Seven Forgotten Natural Wonders of the World

Seven Forgotten Natural Wonders of the World

• Angel Falls

Angel Falls one of the Seven Forgotten Natural Wonders of the World

If the height and ferocity of a waterfall is taken as its greatness, undoubtedly Angel Falls of Venezuela is the greatest waterfall in the world. For a viewer who looks from the front; the falls may seem as it is poured directly from the heaven! Massive quantity of water plunging from a height of 979 meters (3212) feet is not a common sight that we can see elsewhere in the world!.. Read full Article here.

• The Bay of Fundy

Bay of Fundy one of the Seven Forgotten Natural Wonders of the World

The Bay of Fundy remains when remains as a favorite location for those who are interested in the strange natural phenomena of nature, the tide that acquires tremendous magnitude still remains as the exclusive of this location... Read full Article here.

• Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls one of the Seven Forgotten Natural Wonders of the World

These torrential falls about 275 of them within a distance of 2.7 km some of them about 82 meters in height, the deafening sounds of all combined, all closely accessible has such an impact that anyone who has a heart gets overwhelmed... Read full Article here.

• Krakatoa Island

Krakatoa Island one of the Seven Forgotten Natural Wonders of the World

The Volcano at Krakatoa never takes a long nap, goes on erupting intermittently a recent one was in 1994, in 2007 also saw it spitting gas and lava. This island is on a ‘growth path’ since 1950 as the lava and ash spit by the volcano fill the surrounding ocean the sea recede expanding the island area at 5 inches per week!.. Read full Article here.

• Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji one of the Seven Forgotten Natural Wonders of the World

Mount Fuji is a dormant strato volcano (a strato volcano is one that stands isolated like Kilimanjaro of Africa or Paricutin of Mexico) located at the south- central part of Honshu Island in the Pacific Coast... Read full Article here.

• Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro one of the Seven Forgotten Natural Wonders of the World

Kilimanjaro is world’s highest freestanding mountain (one may naturally doubt whether other mountains like Mount Everest are supported by some thing like a stay or bracing)! But that is the real height of the mount when measured from base of the mount to its top. Mount Everest is standing on the Tibetan plateau that is world’s highest plateau that is 4700 meters high. Kilimanjaro doesn’t stand piggyback on any plateau; hence it is the free standing mount... Read full Article here.

• Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls one of the Seven Forgotten Natural Wonders of the World

The Niagara Falls on the River Niagara is actually a cluster of three falls coming between two nations, Canada and The US. It is just 17 miles south east from Buffalo New York and 75 miles from Toronto Canada. The falls in the Canadian portion –known as the Horse- Shoe Falls; is the largest of the three. The US side has two falls The American Fall and the Bridal Weil Fall... Read full Article here.

7 Natural Wonders of the World

7 Natural Wonders of the World

But on his grace!

There is no end to the wonderful things in this universe; some of them manmade and the others made by the god almighty, this article deals with the latter. There are so many of them and to select only seven out of these countless wonders; is a tall order in itself. As a prayer recited in Indian homes goes means in English some what like this...

“How wonderful the ocean is! the heaven and the living world!

I bow before thee thinking of all these wonders you have made”

This simple prayer reflects the surprise one feels when see the world as a third person.

No narrow views.

Various organizations have conducted polls to elect the top seven natural wonders and come out with varied results, in such a poll regionalism influences choice of the people. Here we have come out with a list of locations purely based on real merits as well as popularity without giving any chance to narrow and self interested views.

Click on the Links / Images to navigate to full Articles.

1. Grand Canyon, Arizona USA.

The Grand Canyon

Our first choice is the Grand Canyon as it is the most unusual formation on the face of the earth. A gigantic rupture existing in the state of Arizona, US with a width of 29km and an average depth of about 1.5km spanning a total length of 500km along the Colorado River. As per the scientists the running waters of the river licked away the upper surface of its base to create the canyon of that size; which would have taken millions of years, now the Grand Canyon is hot tourism destination for domestic and international tourists where thousands of tourists this gigantic mouth of the earth with awe. Click here to read the full article...

2. Mount Everest, Nepal, Asia.

The Mount Everest

Known locally as Sagar Matha (meaning forehead of the sky); the Mount Everest which has a height of 20002 is highest location on earth. It is located between Nepal and Tibet, from time immemorial this mountain is an object of worship as the abode of god by the people who lived around it. Everest always posed a challenge to adventurers round the world. In an attempt to climb over it many bold people perished; more had to return back in despair. In 1953 a team led by Edmund Hilary (an Australian) and Tensing Norgay (a native belonging to the Sherpa Tribe) could reach at the top. Click here to read the full article...

3. Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

The Great Barrier Reef

The gigantic 2000 km long Barrier Reef located in the mid South Pacific Ocean in the coast of Australia; formed by the activity by hundreds of billions of Sea Anemones for several million years. More than serving as a natural wall protecting the islands from violent sea waves this barrier serves as a great ecosystem harboring thousands of types of plants and animals. Of late the world has recognized the importance of this natural wonder and UNESCO has certified it as a World Heritage Site. Click here to read the full article...

4. Victoria Falls between Zambezi and Zimbabwe, Africa.

The Victoria Falls

Local people call it Mosi oa Tunya meaning thundering clouds. River Zambezi flows quietly through the African Plains and unexpectedly tumbles down in to the deep gorge giving birth to the largest water curtain in the world 360 feet in height and 5577 feet in length with a deafening sound. It was the great explorer of all times the Dr. David Livingstone who brought to the out side world about the existence of this great fall. Click here to read the full article...

