Interesting and amazing places on our planet. Lake Uyuni in Bolivia. Whale Alley, Russia

Our blue planet is unique. Nature has created truly unique things, and atmospheric phenomena and elements (winds, water flows) have created amazing sights. There are all kinds of lists and ratings that list the most beautiful places in the world. Watch, read and enjoy our top list of the most amazing miracles!

Arizona wave

A striking formation of Navajo sandstone in the form of a mountain is located in the United States, on the border of two states - Arizona and Utah. The unique creation is approximately 190 years old. Wavy lines were born over centuries by overlapping separate layers. Wind and other atmospheric phenomena completed the incredible landscape.

Getting into the Wave is not that easy. The owner limits the number of visits to 20 per day, because sandstone is a very fragile material and crowds of tourists will trample it in a day.

To become one of the lucky ones who will be able to see it in person, you need to take part in the lottery. The first ten visitors are drawn 4 months before the excursion, the second ten - the day before the visit. By the way, Australia has its own “wave” - a similar creation, but made of granite.

Beach with caves near Algarve (Portugal)

The sea grottoes on Praia da Rocha near the Portuguese city were born naturally. The wind and raging waves have sharpened the rocks, creating grandiose sculptures, grottoes, caves and figured pillars.

Rice fields in Guangxi Province, China, look like masterpieces of landscape design or painted batik. In fact, these lines and colors carry deep Eastern wisdom. They began to be built during the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century. They explore the rice terraces from special observation platforms, a ticket for which costs approximately 250 rubles. with Russian money (50 yuan).
The terraces are planned wisely and taking into account weather conditions. Each step is irrigated in the required quantities and illuminated by the sun in such doses as necessary. This complex ecosystem provides for itself: in the spring, spring water, saturated with microelements, flows from the mountains, qualitatively irrigating the terraces. This gives the earth strength throughout the summer. At this time, the areas flooded with water under the rays of the sun become like sparkling writhing ribbons.

A charming, slender forest is located in the west of the Japanese city of Kyoto. Tens of thousands of slender mast bamboos sway slightly in the wind, their smooth trunks touching and ringing subtly. This place is located next to the famous Zen Buddhist temple Tenryu-Ji.
Visitors say that the melodious chime of bamboo trunks has a calming effect on a person and promotes spiritual enlightenment. The Japanese government has introduced the sounds of thin stems into the main attractions of their country.

Island of Happiness - Socotra

This is exactly how the name of one of the most amazing islands of the Indian Ocean is translated. Socotra lies in the northwestern part of the ocean in the territory of the state of Yemen. Thanks to its isolation, rare representatives of flora and fauna, not found anywhere else, have been preserved and live on it. In a small area - 143 km long and 40 km wide - amazing things fit. Peaked stone ridges are adjacent to snow-white beaches, and desert plains are adjacent to oases of generous and lush greenery. Here, flowers of an unprecedented riot of colors paint the futuristic landscape, and thick baobab trees stand like silent guards.
90% of reptiles, as well as mollusks and a third of plants, are endemic, that is, species that are found only on this island. Socotra is home to 800 species of different plants. Scientists are inclined to believe that most of them trace their ancestry to ancient flora, which disappeared forever in ancient centuries. These include:

• Cucumber tree;
• The dragon tree, in which, according to legend, the blood of ancient dragons flows;
• Dorsthenia gigantea;
• Desert Rose (looks like a swollen elephant's foot with a delicate flower on the top).

Chocolate Hills of Bohol Island (Philippines)

People go there to marvel at the natural formations - round, almost identical hills, of which there are 1,268 on an area of ​​50 km². How these hills arose is not known for certain; the most plausible version is that these coral colonies bulged outward due to some geological processes under the island.


When the grass withers in autumn, the hills take on an extremely pleasant appearance of truffle candies, and in the summer they turn bright green under the Philippine sun.

Only on this island live the smallest monkeys in the world - tarsiers, as cute as toys (below in the photo). Their height is less than the palm of a person.

Wulingyuan: Pandora's Floating Mountains

Fans of the famous blockbuster will immediately understand what is going on. These unusual “fingers” are called “Avatar Mountains”. Huge columns of quartz sandstone, covered on top with dense tropical forest, are located in Hunan Province (China). In fact, this is a vast nature reserve, a national park founded in 1982. The entire area is well protected from destruction.
It is strictly prohibited to light any kind of fire within the park, including a ban on smoking. All hiking trails are paved with a special coating that protects the soil from erosion.

Presumably, when creating the film "Avatar", director James Cameron was inspired by the Wulingyuan Mountains.

Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia)

We have already written about this fascinating place in an article about, however, the famous salt desert deserves a place in our arbitrary TOP-20 ranking. This salt marsh, the largest in area, is covered with neat cones. The entire landscape has an alien appearance.
During the rainy season, the surface of the dry lake is covered with a thin layer of water, which turns into a huge mirror. It reflects the endless sky with clouds and mountains in the background, and then the landscape becomes completely unreal.

Hamilton Basin (USA)

A curious ecosystem is located in the state of Texas near the city of Austin - a lake under the dome of a cave grotto. In ancient times, it was an underground river flowing through a karst cave, but nature made its own adjustments. At some point, the vaults collapsed in one place, and the underground river saw the sun and sky for the first time.
The resulting intimate bay with a beach under the roof is a very cozy place. The water in the lake is a rich blue color. The “ceiling” of the grotto is covered with centuries-old layers of soil and rocks; moss, limestone stalactites and climbing plants hang from the edges. Swallows have built nests inside the dome. A waterfall rustles to the side.

Grand Canyon (USA)

One of the deepest and largest canyons in the world is located in Arizona. In the depths the river of the same name flows among high walls made of layers of shale, limestone and sandstone. The canyon extends 446 km in length and up to 1800 m in depth.
65 million years ago, the Colorado flowed across the plain, but then the plateau gradually began to rise. The angle of the river changed, the flow accelerated, and the water began to erode the soil in its path. The canyon has been in the form in which we see it now for 6 million years, and to this day soil erosion continues and the failure deepens. The Grand Canyon is the most famous in the world, immortalized in dozens of American films.

