Monday, August 20, 2012

Petra In Seven Wonders of the World 2007,Ma'an Governorate, Jordan

 Petra In Seven Wonders of the World 2007


Petra is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. It is located in southern Jordan, about 3 hours from Amman.

- Why is Petra famous?
Known as the “Rose City”because it is carved into pink sandstone cliffs.
Built more than 2,000 years ago by the Nabataeans.
 It was an important trade center connecting Arabia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean.

Main Attractions
Al-Khazneh (The Treasury) The most famous monument, seen at the end of a narrow canyon called the Siq.
Ad Deir (The Monastery) A huge rock-cut building located high in the hills.
The Royal Tombs
The Roman-style theatre

UNESCO Status
Petra became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and is also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World (2007).

- Fun Fact -
Petra appeared in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

(To download HD quality And Without Watermark images, click on the download button and right-click on the mouse and select the "Save Image As" option.)

















Machu Picchu In Seven Wonders of the World 2007, Cuzco Region, Peru



Machu Picchu lies in the southern hemisphere, 13.164 degrees south of the equator. It is 80 kilometers northwest of Cusco, on the crest of the mountain Machu Picchu, located about 2,450 metres above mean sea level, over 1,000 metres lower than Cusco, which has an altitude of 3,600 metres . As such, it had a milder climate than the Inca capital. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in South America, one of the most visited tourist attractions in all of Latin America and the most visited tourist attraction in Peru.

The year at Machu Picchu is divided between wet and dry seasons, with the majority of annual rain falling from October through to April. It can rain at any time of the year.

Machu Picchu is situated above a loop of the Urubamba River, which surrounds the site on three sides, with cliffs dropping vertically for 450 metres to the river at their base. The area is subject to morning mists rising from the river.The location of the city was a military secret, and its deep precipices and steep mountains provided excellent natural defenses. The Inca Bridge, an Inca rope bridge, across the Urubamba River in the Pongo de Mainique, provided a secret entrance for the Inca army. Another Inca bridge was built to the west of Machu Picchu, the tree-trunk bridge, at a location where a gap occurs in the cliff that measures 6 metres . It could be bridged by two tree trunks, but with the trees removed, there was a 570 metres  fall to the base of the cliffs.

The city sits in a saddle between the two mountains Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu, with a commanding view down two valleys and a nearly impassable mountain at its back. It has a water supply from springs that cannot be blocked easily, and enough land to grow food for about four times as many people as ever lived there. The hillsides leading to it have been terraced, not only to provide more farmland to grow crops, but to steepen the slopes which invaders would have to ascend. The terraces reduced soil erosion and protected against landslides. Two high-altitude routes from Machu Picchu go across the mountains back to Cusco, one through the sun gate, and the other across the Inca bridge. Both could be blocked easily, should invaders approach along them. Regardless of its original purpose, it is strategically located and readily defended.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Great Wall of China In Seven Wonders of the World 2007,China


                           The Great Wall stretches from Shanhaiguan in the east, to Lop Lake in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. A comprehensive archaeological survey, using advanced technologies, has concluded that the Ming walls measure 8,850 km (5,500 mi). This is made up of 6,259 km (3,889 mi) sections of actual wall, 359 km (223 mi) of trenches and 2,232 km (1,387 mi) of natural defensive barriers such as hills and rivers. Another archaeological survey found that the entire wall with all of its branches measure out to be 21,196 km (13,171 mi)