Civil engineering continues to amaze the world with its accomplishments. We have all known about the seven Wonders of the World. Now it is time to see the latest Seven Wonders of the World that exist thanks to the advances in technology and a better understanding of civil engineering.
1. Capital Gate
It is also known as the Leaning Tower of Abu-Dhabi and enjoys the title of ‘World’s furthest leaning man-made tower’ in the Guinness Book of World Records. It is 160 meters tall and has 35 stories, but what makes it really interesting is that it leans at 18 degrees to the west. This is about four times more than that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
2. Laerdal Tunnel
In order to keep up with the speeds of economic growth and development, it is important to have smooth-flowing and quick transport arteries in a city. Norway has always lacked proper roads that could connect the country. So, when the government decided that it was time to enhance the connectivity of western Norway, making futuristic tunnels was the ideal choice.
Under the initiative, the 24.5-kilometer long tunnel road that connects Aurland and Laerdal was constructed as the largest road tunnel of the world. It was constructed over the course of five years starting in 1995. The total cost of the project was 1.1 billion Euros, and it has ever since become a big trading route that serves 1,000 vehicles on a daily basis.
3. The Øresund Bridge
This marvel connects the capital city of Denmark, Copenhagen, to Malmö, a city in Sweden. For the 16 kilometers stretch, there exists an 8km cable-stayed bridge that transitions into a tunnel, and this tunnel continues for another 4 kilometers. The fun part is where the tunnel is situated; an artificial island named Paberholm.
The double-track railway and roadway exist because of the collaboration that took place between the neighboring countries. With this bridge, the journey between Copenhagen and Malmö requires only 35 minutes. The bridge features two 204-meter-tall pylons that support the 490-meter bridge across the Flinte Channel.
4. The Large Hadron Collider
The structure is built about 100 meters underground close to Geneva. It is a scientific instrument that is so huge that it spans between France and Switzerland both. The tunnel that contains it has a circumference of 27 kilometers and weighs in at 50,000 tons. That is about six times the weight of the Eiffel Tower. The Large Hadron Collider is used for studying the smallest particles that constitute matter.
5. Channel Tunnel
This is an undersea tunnel that runs for 50.5 kilometers and links the UK with France. The tunnel connects Britain and France via train under the ocean across the English Channel. The construction process was taken up by five construction companies. A total of five banks had to come together to fund the undertaking.
6. Delta Works
Delta Works is the group comprised of storm barriers, levees, sluices, dams, dikes, and locks that impart protection to all of the low-lying areas of the Netherlands. The protected areas are below the sea level and require appreciable protection from inundation.
7. Panama Canal
Here is another entry for the list of younger and better seven wonders of the world. It connects the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, thus cutting the distance between New York and San Francisco by about 4,000 miles. It was completed in 1914 and is still considered to be one of the best engineering projects in the history of mankind. Before the construction of Panama Canal, ships had to go around Cape Horn and travel for 67 days to cover 12,000 miles in order to reach San Francisco.
What do you think of these newer and better seven wonders of the world? Do let us know!