LISBON (Reuters) - The Great Wall of China, Petra in Jordan and Brazil's statue of Christ the Redeemer are among the modern day seven wonders of the world chosen in a poll of 100 million online voters, organizers said on Saturday.
The other four are Peru's Machu Picchu, the mountain settlement that symbolizes the Inca empire, Mexico's Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, the Colosseum in Rome and the Taj Mahal in India.
The seven winners were announced at a glitzy show at the Benfica stadium in Lisbon after what is likely to be the biggest online poll at www.new7wonders.com.
"Never before in history have so many people participated in a global decision," actress Hilary Swank said at the presentation.
The ancient seven wonders of the world all existed more than 2,000 years ago and were all in the Mediterranean region. Only one remains standing today -- the Pyramids of Giza.
The originals were selected by one man, believed by many to be ancient Greek writer Antipater of Sidon.
The New 7 Wonders of the World organizers say the contest was a chance to level the global cultural playing field and recognize the achievements of societies outside Europe and the Middle East.
Only one European site, the Colosseum, was picked. The Eiffel Tower and the Acropolis had also been contenders.
"I am happy that for the first time in history the world was able to vote and decide," said Jose Freitas do Amaral, commissioner of the New 7 Wonders of the World and Portugal's former foreign minister.
GLITZY PRESENTATION
Many Portuguese enjoying the glitzy presentation, which included break-dancing and singing by tenor Jose Carreras and pop star Jennifer Lopez, backed the choice of new wonders.
"I think this event is very important. It's important to give a chance to other historical monuments," said 60-year-old Ivone Caroca.
At Chichen Itza, in Rio de Janeiro and in Peru -- the three winners in Latin America -- people cheered, danced and applauded when their sites were selected.
"They asked me to tell you that the Christ is now a wonder," lead singer of Brazilian band O Rappa, Marcelo Falcao, said in the middle of the Live Earth concert on Copacabana beach, prompting wild cheering and exchanges of hugs in the crowd.
At Chichen Itza, 26-year-old engineering student Alberto Jimenez jumped with joy together with hundreds of others. "This archaeological recognition is a great achievement for the whole country," he said.
Critics, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), have said world wonders should not be chosen in a popular vote.
In the Lisbon audience, 62-year-old Antonio Catarino was upset because no Catholic cathedrals or churches were included.
"I find it unforgivable that there aren't any in the voting," he said.
The New 7 Wonders organization, established by Swiss-Canadian adventurer Bernard Weber, will use half its revenues to fund restoration efforts worldwide, including recreating the Bamiyan Buddha statue in Afghanistan.
Click here to see the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World.
The Great Wall of China was built to link existing fortifications into a united defense system and better keep invading Mongol tribes out of China. It is the largest man-made monument ever to have been built and it is disputed that it is the only one visible from space. Many thousands of people must have given their lives to build this colossal construction.
On the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the glittering capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). Masters of water technology, the Nabataeans provided their city with great tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theater, modelled on Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000. Today, the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade on the El-Deir Monastery, are impressive examples of Middle Eastern culture.
This statue of Jesus stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it is one of the world's best-known monuments. The statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive visitors with open arms.
In the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacutec built a city in the clouds on the mountain known as Machu Picchu ("old mountain"). This extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. It was probably abandoned by the Incas because of a smallpox outbreak and, after the Spanish defeated the Incan Empire, the city remained 'lost' for over three centuries. It was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.
Chichen Itza, the most famous Mayan temple city, served as the political and economic center of the Mayan civilization. Its various structures - the pyramid of Kukulkan, the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and the Playing Field of the Prisoners - can still be seen today and are demonstrative of an extraordinary commitment to architectural space and composition. The pyramid itself was the last, and arguably the greatest, of all Mayan temples.
This great amphitheater in the centre of Rome was built to give favors to successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. Its design concept still stands to this very day, and virtually every modern sports stadium some 2,000 years later still bears the irresistible imprint of the Colosseum's original design. Today, through films and history books, we are even more aware of the cruel fights and games that took place in this arena, all for the joy of the spectators.
This immense mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, to honor the memory of his beloved late wife. Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is said, could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window.
