The best wonders of the world

06

Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya)

84.5%

Zambia / Zimbabwe

World’s largest curtain of falling water, 1,708 meters wide and 108 meters high waterfall. One of the most impressive natural sights in the world.

29

Giza Necropolis

72.3%

Egypt

One of the major cultural monuments of the world, with three giant pyramids (Khufu’s, Khafre’s, and Menkaure’s), the Great Sphinx, cemeteries, and worker’s villages. Built mainly in the 26th century BC and served as the burial and mortuary temple complex of the great pharaohs of Egypt.

40

Khufu’s Pyramid (Great Pyramid of Giza)

69.6%

Egypt

The tallest ancient pyramid and ancient structure in the world was built sometime around 2500 BC. Originally was 146.5 m tall, but now – 138.8 m. The incredible size and precision of this structure are rarely surpassed today. Contains three chambers. The pyramid most likely was built as a burial and mortuary temple.

02

Great Wall of China

89.3%

China / Mongolia

The largest series of fortifications in the world with a total length of 8,852 km, including 6,259.6 km of the actual wall. Constructed in the 5th century BC – 16th century AD by the Chinese to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by northern nomads. The oldest fraction is the Great Wall of Qi (in Shandong) – an approximately 600 km long section of wall built in 685 BC.

04

Petra

86.1%

Jordan

The ancient capital city of Nabateans was established around the 6th century BC on the site of an ancient sanctuary. Contains some of the most beautiful and intricate rock-cut architecture in the world, available after walking through a 1.2 km long, narrow gorge.

08

Mount Everest

81.4%

Nepal / Tibet

Earth’s highest mountain, 8,848 m high.

14

Potala Palace

76.8%

Tibet

A monument of world importance, this is the chief residence of the Dalai Lama. The first palace was built here in 637, while the current palace was built in 1645 at 13 floors and 117 meters high. It contains 1000 rooms and numerous monuments of art and knowledge, although most of them have been lost since the Chinese invasion.

16

Bagan

76.3%

Burma (Myanmar)

Ruins of a magnificent, enormous city. Bagan served as the capital of several ancient kingdoms. The city flourished in the 11th – 13th century AD. Here were built more than 5000 pagodas, now 2217 remain. These numerous high and beautiful buildings create a unique skyline.

17

Angkor Wat

76.0%

Cambodia

Considered to be the single largest religious complex in the world, built in the ancient capital of Khmers in the early 12th century. Considered to be one of the greatest achievements of humankind in architecture. Initially built as a Hindu monument, later converted into a Buddhist temple complex. Temple is adorned with more than 1 thousand m2 of high-quality bas-reliefs.

21

Ellora Caves, Kailasanatha Temple

74.8%

India

One of the highest achievements not only in Hindu architecture but in ancient structural engineering of the world. A group of 34 rock-cut temples, including the glorious Kailasanatha Temple, are cut out from a whole rock. Built around 550 – 1000 AD.

22

Kaaba and Masjid al-Haram

74.7%

Saudi Arabia

The largest mosque in the world was built in 638 AD to surround the Kaaba – the holiest site of Islam. Contains several other sacred places, including Zamzam Well which is widely believed to be a miraculous natural spring but in reality, is handmade well.

23

Borobudur

74.7%

Indonesia

This Mahayana Buddhist temple complex was constructed in the period between 760 and 830 AD. One of the most impressive ancient temples in the world, the largest Buddhist structure in the world. This pyramid-shaped shrine is adorned with 2,772 sculpted panels and 504 Buddha sculptures, it is 35 m high, each side is 123 m long, and the whole structure is of high symbolism and represents Buddhist cosmology.

24

Ajanta Caves

74.0%

India

One of the most beautiful rock-cut temple complexes in the world, developed in the 2nd century BC – 480 AD. In total there are 28 – 30 rock-cut structures, containing murals and sculptures of high importance to the culture of mankind.

27

Taj Mahal

72.5%

India

This mausoleum was built in 1648 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. One of the most iconic monuments of architecture in the world that unites elements of Islamic, Persian, and Indian architecture.

28

Varanasi

72.4%

India

The ancient holy city of Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains. With approximately 3000 years of age, this is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. It contains a huge amount of valuable monuments of architecture and history, a location of living unique traditions.

33

Burj Khalifa

71.5%

United Arab Emirates

World’s tallest building, an 829.8 m tall skyscraper with 163 floors. Constructed in 2010. In the building are some 35,000 people at any time.

35

Sigiriya

71.0%

Sri Lanka

One of the most interesting monuments of urban planning worldwide. Sigirya was constructed around and on the top of a nearly 200 m high rock peak. The construction took place in 477 – 495 AD. Later, until the 13th or 14th century, this city was used as a Buddhist monastery. This complex includes several unique monuments – including a giant lion whose mouth serves as the entrance to a rock fortress and beautiful frescoes – a masterpiece of world importance.

36

Angkor (Angkor Thom)

70.7%

Cambodia

The ancient Khmer capital city, the once largest city in the world with an area of at least 1,000 km². Flourished in the 8th – 15th century AD. The city has ruins of numerous masterpieces of ancient architecture including the largest religious complex in the world – Angkor Wat and 71 other large religious complexes.

38

Shwedagon Pagoda

69.9%

Burma (Myanmar)

Gilded and 98 meters tall, this stupa is richly adorned with jewels. It is the most sacred pagoda in Burma. Initially built in the 6th century, rebuilt and extended, one of the most impressive architectural monuments in the world.

