The Seven Wonders – The Great Wall Of China

The Great Wall Of China

The Great Wall of China stretches across the mountains of northern China, from the Jiayu Pass (in Gansu Province) in west, to the mouth of the Yalu River (in Liaoning Province) in the east. It was built over 2.000 years ago by Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China during the Qin (Chin) Dynasty in 221 B.C. in Chinese the wall is called “Wan-Li Qang-Qeng” which means 10.000-Li Long Wall (10.000-Li=5.000 km).

        Before the use of bricks, the wall was made from stone and wood. It thickness ranged from about 4.5 to 9 meters and was up to 7.5 meters tall. During the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644), the Great Wall was enlarged to 6.400 km and renovated with bricks. It was also added with watch towers and cannons. The people at that time used the Great Wall as a first line of defense against the enemy. Signal fires from the wall showed early warning of an attack.

            The Great Wall of China is the mightiest work of man because it can be seen from Earth Orbit. However it is not visible from the moon, according to astrounauts Neil Amstrong, Jim Lovell and Jim Irwin.