Canaima National Park (Venezuela)

Located in the state of Bolivar on the east coast of the country. The entire area is strictly protected as the reserve is included in the World Heritage List. An interesting fact is that it is here that you can see the highest waterfall on the planet -. The Kerepakupai River falls from a height of almost a kilometer and falls into the jungle.


Angel falls from a unique table mountain (979 m) and is called Devil's Mountain.

Tepuis are shaped like a table with a flat top and straight walls.

Valley of Flowers (India)

Incredibly beautiful meadows can be seen in the upper part of the Ganges River in the Western Himalayas. The vast majority are endemic, growing only here. Alpine meadows with a length of 88 km² are under the close attention of scientists. Beautiful flower meadows are surrounded by forests, mountains and waterfalls. Locals are sure that fairies lived in the valley.

Danakil Desert and Dallol Volcano (Ethiopia)

One of the most incredible, beautiful and mysterious places. Photos of these bright and abstract landscapes evoke thoughts of extraterrestrial worlds. Locals believe that here, on the plain, is the gate to Hell through the mouth of Dallol. The Tribes tribe does not allow scientists to explore their volcano, so as not to disturb the demons inside it.

"Pulpit" (Norway)

We have already mentioned the most famous Norwegian rock in the article about. This work of nature with a top as flat as a table also earns a place in our top 20. Photos of the “Cathedra...” are circulating on the Internet in huge quantities; “the folk trail will not overgrow” it, since the view of the fjords is stunning.
The cliff hangs 604 m above the Lysefjord. The width of the upper platform is 25x25 m. To get there, you will have to walk 6 km along rocky paths. On average, the climb takes 2 hours, but the most breathtaking sight in the world awaits you as a reward! Huge, inaccessible cliffs rise in all directions, and somewhere far below the mirror of the Lysefjord looms black.

Crystal River (Columbia)

“River born of a rainbow”, “River that escaped from paradise”... Colombians gave many names to their pride - Kanye Cristales, which flows in the north of the country.
As you can see from the photo, its waters are painted in the brightest colors that exist in the world. And this is not chemical waste being poured into the reservoir, it is the most natural algae that blooms so wildly. This splendor can be seen in the autumn months, when numerous marine organisms begin to bloom, each in their own color.

Pamukkale (Türkiye)

Pamukkale means “cotton castle” in Turkish. The locals gave this name to an unusual plateau located in the very center of the country. Essentially, these are terraces made of travertine, a polycrystalline rock. Over the centuries, thermal springs were created by streams of mineralized water, which, flowing down the slopes, did not have time to reach the bottom of the mountain and evaporated under the hot rays.
Now the resort is in high demand, because here you can not only be treated with mineral baths, but also wander through the azure pools, beautiful snow-white terraces, admiring the design and imagination of Mother Nature.

Dengxia Colored Mountains (China)

Another bright “explosion” took place in the Chinese province of Gansu. The endlessly beautiful red-orange mountains with blue and green stripes attract many tourists here. Danxia got its killer color from a variety of sedimentary rocks and thanks to a large inclusion of red sandstone and centuries-old soil erosion.

Scientists believe that the mountains got their color back in the Mesozoic era, and inside the rock you can find the remains of extinct lizards.

Li River (China)

In general, this Asian country is full of all kinds of beauty, which is why it appears in several positions in our top 20. This time we want to show the Chinese Lijiang River, the muse of poets and artists, full of romanticism and softness.


Lijiang is one of the most beautiful, clean and scenic rivers in Gualin Province.

Director John Curran filmed the film The Painted Veil here.

Multnomah Falls (USA)

This is one of the most popular hiking trails in Oregon. It plunges into the Columbia River Canyon. Multnomah Falls is one of the five largest waterfalls in North America, but it has the first place in height among those that never freeze - 189 meters. To get to the place, you need to drive just 30 minutes from the city of Portland.

Machu Picchu: an unsolved mystery (Peru)

The remains of the ancient Incan civilization are on the list of the New Seven Wonders. It translates as “old mountain.” And the lost city lies on a flat area at an altitude of 2057 m. Until the beginning of the 20th century, no one suspected the existence of evidence of an ancient civilization in Peru.
Why did the Incas need to build their city so high in the mountains? We will never know this, all that remains is to wander around the old mossy stones and make guesses.


One way or another, the lost and mysterious city of Machu Picchu closes the ranking of “The most beautiful places on earth” - the best twenty.

We invite you to watch the video, which also shows places not included in the list. Is it possible to list all the unique corners of the planet? After all, she is absolutely beautiful!

Our vast planet is full of places of inexpressible beauty, which sometimes a lifetime is not enough to get to know. In order to embrace all the amazing beauty of the earth, this selection has been compiled, which shows the most beautiful places in the world, located in different parts of our world. There was a place here for natural attractions, man-made objects, famous resorts, and extreme attractions. Stormy waterfalls, majestic forests, clear reservoirs, dizzying mountain views, original ancient settlements, ancient castles, mysterious valleys - all this and much more is worth seeing with your own eyes at least once in your life.

1. Yosemite Valley, USA

Scenic Yosemite Valley with mountains and Merced River on a sunny day in Yosemite National Park

The top most beautiful places opens up a truly heavenly place on earth - the most picturesque valley of glacial origin in the state of California. The mountainous terrain of the valley is decorated with an abundance of crystal waterfalls, clear lakes and lush vegetation. For tourists, on the vast territory of the valley there are a lot of hotels, campsites and other amenities of civilization.

2. Colored rocks of Zhangye Danxia, ​​China

Rainbow Mountains of Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park

The geological park in the Chinese province of Gansu is famous for an unusual natural treasure - colorful rock formations of multi-colored sandstone rocks and conglomerates dating primarily to the Cretaceous period. About a hundred million years ago, on the site of the mountains there was a natural pool, which later dried up, and its sediment oxidized, taking on an unusually beautiful variegated color.

3. Bamboo Forest, Japan

An alley of bamboo trees bordered by railings made of dry bamboo stems in Arashiyama Park

In the heart of Kyoto's urban landscape lies a picturesque corner of nature - a dense bamboo grove consisting of countless bamboo trees. The impressive area has plenty of room to roam, so the forest has become a favorite vacation spot for townspeople and visitors. At night, the park is illuminated by hundreds of small lanterns and captivates with its fabulous appearance.

