Fact Junction: 7 Natural Wonders of the World

The provisional new seven wonders of nature have been chosen after a series of votes by the “New7Wonders Foundation” based in Zurich, Switzerland. The Amazon rainforest, Vietnam’s Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, South Korea’s Jeju Island, Indonesia’s Komodo National Park, Philippines’s Puerto Princesa River and Table Mountain in South Africa are the newly voted wonders of the nature world.

The Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon Rainforest, also known as Amazonia, the Amazon jungle or the Amazon Basin, covers the area of a billion acres, encompassing areas in Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The Amazon is home to at least 40,000 plant species, 3,000 freshwater fish species and over 370 reptile species exist in the Amazon. The Amazon is considered to have half of the planet’s remaining rainforests and be the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world. The official list will be announced in 2012.

The Amazon Rainforest

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Vietnam’s Halong Bay, which is located in the north of the country, is made up of 1,600 islands and islets in various sizes and shapes. The islands, which are dotted with caves and can be accessed only by boat, were first listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1994. There is aFishing Village in Ha Long Bay where people live in non-solid ground in a coastline of 2,000 islands. Children at the unique village go to the floating schools by school boats everyday.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil

The Iguazú Falls, which is one of Argentina and Brazil’s most popular touristic destinations, consists of 257 individual falls over 2.7 kilometers. Among them, the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s throat) with its U-shape offers best scene of these majestic waterfalls. Specially, over 2000 species of plants, 400 of birds and 70 mammals live in this area.

Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil

Jeju Island, South Korea

Jeju Island, South Korea’s subtropical volcanic island, is situated 130 kilometres off the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula. Listed as a World Natural Heritage Site in 2007, the volcanic island is best known for its scenic mountains, waterfalls, forests, caves and beaches.

Jeju Island, South Korea

Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Indonesia’s Komodo is considered to be the world’s largest living lizard which is best known for its unique fauna and its unusual inhabitant. Komodo National Park covers three larger islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar and some smaller ones. The national park was originally founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon.

Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Puerto Princesa River, Philippines

Puerto Princesa River is the longest navigable underground river in the world which can be traveled by an organized boat ride. The river emerges directly into the South China Sea; hence, its lower portion is subject to tidal influences. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is 8.2km long and home to more than 250 bird species, 800 plant species and at least 295 types of trees.

Puerto Princesa River, Philippines

Table Mountain, South Africa

Table Mountain is the level plateau edged by impressive cliffs which forms a dramatic backdrop to Cape Town. The unique shaped mountain has withstood six million years of erosion. The place is home to at least 2,200 plant species and over 1,470 floral species.