The list of finalists for the new 7 Wonders of Nature campaign will be narrowed to 28 on July 21 in Zurich, where the effort is based.
Once the final 28 are announced, the public will be able to vote via the Web, text message or phone on the final seven. The seven winners will be announced in 2011.
The list of 77 nominees from which the 28 will be chosen includes the Amazon, the Galapagos, Mount Kilimanjaro, Ireland's Cliffs of Moher, Canada's Bay of Fundy and Australia's Uluru (Ayer's Rock). The only site in the continental U.S. is the Grand Canyon. Puerto Rico's El Yunque rainforest is on the list also.
Swiss-Canadian adventurer Bernard Weber, who started the Wonders campaign, said his aim is to "create respect and enthusiasm ... for the beauty of our planet."
The campaign to showcase the world's most impressive natural wonders began after a global grassroots contest selected the seven manmade wonders of the world in 2007. Over 100 million people participated in the first contest, choosing India's Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, Rome's Colosseum, Peru's Machu Picchu, Brazil's Statue of Christ Redeemer, the rock city of Petra in Jordan and Mexico's Chichen Itza pyramid.
For more details, visit http://www.new7wonders.com.
Copyright 2009 AP Features
