I have always been inspired by pictures of mountain peaks, and what follows is my personal list of the most inspiring peaks. Others may have their own choices, but these are the ones that fill me with awe.

Mount Everest

The tallest mountain in the world at 8,848 meters (29,029 feet), Mt. Everest’s peak is so high that climbers have to use oxygen tanks because the air is so thin.  There is only one-third the amount of oxygen at Everest’s peak as there is at sea level. Although Everest is a massive mountain, it lies in the middle of the Himalaya mountain range, and for me, that takes away from its grandeur. I think mountains that rise dramatically out of a flat plain, like some of my other choices, are more inspiring to look at.

Mount Fuji

Although it is much smaller than Mount Everest, at only 3,776 meters (12,388 feet), this Japanese mountain rises out of a flat plain and dominates the landscape around it. Its snow covered peak can be seen for many miles.

Mount Kilimanjaro

The highest peak in Africa at 5,892 meters (19,331 feet), Mt. Kilimanjaro has a commanding view of the plains surrounding it in Tanzania. Unfortunately, global warming has shrunk the ice cap at the top of Kilimanjaro by more  than 80 percent in recent years.

Mount McKinley

The highest peak in North America, Mt. McKinley rises 6,194 meters (20,320 feet) above sea level, and is permanently covered with snow. Indeed, it is known for extremely cold weather, with temperatures of minus 75 degrees F recorded near its summit. Mt. McKinley is also called Denali, which means “The Great One”, and you can easily see why it got this name.

The Matterhorn

This is another mountain that is much smaller than Everest, at 4,478 meters (14,692 feet), but it is one of the most photographed mountains in the world. It thrusts up majestically from the surrounding Alps, and is known for the steep faces near its summit.

These are my picks for most inspiring mountain peaks. There are thousands of mountains around the world, and I’m sure there are lots of other choices you could make. The main thing, though, is that I’m thankful there are pictures of these majestic peaks to inspire us all.

The Moon and Tides

People long ago already knew that the moon and tides are related. How did they come to know about this? People observed that the moon undergoes different phases. When there is a new moon or a full moon, they observed the water level to be high. During the first and last quarter moon, they observed the water level to be low. Just as they observed that the moon rises about less than an hour late each night, they also observed that a tide also rises about less than an hour late. These observations led the people to conclude that the moon and tides are related.

How High tides and Low Tides Occur?

Although people of long ago already associated the moon with the tides, they did not have any idea how tides occur. The first person who explained how tides occur was Sir Isaac Newton. He said that it was the moon’s gravity that causes tides. Gravity is the force which attracts an object to another object. When two objects are closer together, gravity is stronger.

The moon and the earth are relatively close together in space. They exert a strong pull on each other. The moon’s gravity pulls more strongly on the side of Earth that faces it and causes the water here to bulge. At the same time, the Earth’s center is nearer to the moon. The moon pulls Earth away from the water on this side and leaves a bulge of water behind. These areas of bulging waters have high tide. Since water has been pulled away in areas between the two high tides, these areas have low tides. The difference between a high tide and a low tide is the tidal range.

The sun also influences tides. It can strengthen or weaken the moon’s effects on earth’s water. During a new moon or full moon phase, the sun and moon are aligned with earth. The gravitational effects of the sun and moon combine. These results to high tides that are unusually high and low tides that is unusually low. These tides, called spring tides, occur twice a month. During the first or last quarter phase, the sun is at right angle to the moon. The sun’s gravitational effect reduces that of the moon. The result is a high that that is not very high and a low tide that is not very low. These tides, called neap tides, also occur twice a month.

When a tide is moving out from the shore, the water beneath the surface exerts a great pull out to sea. This force can pull large boulders or tons of sand out to sea.

Image via Wikipedia

The Great Pacific Ocean “Garbage Patch” is an environmental blight that humanity has given planet earth and the Pacific Ocean.

It is growing larger and larger as the days and weeks go by and considered by many environmentalists as the biggest human waste dump in the world! Located in the center of the Northern Pacific Ocean roughly between the 135th degree and 40th degree latitude and longitude the ocean “landfill” is stuck in the vortex of the horse latitudes gyre found there. The field of debris is so large you can see it from the air as you fly to Hawaii. This blight of the modern world is presently under intense study by various scientists, who are trying to determine what to do about the growing danger to aquatic life and the food chain.

