Was the Grand Canyon a Wonder of the World? Exploring the 7 Natural Wonders

The concept of listing the world’s most awe-inspiring sites dates back centuries. While the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” are perhaps the most famous historical list, the natural world also boasts phenomena of breathtaking scale and beauty. For those wondering Was The Grand Canyon A Wonder Of The World, the answer depends on which list you consult. According to a widely recognized compilation by the non-profit Seven Natural Wonders, the Grand Canyon holds a prominent place among the planet’s most magnificent natural sites. This list, established to promote conservation and discovery, highlights seven locations from the highest peaks to the deepest marine structures.

The idea of cataloging the world’s most magnificent creations is ancient. Greek historian Herodotus is often credited with the first list, focusing on the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World for travelers. Another figure mentioned is the second-century poet Antipater of Sidon, who wrote a similar list as a travel guide. While only one of the ancient wonders, the Great Pyramid, still stands today, the desire to identify and celebrate remarkable places persists.

The Great Pyramid of Giza, the only remaining ancient wonder

Over time, various organizations and individuals have compiled new lists, including those focusing specifically on natural formations. A notable list of Seven Natural Wonders was published in 1997, with the non-profit group “Seven Natural Wonders” formally establishing their list in 2008. This group’s mission is centered on conservation and educating people about these remarkable places and the threats they face.

The Seven Natural Wonders of the World

Based on the work of the Seven Natural Wonders organization, here are the sites recognized as the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

The Grand Canyon

Addressing the key question, is the Grand Canyon a wonder of the world? Yes, it is prominently featured on the list of Seven Natural Wonders. Located in the United States, primarily within Grand Canyon National Park, this immense canyon encompasses 277 miles of the Colorado River. At its widest point, it stretches 18 miles across, with its deepest sections plunging over a mile down. is the grand canyon a wonder of the world While impressive, it’s worth noting that it is not the largest canyon globally; Tibet’s Yarlung Tsangpo Gorge is both deeper and longer according to NASA.

Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, a recognized natural wonder

The geological history of the Grand Canyon is vast. The formation of rocks in the inner gorge began nearly 2 billion years ago. Significant uplifting of the Colorado Plateau occurred later, between 70 and 30 million years ago, due to plate tectonics. The final, dramatic sculpting was performed by the Colorado River, which geologists estimate has been carving the canyon for the last 6 million years. grand canyon natural wonder of the world

Mount Everest

The highest point on Earth above sea level, Mount Everest, stands at 29,029 feet (approximately 5.5 miles) in the Himalayan Mountain Range, bordering Nepal and Tibet. Although Hawaii’s Mauna Kea is taller when measured from its base underwater, Everest holds the record for the highest peak above the ocean surface.

Snow-capped summit of Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain

The formation of the Himalayas, including Everest, is a dramatic result of plate tectonics. Around 40 to 50 million years ago, the Indian continental plate collided with the Eurasian Plate. Because both plates had similar density, their edges buckled and rose upwards instead of one subducting beneath the other. Initially, the Indian Plate moved rapidly at 30 feet per century, but its speed has slowed considerably to about 15 feet per century. However, it continues to push, causing Mount Everest to gain height by almost half an inch each year.

Climbers ascending Mount Everest in a line

Known as “Sagarmatha,” meaning “peak of heaven,” by the Nepalese, the mountain’s summit can sometimes be reached by the subtropical jet stream. Each year, roughly 800 climbers attempt the challenging ascent. The final mile to the summit is arduous and takes an average of 12 hours due to thin air and icy conditions. is the grand canyon a seven wonder of the world

Paricutin Volcano

Located about 200 miles west of Mexico City, Paricutin Volcano is notable as the youngest volcano in the Western Hemisphere. Its formation and entire eruptive phase were uniquely witnessed by humans.

Lava erupting from Paricutin Volcano

In 1943, a farmer observed a fissure opening in his cornfield. This opening quickly began emitting hot rocks and dust. Within just 24 hours, a cone had formed, reaching a height of 164 feet. A week later, it stood about 550 feet high. Paricutin’s eruption lasted for nine years, during which it expelled an astonishing one billion tons of lava. Today, the volcano reaches a height of 10,400 feet.

