There are the original, seven wonders of the world… and then there are these seven “man-made” structures that have captured the spirit of the modern world.
The Channel Tunnel
Location: The English Channel (Between France and England)
Completed in 1994, the “Chunnel,” as it is sometimes referred is a 31 mile long rail tunnel that includes a 24 mile section running directly underneath the English Channel sea bed at an average depth of 150 feet. The entire project has been estimated at $10 Billion, with an 80% cost overrun, which sounds atypical of any project that was dreamed up with visions of grandeur rather than purpose.
The CN Tower
Location: Toronto, Canada
Standing at over 1,815 feet in the air, which would be well over 300 average men stacked toe to head, the tower is claimed as one of the tallest buildings according to Guinness. It remains challenged by some sources who say it is not really a building and is therefore not the tallest. The tower consists of elevators, stairwells, power and plumbing, a broadcast antenna, restaurant, gift shop and multiple observation levels… what more can a building possibly be?
The High Dam
Location: South of the city of Aswan in Egypt
The High Dam began construction in 1960 and was inaugurated in 1970. Its purpose was to regulate the yearly Nile floods as well as store water to prevent the droughts that had plagued the Egyptian communities for centuries. The British and Americans were too cheap to foot the bill, so the Soviets stepped in and got the job done.
Stonehenge
Location: Wiltshire, England
Stonehenge may be old, but our understanding of how amazing it is, is actually quite new. Have you ever wondered how Rice Crispies were made? An even better question is how they end up behind the refrigerator, even when you can’t remember spilling any in the vicinity. This is the same as the mystery of Stonehenge. This amazing design of rice crispy shaped rock formations has shown that its rock may have come from some other source, which poses the question, how did they get such a heavy formation all that distance, and most importantly… why?
Mount Rushmore
Location: South Dakota, USA
These amazing carved depictions of U.S. presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt can be seen for up to 60 miles. The sculpture was designed by Gutzon Borglum, whose ambitious further plans for the site died along with him in 1941. The Crazy Horse Monument, which is currently still under construction since 1948; honors the Sioux war chief. At its current rate of construction, it may be complete by the year 2248, but we wouldn’t hold our breath.
Taj Mahal
Location: City of Agra, India
The Taj Mahal is not just the name of every Indian “all-you-can-eat” buffet from the Great Wall of China to the Sydney Opera House. It is a stunning architectural masterpiece that was built out of love by Emperor Shah Jehan. It is in honor of his beloved wife who died giving birth to their 14th child.
The Panama Canal
Location: Isthmus of Panama in Central America
This is historically one of the largest a most difficult engineering projects to have been successfully completed. It began construction in 1880 by the French with upwards of 20,000 worker deaths until it was finally completed by the hands of the U.S. in 1914. Even today, it remains a key source for international shipping and world trade.
Also check our Guide to British Columbia for more travel wonders.
About Dr. Eric J. Leech
Eric has written for over a decade. Then one day he created Urbasm.com, a site for every guy.
About Dr. Eric J. Leech