Humans have built skyscrapers, stunning bridges and incredible pyramids. But our abilities will never surpass Mother Nature's architecture. For decades, even centuries, natural wonders have been formed that today beautify landscapes and soothe our souls in this chaotic world. Nature brings the necessary balance to our digital world and provides us with much-needed peace through natural art. See which 20 natural wonders you must see before you die.
Which ones 20 natural wonders should you see before you close your eyes forever?
Amazon rainforest
The Amazon rainforest stretches across 8 countries and measures around 5,500,000 square kilometers. You could spend a lifetime exploring this natural landmark. More than 6,500 kilometers of rivers cut through the green areas, which take care of the hydration of vegetation and other living organisms. This legendary rainforest is not only a breathtaking backdrop for a break from the digital world, but is crucial to the health of our planet, containing 140 billion tons of carbon, which helps stabilize the climate.
Blue Cave, Campania, Italy
Take a boat trip to the sea's Blue Cave and witness the water shimmering in brilliant blue. Two holes in the cave provide miraculous lighting as red reflections filter in as the light shines through the water and then into the cave. The entrance is big enough for a small boat, but once inside you will witness a fantasy land filled with neon water.
Crystal Cave, Bermuda
The Crystal Cave, which was formed during the Ice Age, is spectacular as its walls are lined with stalactites and crystallized stalactites. The famous writer Mark Twain was the first tourist to descend into this magnificent cave and called it "the most beautiful cave in the world". It is filled with blue-green water and decorated with unique wooden clusters. Walking through the cave is like walking through a fantastic amusement park built by nature.
Dead Sea, Israel
The magnificent lake with turquoise water is the lowest point on Earth, as it lies 430.5 meters below sea level. Golden hills surround it like a crown, and crystal chairs emerge from it. The Dead Sea got its name because it is eight times saltier than the ocean, which means that algae and fish cannot survive in it. If you try to swim in the lake, you will soon realize that you will float on the water without any problems, because it is super buoyant. And a bonus: the lake's rich black mud can be used for therapeutic purposes, making it a peaceful retreat to retreat to for relaxation.
Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming, USA
Boiling water coming to the surface from the depths of the Earth makes a journey equivalent to a ten-story high-rise building. A mix of green, orange and yellow bands surround the deep blue water, which gives off steam like a fresh cup of coffee. In the company of the Teton Mountains and the endangered grizzly bear and vapi, this is a place that will leave you speechless.
Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA
The Grand Canyon overwhelms the senses with its sheer size and sheer drop into the depths. These beautifully sculpted rocks began to form about 70 million years ago and predate the dinosaurs. The legendary Arizona landmark is home to 70 different species of animals and holds great spiritual significance for the indigenous Hopi tribe, who believe it is a gateway to the afterlife.
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The largest coral reef in the world consists of 900 islands and 2,900 individual reefs. Each of these islands is a dream, making it a destination for all those who love to travel. Natural wonders beckon in many forms, including snorkeling, scuba diving and helicopter tours. Nowadays, the word "epic" is thrown around too much and is used to describe completely average things, such as a hamburger. But the Great Barrier Reef is truly epic, being one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, longer than the Great Wall of China, and the only living thing in the world that can be seen from space.
Port in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The harbor in Rio de Janeiro is recognized as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The largest bay on our planet is surrounded by the beautiful city of Rio, the Sugar Cone mountain, the Tijuca hills and the Corcovado mountain, where the world-famous statue of Jesus also stands. European explorers were so taken with this huge bay surrounded by mountains that they named it after the month in which it was discovered.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The Hawaiian Islands are another wonderful creation of our planet, but the most sought-after experience there is an encounter with a live volcano. You can watch the Kilauea volcano erupt, a unique experience that no one should miss. Namely, the earth opens up to spill fire over Kilauea and Mauna Loa, a volcano taller than Mount Everest. If you wish, you can also go on a hike along the rough lava paths. The United Nations has designated Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as an International Biosphere and World Heritage Site.
Matterhorn, Pennine Alps
The Matterhorn is one of the most recognizable peaks of the Alps and lies on the Swiss-Italian border. Of course, there are higher mountains, but this 4,478-foot-tall snowy beast is an eternal pop culture icon. The pyramid-shaped mountain is still a popular destination for experienced mountaineers looking for an unforgettable adventure. If you decide to climb this mountain, you can visit an Eskimo village at the foot of the Matterhorn and also catch some interesting stories about this epic mountain.