Young Paricutin Volcano growing in a cornfield in 1943is grand canyon wonder of the world

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls, situated on the Zambezi River forming the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe in Africa, is renowned as the largest curtain of falling water globally. Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning “smoke that thunders,” the name vividly describes the spray generated by the immense volume of water.

Rainbows appearing in the mist at Victoria Falls

The spray from the falls creates a unique rain forest on an island situated in front of the cascading water. At certain times of the day, the mist is filled with a spectacular explosion of rainbows. grand canyon 7 wonder

Tourists walking across a bridge near Victoria Falls spray

The falls span 5,577 feet in length. The average water flow is enormous, nearly half a million gallons per second. This extreme water flow has caused significant erosion beneath the falls over millennia, leading to the collapse of the face and the falls moving upstream multiple times.

Rainforest sustained by water spray from Victoria Falls

The zigzag pattern of the Zambezi River downstream from the falls, visible even from the International Space Station, marks the locations of previous waterfall positions. These positions are controlled by linear fault lines in the underlying basalt rocks. The falls will continue to erode northward over time.

Tourists viewing Victoria Falls in ponchos due to heavy spray

During the dry season, the water flow over the falls can significantly decrease, sometimes reducing to a mere trickle.

Satellite view from ISS showing zigzag gorge below Victoria Falls

Guanabara Bay

Guanabara Bay, home to the harbor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is recognized as the world’s largest bay by water volume. It extends for 88 miles. The name “Rio de Janeiro” translates from Portuguese to “river of January,” referencing the substantial runoff into rivers feeding the bay during summer storms. Fifty-five rivers contribute water to Guanabara Bay.

Panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro city and Guanabara Bay

Great Barrier Reef

Off the northeast coast of Australia lies the Great Barrier Reef, the planet’s largest living structure, so vast it’s visible from space. It spans an impressive 1,600 miles. The reef isn’t a single entity but comprises over 2,500 individual reefs, covering a total area of 134,000 square miles. Within this massive structure are more than 900 islands.

Satellite image showing the vast extent of the Great Barrier Reef

While the foundation of the reef is hundreds of thousands of years old, the living coral structure we see today dates back only about 10,000 years. Studies indicate that at times, the reef grew vertically at a rate of 65 feet per thousand years and expanded laterally by 5 feet annually. The reef began growing after the most recent ice age when global sea levels were significantly lower.

Aerial view of colorful coral formations within the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is a biodiversity hotspot, providing habitat for approximately 9,000 species of marine life. Despite covering only 0.1% of the Earth’s ocean surface, it supports about 8% of the world’s total fish species.

Northern Lights

Ethereal, beautiful, and often unpredictable, the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis in the Northern Hemisphere) and Southern Lights (Aurora Australis in the Southern Hemisphere) illuminate the polar skies.

Vivid displays of aurora typically occur a few days after significant solar events, such as coronal mass ejections or solar flares. These events send streams of electrons towards Earth, which then interact with oxygen and nitrogen atoms and molecules within our planet’s magnetic field. This interaction excites the atoms, causing them to emit light as they return to their normal state. As explained by Don Hampton, a researcher at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, “The production of the colors is very similar to what you see in a neon sign… It’s basically just an electrical current.” Different gases and altitudes produce different colors. While most frequently observed near the Earth’s poles, auroras have occasionally been reported much further south.

Vibrant green Northern Lights dancing in the night sky over Alaska

The debate around which sites qualify as “wonders” may continue, but the list compiled by Seven Natural Wonders provides a compelling selection of Earth’s most extraordinary natural creations. For those who asked, Was The Grand Canyon A Wonder Of The World, its inclusion on this respected list firmly establishes its status as one of the planet’s truly magnificent natural sites, standing alongside giants like Mount Everest and the Great Barrier Reef. These seven locations remind us of the incredible power and beauty of nature, inspiring conservation efforts for future generations.