While everyone’s going gaga over the new official seven wonders of the world, MensXpert brings you the list of the unofficial, but no less wonderful wonders of the world. And not seven, but eleven of them!
After seeing the Seven Wonders of the World if you think that you’ve seen it all, then think again. For we bring you some relatively unknown wonders that will make you wonder of why have you not seen them before. So behold, as we bring you the essential eleven unofficial wonders of the world.
11. Giant’s Mound
Silbury Hill, England
Silbury Hill, near Avebury in Wiltshire, is the largest man-made mound in the whole of Europe. To the unenlightened few, this might be nothing more than a gigantic mound but what brings this hill to this list is the age in which it was built and enigma behind it. Silbury Hill was built way back in the Neolithic age about 4400 years ago. Considering the fact that the mound was built in an age when even metals had hardly been introduced to the civilisation makes Silbury Hill a true megastructure. The hill is composed of mainly chalk and it took roughly 4 million man hours of work for it to be completed. Silbury Hill stands at 30 metres high and 160 metres wide.
What’s special?
What draws tourists to this site is the mystery behind this breathtaking structure. Many legends have developed concerning the purpose and contents of the ancient mound, one of which suggests that the Devil dropped soil to create the mound while other theory suggests it to be the burial site of King Sil and his horse.
10. Nature’s Gift
Fairy Chimneys, Turkey
Who said erosion was bad? There are times when these so called unfavourable natural processes help create wonderful structures and Fairy Chimneys in Turkey are testament to that. These are conical rock formations consisting of caps of hard rock resting on top of softer rocks. The Fairy Chimneys are formed in areas where initially thick layers of consolidated volcanic ash were covered with a thin layer of basalt which is more resistant to erosion. Erosion by water flowing over this unique combination has resulted in these awe inspiring, phallic structures.
What’s special?
A special feature of these chimneys is that many of them have been converted into dwelling places, with some even being converted into inns!
9. Playing it Cool
B-15, Antarctica
B-15 has made this list through the sheer magnitude of its size. Until not too long back, at 11000 km square (more than the area of Hawaii), B-15 was recorded as the largest iceberg. But it broke up in the year 2002 giving rise to B-15A, the largest free floating object in the world. In the case of these icebergs, size does matter, for such was the effect of the breaking of B-15, that a number of penguins died as they did not have access to the sea water anymore.
What’s special?
The significance of B-15 to Antarctic ecology is what makes it special. Some of the effects of its break up are tremendous such as the decline in the population of Emperor Penguins, Weddell seals and Skuas. Scientists are closing monitoring the effects of global warming on B-15A.
8. Cave In
Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico
More than 250 million years ago, these magnificient structures were hidden from us. That was when God said, “Let there be evaporation” and Carlsbad Cavern was unveiled. Carlsbad Caverns consists of more that 300 limestone caves found in a fossil reef. Such is the extent of this structure that only 10 percent of it has been explored by humans. And if you thought that size and extent are it’s only forte, wait till you see the wonderfully developed stalactites and stalagmites. If you’re a photographer, then this place is the ultimate treat. The only person enjoying more will probably be a bat lover.
What’s special?
The main feature of the Carlsbad Caverns National Park is the ‘big room’ where the visitors can go down 900 feet and experience the beauty of a whopping 1800 feet long and 250 feet wide room with extraordinary formations.
7. Hilly Illusions
Magnetic Hill, Canada
Brought to light by a bunch of journalists more that a hundred years age, the magnetic hill is one of Canada’s most popular tourist attractions. It’s purely the mystery and puzzle value of a phenomenon of this hill that makes visitors keep returning. To experience this phenomenon, take a car to the bottom of the hill and put it on neutral. You will see the car start rolling uphill, slowly gathering momentum without any external force, and thus the name of this hill.
What’s special?
The name of this attraction can be quite misleading for it’s not a magnetic field that makes the car go up, but simply an optical illusion that makes it appear like it’s rolling up. Nevertheless, this simply increases the intrigue of the place.