Here are some terrible facts about this toxic mass of PLASTIC GARBAGE:

1. The size of foul field of Trash is 2 times the size of Texas.
2. It is said 1/5th of junk trapped in the “garbage patch” comes from ship dumping and the rest of the trash comes from human land trash.
3. Environmental researchers believe 90% of the trash in the ocean dump is from plastic, which is not bio-degradable.
4. Some environmentalists say there is 3.5 million tons of waste swirling in the Pacific vortex near the beautiful Hawaiian Islands.
5. Thousands of birds and sea-life creatures are dying from eating plastic particles in this huge debris field, because they can not digest the plastic and it dehydrates them or stops their digestive system from functioning.
6. Some of the tiny plastic bits pass into the living systems of marine life and travel up the food chain until it lands on your dinner plate or in your fish sandwich! And, yikes…. Gulp…. you have eaten residual plastic! Perhaps a piece of your plastic grocery bag, water bottle, used condom or plastic chips bag ends up in your stomach.
7. HOPE – Project Kaisei, launched in March of 2009, is trying to assess the possibility of recycling some of the debris floating in the massive Pacific gyre.

The Grand Prismatic Spring,

This is America’s largest hot spring and the third largest in the world. It is located in Yellowstone National Park and measures approximately 250 by 300 feet in size and 160 feet deep. It discharges 560 gallons of water a minute at a temperature of 71C. This hot springs most striking features is its colors which range from green to a brilliant red and orange. This coloring is due to the algae and pigmented bacteria in the microbial mats that surround the edges of the rich mineral water. At the center of the pool it is sterile, caused by the extreme heat.

Image Credit

Mammoth Hot Springs

Again Yellowstone National Park holds another hot spring known as Mammoth Hot Springs. This spring holds the record for being the largest known carbonate-depositing spring in the world. Within Mammoth Springs there is another spring known as the Minerva Terrace. A series of terraces that were formed thousands of years from hot water flowing and being cooled by cold water and depositing calcium carbonate. Two tons of this solution flows into mammoth each day.

Image Credit

Blood Pond Hot Springs

Blood Pond Hot Springs is found in Beppu, Japan. These are for viewing only and have nine natural hot springs flowing into it. There is so much iron in these waters that it turns the spring red. The Blood Pond Hot Springs is the most photogenic of the nine springs.

Image Credit

Blue Lagoon

This lagoon was not wrongly named as you can see. It is the largest attraction in Iceland. This is part of a lava formation that these steamy waters run into. These waters are very rich in minerals such as silica and sulfur. People go there if they have any skin disease such as psoriasis. The water temperature is approximately 104 F. the spa can be found in a lava field in Grindavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland and is about 24 miles from the capital city of Reykjavik.

Image Credit

Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs is located in Colorado, USA and has the world’s largest natural hot springs swimming pool. This spring has a flow rate of 143 liters per second. You can swim in the big pool or soak in the mineral rich pool. Either way it will be an unforgettable experience.

Image Credit

Jigokudani Hot Springs

These springs are already taken unless you want to share with Japan’s snow monkeys but that won’t stop you from seeing the spectacular springs. It is located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. There are more than 100 Macaques that live in the Jigokudani Monkey Park that call this home. This spring is in a valley that is called Hell Valley due to its volcanic eruptions.

Image Credit

Deildartunguhver

In Reykholtsdalur, Iceland there is a hot spring that is noted for a very high flow rate which is 180 liters per second. The temperature of the water flows through at 96 C and is the highest flowing hot spring in Europe. People that live near this hot spring don’t let it go to waste as some of them have piped the water to their homes 34 km away and use it for heating.

Image Credit

Water is always a fascination and these certainly add to the mystic of it. we are attracted to water on a daily bases in our lives that is why we can get so much enjoyment from seeing hot springs as spectacular and unusual as these are.

Mount Makalu is located on the border between Nepal and China. Its peak is measured at 27,824 feet high, and is considered as one of the highest mountains in the world. It has the shape of a four sided pyramid and has two subsidiary peaks, namely Makalu II and Kangchutse. The peak of Mount Makalu was first reached by Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy on May 15, 1955.

