Of Questionable Merit

To mirror the global vote on a new set of "7 Wonders of the World," the Arizona Republic conducted their own poll of readers to determine the "7 Wonders of Arizona." No doubt its heresy to try to limit oneself to only 7 wonders, but such is the nature of this silly game. The real error that is deserving of our most intense vituperations is what this vote actually came up with:

1. Ancient ruins of Canyon de Chelly
2. Hoover Dam
3. Montezuma Castle National Monument
4. Lowell Observatory
5. University of Phoenix Stadium
6. Chapel of the Holy Cross
7. London Bridge

Now don't get me wrong, I like a lot of things about Arizona (as if you didn't know that), and I even agree some of the things on this list--Canyon de Chelly (above) is on top of my list of things to do when I get home. But as much as I enjoy Pink Taco Stadium (and particularly that the initials are UPS--it has me regularly asking myself what brown can do for you), how can we really say it "reflect[s] the culture and history of the state." The London Bridge is a good story and all, but come on, people. Look what they seem to have beat out:

Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona: 2,064
Canyon de Chelly ruins, Navajo Nation: 1,543
London Bridge, Lake Havasu City: 1,457
Hoover Dam, 1,281
Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff: 1,275
Montezuma Castle National Monument, Camp Verde: 1,213
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale: 1064
Mission San Xavier del Bac, Tucson: 1,045.
Switchbacks up Oak Creek Canyon (Arizona 89A): 873
Grand Canyon skywalk,Hualapai Nation: 545
Route 66: 449
Hohokam irrigation canal system: 358
Cliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon National Monument, Flagstaff: 333
Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell: 297
Wupatki National Monument,Flagstaff: 287
Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix: 199
Tovrea Castle, Phoenix: 184
Biosphere 2, Tucson: 159
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Coolidge: 131
Hohokam ruins, Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, Phoenix: 65

And there's a number of other wonders in Arizona that weren't even up for a vote. But before I get started on that, I'm asking readers to comment here on what they think should have been called a Wonder of Arizona and why. We aren't limiting ourselves to 7 here at DR.