An organization entitled the New7Wonders Foundation has undertaken a campaign to name the new seven natural wonders of the world. The first step of the process narrowed the nominees down to 261 nominees from 222 countries and territories around the world. Now, at the group’s website, voting is ongoing to name the top natural wonders in each of seven categories.
Currently, the top vote getters are the Al-hasa Oasis in Saudi Arabia, Bora Bora Island, Yu Shan Mountain in Chinese Taipei, Djavolja Varos rock formation in Serbia, the Amazon Forest, Niagara Falls in the US and Canada and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. On July 7, 2009, the top ten finalists in each category will be announced, then those will be narrowed to 21 and the final seven wonders will be announced in 2011.
Other well known destinations and wonders that are currently in the running include the Galapagos Islands, the Kalahari Desert, Mount Olympus, Mount Sinai, Ayers Rock, the Rock of Aphrodite, the Grand Canyon, the Ganges River, Loch Ness and the Red Sea Reef. Voting is available at www.new7wonders.com for this stage until July of 2009.