McKinley

Mount McKinley is located in Alaska. Standing 20,320 feet high, it is the highest mountain peak in North America. Its layout is somewhat vertical and steep, and it is characterized by exremely cold weather. This mountain has two summits: the South and the North. Only 50% of all expeditions to reach its peak were successful. The first mountaineer to make it on top of McKinley was Hudson Stuck on June 7, 1913.

Popocatepetl

Mount Popocatepetl is actually a volcano. It is located in Mexico, 7- kilometers southeast of Mexico City. It is 17,930 feet high, and is the second highest mountain peak in Mexico. This mountain has had 20 major eruptions since the year 1519. On that same year, 1519, the summit of Popocatepetl was first reached by a Spanish group led by Diego De Ordaz.

Kilimanjaro

Although an inactive volcano, Mount Kilimanjaro boasts of having some unique vegetation. It is located in Northeastern Tanzania, is 19,340 feet high, and is considered the highest mountain peak in Africa. This mountain has three volcanic cones: namely Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. Dr. Hans Meyer first stood at Kilimanjaro’s peak on October 5th, 1889

Logan

The current height of Mount Logan as of this writing is 19,859 feet. It is constantly rising in elevation due to strong tectonic activity. It is the highest mountain peak in Canada and is located in the Kluane National Park and Reserve. Mount Logan is also the source of the so called Hubbard and Logan glaciers. Its summit was first reached on June 23, 1925 by a group led by Albert H.MacCarthy.

Rainier

Mount Rainier stands 14,410 feet high, and is located 54 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington. It is the highest mountain peak in the Cascade Range. This mountain has a high topographic prominence, and is a source of numerous glacier networks. Its three summits are called Columbia Crest, Point Success, and Liberty Cap. The first two people who climbed this difficult mountain were Hazard Stevens and P.B. Van Trump in 1870.

Everest

The highest mountain on earth, Mount Everest is located in Nepal, on the border between Sagarmantha Zone, Nepal and China. There are two major climbing routes to the top: the Southeastern Ridge, and the Northeastern ridge. To date, Everest has claimed the lives of 210 mountain climbers. The first man to proudly set foot on the summit of Everest was Sir Edmund Hillary on May 29, 1953.

Lhotse

Mount Lhotse is also located in Nepal, and is actually connected to Mount Everest. It stands 27,923 feet high and is the fourth highest mountain on earth. This steep and ice filled mountain has claimed a total of 11 lives as of October 2003. its main summit was first reached on MAy 18, 1956 by Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger.

Kanchenjunga

This mountain is located between Sikkim, India and the Taplejung District of Nepal. It stands 28,208 feet high and is the third largest mountain in the world. It has five peaks, but the easiest route to the highest peak is through a path of glacier and snow. The Kanchenjunga summit was first reached by British mountaineers Joe Brown and George Band on 1955. Many lost their lives while attempting to climb this mountain, including renown female mountaineer Wanda Rutkiewicz (the first woman to reach the peak of K2).

K2: The “Savage Mountain”

K2 is located in the Kashmir region in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. It stands 28,250 feet high. Although K2 is only second to Everest in height, it is considered as one of the most dangerous mountains in the world. According to statistics, for every four people who attempts to climb K2, one of them dies. Having somewhat a pyramid shape, its level of steepness is unmatched anywhere in the world. There were numerous unsuccesful attempts to climb K2 since the early 1900’s, which claimed the lives of many mountaineers. The first two people who reached the K2 summit are Italians: Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni on July 31, 1954.

Annapurna

Annapurna is a series of mountains in the Himalayas region. It stands 26,538 feet and is the 10th highest summit in the world. According to statistics and climbing history, Annapurna is the most dangerous mountain to climb, having a 40% fatality rate. Avalanches are pretty common on the slopes of this mountain, claiming the lives of over 56 mountaineers. Many of the climbers died on the summit itself, either by lack of oxygen, exhaustion, or extreme cold.

Dean’s Blue Hole: Bahamas

Have fun by scuba diving at the world’s deepest blue hole – the Dean’s Blue Hole. The world’s deepest blue hole plunges 663 feet to the ocean floor, in a bay west of Clarence Town on Long Island, Bahamas. Blue holes are the results of rainwater having soaked through fractures of limestone bedrock onto the water table of glacial sea levels during the Pleistocene epoch (ice age), some 15,000 years ago. The maximum depth of other known blue holes and sinkholes is 360 feet, which makes the 663 ft depth of Dean’s Blue Hole quite exceptional.

