Upload
porntip-bodeepongse-
View
12
Download
2
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Reading passage
Citation preview
The Great Pyramid of Giza. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus,
along with some other spectacular sights make up the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In 2007,
a new list of natural wonders was announced for our modern world. What made the list?
Chichén Itza, Mexico
The ancient city of Chichén Itza (pronounced chee-chehn eet-sah) is located on the Yucatan
Peninsula in Mexico. This well-known Mayan city served as a religious, political and economic center
spanning several hundred years. The Pyramid of Kulkulkán -- also known as El Castillo -- is probably
the most recognized ruin of Chichén Itza. This step pyramid stands approximately 80 feet high. It has
nine terraces and four sets of stairs. Each staircase has 91 steps. If you include the top platform as a
step, then the pyramid has a total of 365 steps – one for each day of the year!
Christ the Redeemer Statue, BrazilThis statue of Jesus is one of Rio de Janiero's most widely recognized monuments. It stands 98.5 feet
tall at the top of Mount Corcovado, which itself rises more than 2,300 feet high. With a hug-like
wingspan of 92 feet, the statue seems to both beckon and welcome local residents and visitors alike.
It weighs approximately 700 tons and is made of concrete and soapstone. To see the statue up close,
you can ride a cogwheel steam engine train up the steep 2.3-mile slope. Rest up on the ride because
at rail's end you have more than 200 steps to climb to get to the foot of the statue.
Colosseum, ItalyIf you've seen the movie "Gladiator," then you've seen the Colosseum – well, a CGI-enhanced version
of it anyway. Built in Rome sometime around AD 70, it was the first freestanding amphitheater. Others
in that era were dug out and built into the sides of hills or mountains to provide stability. Gladiator
contests, group combats, battle reenactments, and other productions were held there to an audience
of nearly 50,000. Today, even after some renovations in the 1990s, the wear and tear from poor
weather, natural disaster and vandalism show. Nonetheless, visitors flock to this amazing sight daily.
Taj Mahal, IndiaThis 42-acre marble mausoleum complex located in Agra is a stunning and well-known Indian
landmark. Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal (or Mogul) Emperor, built it as a memorial to his deceased
wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. Construction, which started shortly after Mahal's
passing in 1631, spanned more than two decades. It required more than 20,000 laborers and cost
several million rupees.
Great Wall of China
OK, we've all heard the claim that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made object visible from
space. But it just isn't true. According to NASA, not only is the wall not clearly visible from low Earth
orbit, other man-made things are. The space myth aside, the Great Wall of China is definitely a
modern marvel and rightfully belongs amid the other seven wonders. Contrary to popular belief, the
wall isn't one continuous structure. It's actually made up of several separate structures that connect
and branch out here and there. Including the branches, it covers approximately 4,500 miles.
Petra, Jordan
Located in southwest Jordan are the ruins of the ancient city of Petra. Massive temples, tombs and
monuments have been cut into the surrounding sandstone cliffs. Petra, which is Greek for "rock," is
also known as "the city in the rock." Perhaps the most impressive Petra structure is the Sik al-
Khazneh, also known as the Treasury. It is an elaborately carved and embellished tomb. Besides the
decorative tomb facades and monuments, Petra is also known for its highly organized water system,
which included ceramic pipes, intricate water channels and cisterns.
Machu Picchu, Peru
If Petra is the city in the rock, then Machu Picchu is the city in the clouds. Built in the 15th century, this
ancient Incan city is nestled between two peaks – Machu Picchu (Old Peak) and Huayna Picchu (New
Peak) at an amazing elevation of 7,710 feet. It is often (mistakenly) called the lost city of the Incas,
because it was hidden amidst the lush forest and clouds for more than three centuries. Yale professor
Hiram Bingham rediscovered the city in 1911. Since then, excavation research suggests that the city
was home to about 1,200 residents at its peak. Today, it is a key tourist attraction.
http://kids.discovery.com/tell-me/earth/its-a-wonder-full-world