The colosseum? Oh why? Just leave the pyramids in there! It's not like they have been destroyed so why are they replaced in the list?

Kerst, Twickenham,

While some deserve the status, the process is so flawed. It is a grave injustice, bias and discrimination. Angkor wat of Cambodia is the victim of the unforgivable and outrageous act. It is an honorable decision that Egypt didn't join the absurb race. Did those voters use their common sense????? What a shame.

Roatha Lain, Tokyo,

These are just personal opinions.
I don't believe the Colosseum it's really a wonder, but he suffered a lot of wars (410 with Alarico, then Attila, Risorgimento, Both mondial Wars and more) and is a symbol of the Roman Empire, and Empire like no one else.
How can you say what is a wonder? Just because it's beautiful? Or because it's really really special?

Davide Todini, Rome, Italy

The voting for the new 7 wonders seems a bit like the voting on these TV celebrity dancing & singing shows: i.e. if you vote enough times your favourite soapie star will win.
I have no particular problem with the "winners", but how the Colosseum & Christ Redeemer can rate ahead of Angkor is mystifying. Angkor Wat is just ONE of a huge complex of temples built over several hundred years. Truly awe inspiring & definitely on MY list. Go there - you will be gobsmacked!

Alan Messini, Melbourne, Australia

Would Daryl Saddler be upset at where these wonders are because of the lack of an American (US) entrant? I may be a bit cynical but, those that are there, are wonderful!
Besides I don't believe that many of the people in Peru, for instance, have the access to the Internet (through poverty or, simply, connection) to have voted... It is likely therefore, that many of his fellow countryfolk (and europeans, Australians etc.) voted for something that inspired them, which was always the point of these "Wonders". I don't believe that the Colosseum is THAT fantastic, but that's my opinion!
Instead of everyone complaining about how undemocratic it was (isn't a vote democratic by definition?), why can't we celebrate the wonders we have around the world? Sadly, there isn't a natrual version, as I believe that would be truly interesting!

Tim, Naples, Italy

It appears that the seven wonders happen to mostly fall in countries with extremely high populations so I expect that patriotism is what decided most of the votes.

Darryl Sadler, Dulles, VA

The world's most important problem is that Europeans - eurocentrists - want to have everything for their own benefit. That's the root of colonialism and destructive capitalism. They name every star and planet after their heroes, heroines, and cultural symbols. And they own hundreds of islands around the world.

This is "neither democratic nor scientific". That's true.

Bardia, Rey,

"The Kukulkan pyramid at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza in Mexico, another success for South America"

At the risk of sounding pedantic, Mexico is actually in North America.

Colin McClernon, London,

The world is full of wonders both man made and natural.
This whole new seven wonders thing is just a stunt with little meaning.
It does'nt seem to have brought the world together as the organiser claims.
Much better to celebrate the wide variety of interesting places that exist in every country of the world. Not just a selected few.

Amanda, Cardiff, UK

If we are going to have lists of wonders, then we need to clarify that wonder is produced by the interaction of nature, a human element and a special moment. We could then have two lists

''Natural' wonders, where human impact is less than the natural. To mention only places I've visited and experienced a sense of wonder in, I'd suggest - the Grand Canyon (USA), River Li near Guilin (China), Uluru/Ayer's Rock (Australia), Iguazu Falls (Brasil/Argentina), Great Barrier Reef (Australia), the Lake District esp. near Esquel.(Argentina) Macchu Pichu (Perú).

The latter is nearest to a combination of the three elements I mentioned. On its own it IS just a pile of rocks, but seeing it for the first time at sunrise, and from above, at the end of the Inca Trail, having walked 4 days through the mountains (preferably alone or with few companions, as was possible in 1973) then it is wondrous and uplifting.

'Human' wonders depend much more on personal preference and cultural baggage.

Les .W., Montevideo, Uruguay

I know two wonders of the world.
1. is the wonder bra.
2. is wonder woman.

those are not wonders, but mere tourist spots.