4. Monastic complex of Meteora, Greece

Meteora monasteries on top of huge cliffs

Unique monasteries literally grow out of the rock, crowning the tops of the cliffs. The rocks themselves are part of the ancient mountain system of Thessaly, located in the historical region of Greece. About 60 million years ago, on the site of the rocks there was a sea, and today Meteora is one of the most valuable and sacred historical places from the point of view of the Christian religion.

5. Salar de Yuni, Bolivia

Reflection of the blue South American sky on the mirror surface of the salt lake Yuni

In the south of the high desert, on the Altipano plateau, there was once a salt lake. Later it dried up, exposing the salty bottom. The thickness of the salt layer is from 2 to 8 meters, and during the rainy season, when the surface of this layer is covered with a layer of water, the Yuni salt marsh becomes like a giant mirror: the surface of the lake merges with the blue sky, and the surrounding landscapes acquire truly unearthly beauty.

6. Tianji Mountains, China

Huge cliffs rise above the rainforest in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Having wondered what is the most beautiful place on earth, many travelers choose one of the natural parks in China - Zhangjiajie. On its territory there are “floating” mountains. It was these landscapes that became the prototype for the landscapes in the world-famous film “Avatar”. Mountain peaks shrouded in fog against the backdrop of a green abyss create a truly stunning impression.

7. Ancient city of Petra, Jordan

Rock temple-mausoleum of El Khazneh or Pharaoh's Treasury at night

One of the seven new wonders of the world is located in Jordan - this is the ancient city of Petra, whose history goes back almost three millennia. The city, whose name comes from the word “rock,” is indeed entirely carved out of rock. Numerous temples, colonnades, tombs, baths and much more are skillfully carved into the rock - in total there are more than eight hundred historical monuments.

8. Tunnel of Love, Ukraine

Deciduous tunnel along railway tracks in a forest

A beautiful green corner in the Ukrainian village of Klevan has recently become a popular place for romantic walks and photo shoots. The green tunnel, “entwined” on all sides with rich vegetation, was created not by some master designer, but by nature itself and an ordinary train, which travels along the rails laid here three times a day and transports timber, making its way through the thickness of the greenery.

Sunrise with many hot air balloons over Bagan in Myanmar

The Valley of a Thousand Pagodas is one of the famous historical sites in Myanmar. On an area of ​​only about 4 square meters. kilometers there are thousands of Buddhist, and not only, temples. This is a priceless archaeological site with thousands of centuries-old historical structures, many of which are richly decorated with gold and other precious materials.

10. Kawachi Fuji Garden, Japan

A tunnel of hanging garlands of fragrant wisteria flowers in the Japanese garden of Kawachi Fuji

Not far from Tokyo lies an extraordinary fairy-tale garden, immersed in millions of flowers of all shades of the rainbow. These are flowers common in Japan - wisteria, which hang like garlands of vines from specially constructed frames. Stunning waterfalls of flowers flow from above, forming a colorful, fragrant tunnel. In addition to wisteria, you can find a lot of other, bright, but more familiar flowers in the garden.

11. Li River, China

The clean and transparent Li River among the green hills and quaint mountain peaks of China

The cleanest waterway in China, the Li River, is also famous for its beauty. Cruises are regularly organized along the waters of the river, and sailing along the calm surface of the yellow-green waters, you can contemplate stunning landscapes - the silk ribbon of the river deftly meanders among the green hills and spacious rice fields, creating an amazing, mysterious and enigmatic landscape.

12. Santorini Island, Greece

White churches and monasteries with sky blue domes on the island of Santorini in Greece

The romantic island in the Aegean Sea is a real archaeological find, covered in entire legends. Everyone who arrives on the island will find something to their liking: those who are interested in archeology can visit numerous excavations, history buffs can visit museums and ancient temples, and fans of outdoor activities will find excellent diving spots in the coastal waters.

13. Inca city Machu Picchu, Peru

View of Huayna Picchu mountain and the ruins of the "lost city of the Incas" Machu Picchu near Cusco in Peru

The most beautiful places on earth are complemented by the ancient Inca city, lost in the high mountains of Peru and shrouded in clouds. The entire city consists of several hundred structures arranged in a clearly structured manner. The inaccessibility of the city, located among high cliffs, is even more fascinating; its mystery attracts millions of tourists every year.

14. Sea cave in Algarve, Portugal

Tourists in one of the most beautiful sea caves in the world - Benagil Cave

One of the most expressive natural creations is located near the popular Portuguese beach of Praia de Benagil. The cave of amazing shape was formed as a result of natural processes - the influence of water and wind on rocky rock. Cruises on boats, speedboats or rowing mini-boats - kayaks are regularly organized through the azure sea waters to the cave.

15. Grand Canyon, USA

The spectacular landscape of the Grand Canyon from the south side

The most beautiful places in the world continue with the deepest Grand Canyon, the views of which are stunning at first sight. Along its reddish rocky walls, as you go deeper down, there is a gradual change in climatic zones, and significant differences in temperature and humidity are created. The Colorado River flows along the very bottom of the gorge, which has been making its way through the rocky rock for millions of years.

16. Monument Valley, USA

"Martian landscape" of red sandstone rocks in Monument Valley

Monument Valley has become one of the national symbols of the United States. When you move through the monotonous landscapes of a lifeless desert, the fantastic outlines of rocky formations on the horizon evoke vivid impressions. It seems as if you are transported to an ancient country, and the red and yellow rocks suddenly turn into ancient castles, temples and stone sculptures.

17. Rice terraces in Mu Can Chai, Vietnam

The unique beauty of the rice terraces in Mu Can Chai in Vietnam

Residents of the northern province of Vietnam have actually achieved the impossible by creating rice terraces right on the steep slopes of numerous hills. The “rapids” created by the residents on which rice is planted create a horizontal plane while trapping water that flows from the peaks down the slopes. The formed bends of the terraces do not in any way disturb the harmony of natural landscapes and even serve as their unique decoration.

Natural travertine pools and terraces at Pamukkale ("cotton castle") in southwest Turkey

Castles are built not only by architects - sometimes nature itself does this job better. A striking example is the Pamukkale Cotton Castle. The combination of snow-white salt formations and the azure of the purest thermal waters filling the salt baths creates amazing views. In addition to admiring the beauty of these places, here you can significantly improve your health by taking a dip in one of the warm thermal pools.

19. Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia

The largest and most beautiful coral reef is located in the Pacific waters on the Australian coast. The reef structure is formed by billions of tiny microorganisms, creating the world's largest coral ecosystem. Against the backdrop of photos of the most beautiful places in the world, the photo of a coral reef stands out for its brightness, originality and amazing riot of colors.

20. Cinque Terre, Italy

Beautiful coastline of the village of Vernazza with brightly painted houses in the Cinque Terre

In the Italian region of Liguria there is one place with amazing views of the sea and mountain landscapes. This is the Cinque Terre Park - a green area stretching along the rocky coast and including five coastal settlements that appeared on this territory back in the era of the Roman Empire. Among the architectural monuments of the region are medieval palaces, sanctuaries and ancient mansions.

21. Venice, Italy

Gondoliers at the old Cathedral of Santa Maria della Salute on the Grand Canal in the Dorsoduro district of Venice

Not only beautiful, but also one of the most romantic places on earth is located in Italy, on the Adriatic coast. The world-famous Venice is a corner of majestic ancient architecture, an atmosphere of freedom and eternal celebration. And the constant splash of water flowing through the canals that permeate the entire city makes this place recognizable among thousands of other places on the planet.

22. Plitvice Lakes - National Park of Croatia

Majestic view of a waterfall with turquoise water in the sun's rays in Plitvice Lakes Park

Another of the planet's natural paradises is located in Croatia. Plitvice Lakes are a magical natural creation, which the Croatians themselves call the eighth wonder of the world. The lakes, located at different levels in height, flow into one another and create unique water cascades, stunning in their views. In total, there are 16 such lakes in the national park.

23. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Romantic Neuschwanstein Castle against the backdrop of snowy mountains in southern Germany

In the Bavarian Alps, on a hill, directly above a deep, mysterious gorge, an unusually light structure rises, as if floating in the air. It resembles a fairy-tale castle, as if straight from the pages of a romantic fairy tale about princesses, knights and brave deeds. The unusually beautiful Neuschwanstein Castle is surrounded by equally beautiful surrounding landscapes - inaccessible mountain peaks and crystal lakes.

24. Navagio Bay, Greece

Famous Navagio Bay with a wrecked rusty smugglers ship on the white sand

In the clear waters of the Ionian Sea is located the small Greek island of Zakynthos. Green pine trees, emerald waters, blue skies, golden sands - all this attracts streams of tourists and vacationers. It is here that one of the most beautiful bays in the world is located, which is famous not only for its beauty, but also for the wreck of a smuggling ship, which was thrown ashore by a severe storm back in 1982.

25. Bora Bora Island, French Polynesia

Beautiful view of the turquoise lagoon and the extinct volcano Otemanu on the island of Bora Bora

The most beautiful places of nature are organically complemented by the pearl of paradise in the Pacific Ocean - the island of Bora Bora. This island has long been a favorite of newlyweds and couples in love - a small, remote microworld of emerald clear lagoons, fancy flowers and bright tropical birds creates an ideal atmosphere of romance and comfort. In addition, here is the ideal service for a relaxing holiday.

Spray and fog due to the enormous force of the falling water of Victoria Falls in the middle of the Zambezi River

On the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia in Africa, you can see one incredible natural phenomenon - the waters of the Zambezi River in a colossal wide stream, roaring into the gorge, and then rushing into a narrow crevice, creating clouds of tiny water splashes. Victoria Falls is not the highest, but undoubtedly it has no equal in beauty and grandeur in the world.

27. Provence, France

Summer sunset and endless lavender fields in Provence

One of the most cozy and beautiful French provinces is located on the Mediterranean coast, right at the foot of the Alps. This fabulous place generously bestows its warmth, attracts with an abundance of vineyards, olive groves, sunflower fields, heather, and of course, delicate lilac lavender, which has become a kind of calling card of this region.

28. Glacial Moraine Lake, Canada

Sunrise at Moraine Lake in Banff National Park in Alberta

In the Banff Nature Park, in the so-called Valley of 10 Mountain Peaks, there is a mysterious and mesmerizing reservoir - glacial Lake Moraine, the waters of which do not freeze even in severe frosts. Unrealistically beautiful landscapes - majestic spruce trees, relief mountain slopes - frame the lake, reflected in the surface of its crystal azure waters.

Magical landscape with sunrise over a tulip field in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is known throughout the world for its flowers, and tulips have become their wonderful symbol. Hundreds of thousands of travelers every year take a walk to the colorful flowering fields to admire this riot of colors and floral splendor. From a distance, such fields look as if they are divided into even variegated stripes - all this splendor is created by tulips blooming in spring.

30. Geirangerfjord, Norway

The emerald blue expanse of Geirangerfjord among rocks with lush greenery and snow-capped mountain peaks

Norway is famous for its fjords - giant mountain corridors filled with sea water. One of Norway's most famous fjords is Geirangerfjord, whose serene waters reflect canopied cliffs and lush green forests. Small villages, towns and farms are comfortably located along its banks, and in some places streams of waterfalls fall directly from the cliffs into the abyss.

31. Great Blue Hole, Belize

The Blue Hole is the most popular recreational dive site off the coast of Belize.

A large sinkhole of karst origin is located in the Atlantic Ocean, near the coast of Central America. Its depth reaches 120 meters, and the perfectly round shape of its edges is best observed from a height - for example, from a helicopter, from where all the beauty of this natural phenomenon will be revealed. According to one version, the crater is a collapsed limestone cave.

32. Vatnajokull Glacier Caves, Iceland

Blue cave of Vatnajokull glacier in Iceland

In Iceland, the cold kingdom of snow and ice, you can also find the most beautiful places on the planet, one of which is glacier caves. Getting into their depths, it’s as if you find yourself in a fairy-tale kingdom of cold: there are ice walls everywhere, through which light flows, refracting at different angles. The process of cave formation is caused by the movement of melt water, which forms bizarre cavities inside the glacier.

33. Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Panorama of the three Great Pyramids on the Giza Plateau

The Egyptian pyramids are the only surviving ancient wonders of the world: several pyramids at Giza, guarded by the Great Sphinx, are part of an ancient necropolis that is the object of close attention of archaeologists to this day. Ancient Egyptian pharaohs are buried in the largest pyramids, and their wives, as well as priests and officials, are buried in smaller structures.

34. Gasadalur village, Faroe Islands

Bosdalafossur waterfall and the Danish village of Gasadalur on the picturesque island of Vagar

This settlement with its pristine nature is located on the western side of one of the Faroe Islands in the Kingdom of Denmark. Small, toy-like village houses are located above a cliff from which a waterfall falls straight into the ocean. This quiet and cozy place is a true paradise for those who love a combination of beautiful nature, peace and tranquility.

35. Antelope Canyon, USA

Inside Antelope Canyon

A unique creation of nature and an iconic landmark of the state of Arizona in the USA is Antelope Canyon, a mystical place in the form of long crevices in red-yellow sandstone rocks. Amazing views inside the canyon open up in rare moments when the sun is at its zenith and its rays fall into the crevice, and then the gorge begins to play with new, unusual colors.

36. Iguazu Falls, Argentina, Brazil

Spectacular view of Iguazu Falls from Argentina

A colossal complex of rapid waterfalls was formed at the intersection of the Iguazu and Parana rivers. The cascade is formed by about three hundred small waterfalls. On the opposite side of the crevice into which the water falls, there is an observation deck from where you can watch a stunning spectacle: a huge mass of water, forming myriads of water splashes, sparkling and shimmering in the sun, falls down with a roar.

37. Batu Caves, Malaysia

Holy Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia

One of the most revered Indian shrines and a real miracle of nature is the Batu Caves. The age of the caves is already about 400 million years old - once in their place there were rocks, in which cavities were washed out over time as a result of the influence of water. This is how several long caves were formed, walking through which you can see the amazing formations of stalactites or visit a cave temple.

38. McWay Falls, USA

McWay Falls falls from a cliff into a cove with sandy beaches in Julia Pfeiffer Burns Park

The best places in the world continue with another one of the most unusual waterfalls in the world, which is located in the American state of California. McWay Falls is considered an ever-living waterfall, since it never dries up, and its waters fall from a cliff directly into a picturesque bay. And the vegetation itself surrounding the waterfall always remains green - the secret is that the trees in this area are fed by the waters of the underground river.

39. Cappadocia, Türkiye

Hot air balloon flights over colorful rocks in Cappadocia

Cappadocia is called the heart of Turkey - this historical region is located in the very heart of the country. Once here, you can feel like a guest of another planet - the local landscapes are so unusual: there are snow-capped peaks of extinct volcanoes, and low mountains, and Cappadocia has for some time now become a popular destination for excursion flights in large hot air balloons.

40. Mount Roraima - located on the border of three countries: Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana

Fantastic view from the top of Mount Roraima

In South America there are the most ancient rock formations - unusual mountains with flat, seemingly truncated tops. The highest of these mountains is located at the junction of three South American states, and the area of ​​its top is impressive in size - about 34 square meters. km. About a fifth of this area is occupied by reservoirs, which, falling from the mountain, give life to the Amazon, Essequibo and Orinoco rivers.

41. James Bond Island, Thailand

Beautiful surroundings of Koh Tapu or James Bond island in Phang Nga Bay in Thailand

One of the “star” attractions of Thailand, Tapu Island, gained fame thanks to the famous film back in 1974. Since then, the small island has become the starting point for the active development of tourism in Phuket. This area captivates with its beauty: against the background of emerald sea waters, a limestone rock covered with greenery rises. Boat excursions are regularly organized from Phuket to Tapu Island.

42. Troll Tongue, Norway

The Troll's tongue and the landscape of the blue waters of Lake Ringedalsvatn, surrounded by mountains

Sometimes the most beautiful places in the world, their photos with names, captivate you from the moment you first become acquainted with them. A striking example of this is the fascinating natural landmark of Norway - the Troll's Tongue rock. The dream of almost every traveler here is to take a photo from the top of that very rock, namely from its ledge, from where dizzying views of the mountain landscapes and the azure calm waters of the Hardangerfjord open up.

43. Giant temple complex of Angkor Wat, Cambodia

A giant Hindu temple complex in Cambodia dedicated to the god Vishnu

The world's largest religious building, erected in the 10th-12th centuries in Cambodia, was dedicated to the supreme Hindu deity Vishnu. Angkor Wat is a gigantic 3-level complex of temples that has kept the secrets and legends of the capital of the Khmer Empire for about a millennium. The height of the complex, built of sandstone, is 65 meters, and on its colossal area of ​​2.5 sq. km there are magnificent towers, terraces, galleries and gardens.

44. Lencois Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

Tourists walking towards the lagoon and dunes at Grande Lencua in Lençois Maranhenses National Park

The fantastic landscapes of the Brazilian natural park Lencois-Maranhenses make an indelible impression. The vast territory of the park with snow-white sand dunes is occupied by small turquoise lakes, creating a magnificent contrast of colors. Despite the desert views, Lençóis Maranhenses is not essentially a desert - it rains regularly here, which fills the spaces between the sandy hills with water.

45. Valley of Geysers, Russia

One of the landscapes of the Valley of Geysers in the Kronotsky State Biosphere Reserve Stunning views of green rocky slopes and swirling streams of steam in the Valley of Geysers Robert Nunn

In Kamchatka, in the Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve, there is one of the most interesting geyser fields. In fact, the valley is a volcanic canyon, on the territory of which several dozen gushing hot springs are concentrated. This entire area resembles a seething cauldron - everything here flows, hisses and seethes, steam streams burst out and hot thermal water pulsates.

So where is the most beautiful place? The answer to this question still cannot be unambiguous, but the rating of the most beautiful places in the world will certainly be a useful aid for the traveler in choosing the most impressive sights of our planet.

We present the most beautiful places in our country, which should be seen not only by every photographer and traveler, but also by every resident of our vast Russia. Read our material and you will see: we all have something to be proud of!

