If you’ve been playing the Wonders of the World, you may have already filled your passport with stamps from the Ancient and Modern Wonders.
But did you know that there are real geocaches at the locations of the Wonders? Keep reading to discover the real caches placed at the Wonders. And don’t forget to find all fourteen Ancient and Modern Wonders to earn three new souvenirs!
The Wonder: Great Wall of China
The Cache: The Western End of the Great Wall of China, GC4MMCP
Built between the 5th century BCE and the 16th century CE, the Great Wall is the longest manmade structure in the world. As the name indicates, this cache is located at the Western end of the Great Wall, just outside of Jiayguan City.
The Wonder: Petra
The Cache: Petra, GC282A
Petra is the most famous structure of the Nabataean empire, and is thought to be the mausoleum of King Aretas IV. Plus, if Indiana Jones, is to be believed, it’s the final resting place of the Holy Grail. This cache is a tricky Traditional, made even more difficult due to the overhanging rocks and steep cliff walls.
The Wonder: Christ the Redeemer
The Cache: With open arms | De braços abertos, GC891ZY
Constructed in 1931, this 130 foot statue was designed by Heitor da Silva Costa and is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone. The logging requirements for this Virtual are simple—just spread your arms wide and snap a photo!
The Wonder: Machu Picchu
The Cache: El granito en el Machu Picchu, GC6JPWF
Machu Picchu is an ancient Incan city built in the mid 1400s, perched between two towering peaks in the Andes Mountains. The Incas were masters of stone and the entire structure is built on an immense granite plateau, making this the perfect spot for an EarthCache!
The Wonder: Chichén Itzá
The Cache: El Castillo, GCG9MY
Chichén Itzá is an archaeological site located in Mexico’s Yucatán State and is believed to have been one of the major cities of the ancient Mayan world. The most iconic structure within the ruin complex is the El Castillo pyramid, a breathtaking monument to the Mayan calendar and their understanding of astronomy.
The Wonder: Roman Colosseum
The Cache: COLOSSEO SELFIE STATION, GC7B71Y
Located in the center of modern Rome, this elliptical structure still influences modern-day amphitheaters around the world. A perfect blend of new and ancient, this Virtual cache asks visitors to take a cheeky selfie with the nearly 2,000 year old monument!
The Wonder: Taj Mahal
The Cache: Taj Mahal – The earthcache, GC65BNK
One of the most iconic sites in India, the Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum commissioned for Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, in the 1600s. Take a break from history and architecture to learn about geology with this EarthCache that asks you to answer questions about the metamorphic rock from which the edifice was built.
Have you visited any of these seven Modern Wonders of the World? Which ones? Which one is next on your bucket list? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to keep finding geocaches to earn the World Explorer Souvenir!
Source: Geocaching