Guardian architecture critic Jonathan Glancey assesses our list of 20th century wonders and asks for your alternative nominations - and don't forget to cast your vote for an eighth wonder of the world in our poll
'The Empire State Building is, for me, still the ultimate skyscraper' ... do you agree? Photograph: Mary Altaffer/AP
The wonder of the Channel tunnel is that it was ever built. It had been a dream of British engineers towards the end of the 18th century, the thought of Napoleon marching his imperial armies through it and on through Kent to knock George III of his throne in London was clearly that of a tunnel too far.
The idea was then revived at much the same time as the French built that great 19th century wonder, the Eiffel Tower in Paris in 1889. This prompted railway chief Sir Edward Watkin to dream up a grandiose plan for a railway that would link Manchester, through London, to Paris by a Channel tunnel. Oh, and on the way, passengers would steam by an all-British version of the Eiffel Tower on the site where the new Wembley Stadium stands today. It would, of course, have been taller than Eiffel's effort, but, sadly, only the first stage was ever built and when money and interest faded, "Watkin's Folly" was demolished in 1907.
The "Chunnel" had to wait another nine decades and is a reminder that the seven 20th century wonders presented here are all heroic works of architecture and engineering. 20th century technology, economics and ambition allowed the creation of truly breathtaking bridges, dams, waterways and buildings. And, despite all the taller and flashier skyscrapers built since, the Empire State Building is still, for me, the ultimate skyscraper. I say ultimate because it was really the last and most thrilling of the first generation of skyscrapers and every skyscraper since has had to match up to it.
In any case, skyscrapers today, although still showy in a fairground way are an old-fashioned idea. It's sad and funny at the same time to see, for example, the mayor of London so madly keen on encouraging flashy, priapic, ultra-capitalist, gas-guzzling skyscrapers - the 4x4s of contemporary architecture - in the City of London today.
This should remind us that 20th century wonders were not always so very big. Think of the birth control pill. This is very small, but what a revolutionary difference it has made to our lives. Think of Crick and Watson's model of the DNA spiral that taught us more about our genetic make-up than perhaps ever before. Think, too, of the world wide web invented by the British scientist Tim Berners-Lee. Or of radio, radar and television. And, no, it's not television's fault that it's been used as a machine for destroying brain cells and the human imagination more effectively than any 1950s' style Martian death ray.
And, yet, even though modern wonders might be so microscopically small as to be untouchable, we still enjoy an enduring love affair with mighty structures. We like to be awed whether sat gawping at a cinema epic or whizzing up elevators to the viewing platform of the Empire State Building. "Look at me, Ma ... I'm on top of the World!" We still want our wonders to thrill us in the same way as the ancients were thrilled by the pyramids. All the same, it would be good to hear some 20th century alternatives from you ...
PS, a note to our Scottish readers. Sorry there are no Scottish wonders here - I know you'll complain - but please do so by posting your nominations below.
* If you could add one more wonder what would it be? Cast your vote in our search for an eighth wonder.
* See a gallery of all seven wonders of the 20th century
