World's natural wonders up for vote

GENEVA — The Grand Canyon, Mount Everest and Loch Ness will vie with over 200 other spectacular places in the next phase of the global competition for the New 7 Wonders of Nature, organizers said.

The 261 nominees from 222 countries include some of the most famous mountain peaks, lakes, and other attractions, such as the Great Barrier Reef and Niagara Falls.

The results were released in Geneva by organizers of the Swiss-based nonprofit, New 7 Wonders, on Wednesday.

Over a billion voters are expected to join in Internet voting that will nominate 77 semifinalists for the top natural wonders. Seven man-made wonders were chosen through similar voting 18 months ago.

Voting began today at www.new7wonders.com/hp. Votes can be cast until July 7. The nominated natural wonders include some lesser known sites, such as Yasur Volcano on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu or Nigeria's Zuma Rock, a giant monolith in the middle of the African country.

A panel of experts in nature, chaired by Federico Mayor, former chief of UNESCO, the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, will reduce the list to 21 finalists in July.

The seven winners will then be chosen in another round of public voting lasting until 2011, this time by Internet, telephone and text messages.

Around 100 million people voted in the selection of the seven man-made wonders. The winners were the Colosseum, Italy; the Great Wall of China; the Taj Mahal, India; Petra, Jordan; Christ the Redeemer Statue, Brazil; Machu Picchu, Peru and the Pyramid at Chichén Itza, Mexico.

Choosing world wonders has been a continuing fascination over the centuries. UNESCO keeps updating its list of World Heritage Sites, which now totals 878 places.

The 7 Wonders organization is led by Swiss adventurer Bernard Weber; it aims to promote cultural diversity by supporting, preserving and restoring monuments and natural sites. It relies on private donations and revenue from selling broadcasting rights.