Mount Everest, Himalayas, Nepal
With its 8,848 meters, Mount Everest is the closest to heaven and thus deserves the label "top of the world". Its dangerous beauty is worshiped by the Sherpas and Tibetans as the "mother goddess of the Earth". Many experienced mountaineers play with fate when trying to reach the peak of the 8,000-meter peak, as several obstacles await them on the way, including altitude sickness, strong winds and avalanches. But if you manage to conquer this colossal mountain, then the view there is a real masterpiece.
Niagara Falls
Formed by three beautiful waterfalls, Niagara Falls marks the border between the United States and Canada. With more than 4,700,000 liters of water flow, Niagara Falls has the highest flow of any waterfall in the United States. The 50-meter vertical drop is truly spectacular. This natural wonder is a product of the Wisconsin glaciation, which occurred 10,000 years ago and created the Great Lakes and the Niagara River, among other things. But Niagara Falls is not only a visual treasure, it is also a source of hydropower that produces enormous amounts of electricity.
Northern Lights
The northern lights are created by the collision of electrically charged particles from the Sun that slide into the Earth's atmosphere, forming the beautiful green lights known as the aurora borealis. The natives believe that these lights are the spirits of the dead going to heaven, and the whistling sound is their voice.
Parícutin, Mexico
In 1943, the Parícutin volcano rose from the corn field of local farmer Dionisio Pulido, which immediately attracted the attention of many journalists and scientists. Fire and lava from the volcano buried two villages, and in 1952 the volcano's eruptions finally stopped. It grew to a height of 2.8 kilometers and became one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Today you can also visit one of the youngest volcanoes on Earth, as the beast is at rest. The volcano's crater spans 200 meters in width, and intrepid souls can climb to the top and walk around the rim of the once spewing monster.
Redwood National Park, California
Meet the giants of our planet. As you walk through the park, nature will give you a hint of how vast our planet is and how small our problems really are. See the 1,500-year-old Big Tree, which is 106 meters tall and has a girth of over 20 meters. You can even venture into a galaxy far, far away, as you have the opportunity to visit a part of the park that has been transformed into the Moon of Endor, where Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia hunted down Empire soldiers in light-speed speed vehicles.
Reed Flute Cave, Guilin Shi, China
Reed Flute Cave is a natural wonder that you simply must see. It is known as the "Palace of Natural Arts", as the natural limestone cave contains many stalactites, stalagmites and columns. The walls are decorated with over 70 ink inscriptions dating back to 792 and the Tang Dynasty. The cave is truly a fantasy with a surreal atmosphere and illuminated with multi-colored light.
Sahara
Spread across 10 countries, the Sahara is the third largest desert in the world. You could fit the entire United States into it and still have a few thousand square miles of space left over. Thousands of plant species grow in the desert, and in some areas the dunes rise as high as 121 meters. The beautiful desert is also home to the toughest marathon in the world. The Marathon De Sables is an annual race in the southern part of Morocco that takes place in April, and participants have to pay around €3,800.00 to participate in the marathon. The 242-kilometer long marathon, which lasts 7 days and where participants carry all their supplies with them, is really only intended for the biggest adventurers.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world. When the prehistoric lake dried up, it left behind a desert, an 11,000 square kilometer salt flat. Sometimes it happens that this brine is covered by a thin layer of water, which acts as a natural mirror and gives the feeling that you can actually walk on water. Salar de Uyuni contains about 11 billion tons of salt, which forms a smooth flat surface. On the outskirts lies the popular train graveyard, which also houses locomotives used for mining in the 1940s.
Victoria Falls, Zambia, Africa
Follow the Zambezi River and you'll find the world's largest waterfall. The waterfall straddles the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, spilling more than 500 million cubic meters of water per minute, creating a huge curtain of falling water that splashes into a gorge more than 100 meters deep. If you climb the Knife-Edge Bridge, you'll experience a panoramic view of this lush waterfall, nicknamed the “Smoke that Thunders”.
Hangjiajie National Forest Park, Hunan, China
The cinematic landscape was the inspiration for Cameron's Avatar. One of the pillars, originally called the “Pillar of the Southern Sky”, is now called Mount Avatar Hallelujah. The pillars were formed by years of physical erosion and now stand as the home of mythical creatures. If you look at them from the "first bridge under heaven", the mystical floating rocks will give you the feeling that you are in some other universe (especially when the park is full of clouds).
