Petra among Seven Wonders finalists

AMMAN: Jordan s ancient Nabatean archeological site of Petra has been chosen among 21 finalists vying to be counted among the new seven wonders of the world, officials said Tuesday. Queen Rania received a certificate attesting that Petra is now one of the 21 finalists from an original pool of 77 … in the ‘New Seven Wonders of The World competition, her office said in a statement. The certificate was given to the world s youngest queen during a visit to Petra by project founder Bernard Weber, a Swiss Canadia author, film producer and aviator. The centuries-old rose-colored ruins of Petra with its carved temples and tombs, is a World Heritage Site some 200 km south of the capital Amman. Other finalists in the race include Paris Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal of India, the Acropolis in Athens, Rome s Colosseum and New York s Statue of Liberty. The new seven wonders will be announced at a ceremony on July 7 in Lisbon. Millions of people across the globe voted for the favorite “wonder through the Internet site New7Wonders.com and campaigns launched nationally by participating countries. Of the ancient seven wonders only the Pyramids of Giza, in Egypt, remains standing. Petra was the capital of the Nabataean empire, and at 9,000 years old, is one of the earliest known Middle Eastern settlements. Half of all net revenues raised by the New7Wonders campaign from such activities as film screenings will be used to restore and preserve monuments and archeological sites worldwide, organizers have said.