New Seven Wonders of Nature

The New Seven Wonders of Nature Competition is still running, so if you haven't yet chosen your favorite sites, check out our selection of seven places most worthy of honors. Painted by the artistic hand of nature, these sites are truly impressive and some of them definitely deserve to stand on a podium.

The New7Wonders of Nature campaign started in 2007. The competition aims to select seven most amazing natural sites from around the globe, and everyone can vote for their favorite place. New7Wonders of Nature voting will continue throughout 2010 and 2011. The 28 finalists have already been nominated out of hundreds of sites that you can find at

www.new7wonders.com

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Here's our Fantastic Seven:

7. Milford Sound. New Zealand.

Not without reasons Milford Sound is acclaimed to be New Zealand's most famous tourist spot. This amazing fjord is located in the south west of the country's South Island, running 15 kilometres inland from the Tasman Sea, which means that the visitors can travel the length of the fiord to the open ocean. This magnetizing land of high peaks and crystal waters is home to dolphins, seals, and penguins.

6. Iguazu Falls. Argentina and Brazil.

Spectacular Iguazu Falls, shared by Argentina and Brazil, is another breathtaking site that deserves to be placed on the Seven Wonders list. This breathtaking waterfall system comprises 275 falls, and its highest drop - the 82 m (270 ft) Devil's Throat - is the fifth highest fall in the world.

5. Cliffs of Moher. Ireland.

The dark limestone wall of the Cliffs of Moher is one of the flagship sites of Ireland. Stretching along the Atlantic Ocean for 8 kilometers, the cliffs boast 214 m at their highest point. Inhabited by more than 30 species of birds, they are one of the major colonies of cliff nesting seabirds in the country.

4. Grand Canyon. The USA.

Carved by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is truly grand and spectacular. Although visited and photographed by five million people a year, the site has slightly degenerated to cliché and its jaw-dropping beauty remains untouched.

3. Uluru. Australia.

Uluru, the iconic site of Australia, is much more than just a gigantic rock formation. The world's largest monolith is a place of great significance to the local Aboriginal people. Many visitors to the site speak of its magical and spiritual ambiance.

2. Galapagos. Ecuador.

The Galapagos Islands are a unique mix of an exotic destination, bizarre wildlife and volcanic remnants. This isolated land (around 1,000 kilometres from mainland Ecuador) is famed for its vast number of endemic species such as, among many others, land iguanas, Galapagos green turtle or sea lions.

1. Halong Bay. Vietnam.

Several thousand small green islands, emerging from the azure waters of Halong Bay and dotted with golden beaches, give the site its charming and inimitable beauty. The place brims with fantastic vistas, hidden inlets, unexplored grottoes and caves. Located in the northeast of Vietnam, the site is one of the most amazing places in the world, and a natural wonder deserving a podium.

Have you already glanced over the 28 finalists of the New7Wonders of Nature competition? If yes, tell us which sites are your top seven choices and why.