The foundation launched a global campaign aiming to choose the new Seven Wonders of the World and three protected areas in Romania, namely the Scarisoara Cave, the National Retezat Park and the Danube River, joined the competition, which started in 2007.
The Retezat Park, which registered the highest number of votes, is the only protected area to represent Romania in this competition.
The Retezat Park, created in 1935, is Romania’s first national park and preserves the beauty of the mountains and the endemic flora in the region.
The Park includes eighty lakes and over twenty mountain peaks above 2,000 meters, and the Peleaga peak is the highest, with 2,509 meters.
Florina Crisan, in charge with Public Relations within the National Retezat Park Administration (APNR), said voting for Retezat Park continues until July 7, 2009 to qualify among the first 77 semifinalists. He added a committee led by UNESCO general manager, professor Federico Mayor, will shortlist 21 finalists, which will be announced on July 21, 2009.
Afterward, the 21 finalists will go forward to the next stage of voting starting July 21, 2009, until 2011.