Jorge, Metro,

Chichen Itza isn't that great by comparison to Angkor Wat and the Christ statue in Brazil is not a "Wonder" by any standard. Pick the Eiffel Tower if we must have a French contender plus at least it's a unique piece of architecture like all the others.
Leaving the Great Pyramid out of the seven is a shame. I've been to the Colosseum and it didn't take my breath away, perhaps because I visited The Sistine Chappel on the previous day...and that did. It seems to me that the list is not only biased, inadequate but completely useless for anything other than to kick off an other useless debate.

Vicky Nagy, London, UK

Machu Picchu is, without doubt, one of the most impressive places in the entire world. Its breathtaking, its architecture (taking into account where it is and who built it) proves how to fully integrate a city with nature. Also, its surroundings are spectacular.
I believe many of us fell sorry for our own candidates. But we have to honor winners, particularly if they where elected in such a democratic way.

Joseph Burlington, Washington DC, USA

I am surprised that Corcovado Christ have been chosen and Moai of Easter Island has been left out. It is really hard to understand the criteria, it looks more as a fashion than appreciation.

Carol, London,

For all those who are sad about the Acropolis, don't be. Seriously, why would the Acropolis, perhaps the most mathematically and artistically perfect existing structure made by man 2500 years ago be placed in the same list as all the rest? We should be happy for the recognition given to these new wonders, but the Acropolis truly stands on its own!

Matthew, Washington, DC

What about Old Trafford, Manchester?

Matt, Manchester,

To those of you saying that Machu Pichu and the Kukulkan pyramid (Chichen Itza) should not be on the list: you are only showing your ignorance, what a shame! Why don't you read about these cultures? In Latin America we have always known that these two magnificent sites are wonders of the world, it was just "oficially" confirmed on Saturday. The Incas and the Mayas, for your information, were two extremely advanced cultures, with extraordinary knowledge of mathematics, science, astronomy, architecture, and so on. They had very complex socioeconomic structures, which totally surprised the Europeans when they arrived here. Please get a book, read and find out how these two sites show their unbelievable knowledge of the sky, stars, (the mayas invented the "zero" by the way). Scientists today are still wondering and studying their knowledge, and it will take many years until they can decipher many of their inscriptions.
Some even link them to extraterrestrials. READ READ READ!!!

Tanya, Phoenix, USA

Congratulations!

However, when the World's first ever ... 'travel guide' was compiled by the Athenians of the Classical Greek era for the Athenians, one may have noticed that their crowning jewel, The Acropolis of Athens was left out of "the original 7 Wonders", only because it was in their hometown and they could see and visit the "Sacred Rock" every single day.

Which is why, on 07/07/07, as a N7W candidate, I expected The Acropolis in Athens, Greece to have been announced as one of the "New 7 Wonders"! So, how on Earth could The MARVELOUS Acropolis NOT have sufficient online votes to be considered a WONDER despite its popularity and symbolism? UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Now, in an act of goodwill from the British Museum, when the original and "seized" Parthenon Marbles will finally(!!!!) be returned to Greece, then and only then, the many-centuries-old history of The Acropolis of Athens, with its most impressive architectural masterpiece, the Parthenon, will be ...RESTORED!!!!

Athena Prevalis , Athens , Greece

this whole exercise makes me wonder what i can achieved with 2 million slaves at my disposal.
sure, those monuments are great, but their creation spelt untold misery on the inhabitants of those civilisations.

why not celebrate things that have made the lives of people around the world better like inspiration writings or tangible technologies?

victor, london,

Anything that annoys the Vatican is a good thing!

Dan B., Aberdeen,

I think we have to be reminded that these are the new seven wonders that are MAN MADE, that's why the Niagara falls and other places mentioned were not on the list. . Also, why seven? simply because the wonders of the ancient world were seven.
I agree that the organisers should now make a list of the natural wonders of the world and i propose that the list include not more than 20 places so we can really identify them and protect them. And the election system should be differetn because i do feel that some places got in the list because more money was put into publicizing them. So maybe a mixture of direct voting and an experts panel, together with some restrictions on governments spending to promote the votes would make a great list ot the 20 NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD. Who is in with me?

Juan Pablo, Cancun, Mexico

How about Bosnian Pyramids?

ftash, Visoko, Bosnia

Where was the Millenium Dome. Without doubt the most impressive building ever constructed on British soil......