Dean’s Blue Hole is roughly circular at the surface, with a diameter ranging from 25 to 35 meters (80 to 120 feet). After descending 20 meters (60 feet), the hole widens considerably into a cavern with a diameter of 100 meters (330 feet).

Great Blue Hole, Underwater Sink Hole: Belize

This place is the perfect place for scuba divers. As you can see on the photo above, this site is truly a wonderful place to enjoy. The Great Blue Hole is a large underwater sinkhole off of the coast of Belize. It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 45 miles from the mainland and Belize City. The hole is circular in shape, over 1,000 feet across and 400 feet deep. It was formed as a limestone cave system during the last ice age when sea levels were much lower. On-shore caves of similar formation, as large collapsed sinkholes, are well known in Belize. This site was declared as one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world.

Ria de Aveiro Lagoon: Portugal

One of the best places to spend your summer vacation is on the blue waters of the Ria de Aveiro. It is the most extensive shallow coastal lagoon in Portugal. It is located on the Western Atlantic coast of Portugal, between Espinho and Cabo Mondego, The area covered by the lagoon corresponds approximately to a minimum of 66 square km, at low spring tides, and a maximum of 83 square km, at high spring tides. An extensive sand barrier exists along the coast, protecting and separating the enclosed lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean.

Laguna Colorada: Bolivia

Feast your eyes by watching lovely birds feed on the shallow waters of Laguna Colorada. Laguna Colorado is a shallow salt lake in the southwest of the altiplano of Bolivia and close to the border with Chile. The lake contains borax islands, whose white color contrasts nicely with the reddish color of its waters, which is caused by red sediments and pigmentation of some algae.

Marovo Lagoon: Solomon Islands

Have fun and enjoy the waters of the world’s largest saltwater lagoon in the world – Marovo Lagoon. You can swim, snorkel, and scuba dive on this lagoon – paradise. It is located in the New Georgia north of Vanguru Island. There are many islands in the lagoon, some of which are inhabited. The people live mainly by subsistence agriculture and fishing and speak the Marovo language. The lagoon is a popular destination for diving.

Lagoon is a body of comparatively shallow salt or brackish water separated from the deeper sea by a shallow or exposed sandbank, coral reef, or similar feature. Thus, the enclosed body of water behind a barrier reef or barrier islands or enclosed by an atoll reef is called a lagoon.

Have a lot of fun and adventure. Von voyage!

For more beautiful, panoramic views and interesting gifts of nature see

Five Bizarre Lakes in the World

The Most Unique & Bizarre Lakes From Around The World

The World’s Most Beautiful Bays

Interesting Information About the Earth

For related article see

World’s Most Well Preserved Forests

Peru’s Natural and Manmade Wonders: World Class Tourist Destinations

World’s Most Beautiful Reefs

Grandest Canyons From Around the World

World’s Most Beautiful and Unique Valleys

Countries With Unique Shapes

World’s Most Amazing Cliffs and Fascinating Dunes

10 Unique Natural Springs in the Philippines

Five bays are featured on this article, one each from North America and Europe and 3 from the continent of Asia.

Ha Long Bay: Vietnam

This unique-looking bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a candidate for the New 7 Wonders of the World and currently ranked number 3 on the list. It is located in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. The bay has a 120 kilometer long coastline and is approximately 1,553 square kilometers in size with 1,969 islets. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. Hang Dau Go (Wooden stakes Cave) is its largest grotto.

Bay of Fundy: Canada

One of the most prolific bays in the world is the Bay of Fundy. This bay is located in Canada. The Bay of Fundy is an ocean bay stretching between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The Bay of Fundy is popular for its high tidal range and the bay is contested as having the highest vertical tidal range in the world. It’s estimated that 100 billion tons of seawater flows in and out each tide cycle and watch the highest tides in the world rise at a rate between six and eight feet per hour. The bay is home to several islands, the largest of which is Grand Manan Island at the boundary with the Gulf of Maine. Several rock formations can be viewed in the area. Kayaking is one of the many activities that you can enjoy at the bay.