11

Uluru (Ayers Rock)

77.6%

Australia

One of the Australian symbols. This is an enormous and visually very impressive sandstone inselberg, 348 meters high, and 9.4 km in circumference. A sacred place to local Aborigine peoples. Here are many springs, waterholes, caves, and rock art sites. Endemic plants.

02

Venice

90.1%

Italy

One of the most unusual and beautiful cities on Earth, containing an unbelievable amount of art and architectural value. Venice has been built on 118 small, closely located islands and has been the capital of a powerful state in the 7th – 18th century.

09

Sagrada Familia

79.4%

Spain

The largest and by far the most impressive Art Nouveau church in the world, designed by Antoni Gaudi; started in 1882 and is due to be completed in 2026.

10

Hagia Sophia

78.8%

Turkey

A former Orthodox basilica built between 532 – 537 AD, it is now a mosque. Possibly the highest achievement of Byzantine architecture, it has been the largest cathedral in the world for nearly 1000 years. Constructed in 532 – 537.

12

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Cathedral)

77.0%

Italy

One of the most impressive churches in the world, the largest building in medieval Europe. Constructed in 1296 – 1469. Designed mostly in Gothic style, but considered to be one of the first Renaissance buildings.

18

Saint Mark’s Basilica

75.6%

Italy

A building of unusual beauty and splendor, it is one of the most important Byzantine architectural monuments in the world, constructed in 1094.

19

Sistine Chapel

75.4%

Vatican

Chapel at the Apostolic Palace, an important place for papal activity. This is the site where the new pope is selected. This church is not especially large but it has very special importance for the history of the church and art history. Construction in 1473 – 1481 and known in the world thanks to the frescoes made by such Renaissance artists as Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Pietro Perugino. These frescoes are among the world’s highest achievements in art.

20

St. Peter’s Basilica

75.0%

Vatican

The best known of the four ancient papal basilicas. The most important church in Christian history, with the largest interior of any church. This is the largest structure in the Vatican and occupies a significant part of this state. The present basilica was built in 1506 – 1626 and represents one of the most important pieces of Renaissance architecture. Contains several graves including the purported grave of Saint Peter (Vatican Necropolis).

25

Palace of Versailles

73.8%

France

The best-known and possibly the most magnificent palace in the world. Developed in the suburbs of Paris starting in 1661 and served as a royal palace until 1789. With the development of Versailles, there was developed a new style in many areas of life – architecture, planning, arts, governance, and etiquette – thus the palace represents one of the most important monuments of culture in Europe. Considered to be the largest palace in the world, with 700 rooms, the facade is some 680 m long.

30

Eiffel Tower

72.1%

France

One of the best-known landmarks in the world, a symbol of Paris and to some extent – the whole of France. This 324 m tall iron lattice tower was built in 1889 and was the tallest man-made structure on Earth until 1930.

31

Saint Basil’s Cathedral

72.0%

Russia

A group of nine churches that was constructed in 1555 – 1561 to commemorate the victories of Ivan the Terrible. This building has left much influence on Russian and world architecture.

32

Milan Cathedral

71.7%

Italy

One of the most impressive Gothic buildings in the world, constructed in 1386 – 1965.

37

Westminster Abbey

70.5%

United Kingdom

Royal Church of the United Kingdom with numerous art values. Constructed in 1245 – roughly 1745, mainly in the Gothic style. One of the earliest representatives of Gothic architecture in England.

39

Leaning Tower of Pisa

69.8%

Italy

An impressive monument of European medieval Romanesque architecture, construction started in 1173-1372. Due to weak ground, it started to tilt and the significant tilting has made this structure famous worldwide.

05

Grand Canyon

85.6%

United States

Possibly the most impressive canyon in the world. This 446 km long canyon is up to 1,800 m deep and has rugged, nearly vertical walls.

13

Niagara Falls

76.9%

Canada / United States

The most popular waterfall in the world is 51 meters high and 1203 meters wide. The shape of the waterfall and its proportions have become somewhat synonymous with the word “waterfall”.

26

Teotihuacan

73.8%

Mexico

One of the largest ancient cities in the world with numerous monuments of architecture and art. Established sometime around 200 BC and was abandoned in the 7th – 8th centuries AD. A hugely impressive monument of urban planning is the Avenue of the Dead. An exceptional structure is the Pyramid of the Sun – the third-largest ancient pyramid in the world. Height – 71,2 m. The Pyramid of the Moon is an older pyramid from 200 – 450 AD, 42 m high. The site contains numerous valuable murals.

03

Machu Picchu

88.1%

Peru

One of the most spectacular archaeological sites in the world, an Inca town. Machu Picchu is located on a rugged cliff peak and consists of extensive ruins of stone structures. It is believed that the town was built around 1450 as a shelter and center for Inca rulers – and abandoned sometime around 1572.

07

Iguazu Falls (Salto de Iguaçu)

84.8%

Argentina / Brazil

One of the most enormous and impressive waterfalls in the world. This waterfall is “only” 82 meters tall, but 2,700 meters wide.

15

Angel Falls

76.5%

Venezuela

This is the tallest and one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, with a total height of 979 meters. It has the highest single drop (807 meters) in the world.

34

Kaieteur Falls

71.0%

Guyana

One of the most spectacular and powerful waterfalls in the world, combining a very high volume of water and a large height of fall. 226 m high free fall on Potaro River, total height – 251 m, volume up to 660 cubic meters per second.