

And finally the statue colossus of Rhodes journalists compared it with a statue in (Brazil), which is comparable to an ancient building not only in height, but also in its location by the sea.

At the same time, some new lists of wonders of our time are deliberately narrowed down to cover attractions by location or time of creation.

Easter Island

So, for example, ratings were repeatedly compiled by country (in Russia, Portugal, Belgium and others) or exceptional objects were identified underwater world(cracks, reefs, islands and even underwater ruins).

In the finals of the competition for the title of man-made new wonders of the world, other no less worthy sights also turned out to be, and some of them, according to many people, are much more worthy of being on the final list of the “most-most”.

Timbuktu

In particular, the obvious competition could be made by the superior in size and established 40 years earlier by the American . It is also quite surprising that the final list of the seven wonders does not mention Cambodia - the largest religious building ever created by people.

All these great monuments of human civilization were on the list of contenders, along with, Sydney Opera, in Spanish Granada, eiffel tower, Moscow Kremlin,, moai sculptures on the castle, a Buddhist temple in and the city.

Seven new wonders of nature

Iguazu Falls

Komodo park

Seven new wonders of nature is a competition also organized by the Swiss non-profit organization New Open World Corporation (NOWC), which, through a worldwide popular vote, has found the seven most amazing natural places on the ground.

Project "Seven New Wonders of Nature" launched at the end of 2007. Until 07.07.09, nomination and preliminary selection of all candidates took place, among which was the Russian natural pearl - Lake Baikal. Voting was completed by the mystical date - 11/11/11.

Among the main wonders of nature are the most long river peace - Amazon and its jungle; the largest underground river is in the Philippines.

Angel Falls

Grand Canyon

The list was also adorned with an impressively picturesque Vietnamese, picturesque in South America, most large island South Korea - Jeju, National parks(Indonesia) and table mountain(SOUTH AFRICA).