The New Seven Wonders is an internet phenomenon which was launched a few years ago to identify the New Seven Wonders of the World – after all, six of the seven original Wonders of the World are no longer around! Since then, the organizers have turned their attention to nature, and are in the process of identifying the Seven Wonders of Nature. That the Galapagos Islands are among the finalists should not come as a surprise to anyone who has ever been there!
The Seven Wonders of Nature Campaign
The first step of the campaign was to collect nominations. All over the world, people logged onto the internet and nominated their favorite natural places. This took place from December of 2007 to July of 2009, and in total, 440 places in 220 countries were nominated. These nominations were then sent to a panel of experts who took the 77 most voted places in the nomination process and whittled them down to only 28. It was a hard job! Now, it is up to the men and women of the world to vote on the final 28 to see which will become the Seven Wonders of Nature. The results will be announced on November 11, 2011.
Galapagos and the Seven Wonders of Nature
There are many excellent reasons to vote for Galapagos as one of the Seven Wonders of Nature: First of all, the Galapagos Islands, which have been inhabited by man for barely 150 years, are among the most pristine natural places on Earth. Their beauty is inspirational: rich blue seas, gorgeous beaches, green highlands and magnificent underwater seascapes are the norm in the Enchanted Islands. The Galapagos Islands represent a diverse ecosystem: the majestic mountains and scenic bays that make up many of the other nominations are fun to look at, climb and explore, but they are not necessarily appreciated as a habitat for the creatures that live there.
The Galapagos Marine Reserve is the 2nd largest Marine Reserve in the World, and home to all kinds of endemic and native Galapagos Wildlife. In addition, the Galapagos are special because of the ongoing, dedicated work of hundreds of scientists, researchers, local people, foreigners and park rangers, who are trying – with some success – to reverse the damage done by introduced species. Finally, the Galapagos Islands have a very privileged place in Natural History, as the inspiration for Charles Darwin’s groundbreaking 1859 Origin of Species.
Will the Galapagos Islands Win?
They might, but they need your help! In the latest update issued by the organizers of the New Seven Wonders website, Galapagos was somewhere in the top 14 of the 28 places on the finalists list (exact ranks and vote counts are not given). That’s encouraging, but the Galapagos has to go up against some pretty stiff competition to win. In December, the Government of Indonesia sponsored a giant advertisement on the side of a downtown skyscraper in Jakarta urging the people to “Vote Komodo!” Komodo National Park is Indonesia’s entry in the campaign and home to the Komodo Dragon, the world’s largest lizard. Is it any surprise that Komodo is also in the top 14?
How Can I Vote?
You actually get seven votes! Simply register on-line for the new 7 wonders, and pick out your seven favorite places from the list, then vote! The website also has news and updates about all of the finalists as well as information about the campaign and the previous Seven Wonders campaign. Vote now!
Should I Vote for the Galapagos?
For those of you who have had the amazing experience of visiting the Galapagos Islands, surely you dont need any convincing, and your vote is just a click away.
For those of you who have yet to travel to the archipelago, you have a chance to learn why by booking one of our incredible tours from cruises to hotels, and underwater diving magic at http://www.galapagosislands.com/galapagos-tour-options.html. Be part of history…make a difference, and come visit us today.