Natural parks, reserves

Lena Pillars, Yakutia

Lena Pillars is a natural park in Russia, located on the banks of the Lena River in the Khangalassky ulus of Yakutia, 104 km from the city of Pokrovsk. Stretching for many kilometers, the complex of vertically elongated rocks, intricately piled up along the banks of the Lena, cutting through the Prilenskoye Plateau with a deep valley, never ceases to attract photographers and travelers. The pillars reach their greatest density between the villages of Petrovskoye and Tit-Ary.

The height of the rock formations reaches 100 meters. Scientists believe that the formation of rocks began 560–540 million years ago, and the formation of the Lena Pillars as a landform began about 400 thousand years ago.

The Lena Pillars Natural Park was organized on the basis of the decree of the President of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) dated August 16, 1994 No. 837 and the government decree of February 10, 1995 and is subordinate to the regional Ministry of Nature Protection. The area of ​​the park is 485 thousand hectares, the park consists of two branches - “Stolby” and “Sinsky”.

Valley of Geysers, Kamchatka

The Valley of Geysers, one of the largest geyser fields in the world and the only one in Eurasia, is located in Kamchatka in the Kronotsky State Biosphere Reserve, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Volcanoes of Kamchatka natural complex.

The valley is a deep canyon of the Geysernaya River, on the sides of which there is an area of ​​about 6 square meters. km there are numerous outlets of geysers, hot springs, mud pots, thermal areas, waterfalls and lakes. In this territory there is an abnormally high biodiversity and a high contrast of natural conditions and microclimate. The ecosystem of the Valley of Geysers is unique throughout the country. The territory of the valley is protected by a reserve regime.

Since 1992, under an agreement with the reserve, helicopter excursions have been organized here, and there is a strict system of rules for organizing excursions in order to maintain the balance of the ecosystem. In 2008, based on voting results, the Valley of Geysers was included in the list of seven wonders of Russia.

Weathering pillars, Komi Republic

Weathering pillars (Mansi logs) are a geological monument located in the Troitsko-Pechora region of the Komi Republic on the territory of the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve on Mount Man-Pupu-ner (“Small Mountain of Idols” translated from the Mansi language), in the interfluve of the Ichotlyaga and Pechora rivers . Many legends are associated with this extraordinary place. The pillars are considered one of the seven wonders of Russia.

The weathering pillars are located quite far from inhabited places. Reaching them is in some sense a feat. To do this, by the way, you need to obtain a pass from the administration of the reserve. From the Sverdlovsk Region and Perm Territory there is a walking route, from the Komi Republic there are road, water and walking routes.

About 200 million years ago, there were high mountains in place of the stone pillars. Rain, snow, wind, frost and heat gradually destroyed the mountains, and especially weak rocks. Hard sericite-quartzite shales were less destroyed and have survived to this day, while soft rocks were destroyed by weathering and carried by water and wind into relief depressions.

One pillar, 34 m high, stands somewhat apart from the others. Six others lined up at the edge of the cliff. The pillars have bizarre outlines and, depending on the place of inspection, resemble either the figure of a huge man, or the head of a horse or ram. It’s true: this place is ideal for a photographer’s imagination! In past times, the Mansi deified grandiose stone sculptures and worshiped them, but climbing Manpupuner was considered the greatest sin.

Curonian Spit, Kaliningrad region

The Curonian Spit is a sand spit located on the coast of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. It is a narrow and long saber-shaped strip of land separating the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea and stretching from the city of Zelenogradsk in the Kaliningrad region to the city of Klaipeda (Smiltyne) (Lithuania). The name of the spit comes from the name of the ancient Curonian tribes who lived here before the colonization of Prussia by the Germans.

The length is 98 kilometers, the width ranges from 400 meters (in the area of ​​​​the village of Lesnoy) to 3.8 kilometers (in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bCape Bulviko, just north of Nida).

The Curonian Spit is a unique natural-anthropogenic landscape and a territory of exceptional aesthetic value: the Curonian Spit is the largest sand body, included, along with the Hel and Vistula, in the Baltic complex of sand spits, which has no analogues in the world. The high level of biological diversity due to the combination of different landscapes - from desert (dunes) to tundra (raised bog) - provides insight into important and long-term ecological and biological processes in evolution.

The most significant element of the spit's relief is a continuous strip of white sand dunes 0.3 - 1 km wide, some of them approaching the highest in the world (up to 68 m). Due to its geographical location and orientation from northeast to southwest, it serves as a corridor for migratory birds of many species flying from the northwestern regions of Russia, Finland and the Baltic countries to the countries of Central and Southern Europe. Every year in spring and autumn, from 10 to 20 million birds fly over the spit, a significant part of which stop here to rest and feed.

Favorable climatic conditions allow you to relax on the Curonian Spit from May to November. In 2000, the Curonian Spit was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Nature reserve "Stolby". Krasnoyarsk region

The reserve is located on the northwestern spurs of the Eastern Sayan Mountains, bordering the Central Siberian Plateau. The natural boundaries of the protected area are the right tributaries of the river. Yenisei: in the northeast - the Bazaikha river, in the south and southwest - the Mana and Bolshaya Slizneva rivers. From the northeast, the territory borders the city of Krasnoyarsk; the border of the reserve can be reached by bus. The reserve was founded in 1925 on the initiative of city residents to preserve natural complexes around the picturesque syenite outcrops - “pillars”. Currently, its area is 47,219 hectares. Submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Lakes

Lake Baikal, Eastern Siberia

It is unlikely that Baikal needs any descriptions, but still... Baikal is the deepest lake on the planet, the largest natural reservoir of fresh water. The lake and coastal areas are distinguished by a unique diversity of flora and fauna. Local residents and many in Russia traditionally call Baikal the sea.

The maximum depth of the lake - 1642 m - was established in 1983 by L. G. Kolotilo and A. I. Sulimov during hydrographic work. The average depth of the lake is also very large - 744.4 m. Besides Baikal, only two lakes on Earth have a depth of more than 1000 meters: Tanganyika (1470 m) and the Caspian Sea (1025 m). One of the visiting cards of Russia, a place that you need to see with your own eyes at least once in your life!

Lake Seliger, Tver and Novgorod regions

Another place that needs no introduction. By the way, Seliger has another name - Ostashkovskoye Lake, after the name of the city of Ostashkov, located on the lake shore. The area of ​​the lake is 260 sq. km, including about 38 sq. km. km there are islands (there are more than 160 of them on Seliger). The largest among them is Khachin Island. The area of ​​the entire pool is 2275 sq. km.

