There are thousands of wonders in the world
Wondermondo is a unique site about the wonders of the world. Here are descriptions of 1 860 wonders of the world (see here – what is a wonder). In articles are listed approximately 10 000 more.
News about the wonders
Map of the tallest trees in Taiwan published
December 10, 2022
Researchers from several Taiwanese institutions have published a map of the tallest trees in Taiwan. In Taiwan are known 941 trees that are taller than 65 m.
More: Taiwan research team unveils map of island’s tallest trees, Focus Taiwan, December 10, 2022.
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 unusual research that required climbing 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). The teeth of seven people and several stone tools were left there sometime 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 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
Aeolian formations
January 28, 2023
The wind has shaped our landscape to a larger extent than most of us could imagine. In this category, Wondermondo has included mostly dunes, but there are also some unusual hoodoos and other wind-formed wonders.
Stelmužė Oak
January 7, 2023
The largest tree in Lithuania is Stelmužė Oak. This giant has a circumference of 9.7 m at a height of 1.3 m.
Navajo Falls (Lower Navajo Falls)
January 4, 2023
After the flooding in 2008 on the site of a former waterfall formed two smaller waterfalls, including the beautiful Lower Navajo Falls (Rock Falls): a 9 m tall waterfall with a single plunge.
10 unique gemstone finds
January 3, 2023
In this article are listed 10 unique gemstone finds. Each of these locations is the only place in the world where is mined a certain, rare gemstone.
Antsongombato gemstone mine
January 2, 2023
There is only one place in the world where gem-quality londonite has been found: the Antsongombato gem mine in Madagascar. Just hundreds of grams of these crystals have been mined.
Snezhnaya Cave System (Snowy Cave)
December 28, 2022
The fifth deepest cave in the world (in 2022) is the amazing Snezhnaya Cave System. This is a true giant in the world of caves with many amazing and unique characteristics.
Yew at Breamore St Mary’s Church
December 27, 2022
The giant Breamore Yew looks incredible from the distance – an eternally green crown rises above a trunk of gargantuan size. A closer view reveals that the main part of the tree is lost and the numerous smaller separate stems create an illusion of a giant tree trunk. Nevertheless, all of this is a single, unusually impressive tree!
Yellala Falls
December 27, 2022
The last major rapids on the Congo River are Yellala Falls. The approximately 1 km wide river falls some 10-14 m over a distance of some 2.5 km.
Kiubo Falls
December 26, 2022
One of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Kiubo Falls. The waterfall is some 270 m wide and 60 m high but the multiple smaller steps above the main falls add a special charm.
Wacissa Springs Group
December 25, 2022
Wacissa River starts with a group of seven powerful springs. These springs are grouped in Wacissa Springs Group and belong to the exquisite list of first-magnitude springs.
