The new Seven Wonders of the World

14 July 2007 - On Saturday, the new Seven Wonders of the World were announced in a star-studded ceremony attended by 50,000 people in Lisbon, Portugal. In the largest online poll ever, around 100 million internet users voted for their favourtite site from a shortlist of 21. Monuments that lost out included Stonehenge, the Acroplis in Athens and New York's Statue of Liberty. Here are the seven that did make the grade, along with the Great Pyramid at Giza, the only surviving structure from the original seven wonders of the ancient world, which received honorary status.

Machu Picchu

The famous 'Lost City of the Incas' situated high in the Peruvian Andes was built around 1450 at the height of the Inca empire, and was abandoned less than 100 years later. It was discovered by American Hiram Bingham in 1911 and is now one of the world's best known and most recognizable architectural sites.

Taj Mahal

Completed around 1648, the Taj Mahal was built by the grief-stricken Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The site is dominated by the white-domed marble mausoleum which has become an iconic symbol of India and its glorious past.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro

Completed in 1931, the statue of Christ the Redeemer is an awe-inspring monument that overlooks the city from the peak of the Corcovado Mountain. Standing 38 meters tall and weighing 700 tons it is a potent symbol of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.

Chichen Itza

Located in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, Chichen Itza is one of Latin America's most important archaeological sites. A centre of Mayan commerce and culture for centuries, this fascinating ruined city is dominated by the imposing Temple of Kukulcan pyramid and attracts millions of visitors every year.

Petra

The ancient city of Petra in Jordan is a breathtaking example of architectural and engineering accomplishment. The unique red sandstone ruins carved into rock faces have been attracting visitors from around the world for two centuries and earned the city recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

The Colosseum

Completed in 80 AD, Rome's timeless Colosseum is a giant amphitheatre built for gladiatorial games in front of audiences of up to 50,000. An enduring symbol of Imperial Rome, it is one of finest surviving examples of Roman architecture and one of Europe's most visited tourist attractions.

Great Wall of China

Constructed between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire, the Great Wall is the world's longest manmade structure, stretching over 4,000 miles from the east to the west of the country. It is a truly remarkable achievement.

Great Pyramid at Giza

The Great Pyramid at Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis near Cairo, Egypt. The only remaining member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it is believed to have been built as a tomb for the pharaoh Khufu around 2560 BC.