The document discusses several famous landmarks around the world, including: 1) The Taj Mahal in Agra, India, a white marble mausoleum built by Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife Mumtaz Mahal. 2) Chichen Itza, a large ancient Mayan city in Mexico with structures like the Pyramid of Kulkulkán and El Castillo. 3) The Statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

3. This 42-acre marble mausoleum complex
located in Agra is a stunning and well-known
Indian landmark. Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal
(or Mogul) Emperor, built it as a memorial to
his deceased wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died
during childbirth. Construction, which started
shortly after Mahal's passing in 1631, spanned
more than two decades. It required more than
20,000 laborers and cost several million
rupees.

5. The ancient city of Chichén Itza (pronounced chee-chehn
eet-sah) is located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. This
well-known Mayan city served as a religious, political and
economic center spanning several hundred years. The
Pyramid of Kulkulkán -- also known as El Castillo -- is
probably the most recognized ruin of Chichén Itza. This
step pyramid stands approximately 80 feet high. It has nine
terraces and four sets of stairs. Each staircase has 91 steps. If
you include the top platform as a step, then the pyramid has
a total of 365 steps – one for each day of the year!

7. This statue of Jesus is one of Rio de Janiero's most widely
recognized monuments. It stands 98.5 feet tall atop the summit
of Mount Corcovado, which itself rises more than 2,300 feet
high. With a hug-like wingspan of 92 feet, the statue seems to
both beckon and welcome local residents and visitors alike. It
weighs approximately 700 tons and is made of concrete and
soapstone. To see the statue up close, you can ride a cogwheel
steam engine train up the steep 2.3-mile slope. Rest up on the
ride because at rail's end you have more than 200 steps to climb
to get to the foot of the statue.

9. If you've seen the movie "Gladiator," then you've seen the
Colosseum – well, a CGI-enhanced version of it anyway. Built in
Rome sometime around AD 70, it was the first freestanding
amphitheater. Others in that era were dug out and built into the
sides of hills or mountains to provide stability. Gladiator contests,
group combats, battle reenactments, and other productions were
held there to an audience of nearly 50,000. Today, even after
some renovations in the 1990s, the wear and tear from poor
weather, natural disaster and vandalism show. Nonetheless,
visitors flock to this amazing sight daily.

11. OK, we've all heard the claim that the Great Wall of China
is the only man-made object visible from space. But it just
isn't true. According to NASA, not only is the wall not
clearly visible from low Earth orbit, other man-made things
are. The space myth aside, the Great Wall of China is
definitely a modern marvel and rightfully belongs amid the
other seven wonders. Contrary to popular belief, the wall
isn't one continuous structure. It's actually made up of
several separate structures that connect and branch out
here and there. Including the branches, it covers
approximately 4,500 miles.

13. If Petra is the city in the rock, then Machu Picchu is the
city in the clouds. Built in the 15th century, this ancient
Incan city is nestled between two peaks – Machu Picchu
(Old Peak) and Huayna Picchu (New Peak) at an
amazing elevation of 7,710 feet. It is often (mistakenly)
called the lost city of the Incas, because it was hidden
amidst the lush forest and clouds for more than three
centuries. Yale professor Hiram Bingham rediscovered
the city in 1911. Since then, excavation research suggests
that the city was home to about 1,200 residents at its
peak. Today, it is a key tourist attraction.

15. Located in southwest Jordan are the ruins of the ancient
city of Petra. Massive temples, tombs and monuments
have been cut into the surrounding sandstone cliffs. Petra,
which is Greek for "rock," is also known as "the city in the
rock." Perhaps the most impressive Petra structure is the
Sik al-Khazneh, also known as the Treasury. It is an
elaborately carved and embellished tomb. Besides the
decorative tomb facades and monuments, Petra is also
known for its highly organized water system, which
included ceramic pipes, intricate water channels and
cisterns.