Top Ten Natural Wonders of the World
The planet earth is a breathtaking masterpiece of art. Our planet is home to so much beauty that putting a list together like this is quite a daunting task. In fact if you simply took one state from the U.S. you could easily find enough natural wonders there to make a list of hundreds of places that all have their very own beauty and wonder. The natural wonders on this list are things that for one reason or another represent some of the best that our world has to offer.
10. White Cliffs of Dover, Great Britain
The British Isles have so many natural wonders that picking a single one for this list is no easy feat. The reason the White Cliffs of Dover appear on this list is because of their iconic imagery that represents so many events that occurred in Western history. Dating back to the first explorations by the Romans through the horrors of the Nazi bombing campaign, the White Cliffs of Dover have come to represent the irrepressible will of the British people more than any other natural land mark in the region.
9. Rainbow Bridge, Utah
Rainbow Bridge is not on this list so much because of its own merits, of which it has plenty, but because it is so indicative of the beauty of the American Southwest. This harsh and unforgiving landscape is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Home to red sandstone cliffs carved by the hand of mother nature herself, the Southwest is resplendent with beauty that will take your breath away.
8. Crystal Caves, Mexico
Not all of our planet’s beauty is on the surface and the Crystal Caves are a resplendent example of this fact. These caves stretch for miles under the surface of Mexico and host some of the most jaw dropping sights ever unearthed by humans. The earth itself took millions of years to create this titanic garden of rock sculptures that even Michelangelo would be hard pressed to equal.
7. The Giant Steps, Ireland
If you were to look at the Giant Steps of Ireland without knowing differently, you would swear that these monolithic formations were manmade. The Giant Steps are the result of thousands of years of ocean waves slowly cutting into the rock. We may know this rationally, but seeing this wonder first hand will leave you thinking that maybe giants did actually walk the earth and this is one of the wonders they left behind before they disappeared.
6. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Breathtaking is truly the most accurate description ever accorded to Victoria Falls. These massive waterfalls have become one of the most iconic symbols of the beauty of Africa and have inspired poets and artists alike for thousands of years. While there are many waterfalls in the world, none of them have the stunning beauty or immensity as this natural wonder.
5. Lake Superior, U.S. and Canadian border
Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes and when combined with the other four lakes makes up one of the largest bodies of fresh water in the world. The Great Lakes themselves are so immense that when they were first discovered by westerners they believed to have found another ocean. Since their discovery the Great Lakes have become important gateways for a massive amount of goods and industry based on their shore. While this use has led to a bit of a stain on their beauty caused by pollution, standing on the shore of Lake Superior or any of the others will leave you awestruck.
4. Grand Canyon, Arizona
The Grand Canyon is the single largest continuous canyon on the planet. Carved out over millions of years by the relentless Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is home to some of the most immense cliffs in the world. While some parts of this massive canyon have become overpopulated by tourists it is worth taking the time to see the areas that are off the beaten path in order to witness the grandeur that the Grand Canyon possesses.
3. Caspian Sea, Turkey
The largest inland body of water in the world the Caspian Sea has long been the lifeblood of the people who live in its region. Touching several different countries and located in the heart of Asia, the Caspian Sea has been fought over perhaps more than any other body of water in the world. The Caspian Sea is home to unique wildlife that is not found anywhere else in the world and to this day serves as a major highway for trade.
2. Mount Everest, Nepal
The largest mountain in the world, Mount Everest has captured the imagination of explorers for thousands of years. Such is the magnificence of this mountain that no one achieved reaching the summit until 1953 and since that time less than ten thousand people have duplicated this feat. Describing Mount Everest is impossible because of the immense size but standing at its base a person can’t help but feel dwarfed and very small in comparison.
1. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef is a massive reef formation off the coast of Australia and home to thousands of species of animals and plant life. The Barrier Reef is so large that even to this day no one has managed a complete exploration of its entirety. However while we may never completely explore the Great Barrier Reef, the parts we have explored are some of the most wondrous sights on our planet.
