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Galapagos and the New Seven Wonders of Nature

For centuries, there were the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, of which only the Pyramids of Egypt still survive. Then, a couple of years ago, there was an online competition to name the New Seven Wonders of the World. Millions of people voted and seven marvelous sites were selected, including Machu Picchu in Peru, Chichen Itza in Mexico and the Christ Redeemer statue in Brazil.

Now, the same people who organized the New Seven Wonders campaign are doing it again: the new competition is for the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and the Galapagos Islands are one of the candidates! This new competition aims to identify the seven most breathtaking, beautiful and impressive natural sites in the world. Some early leaders include Mount Olympus, Lake Titicaca and Djavolja Varos.

Here's the website sponsoring the competition:

http://www.new7wonders.com/classic/en/index/

You can read about the previous Wonders of the World competition and check out the new contest as well!

Here's how it works: online visitors submitted candidates, an initial list was made and official voting began. On July 7, 2009 the list will be cut down to 77 candidates: you can see how each site is faring on this page:

http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/liveranking/

Then, on July 21, 2009, the panel that organized the site will determine the 21 finalists. Online voters can select from among these finalists until 2011, at which point the Seven Natural Wonders of the World will be announced!

How to vote? It's easy. Simply register on the site (it only takes a moment) and then select the places you wish to vote for from a drop-down list. You're allowed seven votes (of course!).

Why vote for the Galapagos Islands?

Islands have their own category this early in the competition: other categories include lakes, forests, caves, seascapes, landscapes and more. The other islands currently on the list are certainly beautiful: they include the inspirational Cocos Island of Costa Rica and the windswept Tierra del Fuego in Argentina/Chile as well as many other worthy candidates.

As wonderful as they are, the other islands cannot compete with what Galapagos represents. The Galapagos Islands are unmatched for their pristine state: Fernandina, for example, is one of the only islands in the world not to be afflicted with invasive species: it is still as it was before the islands were discovered by man. The Galapagos Islands are beautiful: long, clean beaches, sapphire waters and marvelous vistas make up many of the visitor sites.

But in the end, it is the life on the islands that gives them an edge. A great deal of the life found on Galapagos is endemic, or found nowhere else on earth. Endemic Galapagos animals include the Giant Tortoise, Marine Iguana, Flightless Cormorant and the Darwin Finches, just to name a few. Other islands certainly have endemic life, but none of them have the spectacular variety that Galapagos does.

Galapagos also occupies a unique place in Natural History. On his 1835 visit, British naturalist Charles Darwin made observations and took samples that he would use years later in outlining his revolutionary theories, which in turn would shake the world. No other islands can claim to have played such a pivotal role in world history!

Be sure to vote for your favorites before July seventh! Join in the millions of online participants and help select the Seven Natural Wonders of the World!