Phang Nga Bay: Thailand

This panoramic bay is a 400 km² bay in the Andaman Sea between the island of Phuket and the mainland of the Malay peninsula of southern Thailand. On Phang Nga Bay, limestone cliff with caves, collapsed cave systems and archeological sites can be found. The bay has 42 islands, with at least 28 species of mangrove, and sea grass beds. There are also coral reefs in the area. There are also at least 88 bird species, as well as 82 fish species, 18 reptiles, 3 amphibians, and 17 mammal species.

One of the best features of the Phang Nga Bay is the Ko Tapu, which is also known as the James Bond Island (a needle formed limestone rock in the sea). It was featured in the movie The Man with the Golden Gun. It was again later featured in the movie Tomorrow Never Dies.

King Haakon Bay: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

King Haakon Bay is an inlet on the southern coast of the British island of South Georgia. The inlet is approximately 13 km long and 4 km wide. This inlet which is also called king Haakon Sound was named for King Haakon VII of Norway by whalers that frequented the opposite side of the island. It is best known as the landing place of Ernest Shackleton in May of 1916 as he sought help for his shipwrecked crew in the Antarctic. This site is a candidate for the New 7 Wonders of the world.

Manila Bay: Philippines

Manila Bay has one of the most spectacular and scenic sunset in the world, it’s actually her best asset. Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila, Philippines. The entrance is 19 km wide and expands to a width of 48 km. The bay was the setting for the Battle of manila bay in 1898 and the siege of Corregidor Island by invading Japanese forces in 1942.

The world is truly a wonderful place to live in. With all the beautiful and scenic views around us, we should really be grateful. Let’s all keep this world a better place to live in for ourselves and our posterity.

For related articles see

Five Bizarre Lakes in the World

The Most Unique & Bizarre Lakes From Around the World

The World’s Most Captivating Lagoons and Blue Holes

 Interesting Things About the Earth

For related article see

World’s Most Well Preserved Forests

Peru’s Natural and Manmade Wonders: World Class Tourist Destinations

World’s Most Beautiful Reefs

Grandest Canyons From Around the World

World’s Most Beautiful and Unique Valleys

Countries With Unique Shapes

World’s Most Amazing Cliffs and Fascinating Dunes

10 Unique Natural Springs in the Philippines

1. Amazon Rainforest

   

   

   

   Mainly located in Brazil, this destination will amaze your beyond your wildest dreams. See how life would have adapted without being colonized by humans. As the world’s largest tropical rainforest, it sprawls across much of the north. The mighty Amazon and other enormous rivers wind though this vast green area of towering trees and steamy jungles. Where else would you find 75% of the world’s plant and animal species in only 3% of the world’s area? The forest is always alive here. Mountains covered in a blanket of clouds and fog rise high in the north. Broad white beaches line glistening seashores.

2. Alps

   

   

   

   The Alps is a majestic mountain range that looks down upon Europe. This mountain range is 500 miles long and 100 miles. It is also home to the world’s tallest and strangest mountains. These snowy beast can beautiful but deadly with avalanches. Going here is a once in a lifetime experience.

3. Mediterranean Sea

   

   

   

   Where else would you find a sea so rich in culture and beauty; only the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean is part of the Atlantic but resides between Europe and Africa. There is a large variety of tropical marine life. Large, broad beaches line the coast of the Mediterranean area. I suggest going here for a relaxing vacation.

4. Angel Falls

   

   

   

   In the outskirts of Venezuela lays the world’s highest free-falling waterfall. You know it as Angel Falls. At 3212 ft, it is 15 times taller than Niagara Falls. It is truly one of South America’s gems.

5. Sahara Desert

   

   

   

   As the world’s biggest desert, the Sahara cover a third of Africa. That is the size of the United States of America! This barren land dotted with occasional oasis has a strange beauty of its own. It is amazing how wild life has adapted to this harsh, dry climate. I suggest joining a camel caravan when going through here.

6. Greenland’s Glaciers

   

   

   

   Glaciers in Greenland are like no other. They may look small on top, but they are enormous on the bottom. Global Warming has been taking a toll on glaciers. See these icy beasts while you can.

7. African Plains

   

   

   

   The African Plains is a place where the toughest of the tough survive. This is the land where the lion and elephant rule. The climate is brutal: hot days and freezing nights. The beautiful can’t be explained in words. Take a safari here. It is worth it.

