From soaring structures that scrape the sky to underwater tunnels that provide swift transit between nations, the attractions on the list of Modern Wonders are a testament to mankind's endless drive to go higher and faster. Other attractions on the list, such as the North Sea Protection Works and the Itaipu Dam, showcase man's ability to harness nature's massive powers, both destructive and beneficial. And three attractions--the Channel Tunnel, Panama Canal and Golden Gate Bridge-highlight human desire to go over, under and through the vast bodies of water that cover 70 percent of planet Earth.

The Channel Tunnel

Channel Tunnel (photo credit: Corbis)

The Channel Tunnel, or "Chunnel," is a $15 billion railway tunnel that travels under the English Channel, linking England and France. Comprised of three interconnected tunnels--one rail track in each direction plus a service tunnel for maintenance work and emergency evacuations--the 31-mile long Chunnel was officially opened on May 6, 1994, by Queen Elizabeth II of England and President Francois Mitterand of France. As the world's longest undersea tunnel, the Chunnel runs under water for 23 miles, with an average depth of 150 feet below the seabed. Each day, about 30,000 people, 6,000 cars and 3,500 trucks journey through the Chunnel on passenger, shuttle and freight trains. The idea for a tunnel connecting England and France dates back to 1802, when a French mining engineer proposed the concept to Napoleon. This proposal was followed by nearly two centuries of new plans and failed construction attempts. Building of the Channel Tunnel finally began in 1987 and took seven years and approximately 13,000 workers to complete. Today, trains traveling at speeds of almost 100 miles per hour can move between terminals at Folkestone, England, and Coquelles, France, in 35 minutes.

CN Tower, Toronto, Canada

CN Tower (photo credit: Corbis)

At 1,815 feet high, Canada's CN Tower is the world's tallest freestanding structure. The Tower, which dominates the Toronto skyline, was developed to remedy telecommunications problems and jammed television signals that resulted from a construction boom in Canada's largest city in the 1960s. The Tower's microwave receptors and tall antenna vastly improved reception. Canadian National, a freight railroad company who developed the Tower, also envisioned the project as a powerful symbol of national pride. Construction on the soaring structure began February 6, 1973, took 40 months to complete and involved over 1,500 workers. Weighing an estimated 130,000 tons, the CN Tower opened on October 1, 1976. In addition to serving as an important telecommunications hub, the CN Tower is a major Canadian tourist attraction. An estimated 2 million people visit the Tower annually. On a clear day, visibility extends 100 miles. The Tower's attractions include the world's highest public observation deck (1,465 feet); the world's highest revolving restaurant (1,151 feet), which makes a complete rotation every 72 minutes; and the world's longest metal staircase (2,579 steps). In 1999, a woman from New York hopped up 1,899 steps on a pogo stick in 57 minutes.

Empire State Building, New York City, New York

Empire State Building (photo credit: Peter Guttman)

The 1,453-foot high, 102-story Empire State Building took the "world's tallest" title when it officially opened on May 1, 1931, edging out the 1,046-foot, 77-story Chrysler Building, which had held the title since its completion in 1930. The Empire State retained its title until the early 1970s, when it was surpassed by the World Trade Center. After the World Trade Center towers were destroyed by terrorist attacks in 2001, the Empire State was New York's tallest building and among the highest in the world. Construction on the Art Deco-inspired Empire State began on March 17, 1930, and was completed at a record pace. The 60,000-ton steel framework went up at a rate of four-and-a-half stories per week. As many as 3,000 men worked on the building at one time. Over 110 million people have visited the Empire State since it opened to the public in 1931. On a clear day, visibility stretches for 80 miles. The Empire State has 6,500 windows; 1,860 steps from the street to the 102nd floor; and 73 elevators. The building's occupants produce 100 tons of garbage each month. Since 1963, the Empire State's lobby has featured an artist's rendering of the seven ancient wonders of the world, along with one wonder of the modern world--the Empire State Building itself.