Seliger receives 110 tributaries. The largest are the Krapivenka, Soroga and Seremukha rivers. Only one river, Selizharovka, flows out of it. The lake lies at an altitude of 205 meters above sea level and is of glacial origin. This explains its peculiar shape - it is not a lake in the usual concept, but rather a chain of lakes stretching from north to south for 100 km and connected by short narrow channels. The coastline, more than 500 km long, is rugged - forested capes, deep picturesque bays jutting into the land, islands of various shapes.

The water in Seliger is clear, transparency reaches 5 meters. On the shore of the southern part of Lake Seliger are the city of Ostashkov and the New Yeltsy estate.

Lake Kezenoy-am, Chechen Republic

Kezenoy-am is a lake on the border of the Vedeno region of the Chechen Republic and the Botlikh region of Dagestan. This is the largest and deepest lake in the North Caucasus, located at an altitude of more than 1800 meters above sea level. The surface of the lake is 2.4 sq. km.

The depth of the lake reaches 74 m. The length of the lake from north to south is 2 kilometers, and from west to east - 2.7 kilometers. The maximum width is 735 meters. The length of the coastline is 10 kilometers.

Lake Baskunchak

Akhtubinsky district, Astrakhan region

Baskunchak is a salt lake with an area of ​​about 115 square meters. km in the Akhtubinsky district of the Astrakhan region, approximately 270 km north of the Caspian Sea, and 53 km east of the Volga. Lake Baskunchak is part of a unique natural complex that includes Mount Big Bogdo. In 1997, the Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky natural complex was declared a reserve (Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky Nature Reserve), where a special environmental regime was established on an area of ​​53.7 thousand hectares.

On the coast of the lake there are deposits of medicinal clays. In June-August, tourists come to the lake to bathe in brine and take mud baths. There is no need to talk about the beauty of these places. There are no fewer photographers here than people who want to improve their health.

Jack London Lake, Magadan Region

Located in the upper reaches of the Kolyma River in the Yagodninsky district of the Magadan region, it lies among the mountains, at an altitude of 803 meters, the length of the lake in the northwest direction is 10 kilometers, depth is 50 meters.

There are many small lakes around Jack London Lake. The most prominent lakes in size are lakes Mechta, Anemone, Gray Chaika, Nevidimka, Neighboring, and Kudinovskie lakes. One of the most beautiful and exotic lakes in the Far East. Old-timers say that the lake got its name thanks to an unusual find made by the “discoverers”. When the lake was discovered, researchers found Jack London's book "Martin Eden" on the shore.

Lake Elton, Volgograd region

Elton is a salty, drainless, self-sedating lake in the Pallasovsky district of the Volgograd region, located near the border with Kazakhstan. It is considered the largest mineral lake in Europe and one of the most mineralized in the world. They say that the name of the lake comes from the Mongolian word “Altyn-Nor” - “golden bottom”.

Lake area - 152 sq. km. Until 1882, salt was mined on Elton; in 1910, the Elton medical sanatorium was founded on its shores (moved to a new location in 1945). In 2001, the lake and the adjacent territories of virgin steppes (106 thousand hectares) became part of the State Institution “Eltonsky Natural Park”.

Blue Lakes. Cherek-Balkarian Gorge, Kabardino-Balkaria

A group of five karst lakes in the Cherek region of Kabardino-Balkaria is located at the foot of the rocky ridge from where the Cherek-Balkarian gorge begins. Located at the entrance to the gorge, Blue Lake is a unique natural phenomenon, interesting not only for Kabardino-Balkaria, but also on a national scale. The Lower Blue Lake has several names: Chirik-kel (bulk) - rotten (smelly) lake; Sherej-ana (kab.) - Cherek’s mother; Psykhurey (kab.) - round water (lake), natural artesian well.

The uniqueness of the Lower Blue Lake lies in the fact that with a relatively small surface (only 235x130 m), its depth reaches 258 meters. The surface water temperature in winter and summer is about +9 degrees. Not a single stream or river flows into the lake, but about 70 million liters flow out every day. The lake level remains unchanged, which is explained by powerful underwater sources. The blue color of the water is due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide and the refraction of light rays in the deep pool.

The nature here is quite picturesque: green hills, dense beech forests on steep slopes, and in the distance, in the blue haze, peaks sparkling in the sun. Closer to Babugent the greenery becomes brighter and juicier. Near the village of Babugent there is a fork in the road. At the beginning of the road to the lake, in the rock there is a cave in which traces of an ancient site of the 5th-10th centuries AD were discovered. Now many bats live there, and sometimes, in bad weather, shepherds with flocks of sheep take shelter.

Seydozero, Kola Peninsula, Murmansk region

Lake in the Lovozero tundra on the Kola Peninsula. "Seid" translated from the Sami language means "sacred". The lake is located at an altitude of 189 m above sea level. The length of Seydozero is 8 km, width is from 1.5 to 2.5 km.

According to a number of science fiction writers and ufologists, it is one of the supposed places of existence of the Hyperborean civilization. Seekers of the unknown have been exploring these places since 1922.

Lake (reservoir) Zyuratkul. Chelyabinsk region

Zyuratkul is located in the Satka district of the Chelyabinsk region on the territory of the national park of the same name. One of the highest (724 m above sea level) reservoirs in the Southern Urals. The reservoir is surrounded by mountain ranges covered with dark coniferous forests. To the southwest is the Nurgush ridge - the highest ridge in the Chelyabinsk region. The main river feeding the reservoir is the Bolshoi Kyl. Near the source of the Satka River and the dam there is the small village of Zyuratkul, connected by bus to the city of Satka.

Previously, Zyuratkul was a natural lake. Now it is a reservoir formed by a dam built on Bolshaya Satka. A giant geoglyph was found in the lake area. About forty stone tools made of quartzite were also discovered. The technique of stone chipping makes it possible to date the tools to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic (VI-III millennium BC). Researchers are still inclined to the Copper-Stone Age (IV-III millennium BC). It is noted that at that time there were practically no forests in the Southern Urals (they appeared only 2,500 years ago), so the figure was easy to build and then viewed from the neighboring ridge until it was covered with a layer of soil.

