continued from ~ The New Natural Wonders of the World - Contenders(1) ~
Yangtze River
At 3,900 miles, China's longest river is the third-longest in the world, behind only the Amazon and the Nile. It flows east from its source in Qinghai Province to the East China Sea, dividing northern and southern China. The Yangtze River has long been a major transportation artery, and today is one of the world's busiest waterways. The most impressive section of the river is the three Yangtze River gorges: Qutang Gorge, Wuxia Gorge and Xiling Gorge, collectively known as Sanxia, or the Three Gorges.
Amazon River
The world's largest river system is the main artery of the Amazon rain forest. It has more than 1,000 known tributaries, and 17 of those are at least 1,000 miles long. Spanning the borders of eight countries, the Amazon rain forest is home to more than 350 indigenous and ethnic groups that have lived there for thousands of years. It contains nearly 40,000 plant species and sustains the world's richest diversity of birds, freshwater fish and butterflies. Today, the region is threatened by rapid deforestation.
Galápagos Islands
This archipelago of volcanic islands straddles the equator 650 miles west of Ecuador. Popular with wildlife enthusiasts, it's home to many noteworthy species of flora and fauna, including flamingos, iguanas, blue-footed boobies and giant tortoises. Charles Darwin observed many species here as he developed his theory of evolution by natural selection. The Galápagos Islands have been described as one of the most unique, scientifically important and biologically outstanding areas on earth. Many travelers describe their time in the islands as a life-changing experience.
Cliffs of Moher
One of Ireland's top attractions, the Cliffs of Moher attracts more than 1 million visitors a year. The cliffs extend nearly five miles, reach a maximum height of 700 feet and are home to colonies of cliff-nesting seabirds, including Atlantic puffins. The new Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience allows tourists to get a bird's-eye view from the cliffs, as well as see the inside of underwater caves at the base of the cliffs, all from the comfortable interior of the visitor center.
Bikini Atoll
Part of the Marshall Islands just north of the equator in the Pacific Ocean, this atoll includes Bikini Island, which is famous for two reasons: First, in the 1940s and 1950s, several nuclear bombs were tested there, and second, the two-piece swimsuit was named after it in 1946. Prior to the first nuclear tests, the U.S. designated the lagoon as a ship graveyard during World War II. Today, the naval wrecks are popular with scuba divers. Though some residual radioactivity remains, measured levels have been deemed not hazardous.
atoll = A ringlike coral island and reef that nearly or entirely encloses a lagoon.
I think I should also mention that the Sinharaja Forest in Sri Lanka is also in the list and currently in thE 15th place in Group F - Forests, National Parks and Nature Reserves.
People can still vote , if you would like to vote for our Sinharaja go here and vote for SINHARAJA RAIN FOREST (SRI LANKA)
People can still vote , if you would like to vote for our Sinharaja go here and vote for SINHARAJA RAIN FOREST (SRI LANKA)
Yangtze River
At 3,900 miles, China's longest river is the third-longest in the world, behind only the Amazon and the Nile. It flows east from its source in Qinghai Province to the East China Sea, dividing northern and southern China. The Yangtze River has long been a major transportation artery, and today is one of the world's busiest waterways. The most impressive section of the river is the three Yangtze River gorges: Qutang Gorge, Wuxia Gorge and Xiling Gorge, collectively known as Sanxia, or the Three Gorges.
Amazon River
The world's largest river system is the main artery of the Amazon rain forest. It has more than 1,000 known tributaries, and 17 of those are at least 1,000 miles long. Spanning the borders of eight countries, the Amazon rain forest is home to more than 350 indigenous and ethnic groups that have lived there for thousands of years. It contains nearly 40,000 plant species and sustains the world's richest diversity of birds, freshwater fish and butterflies. Today, the region is threatened by rapid deforestation.
Galápagos Islands
This archipelago of volcanic islands straddles the equator 650 miles west of Ecuador. Popular with wildlife enthusiasts, it's home to many noteworthy species of flora and fauna, including flamingos, iguanas, blue-footed boobies and giant tortoises. Charles Darwin observed many species here as he developed his theory of evolution by natural selection. The Galápagos Islands have been described as one of the most unique, scientifically important and biologically outstanding areas on earth. Many travelers describe their time in the islands as a life-changing experience.
Cliffs of Moher
One of Ireland's top attractions, the Cliffs of Moher attracts more than 1 million visitors a year. The cliffs extend nearly five miles, reach a maximum height of 700 feet and are home to colonies of cliff-nesting seabirds, including Atlantic puffins. The new Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience allows tourists to get a bird's-eye view from the cliffs, as well as see the inside of underwater caves at the base of the cliffs, all from the comfortable interior of the visitor center.
Bikini Atoll
Part of the Marshall Islands just north of the equator in the Pacific Ocean, this atoll includes Bikini Island, which is famous for two reasons: First, in the 1940s and 1950s, several nuclear bombs were tested there, and second, the two-piece swimsuit was named after it in 1946. Prior to the first nuclear tests, the U.S. designated the lagoon as a ship graveyard during World War II. Today, the naval wrecks are popular with scuba divers. Though some residual radioactivity remains, measured levels have been deemed not hazardous.
atoll = A ringlike coral island and reef that nearly or entirely encloses a lagoon.
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