Wonders of the World(s)

[Hibou]

In the same vein as my heroes and villains thread, I thought it'd be interesting for people to share their worlds' natural and humanoid-made wonders. These aspects of a setting often seem overlooked or otherwise not relevant to the games in question, and while it might not necessarily be easy for some of them to feature in a game (especially if they're far-off or unknown to the players' region), they can definitely help set a tone. Some of the questions I'm asking will work for artificial wonders more than natural, but hearing about both types would be cool.

What are some of your world's wonders (If you've got a setting that is, say, sci-fi that spans multiple worlds, feel free to talk about any that might exist there, instead)?

If artificial, who were they built by?

What purpose did/do they serve, and/or what significance do they have to the surrounding cultures?

Are they ruined, intact/functional, or under construction?

How do they figure in, if at all, to the games you are currently running?

For example, in Haveneast, there are a few artificial and natural wonders in the Anglyrion region that I've previously run - in the artificial category there are the Towers of the Wilderness (or Hadia's Fingers), which were massive structures built in an attempt to protect the Gilbanian frontier in the centuries past. They're not unlike what you'd get if you took the tower of Barad-Dur, made it look a little less sinister, and put a beacon system like that between Rohan and Gondor atop each. There were nine built in total, but only three remain in good shape and another two (started later on) were never completed. A little to the south of the region, the road system is known as the Red Horizon Road and is part of a continued effort of the city-states throughout the region to improve their trading capabilities. It is a wide, well-maintained road with open shelters at regular intervals that stretches for thousands of miles. Its endurance and prominence has led to numerous tie-ins with local belief systems and folklore, and the region is said to be incredibly difficult to conquer by outsiders because of the city-states' pacts to protect their road and their neighbors.

In terms of natural wonders, the only significant one in the area is Gamurkot, a field of brilliant yet ominous and jagged ice spires in the mountains that separate Gilbany from its allies. They are said to be the home of mad shining spirits that are generous by day, but murderous in the dark. Unfortunately Gamurkot is visible from few places outside the mountains, and as a result various pilgrimage destinations are found embedded in the cliff faces high atop nearby peaks with clear views of the stunning sight.

None of these have featured in my games as of yet, although I've toyed with a game set in the region that the Red Horizon Road spans.

[LoA]

One wonder that exists in Panorah (My small animal fantasy setting)  is Urthheight, a metropolis built into the base of the tallest mountain along the eastern mountain range of Urthlind (the primary continent of my setting), and to make this Wonderception, there's a colossal wall that surrounds and protects the city from the outside. The badgers have always been a patron of great engineering and architecture.

Another wonder that exists in this world is the Shai-mari, that dwells within Dunwood, the forest domain of the Squirrels. Affectionately referred to as the Great Squirrel Lantern, Shai-mari is probably equivalent to the Lighthouse of Alexandria in terms of real world equivalancies. Basically this is a very tall tower that looms over the forest and has a great burning light at the tip of the tower. This is to help keep creeps (my word for people), from getting lost in the woods. All someone has to do is climb a tree, and there's the light burning at night, or during the day, the mirrors that are erected in place act as beacons. The Dark side though to this tower though is that it is run on prison labor.

[Magnus Pym]

I've written wonders for my Plaguelands world, albeit with a twist to them. Wonders of Evil and Corruption. I present to you; the Horrors.

*You can scroll down a little bit to get directly to the part that describes the ''Wonders''.
Plaguelands

The link for the whole setting can also be found in my signature.

[Hibou]

One wonder that exists in Panorah (My small animal fantasy setting)  is Urthheight, a metropolis built into the base of the tallest mountain along the eastern mountain range of Urthlind (the primary continent of my setting), and to make this Wonderception, there's a colossal wall that surrounds and protects the city from the outside. The badgers have always been a patron of great engineering and architecture.

Another wonder that exists in this world is the Shai-mari, that dwells within Dunwood, the forest domain of the Squirrels. Affectionately referred to as the Great Squirrel Lantern, Shai-mari is probably equivalent to the Lighthouse of Alexandria in terms of real world equivalancies. Basically this is a very tall tower that looms over the forest and has a great burning light at the tip of the tower. This is to help keep creeps (my word for people), from getting lost in the woods. All someone has to do is climb a tree, and there's the light burning at night, or during the day, the mirrors that are erected in place act as beacons. The Dark side though to this tower though is that it is run on prison labor.

Sounds very industrious overall. I like the vibe I get from the Great Squirrel Lantern.

I've written wonders for my Plaguelands world, albeit with a twist to them. Wonders of Evil and Corruption. I present to you; the Horrors.

*You can scroll down a little bit to get directly to the part that describes the ''Wonders''.
Plaguelands

The link for the whole setting can also be found in my signature.

I remember reading about these before and enjoying it, but after having another look I have to say I agree with Xathan's initial assessment. Very dark, very creepy. My kind of setting for sure, and the wonders in question really drive home that feel.