No matter how advanced our cities and technologies are, eventually we get tired of all the noise, stress, and crowd of the city and want to be in the nature.
Humans have transformed Earth beyond recovery, but luckily not everything is lost. Beautiful mountains, blue water lakes, magnificent oceans with fabulous islands – our planet has many breathtaking places and awe-inspiring scenery just waiting to be discovered. And some of those locations are unbelievable, strange and spell-binding. Here are 25 of our favorites.
Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia
Tianzi Mountains, China
These unqiuely tall and thin mountains are so alien that they were used in James Cameron’s “Avatar.” Formed underwater 380 million years ago, the flow destroyed surrounding sandstone, leaving only resilient stone pillars. Some of the columns have reached over 4,000 feet above sea level.
Sentinels of the Arctic, Finland
Reed Flute Caves, China
This 240-meter-long cave system has been one of Guilin, China’s most popular attractions for over 1200 years. The beautiful stalactites, stalagmites and pillars were all created through water erosion. In the present day, they are highlighted by multi colored lights which create a truly surreal environment.
Skaftafell Ice Cave, Iceland
Antelope Canyon, Arizona, United States
This canyon was formed by millions of years of flowing water that carved out a deep, yet narrow crevice. Since significantly less light makes it down to the deeper depths, the walls often appear to be different colors.
Bigar Waterfall, Romania
The locals call this waterfall “the miracle from the Minis gorge.” The moss formation which the falls travel over is 8 meters tall, creating one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world.
Sea of Stars, Vaadhoo Island, Maldives
It may look normal during daylight, but at night, this beach comes to life. The sparkle in the water comes from marine microbes called phytoplankton. The galaxy they paint across the shore is nothing short of breathtaking.
Grand Prismatic Hot Spring, Wyoming
Grand Prismatic Hot Spring is the largest hot spring in the United States. The vivid colors in the spring are the result of pigmented microbes, which grow around the edges of the mineral-rich water.
Deadvlei, Namibia
No, the above images are not surrealist paintings. They’re photographs of “dead valley,” where trees stand against a background of the highest sand dunes in the world. Once a thriving forest, the approaching desert has killed all life.
Turquoise Ice, Lake Baikal, Russia
Lake Baikal is the oldest freshwater lake in the world. In the winter, the lake freezes, but the water is so clear that you can see 130 feet below the ice. In March, frost and sun cause cracks in the ice crust, which results in the turquoise ice shards we see at the surface.
Socotra, Yemen
One third of the plant life on Socotra Island is found nowhere else on planet Earth. One of the most bizarre forms of life is the dragon blood tree, which resembles an umbrella.
Zhangye Danxia Landform, Gansu, China
These colourful rock formations are the result of red sandstone and mineral deposits laid down over 24 million years. Wind and rain then carved amazing shapes into the rock, forming natural pillars, towers, ravines, valleys and waterfalls.
Tunnel of Love, Klevan, Ukraine
This tunnel was shaped over many years, as trains traveled the line three times time a day, molding the surrounding trees. Now abandoned, the track is a romantic spot for an afternoon stroll.
Glowworm Caves, Waitomo, New Zealand
Thousands of tiny glowworms hang to the ceiling of this grotto and radiate a luminescent light, creating a scene straight out of a sci-fi movie.
Yuanyang County, China
The farming techniques in Yuanyang County have created a landscape which is truly amazing from the air. These rice fields are located on the slopes of Ailao Mountain, where the terraced levels help create flat surfaces along an uneven landscape.
Lake Hillier, Australia
The pink color of this lake is thought to be the result of a dye created by algae and bacteria in the water. Despite the odd hue, the lake doesn’t seem to have any adverse effects on humans or local wildlife.
Pamukkale Hot Springs, Turkey
Over millions of years, the hotsprings in Pamukkale have transformed the landscape. Although it may look like these terraces are made of ice and snow, Turkey has bikini weather all year round. The ground is just coated in white limestone.
Due to its extensive habitat of fauna and flora, this flowing river appears in yellow, green, blue, black and red as you travel along it. The rocks here are around 1.2 billion years old, and those who visit call it the most beautiful river in the world.
Patagonia Marble Caves, Chile
Formed by thousands of years of waves crashing against calcium carbonate, these caves have smooth, swirling walls, which reflect the lake’s azure waters.
Fly Geyser, Nevada
Fly Geyser was accidentally created when a well was drilled and left uncapped. Minerals and algae started to rise from the geyser and accumulated to form an alien-like mound.
Underwater Waterfall, Mauritius Island
Strong ocean currents continually drive sand from the shores of Mauritius into the abyss below, creating this one-of-a-kind underwater waterfall.
Mount Roraima, South America
This tabletop mountain is one of the oldest mountains on Earth, dating back two billion years when the land was lifted high above the ground by tectonic activity. The sides of the mountain are sheer vertical cliffs, with several waterfalls, making it nearly impossible to climb.
Aogashima, Japan
Aogashima is a volcanic island located 200 miles off the coast of Tokyo. Even more amazing than the view is the geography – there’s a smaller volcano within the volcano island.
Hidden Beach, Mexico
This magnificent hidden beach was created by a military explosion test in early 1900s. The surrounding islands were deemed a nature park, with the hidden beach only accessible by swimming through a fifty foot tunnel.
The Eye of Africa, Mauritania
Found in the middle of the Sahara Desert is a deeply eroded bowl, over 24 miles in diameter. The natural formation is so impressive that for a long time, scientists believed it was the site of an asteroid impact.
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Plitvice National Park is the largest of its kind in Croatia and the oldest in Southeast Europe. Over thousands of years, water flowing over limestone and chalk created natural dams and eventually, beautiful lakes, caves and waterfalls.
As we compiled these beautiful destinations, we felt an urge to sell everything we own and travel the world. We hope you did to – share this with the people you’d love to travel with!
