(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-12-06 11:14

BEIJING -- The Amazon rainforest, America's Grand Canyon and Japan's snow-capped Mount Fuji are three of the early favorites in a worldwide poll of millions of people to choose the seven natural wonders of the world, organizers say.

A view of the Grand Canyon, Arizona in this April 1, 2007 file photo. [Agencies]

Some 300 suggestions from six continents have been submitted so far. Beginning in January 2009 people will be able to vote for their favorite sites by Internet, mobile phone or telephone, according to the nonprofit foundation New7Wonders (www.new7wonders.com).

The organizers have turned to highlighting the most impressive natural wonders after their success earlier this year in the selection of the seven structural wonders, including India's Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China and Rome's Colosseum.

More than 100 million people participated in the first contest, which concluded in July. Also chosen as manmade wonders were Peru's Machu Picchu, Brazil's Statue of Christ Redeemer, the rock city of Petra in Jordan and Mexico's Chichen Itza pyramid.

Swiss-Canadian adventurer Bernard Weber, who created the foundation in 1999, said his aim is to "create respect and enthusiasm ... for the beauty of our planet."

The new wonders should be places with striking natural beauty, Weber said in an interview with The Associated Press.

"The closer we bring the beauty of our planet ... to the people, the more likely they will say, 'Oh, we have to do something to conserve it,'" Weber said.

It will take several years to complete the selection of natural wonders. The multi-step process was launched in July with the public invited to make suggestions for sites to be considered. Suggestions are already posted by continent on the website.