Mauna Loa – The River of Lava:

Mauna Loa is the most active and largest volcano in the world. It s name is Hawaiian for “long mountain.” It is located on the big island of Hawaii and it stands 13,682 feet about sea level. The crater at the top of this volcano is 4 square miles and almost 600 feet deep. This crater’s name is Mokuaweoweo. The last time Mauna Loa erupted was in 1984 and it is still considered to be an active volcano which could erupt again at any time.

The Hawaiian Islands were formed from volcanoes and Mauna Loa is still busy adding land to the big island of Hawaii. From the base of this volcano below the surface of the ocean, this volcano is actually taller than Mt. Everest. It is a whopping 29,529 feet in height!

Grand Canyon’s Layers of History:

The Grand Canyon in Arizona, U.S.A. is visited by millions every year from all parts of the world. It is a National Park. The visitors gape at the sheer enormity of the canyon and how it was formed.

The Grand Canyon’s rocks at its base surrounded an ancient ocean over 2 million years ago. Around 60 million years ago, as the dinosaurs became extinct; two rivers poured through the rock bed and formed a gorge as they wore the rock away. These rivers eventually merged to become the Colorado River. This powerful river then continued to loosen the rock and sand to make an even deeper gorge. The many layers of colorful rock are very visible to the naked eye and cause visitors to gaze in wonderment.

The Grand Canyon is so deep that it even has its own weather. The higher areas of elevation are covered in snow in the winter. However, the Grand Canyon’s floor is a desert where the Colorado River still continues to run through it. The Grand Canyon is almost 2 miles across and 5,250 feet deep!

The Great Barrier Reef is in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The reef covers 1,259 miles and forms a barrier between the coast and the open sea. Corals are not plants, but animals. When coral dies other corals form on top of it and the reef grows.

Great Barrier Reef:

There are 400 different types of coral in the Great Barrier and it provides food, oxygen and shelter for over 1,400 kinds of fish. Also squid, octopus and a variety of shellfish like giant clams call the Great Barrier home. The Great Barrier Reef is a delicate eco-system where each life form depends on the others to ensure its survival.

Mount Everest:

Mount Everest is the highest mountain peak in the world and its range has more than 100 mountains. Mount Everest is 23,951 feet tall. It is located between Nepal and Tibet and is very important to the local people of this region, as they call it “Saint Mother.” Mount Everest actually grows about 2 inches every year as the tectonic plates continue to collide beneath the earth. Mt. Everest was formed millions of years ago as two pieces of the earth’s crust crashed into each other and formed the Himalayas. Many climbers have died trying to reach its peak. Edmund Hillary in 1953 was the first to reach the top. Since that historic feat many mountain climbers have reached its summit as well.

Sarawak Chambers’ Api Chamber

The Sarawak Chamber is located on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is a huge group of caves at the base of the Gunung Api. It was accidentally discovered in 1980, by a group of explorers and it took them over 12 hours to walk through the caves! It is the largest underground cavern in the world. It is 2,297 feet long and 984 feet wide. The ceiling is around 300 feet high in many places. 124 miles of caves are behind the mountain with a river running through it. Like the Grand Canyon, water from the long monsoon seasons had a major part in carving the many chambers.

Angel Falls:

Angel Falls is located in Venezuela, South America and has a height of 3,212 feet. This waterfall has a drop that is 20 times longer than Niagara Falls. The area around the falls is covered in dense rainforest and jungle. The only way to see this mighty waterfall is by plane or boat.

The Sahara Desert:

The Sahara Desert covers almost 25 percent of the continent of Africa and is the largest desert in the world. It is over 3,100 miles in length and nearly dry all the time. The Sahara Desert also receives more sunshine than any other place on earth. Parts of this desert are composed strictly of sand dunes and some are taller than the Empire State building. That’s a lot of sand! The temperature in the Sahara Desert can reach 122 degrees Fahrenheit and then drop in the opposite direction to freezing cold. This wide range of temperatures is the reason why animals in the desert live in burrows beneath the ground.

I hope you enjoyed your tour of some of the most magnificent natural wonders of the world. Mother Nature never fails to impress us.