The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

Golden Gate Bridge (photo credit: Peter Guttman)

The Golden Gate Bridge, as closely associated with San Francisco as cable cars and fog, had the world's largest suspension span when it opened to motor traffic on May 28, 1937. Connecting the City by the Bay to Marin County in Northern California, the majestic bridge was designed by Joseph Strauss and built from fabricated steel manufactured on the East Coast and shipped to San Francisco via the Panama Canal. Eleven men died during the construction process, which took four-and-a-half years to complete. The Golden Gate's 4,200-foot suspension span was bested by 60 feet with the 1964 opening of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge in Brooklyn, New York. The Golden Gate gets its name not from its color but from the Golden Gate Strait, the mile-wide entrance to San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. The bridge is painted an orange-red known as "International Orange," which suits the dramatic natural setting and also makes it easier to spot by ships sailing through the frequently foggy area. Today, over 41 million vehicles cross the bridge each year. Since it opened, over 1,250 people have committed suicide by jumping from the bridge. Throughout its history, the bridge has only been closed three times due to bad weather.

Itaipu Dam, Alto Parana River, Brazil-Paraguay border

Itaipu Dam (photo credit: Corbis)

One of the world's biggest hydroelectric plants, the Itaipu Dam stands over 600 feet tall and generates the majority of Paraguay's energy supply and a quarter of Brazil's energy. The project's original 18 turbine generators are capable of producing 12,600 megawatts of electricity. Construction on the Itaipu complex, a joint venture between Brazil and Paraguay, began in 1975 and required the removal of 50 tons of earth and rock. Workers also had to divert the course of the Parana, the seventh largest river in the world. At the height of construction, there were 30,000 workers on the project. The Itaipu's hollow gravity dam, the largest of its kind in the world, was operational by the early 1980s. When it was complete, the $18 billion complex used enough iron and steel to construct 380 Eiffel Towers and enough concrete to build 15 Chunnels. Today, the Itaipu Dam is a popular tourist attraction that has been visited by millions of people since its opening.

North Sea Protection Works, the Netherlands

North Sea Protection Works

Much of the Netherlands, one of the planet's most densely populated nations, sits at or below sea level. In fact, "Netherlands" translates as "Low Countries." For centuries, the Netherlands has used seawalls and dikes as a means of flood protection. One popular legend holds that a young boy named Hans Brinker saved the town of Haarlem from flooding in the 17th century by sticking his finger into a leaky hole in a dike. In need of a more advanced water-management system, the Dutch eventually developed a large-scale, complex system of dams, storm-surge barriers and other devices, known collectively as the North Sea Protection Works. An early phase of the project included the construction of the 19-mile long IJsselmeer Dam, which was built between 1927 and 1932. In 1953, the North Sea Flood killed over 1,800 people, flooded 400,000 acres and destroyed thousands of buildings when various seawalls and dikes broke. Following this disaster, the second phase of the North Sea Protection Works, dubbed the Delta Project, began. Largely completed over a 30-year period, the project included closing off tidal inlets and estuaries and constructing a massive storm-surge barrier with 62 openings that can be shut during a flood.

Panama Canal, Panama

Panama Canal (photo credit: Peter Guttman)

Considered one of the world's engineering marvels, the Panama Canal is an international shipping route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Each year, 13,000 to 14,000 vessels pass through the 10-mile wide, 50-mile long canal, which took a decade to construct at a cost of $375 million. The idea of building a canal that would unite the Atlantic and Pacific dates back to the 16th century, but it wasn't until the 1880s that the French attempted--and failed--to develop such a waterway. In 1903, the United States signed a treaty with Panama and earned the right to build the canal and operate it in perpetuity. Construction, which began in 1904, was made difficult by the hot, rainy jungle conditions. Thousands of workers died from tropical diseases over the course of the project. The Panama Canal officially opened on August 15, 1914. In 1977, America signed a new treaty agreeing to gradually cede control of the canal to Panama. The official transfer took place on December 31, 1999, although the U.S. retained the right to "expeditious passage" of its warships through the canal and is responsible for making sure the canal remains open and secure.