Modern engineering marvels: You've read about or seen the Great Wall of China, the pyramids of Egypt and Machu Picchu. With the recent completion of the International Space Station, we shift our attention from the classic depictions of man-made marvels to more modern engineering feats.
International Space Station
Year of completion: 2011
The engineering feat: The largest space station ever constructed, the International Space Station was completed in late May.
Panama Canal
Year of completion: 1914
The engineering feat: A vital component in international maritime trade, the Panama Canal is a 48-mile ship canal that links the Pacific and Atlantic oceans
CERN Large Hadron Collider
Year of completion: 2008
The engineering feat: The particle accelerator that claims the title for largest and highest-energy collider among all others, the CERN Large Hadron Collider seeks to answer several fundamental questions in physics.
Singapore Flyer
Year of completion: 2008
The engineering feat: Eat a classy, cabin-side dinner and view the Malay Archipelago atop the Singapore Flyer, the tallest Ferris wheel in the world.
Millau Viaduct
Year of completion: 2004
The engineering feat: As the tallest bridge in the world, the Millau Viaduct has a roadway weighing 36,000 tons, a length of 8,071 feet and a whooping height of 1,125 feet.
Palm Deira
Year of completion: on hold, at 80 percent in 2008
The engineering feat: Destined to be the largest man-made island in the world, the Palm Deira, with a total surface area the size of Paris and all the amenities of a modern luxury locale, is already an international attraction even though it's not completed yet.
Channel Tunnel
Year of completion: 1994
The engineering feat: Also called the Chunnel, this massive throughway connects Folkestone, England, with Coquelles, France, via 31.4 miles of undersea rail.
Three Gorges Dam
Year of completion: 2008
The engineering feat: The world's largest-capacity hydroelectric power station, the Three Gorges Dam is projected to provide almost 10 percent of China's electrical energy.
Burj Al Arab Hotel
Year of completion: 1999
The engineering feat: The Burj Al Arab Hotel is the fourth-tallest hotel in the world and rated the world's most luxurious.
Kingda Ka Roller Coaster
Year of completion: 2005
The engineering feat: Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., boasts that it has "the world's tallest roller coaster," the Kingda Ka.
Pan STARRS-1
Year of completion: 2010
The engineering feat: The Pan-STARRS is a series of cameras and telescopes, along with a computer facility, that continually surveys the sky as the world's largest digital camera
Rungrado May Day Stadium
Year of completion: 1988
The engineering feat: With the largest stadium capacity in the world, North Korea's Rungrado May Day Stadium provides a stage unmatched by any in the world.
Langeled Pipeline
Year of completion: 2006
The engineering feat: The Langeled Pipeline is the world's longest underwater pipe and brings natural gas from Norway to the United Kingdom.
Oasis & Allure of the Seas
Year of completion: 2010
The engineering feat: Oasis and Allure of the Seas are the largest passenger ships in the world.
Akashi Kaikyo Suspension Bridge
Year of completion: 2010
The engineering feat: The longest suspension bridge in the world, Akashi Kaikyo isn't just massive; it's also visually stunning.
Petronas Twin Towers
Year of completion: 1998
The engineering feat: As the tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers are a major marketing asset for the Petronas oil and gas company.
National Stadium
Year of completion: 2008
The engineering feat: Built for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, Beijing National Stadium is the largest steel structure in the world .
Lake Mead
Year of completion: 1933
The engineering feat: Lake Mead is the largest man-made reservoir and extends behind the Hoover Dam in Nevada.
San Alfonso Del Mar
Year of completion: 2006
The engineering feat: The world's largest swimming pool is located within San Alfonso Del Mar, a private resort.
Mare Nostrum
Year of completion: 2005
The engineering feat: Located within Chapel Torre Girona in Spain, this supercomputer is the most powerful in Europe .
International Space Station
Year of completion: 2011
The engineering feat: The largest space station ever constructed, the International Space Station was completed in late May.
Year of completion: 1914
The engineering feat: A vital component in international maritime trade, the Panama Canal is a 48-mile ship canal that links the Pacific and Atlantic oceans
Year of completion: 2008
The engineering feat: The particle accelerator that claims the title for largest and highest-energy collider among all others, the CERN Large Hadron Collider seeks to answer several fundamental questions in physics.
Year of completion: 2008
The engineering feat: Eat a classy, cabin-side dinner and view the Malay Archipelago atop the Singapore Flyer, the tallest Ferris wheel in the world.
Year of completion: 2004
The engineering feat: As the tallest bridge in the world, the Millau Viaduct has a roadway weighing 36,000 tons, a length of 8,071 feet and a whooping height of 1,125 feet.
Year of completion: on hold, at 80 percent in 2008
The engineering feat: Destined to be the largest man-made island in the world, the Palm Deira, with a total surface area the size of Paris and all the amenities of a modern luxury locale, is already an international attraction even though it's not completed yet.
Year of completion: 1994
The engineering feat: Also called the Chunnel, this massive throughway connects Folkestone, England, with Coquelles, France, via 31.4 miles of undersea rail.
Year of completion: 2008
The engineering feat: The world's largest-capacity hydroelectric power station, the Three Gorges Dam is projected to provide almost 10 percent of China's electrical energy.
Year of completion: 1999
The engineering feat: The Burj Al Arab Hotel is the fourth-tallest hotel in the world and rated the world's most luxurious.
Year of completion: 2005
The engineering feat: Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., boasts that it has "the world's tallest roller coaster," the Kingda Ka.
Year of completion: 2010
The engineering feat: The Pan-STARRS is a series of cameras and telescopes, along with a computer facility, that continually surveys the sky as the world's largest digital camera
Year of completion: 1988
The engineering feat: With the largest stadium capacity in the world, North Korea's Rungrado May Day Stadium provides a stage unmatched by any in the world.
Year of completion: 2006
The engineering feat: The Langeled Pipeline is the world's longest underwater pipe and brings natural gas from Norway to the United Kingdom.
Year of completion: 2010
The engineering feat: Oasis and Allure of the Seas are the largest passenger ships in the world.
Year of completion: 2010
The engineering feat: The longest suspension bridge in the world, Akashi Kaikyo isn't just massive; it's also visually stunning.
Year of completion: 1998
The engineering feat: As the tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers are a major marketing asset for the Petronas oil and gas company.
Year of completion: 2008
The engineering feat: Built for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, Beijing National Stadium is the largest steel structure in the world .
Year of completion: 1933
The engineering feat: Lake Mead is the largest man-made reservoir and extends behind the Hoover Dam in Nevada.
Year of completion: 2006
The engineering feat: The world's largest swimming pool is located within San Alfonso Del Mar, a private resort.
Year of completion: 2005
The engineering feat: Located within Chapel Torre Girona in Spain, this supercomputer is the most powerful in Europe .
