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The 8th World Wonder (May 2021)
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wow! I just came by this challenge. can I do it literate July and I would. love it if you could recommend books too accordingly. thanks
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Putting it together now. I'll have it posted later today or tomorrow at the latest.
Duration: May 1 - 31, 2021
Since the days of antiquity, scholars and teachers, orators and critics, guide books, and travel maps have identified Wonders of the World — locations that stand as a testament to human achievement in architecture and beauty or the represent the breathtaking awe of nature in its sprawling and magnificent chaos.
Most often, these lists of wonders come in sevens. However, from time to time there is a person, an idea, a creation, or an edifice that seems to dwarf those previously held conceptions. Here are a few things throughout history that have been billed as The 8th Wonder Of The World.
Tasks:
1. The Grand Canyon - Carved by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is often called the 8th Wonder of the World for its massive scope and beauty. A major force in its preservation, Theodore Roosevelt said, "In the Grand Canyon, Arizona has a natural wonder which is in kind absolutely unparalleled throughout the rest of the world." Read a book where a murder has taken place at the Grand Canyon or in Arizona.
2. The Taj Mahal - Is the Taj Mahal a part of the ultimate love story? Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, in honor of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child. Read a book that has 14 suspects or 14 (you decide).
3. The Astrodome - Opened in 1965 as the Harris County Domed Stadium, the Astrodome was once billed as the 8th Wonder of the World. It was one of the first domed stadiums and influenced the next four decades of sporting event construction. Read a book where a crime has taken place at a sporting event.
4. The Terracotta Army - Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, was responsible for several innovations. He oversaw the first version of the Great Wall. He created a massive national road system and unified China through a series of economic and political reforms. He was also terrified of death. At one point, Qin Shi Huang sent hundreds of his people in search of an elixir that would grant him immortality. Most of them never returned. So, with the elusive elixir evading his grasp, the emperor created the next best thing: a massive terracotta army to protect him in the afterlife. Read a book whose main character is a collector/has a collection.
5. The Empire State Building - It's easy now to forget what a massive undertaking the Empire State Building was at the time of its construction. It was the world's tallest building for 40 years, the first building to clear 100 floors and it contains 73 elevators and over 6,500 windows. Yet it only took one year and 45 days to complete. Read a book with over 6,500 reviews.
6. The Palm Islands of Dubai - The United Arab Emirates has the sixth-largest oil-reserves in the world. Thanks to $1 trillion in foreign investments, it is a massively rich country and Dubai has emerged as a global business hub and tourist destination. One of the city's projects is The Palm Islands, an artificial archipelago that is currently under construction in the Persian Gulf. Read a book that uses the oil industry as a backdrop.
7. The Panama Canal - The Panama Canal has been hailed as an architectural marvel and one of the most complex engineering projects ever undertaken. It more than halved the time for a ship sailing from New York to San Francisco and has dramatically increased trade between the hemispheres. Perhaps no one, however, appreciated its intricacies more than Richard Halliburton, who swam the canal in 1928. He was charged a toll of 36 cents. Read a book about a travel writer or adventurer.
8. The International Space Station - On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy stood before Congress and announced the ambitious goal of safely sending an American to the moon by the end of the decade. The United States, shamed by Sputnik and Gagarin, was desperately looking to catch the Russians in the Space Race. Fifty years and countless geopolitical battles later, Russia (along with Canada, Japan, and the European Space Agency) is a key ally in the International Space Station, an amazing combination of technology and cooperation that we hope will open doors to the vast unexplored reaches of space. Read a book where characters have an alliance.