The New 7 Wonders Of Nature Announced (UPDATE, PHOTOS)

UPDATE 11/11: Voting for the New 7 Wonders of Nature is over and the preliminary results are in. The New 7 Wonders of Nature are: the Amazon, Iguazu Falls, Komodo, Halong Bay, Jeju Island, Table Mountain and Puerto Princesa Underground River. See the slideshow below for a list of the contenders.

PREVIOUSLY: The Amazon, the Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef are among the most well-known natural landmarks. But, how about the Jeita Grotto, Jeju Island or Sundarbans? Well, you might be familiar with them soon as they are part of the 28 natural spectacles that are in the running to become the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

The New7Wonders foundation announced a list of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. Immediately thereafter, it's been working on a campaign to name nature's new seven wonders.

For this process, global nominations for sites took place from December 2007 to July 2009. The top 77 were moved on to a short list, from which a panel of experts chose the 28 finalists. According to the New7Wonders site, experts' recommendations were based on five criteria:

• Unique beauty of the nominated site
• Diversity and distribution (accounted for in 7 groups)
• Ecological significance (in terms of either stand-alone eco-systems and/or their significance for human beings)
• Historical legacy (relation that human beings and/or indigenous populations have or have had with the site)
• Geo-location (even distribution of the 28 Official Finalists between all continents)

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Finalists were announced at the end of July 2009. Now, global voting on these official candidates will come to a close November 11.

Once this round of voting is complete, the next project will be New7Wonders Cities. Nominations are open until December 31.

Vote for your favorite sites in the slideshow below. Which should comprise the official seven list? Leave your picks in the comments!

(Not pictured: Bu Tinah Island, UAE and Masurian Lake District, Poland)

Comments

[TimmyGriffin]

03:26 PM on 12/15/2011

It is obvious that the photos were taken by an amateur, because if a pro took them they would have appeared differently.

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11:26 PM on 11/15/2011

Are we so bored with the wonders of nature that we have to change the list every year? Or is the list changed because someone "discovers­" something new? Between all the national monuments and parks here in the U.S., I think we've got enough to see in our own backyard.
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[Dogaru Alexandru Ionut]

07:42 PM on 11/15/2011

come to romania give it a chance SHRtravel . ucoz .ro you wont regret it

[biliam1982]

03:22 PM on 11/13/2011

Horrible final list! How do we officially petition it and get those judges fired? BTW, who are these so called "panel of experts" and what are their qualifications?

[anilimili]

03:05 PM on 11/13/2011

Whether some of these are going to be voted the new seven wonders of nature, or other magnificent places enter the competition--the reality remains that there are some AMAZING places on this earth of ours, where jaw dropping scenery, spectacular vistas, and incomprehendable beauty are present for all of us who care to see them. And that these wonders--all over the world, in all countries and places that they happen to be--are worth preserving and noting and knowing and filming and learning about.
What an amazing gift to behold!
The variety and span of these photos stretches my heart and gladdens my soul.
This world is far from perfect, but it sure got some seriously amazing wonders in it! :)

[rockvash]

02:47 PM on 11/13/2011

What about the phrase "relation that human beings and/or indigenous people..." And/or? There's a differance?

[Gregory Schwartz]

02:19 PM on 11/13/2011

The Crystal Caves in New Mexico....unbelieveable and uninhabitable, but beautiful!!!

[reddeath303]

01:32 PM on 11/13/2011

what about the cave in vietnam. it was just discovered. the empire state building can fit inside and its not even listed

[lthrnck68]

12:53 PM on 11/13/2011

Are we so bored with the wonders of nature that we have to change the list every year? Or is the list changed because someone "discovers" something new? Between all the national monuments and parks here in the U.S., I think we've got enough to see in our own backyard.

[Den Ward]

11:53 AM on 11/13/2011

Exuma Islands in the Bahamas, hands down, most impressive place I've ever been to and seen from a plane above. If you are not familiar, google it.

[robertpss]

11:15 AM on 11/13/2011

As stated earlier, they obviously left out some pretty remarkable places, to include some less-than remarkable ones. Is this some kind of "we are the world" shout out, meant to be all-inclusive? Just wondering.
Also, having seen hundreds of pic of the Grand Canyon, and having been there, could they have picked a more drab example to display? Every time I've seen a "Top Seven" or Top 10 list, the Grand Canyon has always been on the Top; for good reason. Their choice of photo is what makes me wonder what their aganda is.

[360Dunk]

10:19 AM on 11/13/2011

What about that three story parking garage in downtown Detroit? It's a natural wonder if you don't get robbed at gunpoint.

[schme909]

10:25 AM on 11/13/2011

good point, they also forgot areas in the south side of Chicago

[360Dunk]

11:02 AM on 11/13/2011

Let's call it everything below Roosevelt Road. Let me check with the P Stone Nation just to be sure.

[Greenblue]

12:00 PM on 11/13/2011

LMAO Dunk

[elefino]

09:59 AM on 11/13/2011

I'm kinda shocked about the 'new' 7... What about "Big Bear" mountain near San Diego, CA...There's so much gold there-unbelievable...Then you have Niagra Falls in US/Canada...Cave of swallows in Mexico-Where you can parachute down, amazing...Then you have the Monarch butterflies of Michoacan, Mexico-explain that one? The Grand Canyon in Arizona/Nevada and of course you have the Amazon basin...MT. Everest of the Himalayan mountains-try climbing it, you'll get your name in the history books...These are my picks...

[mdg0148]

01:09 PM on 11/13/2011

dont forget the air conditioned lifeguard stands on ft.lauderdale beach

[syllcurie]

09:52 AM on 11/13/2011

I'm amazed that the HuffinPuff crew hasn't managed to include Kim Kardashian on this list after all the hype and so little talent (absolutely none.)

[fhmjam]

10:27 AM on 11/13/2011

I'm a "Botox" Pelosi fan.....