5. Harbor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Latin America.

Harbour of Rio de Janeiro

At the East Coast of Brazil where the Atlantic juts in the shore creating a bay (Guanabara Bay) with 143 km in circumference. Its mouth guarded by two big, steep, and naked mountains, The Sugar Loaf and the Corcovodo Mountains. The Rio de Janeiro city that is adjacent to the bay is one of the most thickly populated parts of the world. Once this bay was dotted with numerous islands; all those were siphoned away for landfill. Click here to read the full article...

6. Paricutin Volcano, Mexico, Latin America.

Paricutin Volcano

A volcano that sprung from a corn field owned by Dionisio Pulido a Native Indian in February 20, 1943. The volcano engulfed the entire village of Paricutin and adjacent San Juan forcing people to vacate. As it was born recently and that too in a populated area it has served as a laboratory to the scientists. This volcano is 424 meters in height and located at a height of 3170 meters above sea level. It erupted for a second time in 1952 killing three people (by the lightening due to the fumes). Click here to read the full article...

7. The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).

The Northern Lights

The wonderful colorful designs appear in the arctic skies during September to October and March to April. This phenomenon kept ancient people in tender hooks and they kept fabricating stories about it. Kristian Birkeland was the scientist who solved the mystery that surrounded the Aurora. For him Aurora is the result of collision and energy exchanges between charged particles showered by the sun and those of the earth’s magnetic field. Click here to read the full article...

There are many others!

The most painful thing in such selection is exempting some sites that are equally miraculous but there are only seven could be chosen. The rest of the wonders are not at all forgotten or ignored. They all will be covered one by one otherwise it would be injustice and negligence on the part of a writer.

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia or Aya Sofya

Hagia Sophia image courtsey: treakearth.com

Hagia Sophia or Aya Sofya

‘The most beautiful building ever made’.

A phoenix among structures!

In Istanbul Turkey there stands the most beautiful building the ‘Aya Sofya’ with many old names by which it was known and many old roles it had made to play in the centuries that passed after its construction. It in its course has been burned down to ashes, crumbled down in earth quakes and got vandalized by rioters but each time it literally rose from its ashes to be the most beautiful human construction ever happened.

Against all odds.

Hagia Sopia image courtsey: nato.int

Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia – meaning Holy wisdom) was constructed in 360 AD by Emperor Constantius-2 (son of Constantine), it remained as the ‘Great Church’ (Megala Ekklassia) until 404 AD when it was burned down to ashes in riots when people took part in a tussle between the emperor Arcadius and the Arch Bishop John Chrisostom (who criticized the empress and was exiled for that). The fury of the mob did not even spare a trace of the original structure.

Nika Revolt.

Aya Sofya image courtsey: es.tldp.org

In 405 AD Thodosius -2 rebuilt it in far larger dimensions; this too has another tragic end as in the ‘Nika Revolt’ in AD 532 this building along with half the city of Istanbul was burnt down. (The Nika Revolt is believed to have originated with the dispute rose from a chariot race held in the city, comparable to the recent events of riots by foot-ball fans related with games!)

Justinian.

Justinian image courtsey: wikipedia.org

The next role of reconstruction was on the shoulders of Justinian who managed the whole work under his direct supervision, in this process Justinian brought eight Corinthian columns from Baalbek to Constantinople for the construction of Hagia Sophia. He entrusted Isidore a physicist from Miletus and Anthemeus a mathematician the design and planning. It is said looking at the completed structure Justinian exclaimed “Solomon! I have surpassed thee”.

The mega church.

Hagia Sofya image courtsey: webstylus.net

In its prime time being the largest cathedral in the world it enjoyed the service of 80 priests, 150 Deacons, 60 Sub-Deacons, 160 readers, 25 Cantors and 75 door-keepers!

The earth quake.

In 989 AD the devastating earth quake had its death-dance all through the region and Hagia Sophia was not spared as its beautiful dome crumbled down along with many other damages. The Byzantine government invited the famous Architect from Armenia ‘Trdat’ for the reconstruction of the church.

Adding value.

Centuries passed by and Istanbul come under the rule of Turkey in 1453, the Islamic rulers did not lag behind in protecting and improving Hagia Sophia (they converted in to a mosque), Mehmud 1 (who established a Koranic school, social kitchen and a library in the complex (known as ‘Kulliye’) , Sultan Abdulla Mecid (1847 -49 who did extensive modification works), Mustaffa Kemal Pasha (known as the Athathurk- father of Turky- who is well known for his reformist policies in that nation and who converted Hagia Sophia in to a Museum) all are prominent names associated with this history-rich “temple church mosque museum” who have added value in their tenure as rulers.

Sinan the architect.

Sinan image courtsey: wikipedia.org

Selim has played a major role (during his tenure the building was showing signs of weakness due to ageing) he engaged the great Turkish architect Sinan (who was the most famous architect who built the Ani and Agino churches) for the restoration and strengthening of the structure.

Sinan completed the work creditably and in addition he built two minarets by the sides of the main structure. The construction of these minarets is considered to dampen the seismic energy of the earth quakes thereby protecting the main structure. This theory has been approved by the modern seismologists and hence Sinan is considered as the first ‘engineer in the world who built building that can combat a quake with architectural changes.

Present status.

Hagia Sophia image courtsey: peraair.net

The modern day restoration works are done by the American Byzantine Institute under Thomas Whitemore as the restorers advance more and more Christian mosaics get uncovered and removal of the Islamic calligraphy remains a sensitive issue. Hence a balanced policy is being adopted giving presence of both style and texture to co-exist.