Petra, Jordan

Petra, the ancient city of Jordan, was established at the edge of the Arabian Desert. Petra was the capital during the reign of King Aretas IV of the Nabataean Kingdom (from the 9th century BC to 40 AD). Petra is renowned worldwide for its rock-cut architecture, such as its 138-foot-high (42-meter-high) palace made from rose-colored stone. The ancient city also features channels, water chambers, and an arena that can accommodate 4,000 people. It wasn't until 1812, when Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt discovered it, that the West learned about this sacred place in the desert. Jordan takes this election of the Seven Wonders very seriously. Even though the Middle East region is unstable and Petra is a neighbor to Iraq, it still draws...