Nature always finds a way to startle us, surprise us, and sometimes terrify us. With diverse environment and ecology, the combination of elements such as fire, ice, and water make some of the most fascinating, otherworldly landscapes, mind-bending, and awe-inspiring natural wonders.
Proving just how magnificent nature can be, in alphabetically order, here are the 20 Natural Wonders and Phenomenon You Won’t Believe Exist.
1. Ausangate Mountain, Peru
Often referred as the Rainbow Mountain, Ausangate Mountain is one of the most unique geologic features on earth because of its display of colors. This mighty Peruvian Andes attraction has brought climbers and tourists from Peru and beyond together.
2. Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines
There are a number of rice terraces in Asia, but the Banaue Rice Terraces holds the distinction as “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Sitting around 4,921 feet (1,500 meters) above sea level, it is also the steepest rice paddy in the world.
3. Blood Falls, Antarctica
Located in Antarctica’s McMurdo Valleys, the iron-rich water of Blood Falls creates a seemingly gruesome scene. The bleeding glacier is a result of slowly oozing, saltwater that oxidizes in contact with air, just like rust.
4. Grand Prismatic Spring, United States
The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park will not disappoint those who visit it. Being the largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world, there is so much to see in the area, including its azure blue center.
5. Great Blue Hole, Belize
This UNESCO Heritage site is a favorite scuba diving sites of diving enthusiasts. 406 feet (124-meters) deep, Great Blue Hole is an underwater sinkhole that many believe is the largest of its kind.
6. Jiuzhaigou National Park, Sichuan Province, China
This National Park is a true gem of China, drawing thousands of tourists every day. Located in the Sichuan Province, Jiuzhaigou National Park is a natural UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to one of the world’s clearest lakes and most fascinating travertine waterfalls.
7. Lake Nakuru, Kenya
Lake Nakuru in Kenya is not your ordinary lake. You don’t see flocks of pink flamingoes in just any other lake, do you? Additionally, it is a protected area, being a UNESCO Heritage Site. Hippos, buffalos, and giraffes call this amazing site home.
8. Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
One of Canada’s most beautiful lakes, and surely one of the most photographed bodies of water, is Moraine Lake in Banff National Park. Its uniquely turquoise-colored water attracts thousands of spectators each year. It is known as the jewel of the Rockies for its deep crystalline waters.
9. Mount Sakurajima, Japan
Dirty Thunderstorm or volcanic lightning in Mount Sakurajima is a rare phenomenon that occurs when lightning is produced in a volcanic plume. It sounds like a terrifying view, but it is also a wonderful reaction of nature that creates a beautiful scenery. Waiting for the right moment to capture this rare event is both risky and satisfying.
10. Pamukkale, Turkey
The Turkish town of Pamukkale is known for its calcium-rich thermal springs, dripping slowly onto the white travertine terraces on a nearby hillside. The pools of mineral-rich thermal waters create a wonderful spectacle of nature that attracts millions of tourists from around the globe.
11. Perito Moreno Glacier, Patagonia, Argentina
The Argentinian side of Patagonia is home to Perito Moreno Glacier – a natural wonder of ice and glaciers.
12. Pink Lake Hillier, Australia
Nature always surprises us with oddities, natural eye-popping wonders, and natural phenomenon just like the Lake Hiller in Australia. The lake that sits next to the Pacific Ocean is often referred to a “pool of strawberry milkshake” because of its eye catching pink color.
13. Russian Pillars, Moscow
Like the Northern lights, the Russian light pillars are optical phenomenon and a true display of magical light. This happens normally at the start of the year during winter when ice crystals reflect sunlight in the Earth’s atmosphere.
14. Salt Flats, Bolivia
In the middle of southwest Bolivia, during the rainy season, the massive Gran Salar de Uyuni is covered with a thin sheet of water, making it the world’s largest mirror. It becomes almost impossible to distinguish, where the sky ends and the ground begins.
15. Shores of Vaadhoo, Maldives
Maldives seems to have everything – from beautiful white sand beaches, to astonishing coral reefs, fancy resorts and hotels, to a beach that glows under dark. Yes, you heard me right. The shores of Vaadhoo, Maldives is a real glowing paradise at night. Carved out of fairytale, the shining waters look like a mirror reflecting the stars above. What causes this phenomenon is the bioluminescent bacteria that lives in the water.
16. The Door to Hell, Turkmenistan
The natural gas fire Darvaza, also known as the Door to Hell or Gates to Hell, is one of the most fascinating and strangest sites on Earth. This unique crater has been burning since geologists unintentionally tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas.
17. The Wave, Arizona
The Wave is a geological marvel found on the slopes of the Coyote Buttes in Arizona, U.S.A. Though famous among hikers, photographers, and tourists, this otherworldly place comes with a warning.
18. Uluru/Ayers Rock, Australia
Ayer’s rock is a massive sandstone monolith sacred to indigenous Australians, the aboriginal Anangu. A jaw-dropping sight both on land and up above the sky.
19. Underwater Forest, Kazakhstan
Lake Kaindy in Kazakhstan is a favorite tourist attraction in the country. Formed as a byproduct of a landslide a century ago, the sunken forest is home to unearthly, limestone-blue water and submerged forest that pokes out from the water’s surface of this 1,312 feet (400-meters) long lake.
20. Zhangye National Geopark, China
Like Ausangate Mountain in Peru, Zhangye National Geopark in China features layers of multi-colored mountains.
