Lebanon’s famed Jeita Grotto has been bestowed with a prestigious finalist position in the international New 7 Wonders of Nature competition. The competition, which allows people around the globe to vote on the most awe-inspiring natural environments, began in 2007 after completion of the successful New7Wonders of the World campaign that had tallied more than 100 million votes.
UNDP Live Lebanon is happy to inform all friends of Lebanon about the Jeita Grotto's inclusion in this contest.
When the New 7 Wonders of Nature contest was initiated, it featured 440 participants from over 220 countries. Now, through a process of voting and expert panel selection, that list has been reduced to 28 participants, in which the Jeita Grotto is a strong candidate. The Jeita Grotto is composed of two massive caves filled with some of the most fantastic stalactites, stalagmites and otherworldly rock formations on the planet. During the summer months the bottom cave is partially filled with a layer of crystal clear water, allowing visitors to explore its fantastical elements aboard a dreamlike boat excursion.
The Jeita Grotto is already an important symbol of national pride as well as a crucial tourist destination, which generates economic opportunities for the surrounding region. A place among theNew7Wonders would allow Jeita to earn is rightful place on the global tourist destinations map, and promote the country’s unity in its love for this national treasure.
Through its Prosperous Lebanon campaign, Live Lebanon aims to preserve the country’s natural and cultural heritage, and to promote cultural touristic sites, like the Jeita Grotto, as a vital source of livelihoods. If you are interested in voting in this contest, please refer to the sites below. The deadline for voting is November 11, 2011.
Details on the competition and on how you can vote can be found here:
http://www.jeitagrotto.com/voting.html
And here:
http://world.n7w.com/n7w-of-nature-pages/the-official-new7wonders-of-nature/