The Seven Wonders of the Modern World Quiz

Answer: Fifth Avenue

The Empire State Building was the world's tallest building when it was completed in 1931. It held this title until 1973, when the twin towers of the World Trade Center were erected not far away. The building was completed in a record amount of time- 20 months- and at $41 million under budget. It features 10 million bricks, 67 elevators, and 1,860 steps.

Answer: St. Elmo's fire

It may surprise you to learn that the phenomenon known as St. Elmo's fire is not limited to the sea. St. Elmo's fire is actually a form of atmospheric electricity that usually appears, in stormy weather conditions, around tall structures such as sailing masts, church spires- and the chain metal fence atop the Empire State Building.

In fact, there is so much static electricity built up on the top of this building that you may see a spark if you kiss someone up there! The aurora borealis, which is also a light show related to static electricity in the atmosphere, is seen in the far northern latitudes of the globe. Will-o'the-wisp is the name for the eerie glow produced by swamp gas in some areas such as swamps; bioluminescence is the process by which living things, such as fireflies, produce light.

Answer: Brazil and Paraguay

The Itaipu Dam and its hydroelectric power plant, located on the Parana River in South America, is the largest renewable power development operating in the world. The Parana is the world's seventh largest river, and the largest ever to be diverted when work on the dam was begun in 1975.

Answer: Toronto

The CN Tower, completed in 1975, is both a symbol of this lovely city and an icon. The image of the tower rising above Toronto is actually copyrighted; it can't be used without permission. The tower took $63 million and a workforce of 1,537 people to construct.

Answer: To improve television reception

The idea for the CN Tower arose in the 1960s, when the proliferation of high-rise buildings in Toronto began to interfere with the reception of television signals. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation teamed up with two railway companies, Canadian Pacific and Canadian National, to build a tower for CBC's microwave antennae.

The project petered out in 1971, and Canadian National decided to go it alone, lending the tower its name. Work on the site began in 1973, and the structure was completed 40 months later.

The antenna was lifted into place by helicopter in 44 pieces. Over 2 million people a year visit the CN Tower, enjoying its restaurant, disco, and observation deck.

Answer: Lack of financial support

The idea for a canal or shortcut in this spot was first voiced by Padre Francisco Lopez de Gomera in 1552, when he published a book identifying the isthmus as a great place for a shortcut from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The first, unsuccessful, attempt at digging a canal was made by the Frenchman Ferdinand de Lesseps, who had successfully built the Suez Canal in 1869, in 1880.

However, the efforts of the French were hampered by lack of funds, tropical diseases (to which the Europeans had no immunity), and landslides in Culebra Cut, the 8-mile (12.8-kilometer) segment where the canal crosses the Continental Divide. Efforts were abandoned after eight years, to be attempted later by the American government.

The American team, led by Colonels George Goethals and William Crawford Gorgas, began work on the canal in 1904. Dr. Crawford is credited with hampering the spread of malaria, which had been a major challenge to the French team.

In addition, local workers with immunity to tropical diseases were employed this time, unlike the French.

The official opening of the Panama Canal took place on August 15, 1914; the total building cost was over $366 million.

Answer: US and Great Britain

In the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, signed in the US on November 18, 1901, the British and Americans agreed upon the plans to start digging the canal in Central America. The treaty basically stated that the US would construct the canal and hold all management and regulation responsibilities; it further held that the canal would be open to ships of all nations on equal terms.

Answer: 1999

In 1989, the United States and Panama signed the Torrijos-Carter Treaty, in which the US ceded control of the canal to Panama on December 31, 1999.

Answer: 32 miles (51.5 km)

The Channel Tunnel, or "Chunnel", completed in 1994, is the world's longest underwater tunnel. Now you can hop on a train and in 20 minutes travel from Great Britain to the continent of Europe or vice versa. Planing began in 1986 under the direction of the French-British consortium Eurotunnel, with actual construction starting in December 1987.

The Tunnel was officially opened on May 5, 1994, at a ceremony presided over by President Mitterand of France and Queen Elizabeth II of England.

Answer: chalk

Fortunately, the area between the island of Great Britain and the mainland of France is composed mainly of chalk beds, which was ideal for those constructing the tunnel. Geologic surveys done in 1959 revealed that the easiest route of construction would be through the layer of chalk known as the Chalk Marl.

The Channel Tunnel actually consists of three separate tunnels- one in each direction, and a service tunnel in the middle. Each tunnel is 30 meters (98.4 feet)apart and an average 50 meters (164 feet) below the seabed.

Answer: All of the parts of the bridge were manufactured in California

When it was built between 1933 and 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge broke a number of existing records: it was the world's longest suspension bridge, at 4,200 feet (1280 meters) between towers; it had the tallest steel towers ever erected- 738 feet (225 meters) high; and it had the largest concrete anchorages ever poured. Work on the bridge was stressful and dangerous; in February 1937, ten workers were killed when a catwalk collapsed causing them to fall 220 feet into the water. Two men actually survived (though one died later as a result of injuries sustained).

Much of the steel towers were manufactured in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, then sent by rail and ship through the Panama Canal and up the Pacific Coast to San Francisco. Today the bridge and its "International Orange" color are identifiable all over the world as a symbol of San Francisco and America.

Answer: Golden Gate Bridge

In May 1937, chief engineer Joseph Strauss wrote a poem, "The Mighty Task is Done", on the bridge itself. If you want to read the poem, check out the Bridge's website at http://www.goldengatebridge.org/research/ConstructionStraussPoem.html.

Answer: Empire State Building

American photographer Lewis Hine was born in Wisconsin in 1874. He did not reach notoriety until he was hired in 1930 to document the construction of the Empire State Building. Some of these images were used in a book he published two years later, "Men at Work".

Answer: Netherlands

The barrier, with a total length of 6.8 kilometers (4.2 miles), stretches across the Eastern Scheldt delta between artificially constructed islands in the North Sea. The design is innovative in that, as opposed to a dam of a solid barrier, it is actually an open storm surge barrier that allows water to flow through selectively. Opened in 1987, it is the only sea protection system of its kind in the world.

Answer: Sydney Opera House

This unmistakable architectural wonder sits on Bennelong Point at the harbor of Sydney, Australia. It was designed by the 38-year-old Danish architect Jorn Utzon, whose design was chosen from 233 entries in a contest sponsored by the government of New South Wales. Construction began in 1959 and was finished in 1973; Queen Elizabeth II hosted the opening ceremony on October 20, 1973.

The concert hall can seat 2,679 people, and features the world's largest mechanical action organ.