1. The Northern Lights

   

   This marvellous happening of beauty is also often called “Aurora Borealis” named after the Roman Goddess of dawn (Aurora) and the Greek word for the north wind (Boreas). This spectacle can only be viewed in the North Sky of the Northern Hemisphere, most often during March through to April and September through to October. Often appearing as a green glow (although sometimes faint red) a lot of people wish to see this “piece of art in the sky”.

2. The Great Barrier Reef

   

   Admired among many, off the coast of north-east Australia in the Coral Sea lays this behemoth of vibrantly coloured fish and a forest of extraordinary reef. This is the world’s largest reef that stretches out over an area of 344,400 square kilometres which is home to a wide range of tropical fish, built by billions of organisms. People often scuba dive off of boats just to look upon this beautiful piece of sea landscape.

3. A Simple Sunrise

   

   Most people believe that you must travel far and wide to experience the full splendours of this Earth but in actual fact they can be found anywhere. Most people can take solace in waking up early, sitting on a nearby hill and watching the morning sun rise behind the landscape with it’s shine blaring across the skies, puncturing the clouds and blasting it’s way across the land. Sunrises look very effective on lakes and beaches.

4. Machu Picchu

   
   Lost in the mountainside, this remote secret village was discovered a hundred years ago by an American Historian named Hiram Bingham and only recently it was made one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Built with brick (and with some excellent places to climb on) this town is now populated by Llamas and tourists who flock to Peru just to witness and be a part of this unique culture. Machu Picchu was constructed around 1460 at the height of the Inca empire but it was abandoned 100 years later until urban tourists can and invaded this natural landscape.

5. A Smile

   

   A very meaningful natural wonder. A single smile can lift someone’s mood and bring out the best in people. If you’re feeling down and blue, a quick smile can help to cheer you up, especially if it’s from a friend or someone who you care about a lot. Isn’t it amazing? How a little effort can do so much; sure, it might not be something that you remember for the rest of your life, but it shows compassion and care and can make you feel special.

6. A Snowflake

   

   ‘The [Creator] scratched his nose again. “You soon run out of ideas for snowflakes, for example.”’ – Eric by Terry Pratchett.

   That’s the thing about snowflakes; they’re so intricate and unique. A sparkling miniscule sculpture of pure intricacy and beauty. Never will you see two that are exactly the same as they glide elegantly down from the winter sky. True beauty can be found right outside your doorstep.

7. Iguassu Falls

   
   Niagara Falls has nothing on this. Iguassu (Commonly spelt “Iguazu or “Iguaçu”) Falls are situated on the border between Brazil and Argentina, where the frothy waters fall over the edge of the rocky landscape in this forest filled area. Legend says that a God was planning on marrying a beautiful aborigine by the name of Naipi, but she fled with her lover Tarobá in a canoe. In a fit of rage the God sliced the river to create the waterfalls and consequently condemning the lovers to an eternal fall.

8. The Grand Canyon

   

   The Grand Canyon, a steep-sided gorge that was carved by the Colorado River in the state of Arizona. The canyon is 277 miles long, ranging in width from 4 and 18 miles and has stood for 17 million years. Native Americans built settlements within the canyon and its many caves and the “Pueblo” people considered it to be a holy site, making pilgrimages to it. The first European (known) to have viewed it was García López de Cárdenas from Spain.

9. A Rainbow

   

   A Rainbow actually has no physical form, but is a very attractive visual illusion created by our eye viewing the light being bent through raindrops, and it most commonly seen when it is rainy and sunny, or near waterfalls. Also, because it has no physical shape there is no end to it, and therefore, no pot of the gold at the end. Just thought I’d clear that up. Whenever a rainbow is in the sky, people often point it out, and appreciate it’s beauty as it shows the entire spectrum of white light from red to violet.

10. The Amazon Rainforest

    

    The Amazon Rainforest is located in the Amazon Basin of South America (the area is also known as Amazonia) and is a moist broadleaf forest that takes up 5.5 million square kilometres and spread out throughout nine different nations. This rainforest is so big that it represents over half of the planet’s remaining tropical rainforest in the entire world, and so beautifulwith it’s luscious green leaves and it’s wild habitat.

That list contained some big wonders and some small wonders that still make a big difference. All of them have a massive beauty factor, and I’ve hope this article has helped you to realise that true beauty can also be found in the little things in life.

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