Four criteria
The rating of wonders in the Wondermondo site has a gradation from 0 (least wondrous) to 100 (most wondrous). This rating is calculated with a special formula, using the data of four criteria. These criteria are:
- Visual impression. This is the impression that is created by the wonder on human eyes and other senses. High visual impressions can be created by very ornate buildings, the extreme size of the object, or very unusual sight.
- Story. Wonders often are defined by unusual facts or events. These can be important scientific discoveries – e.g. a cave with remnants of another human species but this can be also an unusual story or tradition, e.g. islands where according to local legends live the spirits of deceased people.
- Uniqueness. This criterion is assessing the rarity of the wonder in the world. Very few wonders are truly unique.
- Mystique. A minor part of wonders (some 3%) has some unexplained features. Most likely, an explanation exists but it has not been found yet. Most frequently these are sites of ghost stories and stories about legendary animals (cryptozoological phenomena) but there happen to be also some very unusual natural phenomena.
Further below are listed the 10 very best wonders after a thorough analysis of more than 11 500 wonders of Earth!
Top 10 wonders of the world
01
Venice
90.1%
Italy
One of the most unusual and most beautiful cities on Earth, containing an unbelievable amount of art and architectural values. Venice was built on 117 small, closely located islands and was the capital of a powerful state in the 7th – 18th century.
02
Great Wall of China
89.3%
China / Mongolia
The largest series of fortifications in the world with a total length of 8,852 km, including 6,259.6 km of the actual wall. Constructed in the 5th century BC – 16th century AD by the Chinese to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by northern nomads. The oldest fraction is the Great Wall of Qi (in Shandong) – an approximately 600 km long section of wall built in 685 BC.
03
Machu Picchu
88.1%
Peru
One of the most spectacular archaeological sites in the world, an Inca town. Machu Picchu is located on a rugged cliff peak and consists of extensive ruins of stone structures. It is believed that the town was built around 1450 as a shelter and center for Inca rulers – and abandoned sometime around 1572.
04
Petra
86.1%
Jordan
The ancient capital city of Nabateans was established around the 6th century BC on the site of the ancient sanctuary. Contains some of the most beautiful and intricate rock-cut architecture in the world, available after walking through a 1.2 km long, narrow gorge.
05
Grand Canyon
85.6%
United States
Possibly the most impressive canyon in the world. This 446 km long canyon is up to 1,800 m deep and has rugged, nearly vertical walls.
06
Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya)
84.5%
Zambia / Zimbabwe
World’s largest curtain of falling water, 1,708 meters wide and 108 meters high waterfall. One of the most impressive natural sights in the world.
07
Iguazu Falls (Salto de Iguaçu)
84.4%
Argentina / Brazil
One of the most enormous and impressive waterfalls in the world. This waterfall is “only” 82 meters tall, but 2,700 meters wide.
08
Mount Everest
81.4%
Nepal / Tibet
Earth’s highest mountain, 8,848 m high.
09
Sagrada Familia
79.4%
Spain
The largest and by far the most impressive Art Nouveau church in the world, designed by Antoni Gaudi; started in 1882 and is due to be completed in 2026.
10
Hagia Sophia
78.8%
Turkey
A former Orthodox basilica built between 532 – 537 AD, it is now a mosque. Possibly the highest achievement of Byzantine architecture, it has been the largest cathedral in the world for nearly 1000 years.
Linked articles
Categories of wonders
Currently, the wonders of the world in Wondermondo are divided into 124 categories and four main realms: geology, biology, archaeology, and architecture.
What is a wonder?
Many wonders are linked to a certain place. The aim of Wondermondo is to list and describe such places all around our planet. Thus, the name “wonder” on this website means a surprising place on our planet.
About this project
Wondermondo informs you about the most unusual and interesting wonders of the world. This is a unique website because facts and science matter here but at the same time stories are told in a simple, accessible way.