Simon Walker, Sydney, Australia

The methodology is wrong and leads to the results obtained, partly ridiculous. The Brazil’s statue of Christ Redeemer, greater than the Piramids of Giza, just to give one example. Give me a break! Angkor Wat not included, instead the Colosseum? This has been a commercial, wrongly formulated contest.

Thomas Braun, Lima, Peru

Hey Popozudo, I think you can be disagree with the election of Machu Picchu; but actually your ingnorance is daring when you say that "it's a pile of rocks". I'm an architect and I have been 4 times in Machu Picchu, and I can say that is really amazing this new wonder of the world. You have to see each detail of its architecture, urban planning and aspects of enginnering. This space is very little to describe all this.

You can't compare Machu Picchu with the beautiful Taj Mahal, because these two wonders were built in different places, cultures, times and with different reasons.

Being objective, there are some Inca buildings (like Ollantaytambo and some in the city of Cuzco) with a better quality of construction, but the impressive in Machu Picchu is not only the architecture itself, it's also the beautiful integration of architecture and landscape.

By the way, what a shame that Acropolis, Angkor Wat and Hagia Sophia (some of my favourites) failed to make the final cut.

Jair Zuta, Lima, Lima, Peru

This is crazy.
None of them are new.

The newest is the Rio statue -and it's 76 years old.
The City of Petra is older than some of the ANCIENT Wonders of the World and the Colosseum is only 100 years younger than the youngest of them - the Pharos of Alexandria.

I think that the NEW Wonders of the World should be -at the oldest- post World War II (1945) .

Like -
The original Disneyland, Anaheim, California USA 1955
The Great Hall of the People, Beijing, China 1959
The Valle de los Caidos, Spain 1960
The Sears Tower, Chicago, Illinois, USA 1973
The Sydney Opera House, Australia 1973
The Pompidou Centre, Paris, France 1977
The Taipei 101 Tower, Taiwan 2003

Gerard Mulholland, Paris, France

Yawn!!! I live in Brazil where church, state & TV conducted a vigorous campaign to get people to vote. Sadly the state can't provide education, health & security for it's population - but it has one of the "wonders of the world" . I seems like a repeat of Marie Antoinette saying "let them eat cake"

Michael Jorden, Sao Paulo, Brazil

We are deeply sorry that monuments and constructions meant to be a symbol of arrogance and pseud-patriotism did not won the contest. Next time we can make a contest called seven wonders of ego...

Carlos, SP, Brazil

Christ Redemptor in Rio what a laugh, this peice of concrete sculpture that was made less than 50 years ago winning over treesure like Angkor Vat is a grotesque nonsense !

CS, Geneva, Switzerland

"Its a real shame that wonders like The Great Pyramids of Egypt,"

"but the Great Pyramid of Giza, the only one of the original wonders ancient of the world still standing, was assured of retaining its status in addition to the new seven"

So there still there. Which means we now have eight wonders. Now King Kong is the ninth wonder of the world!

starling, Lancaster,

The Kukulkan pyramid. What the heck is that. One of the wonders of the world apparently. Seems money buys influence. The list is wrong as these are not the greatest wonders in the world. Ankorwat, St Peter's Basilica, Hong Kong harbour, KL twin towers, the new Wembley stadium.

No, these are all pants compared to The Kukulkan pyramid !!

Norm, Preston, uk,

I think Angkor Wat should have been included in this list. a bit disappointed because of this. Taj Mahal and Christ the Redeemer - do not know in what way they are wonders.

RK, London, UK

How pathetic, arbitrary, undemocratic and unscientific is this election???? Won't people ever grow up?

Humpty Dumpty, Paris,

I'd like to nominate George Bush. Cos you have to wonder what he is doing?

Rosbif, Antibes, France

Chichen Itza isn't that great by comparison to Angkor Wat and the Christ statue in Brazil is not a "Wonder" by any standard. Pick the Eiffel Tower if we must have a French contender plus at least it's a unique piece of architecture like all the others.
Leaving the Great Pyramid out of the seven is a shame. I've been to the Colosseum and it didn't take my breath away, perhaps because I visited The Sistine Chappel on the previous day...and that did. It seems to me that the list is not only biased, inadequate but completely useless for anything other than to kick off an other useless debate.

