There were seven wonders of the world in classical antiquity. Today there are many more man-made wonders, from those of the modern age such as the skyline of Manhattan, San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, and the Eiffel Tower to Medieval wonders such as the Holy Roman Emperor's palace fortress of El Escorial in Spain, the Taj Mahal built by a grief-stricken Mogul, the astonishing Great Wall of China-the only impression of humankind that can be seen from space-or the remains of the civilizations of the Mayans and Aztecs. The Escorial was built for Philip II, King of Spain, whose conquistadors brought an end to the Aztec and Mayan civilizations.
Nature's wonders are here, too, in this book for us to admire in awe, rendering humankind's efforts insignificant: the overwhelming Grand Canyon, the legendary Mount Fuji, the impressive Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia, and the almost lifeless but surreal landscape of the Dead Sea. This book reveals one hundred wonders of today's world and takes you on a journey of discovery through the magnificent color photographs of these great treasures of our civilization and of nature.