There are thousands of wonders in the world
Wondermondo is a unique site about the wonders of the world. Here are descriptions of 1 802 wonders of the world (see here – what is a wonder). In articles are listed approximately 10 000 more.
News about the wonders
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 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
Palaces and country houses
May 19, 2022
This category includes palaces: impressive residences of important and/or affluent persons.
Riga Cathedral
May 10, 2022
Riga Cathedral is the largest medieval church in the Baltics and the most important church in Riga.
Biological wonders
April 28, 2022
This is a kind of super-category where are included all locations of the world with unusual living nature or, at least, traces of the former life.
Misen River ominelite find
April 25, 2022
There is only one known place where can be found gemstone quality ominelite. It is located in a gorgeous place – Misen River gorge in the fabulous Omine Mountains, Japan.
Nevado Sajama queñua woodlands
April 16, 2022
The highest altitude forests most likely are Nevado Sajama queñua woodlands. While separate trees can be found at the height of 5 200 m, stands of low trees reach the altitude of some 5 000 m.
Sistema Huautla
April 2, 2022
The deepest known cave in the Americas, in the Western Hemisphere, is Sistema Huautla. The known depth of the cave is 1560 m, length of its passages – 89 000 m.
Jerusalem Old City
March 27, 2022
Some 6 000 years ago was established a city with unusual fate, one of the most important and holiest cities in world history – Jerusalem. In the heart of it, in Jerusalem Old City are hundreds of monuments of world importance.
Biological extremes
February 22, 2022
There are thousands upon thousands of wonders of living nature in the world – unique ecosystems, giant trees, and amazingly preserved fossils of fantastic creatures of Earth’s past. Bot some biological wonders are the champions – largest, tallest, oldest. This category lists them.
Defynnog Yew
February 19, 2022
At the medieval St Cynnog’s church in the little Defynnog village is located a wonder of nature – a giant yew tree with a circumference of some 10.06 m (narrowest place). There are several large yew trees in Defynnog, but this is the largest and thus here it is named simply – Defynnog Yew.
Zerelia Lakes
February 19, 2022
Many facts hint at the possibility that both Zerelia Lakes were created by a meteorite impact some 12 – 8 thousand years ago.