Vicky Nagy, London, UK

I cant believe Easter Island didnt make the final cut, very disappointed! With the mystery that surrounds the moais this island has a story to tell the world

Olivia, London, UK

Great to see Taj on the top of this list. In the current world scenario all we need is love & peace.

Dipendra Jyoti, Chicago, USA

We indians are realy very much spirtual and loving to humanity this victory of Taj shows that love is only the factor which prevails along the way of natural life. It is very much clear that law of jungle is also prevailing as loving ceatures are still there in jungle but hunting animals are in endangered zone
It shows that terorism will not be in existance for a long period.
Nature wil get balance itself. So therefore it is the time to fall in love with the nature and with all the love messaging monuments.

Ajay Pal Singh, Noida, India

The 8th Wonder of the World is that the Brazilian Corcovado Christ was chosen as one of the seven!! This is the Eurovision song contest all over again. Brazil with its huge population lead a big campaign to ensure the Christ was chosen. Seventy percent of those who voted had never seen it or been up the mountain. What a waste of time. It's a ghastly piece of sculpture bequeathed by France which is totally out of proportion and completely disfigures the glory of the mountain.

Stanley, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

"The forgotten and most important wonder of the world is the Kabah the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This was first built by Adam by order of God and then rebuilt by Abraham after the great flood of Noah’s time. Over 1.5 billion Muslims face the Kabah for five daily prayers. Surely this is the most important then any other." This is a a big black stone, originating from the times when pagans adored the Moon, before Mohammad. Adam? God? Abraham? Absolute fantasy!Wonder of the world? What architectural feat has been performed to place this big rock in Meccah? This quote expresses a religious delusion.

Thomas Braun, Lima, Peru

Angkor Wat in Cambodia, amazing, google image it and then tell me rio comes close. the seven wonders listed are ALL tourist traps.

nim, lincoln,

There is something facetious about this whole seven wonders of the earth. To begin with, how can anything be a "wonder" when it is man-made. In my opinion it should be something which is a product of nature. If we are considering man-made items as "wonders" perhaps one should nominate world-wide-web as one too or the theory of relativity.
All said and done this process of eliminating and selecting a few over others may leave the rest a bit disgruntled. I refuse to accept that Taj Mahal or Machu Pichu is any better than the wonderful green rolling hills just outside my village where I feel particularly blessed in the glory of sunshine and fresh air. Nothing can top that. A wonder should be able to enthral you and therefore my 7 wonders are:
My village (in Beds)
My birth village (in foothills of Himalayas)
Victoria peak, Hong Kong
Aughinish, Ireland
Ronnie Barker
Classical music (Indian, Western and Chinese)
Cricket

Prabhat, UK,

By the way we are not south america!!!!!, Mexico is part of north america!!!!! geographical, we do have winter the same time as you do, while argentina is in SUMMER!!!! and we are part of NAFTA (NORTH america free trade agreement!!!!!) if you would like to make a difference, the writter must reffer to us as latin america!
I will appreciate you change it and study geography

regina, mexico city, mexico

I definitely think Foz de Iguacu in Brazil should be one of the wonders. The waterfalls borders 3 different countries and it stretches for miles~ so beautiful!!

Jane, orlando, florida

What about St Peter's Basilica in Rome? The basilica is the largest religious building in the world! CAn host 60.000 people and is a marvel of design and architecture!

david, London, uk

Taj Mahal's inclusion in the new 7 wonders is good news. On the other hand it is a fact that the voting process was flawed and some deserving places like Ankorwat has lost the race.

rm, bangalore, india

"What happen to Niagara Falls. ?"

Good question! I went there 30 years ago, when it was still virtually in the middle of nowhere. Have you seen it now? There's an example of bad planning permission at its worst. It's ruined.

Mokbul, the 7 wonders are NOT about religion. It might be an important building for your religion, but it doesn't make it one of the 7 (or should I say 8, including Giza) in the world.

I'm afraid I think the Taj Mahal looks like an overgrown wedding cake (you may hit me now :P).

starling, Lancaster,

Hey Popozudo, I think you can be disagree with the election of Machu Picchu; but actually your ingnorance is daring when you say that "it's a pile of rocks". I'm an architect and I have been 4 times in Machu Picchu, and I can say that is really amazing this new wonder of the world. You have to see each detail of its architecture, urban planning and aspects of enginnering. This space is very little to describe all this.

