Have you ever been fooled by a Photoshopped image? Today’s CGI and image editing software is so good that sometimes a convincing fake can look close to reality than a real photograph.
We covered almost all of the world’s continents – from famous North American river valleys to beautiful Norwegian coastal highways – to track down 10 amazing places you just can’t believe aren’t artificial.
1. Colorado River, United Sates
Captured by James Neeley at just the perfect moment, it has everything – a great reflection of the sun on the river’s surface and a background that’s truly unbeatable.
2. Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
This incredible piece of coastline was formed approximately 50 to 60 million years ago by intense volcanic activity on Ireland’s northern coastline. Giant concentrations of lava cooled to form these amazingly beautiful natural pillars.
3. Highlands, Iceland
Travel to Iceland at the right time of year and you’ll forget you’re still on Earth. This amazingly isolated country is covered in mind-blowingly beautiful glaciers, craters, and some of the most picturesque lakes and geysers in the world.
4. Guilin, China
Guilan is truly something incredible – an entire region that looks like a mix between a James Cameron movie environment and an Elder Scrolls game. From amazing rice terraces to beautiful limestone mountains, Guilan is truly natural sensory overload.
5. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Enjoy amazing natural isolation, with only your own reflection as company. Located in rural Bolivia, Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat – an entirely reflective lake made entirely from salt located on the crest of the Bolivian Andes.
6. Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway
Popular with automotive companies shooting commercials, the road looks equally real and unreal during the Norwegian summer. Motorists called this amazing road the world’s best road trip destination in 2009.
7. Morondava, Madagascar
Famous for its bizarre baobab trees – some of which are more than 100 feet – the region is a favorite of nature photographers seeking something that’s equal parts Morrowind and tropical wonderland.
8. Aogashima, Japan
Welcome to Jurassic Park Aogashima. This unusual volcanic island is located about 200 miles off the coast of Tokyo and is inhabited by about 200 residents.
9. Mendenhall Ice Cave, Alaska
Most glaciers look impressive from the outside. The Mendenhall ice caves – located in remote Alaska – are even more impressive from the inside. As the glacier above melts away, the caves are revealing earth left untouched for thousands of years.
10. Leshan Giant Buddha, China
This 223-foot tall Buddha statue is the tallest pre-modern statue in the world. Built in the year 713, the giant Buddha was built by a Chinese monk called Haitong.
Read more about each of these amazing places over at EarthPorm.