6. Back to the Ice Age
Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand
Witness the unlikely yet breathtaking ensemble of lush green trees and endless expanse of ice as you visit the Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand. Franz Josef is one of the only two glaciers in the world that crawl through temperate rainforests. This 7.5 mile long chunk of ice moves at an impressive pace of 4 metres a day and the great thing is that it is still growing in size (117 inches a day).
What’s special?
This majestic glacial environment is amazingly accessible with a car park a short distance away. You can take a close look at the glacier through guided walks on it and even through its crevices.
5. Carved by God
StoneForest, Kunming, China
Just like the name suggests, the StoneForest is a 96,000 acre site scattered with stones that are carved over several million years by the greatest sculptor of all, the natural elements. The limestones are carved in various shapes and with such guile that it seems like they will come to life any given moment. A visit to the wind cave is a special treat as every 30 minutes an enthralling gush of wind blasts through it.
What’s special?
To enjoy the sight of the StoneForest to the fullest, visit this site during the Torch Festival that occurs every lunar year on June 24th. When the forest comes alive in the joyful and festive atmosphere and you will see why the locals call it ‘The First Wonder of the World’.
4. The Giant Staircase
Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines
There are hundreds of rice terraces around the world, but what makes the Banaue Rice Terraces special is the scale at which they were built. The vertical distance between the bottom and the top platforms far exceeds the height of the world’s tallest buildings and if these terraces were laid side by side, they would probably stretch halfway around the world. During the winter season, these terraces are a sight to behold.
What’s special?
The Banaue Rice Terraces have been built and preserved for the past 2000 years by the Ifugao tribesmen using primitive tools, making this one of the world’s grandest engineering feat. It is thus now being preserved as a cultural heritage and is sometimes also called the eighth wonder of the world.
3: Pillar of Hercules
Rock of Gibraltar, Gibraltar
As you sail across the Mediterranean Sea approaching the Iberian Peninsula, you are greeted by an imposing structure that will be etched into your brain forever. You are witnessing the most famous rock in the world, the Rock of Gibraltar. This rock was formed during the Jurassic Age as a result of a violent collision between the African and Eurasian plates. And since then, it has been the symbol of solidity and invincibility.
What’s special?
Through the ages, this rock has been used for fortification of the surrounding areas and a strategic location to control the Mediterranean by different forces giving rise to the old adage ‘Solid as the Rock of Gibraltar’. A complex system of underground tunnels and passageways has evolved as a result of the use of the rock by several military forces.
2. The Eternal Mystery
Stonehenge, United Kingdom
Nowhere else have we seen such a celebrated and widely speculated structure and yet we know so little about it. One of Britain’s greatest national icons, the Stonehenge stands about 13kms north of Salisbury. Some say that Stonehenge was built as a temple to worship ancient deities while others speculate that it was built as an astronomical observatory. Some even claim Stonehenge to be a burial site of high ranking citizens.
What’s special?
Whatever the reason for the construction may have been, it was certainly of great significance, for Stonehenge is a great engineering feat. The stones forming the outer circle weigh at least 50 tonnes each and having been available several miles away from the location, it must have been a Herculean task to get them to their current position and placing these upright using primitive tools must have been no mean effort in itself.
1. The World at Your Feet
The WorldIslands, Dubai
The island of Greece has just been sold for $15.5mn and bidders are lining up to buy other continents. Well, the world’s not up for sale, but the WorldIslands in Dubai are. Just when we thought that the Nakheel group had outdone itself with the PalmIslands, they pulled yet another rabbit out of the hat in the form of the WorldIslands which resemble a scaled down version of all the continents in the world.
What’s special?
The project consists of 300 islands, each of which will be distinctly developed for the world’s richest. Some will also be developed into luxury resorts. These can only be accessed through waterways, providing a high degree of privacy, which is one of the highest selling points of these islands.
So the next time you feel like losing yourself in the moment and getting swept off your feet, you know where to go.
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