You can't compare Machu Picchu with the beautiful Taj Mahal, because these two wonders were built in different places, cultures, times and with different reasons.

Being objective, there are some Inca buildings (like Ollantaytambo and some in the city of Cuzco) with a better quality of construction, but the impressive in Machu Picchu is not only the architecture itself, it's also the beautiful integration of architecture and landscape.

By the way, what a shame that Acropolis, Angkor Wat and Hagia Sophia (some of my favourites) failed to make the final cut.

Jair Zuta La Rosa, Lima, Peru

Angkor Wat in Cambodia is truly amazing and should be up there in the seven wonders of the world, it has stood the test of time and is one of the largest and most impressive places
I have been to.
Rosalin, Hartlepool

Rosalin, Hartlepool,

The forgotten and most important wonder of the world is the Kabah the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This was first built by Adam by order of God and then rebuilt by Abraham after the great flood of Noah’s time. Over 1.5 billion Muslims face the Kabah for five daily prayers. Surely this is the most important then any other. But I am not disputing the history behind other wonders of the world. Just pointing out the fact that practically and spiritually the Kabah is most important and significant wonders of this world.

Mokbul, Worcester, uk

The choices while certainly of architectural significance. I think that Parliament ahouls be included. Not for the structure itself, but for the reason it was built, and more importantly remains, the idea of representative government.

Richard Cross, Baraboo, Wisconsin

Has anyone ever been to Machu Picchu?

Without a doubt the site is spectacular, but a wonder of the world? Come on, get real!

All there is to see is a pile of rocks AND the spectacular scenery. In no way is Machu Picchu comparable to the Taj Mahal or Petra. The latter two are indeed engineering feats.

Popozudo, London, UK

Taj Mahal is realy deserved one for this super duper fame , it`s realy very good news for india in the perspective of promotion of the tourism in india . The day is become a historical day and poeple of loving world will always like the Taj as a simbal of love because love will never lost from the world. The land of India than the land of Agra is great to being a love nurturing land . Therefore we indian should make every contribution to make Agra a clean green and visitable place and create an example to the world to follow indian loving philoshophy.

Ajay Pal Singh, Noida, India

Its a real shame that wonders like The Great Pyramids of Egypt,The Acropolis were not voted

Rohan, Bhopal, INDIA/Madhya Pradesh

What happen to Niagara Falls. ?

Fred Tinson, Hamilton, Canada, Ontario,

the wonders are there, on the earth, not in one's mouth and mind

feing, glasgow, UK

I think a lot of people are taking this way too serious. Consider this a fun event that will be of absolutely minimal consequence to Earth, life, and life on Earth. The world will keep on turning, poverty and global warming will still remain significant world issues, not even your ingrown toenail will seemingly take notice.

In short: who cares??

Tom, LA, USA

Why should the "wonders" be limited to seven? Why not have the one hundred or one thousand wonders of the world etc. and save a lot of nonsense.
In any case it is irrational in the extreme to compare achievements such as The Great Wall of China with the Taj Mahal or the Colosseum since they represent entirely different architectural concepts and motivations.

David Cotterell, Cheltenham,

It was interesting to see that in Granada, people were being encouraged to vote for the Alhambra by being given gifts of keyrings!

Anne , London,

I think Parliament should be included, not for the building, which of course is magnificent, but for it's purpose, the seed of representative government.

Richard Cross, Baraboo, Wisconsin

Has anybody seen Angkor Wat in Cambodia?
The recent so-called 7 wonders mean nothing without this Angkor Wat.
It is very biased choice that doesn't deserve a respect.

yp, lancaster, pa

Why must we be forever reuining history. The 7 wonders of the ancient world are still there in books to be read about and studied. Just because it's easier to pick ones that are more modern doesn't mean we should. Herodotus would be turning in his grave i imagine.

Oli, Sheffield, England

I think North should be down on all maps. The world has far too long been seen from this angle.

What a joke. Tradition means nothing. This is a ploy by governments to go after the almighty dollar/yen/peso/euro/you get the picture.

Don, Arlington, VA, USA