Table Mountain: Final countdown
2009-07-01 09:05
Cape Town - South Africans have only 6 days left to vote for Table Mountain in the New7Wonders of Nature competition.
Table Mountain is South Africa's only representative in this global competition that recognises natural sites of wonder around the world.
Currently sitting at number 7 in its category (Mountains and Volcanoes), the majestic icon needs your vote to boost its position before July 7, when voting closes.
Table Mountain Cableway CEO Sabine Lehmann has urged all South Africans and fans of Table Mountain to show their support by casting their vote.
"I encourage all South Africans and fans of Table Mountain to vote today," Lehmann told News24 on Wednesday morning.
"We have less than a week to go to ensure Table Mountain is forever remembered as a true wonder of nature."
Table Mountain soared to number five, but now sits at number seven in the New7Wonders of Nature global rankings, rocketing 22 places from its previous position of 29 three weeks ago.
Support from the stars
It is now officially ahead of legendary mountains such as Mount Everest, K2 Mountain and Mount Kilimanjaro but is behind other popular sites including Mount Olympus in Greece and Vesuvius Volcano in Italy.
Well-loved and respected South African celebs and sports stars have shown their support for the cause. The Archbishop Desmond Tutu, comedian Marc Lottering, radio DJ Natalie Becker and the Proteas cricketers have all cast their vote for Table Mountain.
To qualify for the next round, Table Mountain needs to be ranked in the top 11 of its category - mountains and volcanoes - which has 36 fellow nominees.
Table Mountain is currently ranked seventh out of 37. Other categories include seascapes, lakes, islands, ice formations, waterfalls and forests.
The New7Wonders Foundation in Zurich, Switzerland announced in January 2009 that Table Mountain was one of 261 magnificent natural sites from 222 countries to have made it through to the second round in this global race to name the New7Wonders of Nature.
The New7Wonders of Nature will be determined by votes from the public.
The public can vote online or by calling 0041 77 312 4041 and selecting Table Mountain’s three-digit code which is 332. (Calls to the New7Wonders Swiss mobile voting number will cost R3.29 a minute in peak times, 07:00 – 19:00, and R2.92 a minute off-peak,19:00 – 07:00.)
Voting to select the top 77 sites (11 per category) runs until July 7 this year. Thereafter a panel of experts will select the 21 finalists (3 per category) - these will be announced on July 21 when the third and final phase of voting will begin.
The official New7Wonders of Nature will be revealed in 2011.