PYRAMID

The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Chichén Itzá, 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.

A woman walks in front of the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza near the town of Valladolid, southern Mexico, Feb. 27, 2007. Chichen Itza is among the leading contenders to be the new seven wonders of the world as a massive poll enters its final month with votes already cast by more than 50 million people, organizers say

MACHU PICCHU

Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru

PERUIn the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacútec 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.

The ruins of Peru's famed Machu Picchu are seen in this July, 2006, file photo. Machu Picchu is among the leading contenders to be the new seven wonders of the world as a massive poll enters its final month with votes already cast by more than 50 million people, organizers say.

TAJ MAHAL (Simbal of Love)

The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India

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.

Stage actors dressed as Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan, right, and Queen Mumtaz Mahal pose during the opening ceremony of the 350th anniversary of the construction of the Taj Mahal, background, in Agra, India, Sept. 27, 2004. The Taj Mahal was constructed from 1632 to 1654 by Shah Jahan for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is among the leading contenders to be the new seven wonders of the world as a massive poll enters its final month with votes already cast by more than 50 million people, organizers say

GREAT WALL OF CHINA

The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.) China

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.

Marathon runners inspect the route for the eighth Great Wall Marathon, at the Great Wall of China in Kuaihuolin, China, May 17, 2007. The Great Wall of China is among the leading contenders to be the new seven wonders of the world as a massive poll enters its final month with votes already cast by more than 50 million people, organizers say.

CHIRST REDEEMER

WORLD WONDERS

Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

BRAZILThis 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.

Members of World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) place a giant faucet near the statue of Christ the Redeemer, at Corcovado mountain, to commemorate the World Environment Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 5, 2005. Christ the Redeemer is among the leading contenders to be the new seven wonders of the world as a massive poll enters its final month with votes already cast by more than 50 million people, organizers say. The seven winners will be announced July 7, 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal

AMPHITHEATER

WORLD WONDERS

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 is an undated aerial view of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. The Colosseum is among the leading contenders to be the new seven wonders of the world as a massive poll enters its final month with votes already cast by more than 50 million people, organizers say. The seven winners will be announced July 7, 2007 in Lisbon

HELLENISTIC TEMPLE

Hellenistic temple

JORDAN 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.

Two tourists ride camels past the Treasury, al-Khazneh in Arabic, the famous Petra monument that is carved out of solid rock from the side of a mountain and stands over 40 meters high the first monument seen at end of the Siq, a 1.5 kilometers path that narrows to about five meters (16 feet) with walls towering over 200 meters (656 feet) overhead, May 16, 2007. Petra is among the leading contenders to be the new seven wonders of the world as a massive poll enters its final month with votes already cast by more than 50 million people, organizers say. The seven winners will be announced July 7, 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal.