massive glaciers
staggering mountains planes dotted with
wild animals
we sure live in a big beautiful world
and
while pinpointing all of mother nature's
greatest hits could take a lifetime
we think these out of this world
landscapes and awe-inspiring wonders
from arizona to antarctica need to move
to the very top
of your travel list
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| falls the tallest waterfall in the world |
number 25 angel
falls the tallest waterfall in the world
angel falls in venezuela certainly makes
for one of the most spectacular sights
imaginable
shooting off the summit of a tabletop
mountain the falls plunge 807 meters
uninterrupted to the jungle below
with much of the water turning to mist
before it reaches the ground
adding in its other cascades in rapids
and angel falls total height
it is a whopping 979 meters
due to its remote location in kanema
national park
angel falls is quite hard to visit
though its stunning
setting and awe-inspiring scenery
certainly make it well worth the effort
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| giants causeway |
number 24
giants causeway situated at the base of
steep cliffs on the northeast coast of
ireland
the giants causeway is a natural rock
formation
that does indeed look as if it were
fashioned by
giants the honeycomb formation of
hexagon-shaped basalt columns
appears too geometrically perfect to
have been shaped by nature
it actually took 60 million years of
tectonic plate movement lava flows
and erosion to fashion the stepping
stone columns into their present shape
cliff top trails offer great views of
the rocks and
a flight of steps leads down to sea
level
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| the napali coast |
number 23
napali coast dominating and defining the
northwest of kawaii
the napali coast is one of hawaii's most
famous and photographed sites
its gigantic jagged cliffs rise to 1200
meters above the sparkling waters of the
pacific ocean
with scenic beaches and coves hidden
below
as the rugged terrain is so inaccessible
the only way to visit
is by hiking kayaking or helicopter with
phenomenal panoramas wherever you look
while it is famed for having featured in
jurassic park
the grand and gorgeous stretch of
coastline has appeared in numerous films
and tv shows over the years
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| mount everest |
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| mount everest |
number 22
mount everest as the highest mountain in
the world
mount everest attracts climbers of all
levels from well-experienced
mountaineers
to novice climbers willing to pay
substantial sums
to professional mountain guides to
complete a successful climb
although other eight thousanders such as
k2 are much more difficult to climb
mount everest still has many inherent
dangers
such as altitude sickness weather and
wind
at the base of everest sherpas and
mountaineers work
overtime to prepare for their trip to
the summit
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| pulpit rock |
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| pulpit rock |
number 21 pulpit rock
one of the most famous and phenomenal
sites in norway
the prominent pulpit rock lies in the
southwest of the country
overlooking the lovely lisa fjordan
formed during the last ice age
the sheer cliff towers 604 meters above
its surroundings
with staggering views of the deep dark
waters and
dramatic landscapes below due to the
outstanding beauty
pulpit rock attracts hordes of tourists
every year
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| wadi rum |
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| wadi rum |
number 20
wadi rum in southern jordan
is wadi rum a desert valley known for
its breathtaking scenery
there are no permanent settlements in
the secluded desert region
but nomadic tribes do occasionally pass
through
although deserts are often imagined as
dunes wadi rum
boasts sandstone mountains and towering
granite cliffs
the distinctive reddish-orange colors
that lend the area and other worldly
quality
has brought several science fiction
films here to replicate
the red planet visitors can ride a camel
across the amazing desert
and camp out under the clear star-filled
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| lake baikal |
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| lake baikal |
number 19
lake baikal the deepest
and oldest lake on earth lake baikal is
reputed to boast some of the clearest
and cleanest waters around to top it all
off
the enormous freshwater lake contains
more water than all the great lakes in
north america
combined with so many accolades to its
name
it's no wonder that lake baikal is
nicknamed the pearl of siberia
while the lake makes for fabulous
viewing when the summer sun glints off
its dark waters
it is no less impressive in the winter
when it freezes
up to two meters deep in parts whether
it's ice skating across the surface
or hiking along the scenic shoreline
lake baikal
is a nature lover's dream
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| the maldives |
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| the maldives |
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| the maldives |
number 18 the maldives
located in the middle of the indian
ocean the idyllic maldives archipelago
is spellbindingly beautiful close to the
equator
the maldives has a warm and tropical
climate that's
perfect for lazy beach days all year
round
this low-lying island group is
celebrated for its high level of luxury
and emphasis on the slow life perfect
for honeymooners
the maldives designer accommodation is
out of this world
take your pick of underwater villas over
water villas
and everything in between there's even
an underwater restaurant for those
looking to dine surrounded by schools of
tropical fish
as relaxing is the key in the maldives
you can spend your days
sipping on cocktails and sunbathing
interspersed with a diving excursion
to keep things interesting
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| banff national park canada's oldest |
number 17
banff national park canada's oldest
national park
banff is chock full of awesome scenery
set amongst the beauty of the canadian
rockies the park contains
several beautiful lakes including lake
louise
the gem of the park and the much
photographed moraine lake
it's also a good place to see glaciers
ice fields
and wildlife including elk deer moose
and bears as a year-round tourism
destination
the park draws three million visitors
annually
they come for the winter sports and
summer hiking
and camping
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| salar de uni |
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| salar de uni |
number 16. salar de uni
located in the andes mountains salar de
uni
is the largest salt flat in the world
the expanse of salt creates an
unending white landscape during the dry
season but the area is most breathtaking
in the rainy season
when it's covered in water the
reflection of a blue sky
creates a spectacular and surreal
landscape
though some tourists insist on seeing
the salt one of the most unusual places
to visit
in south america it's also a major
breeding ground
for flamingos
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| yellowstone |
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| yellowstone |
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| yellowstone |
number 15. yellowstone
the granddaddy of american national
parks yellowstone
is the oldest in the united states and
the world
having been founded in 1872 when it was
first discovered
stories of the magnificence of the area
were passed off as lies and tall tales
you can see why erupting geysers here
belt steam in water
such as the clockwork old faithful there
are boiling hot springs like the grand
prismatic spring
thanks to differing temperatures and
minerals as the water spreads out
this is a veritable rainbow of
unbelievable colors
there's even the grand canyon of
yellowstone a natural wonder in granite
this place is a true icon of must-see
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| iguazu falls |
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| iguazu falls |
number 14 iguazu falls
made up of some 275 different cascades
falls and drops
iguazu falls on the argentine brazilian
border is the world's
largest waterfall system as such it is
the only waterfall that can rival
or possibly even surpass victoria falls
for almost three kilometers in total
gorgeous falls course over the piranha
plateau
with the undoubted highlight being
devil's throat canyon
this is best witnessed from the
brazilian side's viewing platform
where you are greeted with teeny sheets
of water a deafening roar
and a fine spray with lush rainforests
lying around it
the falls are a treat to visit visitors
can take boat trips along the iguazu
river
or explore the nearby paths and trails
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| sahara desert the sahara |
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| sahara desert the sahara |
number 13
sahara desert the sahara is the world's
largest hot desert covering most of
northern africa
making it almost as large as the united
states
contrary to popular belief large sand
dunes form only a minor part of the
sahara
most of the desert consists of largely
barren rocky plateaus
with very little sand the sahara
receives less than three inches of rain
a year
on average even in the sahara's wettest
areas
it may rain only once or twice a week
and not rain again
for years
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| galapagos islands |
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| galapagos islands |
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| galapagos islands |
number 12. galapagos islands
if you want to get a glimpse of what
prehistoric animals may have looked like
head to the galapagos islands the
animals are like no other place on earth
and include giant tortoises and
scary-looking iguanas
they were the impetus for charles
darwin's controversial 19th century book
on the origin of species this
archipelago of 18 major islands
about 550 miles off the coast of ecuador
was formed and are still being formed by
volcanic action
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| pamukale |
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| pamukale |
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| pamukale |
number 11. pamukale
pamokale meaning cotton castle in
turkish is an
unreal landscape in western turkey
famous for its white terraces
the terraces are made of travertine a
sedimentary
a sedimentary rock deposited by water
with a very high mineral content from
the hot springs
people have bathed in its pools for
thousands of years
the ancient greek city of hieropolis was
built on top of the hot springs by the
kings of pergamon
the ruins of the bats and other greek
monuments can still be seen at the site
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| zhangjiajie national forest |
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| zhangjiajie national forest |
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| zhangjiajie national forest |
number 10.
