There are thousands of wonders in the world
Wondermondo is a unique site about the wonders of the world. Here are descriptions of 1 828 wonders of the world (see here – what is a wonder). In articles are listed approximately 10 000 more.
News about the wonders
Discovered the tallest tree in Tibet
May 18, 2022
Chinese scientists have discovered the tallest known fir and the tallest tree in Tibet. This Salween fir (Abies ernestii var. salouenensis) was found in Zayu county and its height after multiple measurements from drones is 83.2 m.
More: 83.2 meters! China’s tallest tree discovered in Tibet, Ecns.cn. May 20, 2022.
Natural rock towers are swaying and vibrating
February 18, 2022
Published results of an unusual research that required climbing of the majestic rock towers in the Valley of the Gods in Utah, United States. Such tall rock towers experience bending, twisting and other types of movements due to wind, earthquakes and other events – similar to trees or tall buildings.
More: Ambient Vibration Modal Analysis of Natural Rock Towers and Fins, Seismological Research Letters (2022). February 16, 2022.
Remnants of the earliest known modern humans in Europe discovered in France
February 10, 2022
In Mandrin Grotto (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France) have been discovered the oldest known remnants of Homo sapiens in Europe (besides some amazing finds from Greece). Teeth of seven people and several stone tools were left there sometimes between 56,800 and 51,700 years ago – 12 thousand years earlier than known thus far. At that time humans there were living among Neanderthals – in fact in this same grotto afterward lived also Neanderthals!
More: Modern human incursion into Neanderthal territories 54,000 years ago at Mandrin, France, Science Advances. February 9, 2022.
Discovered ancient animal with the oldest known gills of modern arthropods
February 9, 2022
In the famous Chengjiang Fossil Site (China, Yunnan) has been discovered a fossil of some 520 million years old sea creature named Erratus sprerare. This prehistoric arthropod is a kind of the missing link between the more primitive breathing creatures and modern arthropods who have biramous limbs: legs with breathing organs – gills – on them.
More: 520-Million-Year-Old Fossil Sheds Light on Origin of Gills in Arthropods, Sci-News. February 8, 2022.
Cesvaine palace opens doors after 20 years of reconstruction
February 9, 2022
Cesvaine Palace (Latvia) will reopen after 20 years of rebuilding and restoration. This palace was constructed in 1893 – 1896 and was ravaged by fire in 2002.
More: Eng.lsm.lv, February 8, 2022.
One of the oldest Buddhist temples discovered
February 4, 2022
Italian archaeologists have found remnants of one of the oldest Buddhist temples near the center of Barikot City in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This temple was built in the 3rd century BC when there was an unusual Indo-Greek kingdom. Archaeological excavations in Barikot are ongoing for several decades already, uncovering amazing finds about the enlightened kingdom that had much influence also from the Macedonian conquests by Alexander.
More: Tom Metcalfe, India’s Extravagant Lal Bagh Palace is Restored to its Former Glory, LiveScience, February 3 2022.
Lalbagh Palace in Indore, India is restored
January 18, 2022
The extensive restoration of Lalbagh Palace in Indore has been accomplished. This large palace was built comparatively late: it was completed only in 1926. Owners – the once-influential Holkar Family – lived there until 1978 but since then the palace fell into disrepair, the second floor was disfigured by fire. Now the building with its ornate interiors has been renovated thanks to financing from diverse public funds and the meticulous work of restorers.
More: India’s Extravagant Lal Bagh Palace is Restored to its Former Glory, Architectural Digest, January 14 2022.
Update about the prehistoric stone settings in the north-western Saudi Arabia
January 18, 2022
Interesting update over the extensive research of amazing, little known archaeological monuments – the incredibly complex stone settings that were created millennia ago in the deserts of the Middle East. Researchers have identified and analysed 164,600 suspected archaeological features in the north-western part of Saudi Arabia!
Image shows related structure that, most likely, is located in Israel.
More: The Middle Holocene ‘funerary avenues’ of north-west Arabia, Holocene, Dec 2021.
Tourist infrastructure endangers the beauty of Mirusha Waterfalls
January 11, 2022
The beauty of one of the most beautiful natural landmarks in Kosovo is endangered by the development of the infrastructure for mass tourism. Through the forest towards the falls is built 10-15 meters wide road and electrical networks.
More: Prishtina Insight
Sakaro Sodo megaliths are approximately 2000 years old
January 11, 2022
Archaeological research in the Sakaro Sodo site (southern Ethiopia) shows that these impressive megaliths were emplaced here approximately 2000 years ago. Earlier it was considered that megaliths here were created much more recently – around the 12th century AD.
Vikings arrived in Newfoundland in 1021 AD
October 20, 2021
Earlier it was estimated that the only confirmed Viking site in the Canada – L’Anse aux Meadow in Newfoundland – was founded around 950 – 1050 AD. Now the precise year of its founding is known – it is 1021. This has been found out through the modern analysis of the content of radiocarbon in the samples.
More: Nature
Latest articles
Hirlatz Cave (Hirlatzhöhle)
November 30, 2022
The research of Hirlatz Cave (Austria) continues but already now it is one of the largest caves in the world with a length of 115 870 m and a depth of 1 560 m. The cave is technically very challenging and, as life shows, cave researchers love challenges! There is no other cave in Austria that has seen such extensive and long research efforts.
Kenn Yew
November 19, 2022
One of the largest and most ancient yew trees in Britain is Kenn Yew, a tree giant that has a circumference of 10.56 m and is more than 1,500 years old.
Ngonye Falls (N’Gonye)
November 17, 2022
An enormous and rather little-known waterfall is Ngonye Falls on the mighty Zambezi River. This is an 8-20 m high waterfall – a complex system of smaller falls divided by numerous islands over the width of some 1.3 kilometers.
Steinhatchee Rise
November 15, 2022
Steinhatchee River flows for some 600 meters under the ground and then resurfaces as a giant spring. This resurgence – Steinhatchee Rise – is one of the several giant river rises of Florida.
Steinhatchee Falls
November 13, 2022
In mountains, no one would notice the small Steinhatchee Falls. But in the flatlands of Florida, this is a noticeable natural landmark. This waterfall is just some 0.5 – 0.8 m high.
Church of the Nativity with the Nativity Grotto
November 13, 2022
One of the most important monuments for the Christian faith is the Church of the Nativity – the possible birthplace of Jesus and also one of the oldest churches in the world. The first church was built there between 330 and 333 AD.
Anahí Ametrine Mine (Anahi Mine)
October 30, 2022
There is an unusual and beautiful variety of quartz: ametrine. And there is only one mine in the world where this wonder of nature is mined: Anahi Mine in Bolivia.
10 unique forests
October 28, 2022
Many forests of the world are unusual but some are just without analogs. This article is about some of the most unusual ones.
See the selected 10 unique forests!
Havasu Falls
October 27, 2022
The second-tallest waterfall on Havasu Creek is Havasu Falls, a gorgeous, some 30 m tall waterfall. The water has an unusual blue color that contrasts with the red color of the cliffs. Below the falls have formed travertine terraces.
Assumption Cathedral in Kharkiv
October 22, 2022
The Assumption Cathedral in Kharkiv initially was built just a few years after the founding of the city – in 1657. It was the main church in the city until 1901 when the enormous Annunciation Cathedral was constructed.
