There are thousands of wonders in the world
Wondermondo is a unique site about the wonders of the world. Here are descriptions of 1 821 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 Tiber. 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 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
Three Sisters Springs
August 6, 2022
A gorgeous natural landmark of Florida is Three Sisters Springs – a pool that is formed by three powerful springs. Hundreds of manatees often come to the lucid, blue-green water of this spring pool.
Qirqbize church
August 4, 2022
In one of the Dead Cities of Northern Syria – Qirqbize – are ruins of a comparatively large building. This is Qirqbize church – a very old church building that, possibly, was built in the early 4th century AD.
Rundale Palace
July 28, 2022
The most magnificent historical palace in Latvia is Rundale Palace (Rundāle Palace). This large Baroque palace was built as a summer residence for the Duke of Courland and Semigallia Ernst Johann von Biron in 1736-1768. Today it has been meticulously renovated and is surrounded by gorgeous, immense gardens and parks.
Tranomaro grandidierite mine
July 24, 2022
The only notable find of gem-quality grandidierites in the world is a remote, little known location in the southern Madagascar. Tranomaro grandidierite mine was discovered in May 2014.
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
July 21, 2022
The best known grove of Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) is Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. This unique forest contains the oldest known individual trees in the world, including Methuselah tree that is more than 4,750 years old and even older trees.
Boybuloq (Vishnevsky – Boybuloq)
July 15, 2022
There remain just some 70 m of distance between Boybuloq and Vishnevsky caves. When this passage will be passed, the united system of both caves will be the third deepest cave in the world with a depth of 2033 m and a length of some 25 000 m.
Varanasi
July 11, 2022
Varanasi is an ancient holy city of Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains. With its approximate 3000 years of age, it is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world with numerous valuable monuments of architecture and history, living unique traditions.
The 100.2 m tall Sitka Spruce
June 26, 2022
An amazing find in 2021 was the tallest Sitka spruce in the world. This tree is located in an undisclosed location and is 100.2 m tall!
Florence Court Yew
June 26, 2022
One of the world’s most popular garden conifers is Irish Yew – Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’. And there is one “father” to all of them: Florence Court Yew. All Irish yews around the world originate from the saplings of this tree.
Te Kopia Mud Geyser
June 26, 2022
Geysers are very rare but mud geysers are even rarer. Te Kopia Mud Geyser is one of the most prominent examples of these natural landmarks. During the periods of activity, it ejects a fountain of muddy water that is some 3-10 m high.