zhangjiajie national forest located in
northwest hunan province
zhangjiajin national forest boasts some
of the most impressive
and spectacular landscapes in china part
of the wooling mountain range
the scenic area is particularly famous
for the thousands of pillars and peaks
that punctuate the park often shrouded
in mist
these karst formations look incredible
and many of them tower over 200 meters
high covered in subtropical rainforest
they rise above
plunging ravines and deep gorges with
sparkling rivers
lakes and waterfalls found here and
there
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| the northern lights |
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| the northern lights |
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| the northern lights |
number nine the northern lights
an incredible natural phenomenon the
polar lights and their captivating
colors
shapes and swirls appear when there is
solar activity
the best chance to spot them will be in
the winter when the nights are longer
the further north you go and the further
you travel away from cities
the better your view will be besides
watching them out of your window
you can also take tours into the
wilderness to see the shimmering lights
from secluded light-free spots
and stay at cozy cabins and campgrounds
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| great barrier reef |
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| great barrier reef |
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| great barrier reef |
number eight great barrier reef
the largest coral reef system on the
face of the earth
the great barrier reef is simply
colossal
stretching for over 1400 miles it is
remarkably visible from space with 900
islands dotting this enormous ecosystem
snorkeling and scuba diving are the best
ways to experience the joys of the rich
underwater world
while boat trips kayaking and even
helicopter rides
offer another view of the reef's
gargantuan proportions
gently sailing through the perfect
turquoise waters dolphins
sea turtles and the reef itself visible
below the waves
is an unforgettable experience
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| antarctica |
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| antarctica |
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| antarctica |
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| antarctica |
number seven
antarctica antarctica on average
is the coldest driest and windiest
continent on the planet
and has the highest average elevation of
all the continents
although about 98 of antarctica is
covered in ice
it is technically a desert with very
little precipitation
antarctica is colder than the arctic
because much of the continent is more
than two miles above sea level
and because the arctic ocean covers the
north polar zone
transferring the ocean's relative warmth
through the ice pack
sea life in antarctica includes penguins
blue whales
orcas and seals
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| mount bromo |
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| mount bromo |
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| mount bromo |
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| mount bromo |
number six mount bromo
mount bromo is an active volcano and
part of the tenger massive in east java
at 2 329 meters it is not the highest
peak of the massive
but is the most well known the area is
one of the most visited tourist
attractions
in java the top of the volcano has been
blown off
and the crater inside constantly belches
white smoke
it is surrounded by the sea of sand of
fine
volcanic sand the overall effect is
unsettlingly unearthly
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| victoria falls |
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| victoria falls |
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| victoria falls |
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| victoria falls |
number five victoria falls
if you thought that niagara falls was
large well victoria falls
dwarfs it with its colossal curtain of
water that stretches for 1708 meters
reaching 108 meters in height it is
these epic proportions
that make victoria falls the largest
waterfall in the world
breathtaking to the hold the endless
flow of water that tumbles over the
cliff
almost defies belief fittingly the
cacophonous roar that rises from the
gorge below
in the fine spray that hangs in the air
saw the falls named
the smoke that thunders in the local
lozy language
nestled on the border between zambia and
zimbabwe victoria falls truly needs to
be seen
to be believed
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| grand canyon renowned |
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| grand canyon renowned |
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| grand canyon renowned |
number four grand canyon renowned the world over the
grand canyon
needs no introduction one of the largest
canyons in the world
it really has to be seen to be properly
appreciated
whether you visit the north south east
or west rim
areas it's always a giant sculpture of
light and shadow
that barrels its way across an awesome
landscape
around the national park that
encompasses it there are a whole host of
trails and viewpoints
cape royal on the north rim is a top
vista for many major parts of the grand
canyon
you can even reach down to the canyon
floor over a mile down in some places
via steep meandering trails
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| ha long bay |
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| ha long bay |
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| ha long bay |
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| ha long bay |
number three
ha long bay located in northeastern
vietnam
ha long bay resembles a scene from a
fantasy story
with its thousands of limestone karst
islands of different shapes and sizes
ha long means descending dragons which
is indicative of the silhouette of the
limestone outcrops
that poke out from the water some of the
islands contain lakes
while some are hollow with a colorful
fairy land of grottos inside
an overnight boat trip is a spectacular
way to experience the beauty of the bay
and to see as many of the islands as
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| amazon rainforest |
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| amazon rainforest |
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| amazon rainforest |
number two amazon rainforest
if you lived long enough to count that
high you could count
billion trees in the amazon rainforest
this statistic
is mind-boggling to be sure but then the
amazon rainforest is one awesome piece
of nature
covering about three quarters of the
amazon river basin
it is the world's largest tropical
rainforest 60
of the rainforest is located in brazil
with sizable chunks in peru
and columbia bordering countries have
small shares
for sure the rainforest is loaded with
unique flora
and fauna
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| serengeti migration |
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| serengeti migration |
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| serengeti migration |
number one
serengeti migration the serengeti
ecosystem is located in northwestern
tanzania
and extends to southwestern kenya the
region hosts the largest mass movement
of land mammals on the planet
and one of the most breathtaking events
in the animal kingdom
every year 1 million wildebeest and 200
000 zebra make a 300 mile round trip
from the southern serengeti in tanzania
to the northern edge of the masai mara
national reserve in kenya the great
migration
is probably africa's greatest safari
spectacle
and the most exceptional natural wonder
of the world
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