| The list of new world wonders includes The | | | | During the spring and fall equinox (March and |
| Great Wall of China, Petra, Christ the | | | | September), visitors can enjoy a breathtaking |
| Redeemer, Machu Picchu, The Colisseum, and | | | | spectacle: a corner of the Temple of Kukulkan |
| Taj Mahal | | | | casts a shadow in the shape of a giant |
| | | | "feathered serpent" that appears to slither |
| The Mayan city of Chichen Itza, located in | | | | its way down the side of the North staircase |
| the Mexican state of Yucatan, was chosen as | | | | with the sun's movement. This natural |
| one of the "Seven New Wonders of the World" | | | | phenomenon of light and shadow is a unique |
| by approximately 100 million people around | | | | experience that attracts visitors from all |
| the globe, who cast their ballots by phone | | | | parts of the world. |
| and Internet. | | | | |
| | | | The Observatory, also known as "El Caracol" |
| "The selection of Chichen Itza is recognition | | | | (The Snail) for its stone spiral interior |
| of the extremely vast and ancient historical | | | | staircase, is a cylindrical building with a |
| and cultural heritage of Mexico, of which | | | | dome that was used as an astronomical |
| very few countries in the world can boast," | | | | observatory, with its doors aligned to view |
| said Francisco Lopez Mena, CEO of the Mexico | | | | the spring equinox, the declinations of the |
| Tourism Board. | | | | Moon and other astronomical events that |
| | | | helped determine the complex but extremely |
| The announcement of Chichen Itza's selection | | | | exact Mayan calendar. |
| by the New7Wonders Foundation was made during | | | | |
| a spectacular ceremony at Lisbon's Stadium of | | | | Other popular sites at Chichen Itza are the |
| Light. | | | | Great Ballcourt - which, measuring 168 meters |
| | | | long and 70 meters wide, is the largest that |
| The archaeological center of Chichen Itza, | | | | has been discovered in the region known as |
| the most important Maya capital at the end of | | | | Mesoamerica - and the Sacred Cenote, a large |
| the classic period (750 to 1200 A.D.), was | | | | sinkhole 60 meters in diameter from which |
| declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in | | | | great treasures have been recovered: rings, |
| 1988. | | | | necklaces and objects of gold and jade. |
| | | | |
| Chichen Itza, which in the Mayan language | | | | Thanks to all the people who voted, Chichen |
| means "at the mouth of the well of the Itza," | | | | Itza today is a new wonder of the world, |
| was one of the most important Mayan | | | | considered an icon of universal importance |
| political, commercial and religious centers | | | | for humanity. As a result of this global and |
| of the classic period, but it fell into | | | | democratic selection process, the world will |
| decline after the emergence of Mayapan as the | | | | know Mexico for one of its 173 archaeological |
| new focal point of regional power in the | | | | jewels, tangible evidence of the plurality |
| Yucatan Peninsula. | | | | and ethnic richness of the country's past. |
| | | | |
| The city is home to several buildings that | | | | We invite the world to visit and enjoy this |
| are remarkable both for their architectural | | | | impressive treasure, a symbol of the |
| design and their religious and scientific | | | | archaeological wealth of the Mayan world. |
| significance. Among these are the Temple of | | | | |
| Kukulkan (Feathered Serpent), the | | | | About the Mexico Tourism Board |
| Observatory, the Temple of the Warriors and | | | | |
| the Sacred Cenote (Well of Sacrifice). | | | | The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings |
| | | | together the resources of federal and state |
| The Temple of Kukulkan, one of the tallest | | | | governments, municipalities and private |
| and most notable structures in Mayan | | | | companies to promote Mexico's tourism |
| architecture sits on a 55.5-meter wide | | | | attractions and destinations internationally. |
| rectangular platform and rises to a height of | | | | Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico's tourism |
| 24 meters. Each of its four sides has 91 | | | | promotion agency, and its participants |
| steps and the platform that crowns the | | | | include members of both the private and |
| pyramid is considered the 365th step, meaning | | | | public sectors. The MTB has offices |
| there is one for each day of the solar | | | | throughout North America, Europe, Asia and |
| calendar. | | | | Latin America. |
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