Well, if we didn’t realize it before, we sure should now: the Dead Sea is a stunning natural marvel. Its inclusion in the final stages (the final 28) of the hunt for the “Seven Natural Wonders of the World” should convince any of you doubters. We love the Dead Sea!
The competition to find the Seven Natural Wonders now reaches money-time, as 28 of the most stunning locations in the world fight it out for a Top 7 finish. Voting via the Internet is expected to involve over a billion people worldwide, with a 2011 finish date allowing plenty of time to pile those votes in.
The lowest place on earth, the Dead Sea has got high hopes of pulling off a result, though faces some mighty stiff competition from the likes of the Amazon River, the Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef.
Bernard Weber, the founder and president of the Seven Natural Wonders competition, had this to say:
Congratulations to the enthusiastic voters from around the world for their passionate participation that has given us this elite finalist group of just 28. This is an extraordinary achievement and the eyes of the planet will be upon these 28 stunning locations for the next 2 years. We look forward to an exciting and record-breaking final race, with the whole world coming together to choose the Official New7Wonders of Nature, 7 locations that will become part of Global Memory for ever.
Inclusion in the final list of 28 candidates should see the Dead Sea in the public eye a lot more, and hopefully this may help to remedy the environmental issues that threaten the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea has shrunk quite alarmingly over the last few years, largely thanks to exploitation of the feeder rivers that supply the Dead Sea and mineral extraction. Perhaps the potential of instant fame (and tourist dollars) might initiate some preventive action, and not just a sticking plaster…here’s hoping, eh?
So, what are you waiting for, go get get your voting shoes on! Vote here.