The Seven Wonders of the Modern World

The Seven Wonders of the Modern World

Channel Tunnel

Known as the Chunnel, it links France and England. It is 31 miles long, and 23 of those miles are 150 ft beneath the seabed of the English Channel. High-speed trains whiz through its side-by-side tubes

CN Tower

According to Family Education, the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada was the world's tallest freestanding structure until 2007. It measure 1,815 feet, which is one-third of a mile high, or three times taller than the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington.

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building in New York City completed construction in 1931. Standing at 1,250 feet, this building was the world's tallest, according to the University of Memphis. The twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York rose above the Empire State Building in 1972. However, after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the Empire State Building was officially the tallest building in New York City.

Golden Gate Bridge

Completed in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California was the world's longest, and remains the world's tallest, suspension bridge. According to the University of Memphis, the bridge contains enough cable to encircle the earth three times.

Itaipu Dam

Built along the Panama River, the Itaipu Dam spans the borders of Paraguay and Brazil and is the world's largest hydroelectric power plant. The five-mile-wide dam contains enough concrete in it to build five dams the size of the Hoover Dam and is as tall as a 65-story building. The University of Memphis reports the amount of steel used in the dam could build 300 Eiffel Towers. The building of the Itaipu Dam was a 16-year project. Its energy output could power almost the whole state of California.

Netherlands North Sea Protection Works

The North Sea Protection Works is a combination of floodgates, dams and surge barriers that allow the Netherlands to exist today as this area of the world is below sea level. Family Education states the biggest part of the North Sea Protection Works Project was the completion of the two-mile long moveable surge barrier.

Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is 50 miles long and is located along the Isthmus of Panama. It took 34 years to complete and, according to Family Education, was the most expensive American project of its time. The University of Memphis reports enough earth was moved in the creating of the Panama Canal to open a tunnel through the middle of the earth that was 16-feet-wide.