Until the winter of 2012, another popular attraction was located on the shore of Lake Zyuratkul - Whale Pier, which was also called the “Ural Disneyland”. But in the fall of 2012, by court order, it was demolished.

Mountains and volcanoes

Elbrus, Kabardino-Balkaria

Elbrus is a stratovolcano located on the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. Elbrus is located north of the Greater Caucasus Range and is the highest peak in Russia. Considering that the border between Europe and Asia is ambiguous, Elbrus is often also called the highest European mountain peak, thereby classifying it as one of the “Seven Summits”.

The height of the western peak is 5642 m, the eastern one is 5621 m. The gorges of Adylsu, Shkheldy, Adyrsu, the Donguz-Oruna and Ushba massifs are very popular among climbers and mountain tourists. Elbrus region is the most popular ski resort in Russia. The total area of ​​Elbrus glaciers is 134.5 square meters. km. The most famous of them: Big and Small Azau, Terskol.

Altai Mountains

The Altai Mountains represent a complex system of the highest ridges in Siberia, separated by deep river valleys and vast intramountain and intermountain basins. A mountain system at the junction of the borders of Russia, Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan. It is divided into Southern Altai (Southwestern), Southeastern Altai and Eastern Altai, Central Altai, Northern and Northeastern Altai, Northwestern Altai.

The Altai, Katunsky reserves and the Ukok plateau together form the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Altai - Golden Mountains”. Thousands of tourists come to Altai. This is a favorite place for photo tours and independent trips.

Divnogorye plateau, Liskinsky district, Voronezh region

“Divnogorye” is a hill and museum-reserve in the Liskinsky district of the Voronezh region of Russia. It is located 10 km west of the center of the region on the right bank of the Don River and 80 km south of Voronezh. The museum here was founded in 1988, and in 1991 it received the status of a museum-reserve. Currently, the museum-reserve is one of the most popular and most recognizable attractions in the Voronezh region. Every season, from May to October, it is visited by more than 60 thousand tourists.

The area of ​​the museum-reserve is more than 11 sq. km. The maximum height of the plateau above sea level reaches 181 meters, relative - 103 meters (the mouth of the Tikhaya Sosna River at the confluence with the Don, which flows at the foot of the plateau, is located at an altitude of 78 m above sea level).

Dombay-Ulgen, Karachay-Cherkess Republic

Dombay-Ulgen is the top of the western part of the Watershed Range of the Greater Caucasus (on the border of Abkhazia and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic). Dombay-Ulgen is the highest peak in Abkhazia, located east of the village of Dombay, has three peaks: western (4036 m), main (4046 m) and eastern (3950 m).

A steep ridge extends from the main peak to the north, ending in a depression - the “Dombay saddle”. From the Dombay saddle there is a classic route (category 3B), which can be climbed in one day with a descent to the camp.

Putorana Plateau, Krasnoyarsk Territory

The Putorana Plateau is a mountain range located in the north-west of the Central Siberian Plateau. In the north and west, the plateau ends with a steep ledge (800 m or more), while the southern and eastern parts are characterized by gentle slopes. The maximum height of the plateau is 1701 m, among the highest peaks are Mount Kamen (1701 m), Kholokit (1542 m), Kotuyskaya (1510 m). In the north, the Putorana Plateau borders the Taimyr Peninsula. The name Putorana translated from Evenki means “lakes with steep banks.”

The area of ​​the plateau is 250 thousand sq. km, which is comparable to the territory of Great Britain. On the territory of the plateau there is the Putorana State Nature Reserve, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Marble Canyon Ruskeala, Republic of Karelia, Ruskeala village

Mountain Park "Ruskeala" is a tourist complex located in the Sortavala region of the Republic of Karelia, near the village of Ruskeala. The main object of the complex is a former marble quarry filled with groundwater.

The quarries discovered by Pastor Alopeus began to be developed at the beginning of the reign of Catherine II. The first developments were led by Captain Kozhin, who was advised by Italian specialists. Today, the length of the quarry from north to south is 460 meters, the width is up to 100 meters. The distance from the highest point of the quarry side to its bottom is over 50 meters. Water transparency reaches 15-18 meters.

Ruskeala marble was used in the construction of the most beautiful and significant buildings of St. Petersburg and its palace suburbs. It covered St. Isaac's Cathedral, laid out the floors of the Kazan Cathedral, made the window sills of the Hermitage, framed the windows of the Marble Palace and the facade of the Mikhailovsky Castle, as well as the underground halls of the Primorskaya and Ladozhskaya metro stations of the St. Petersburg metro. In 2010, a significant part of the filming of the film “The Dark World” took place in Ruskeala.

Eastern and Western Sayans. Eastern Siberia

The Eastern and Western Sayans are the common name for two mountain systems in southern Siberia. There are Western Sayan (length 650 km, height up to 3971 m - Mount Mongun-Taiga, which is the top of the ridge of the same name - the highest peak of Eastern Siberia, however, more often this ridge is not classified as the Sayans, but is separated into a separate mountain system - the Tuva Mountains), consisting of leveled and peaked ridges, on which there is no glaciation, separated by intermountain basins, and the Eastern Sayan (length about 1000 km, height up to 3491 m - Mount Munku-Sardyk) with typical mid-mountain ridges bearing glaciers. The rivers belong to the Yenisei basin. The slopes are dominated by mountain taiga, turning into mountain tundra.

The Western Sayan borders Altai in its southwestern part. Its main ridge is the Watershed Sayan Range with its highest point - Mount Kyzyl-Taiga (3121 m). The Western Sayan ridges are characterized by steep slopes, rugged terrain, and vast areas of stone placers. The height of the ridges in the west does not exceed 2500-3000 m, to the east it decreases to 2000 m.

The Eastern Sayan stretches almost at right angles to the Western Sayan. Its ridges form a system of “Belogory” (Manskoye, Kanskoye) and “belkov”, which got their name because of the snow on the peaks that does not melt all year round. In the central part, in the upper reaches of the Kazyr and Kizir rivers, several ridges form a “knot” with the highest point - the Grandiozny peak (2982 m). In the southeast are the highest and most inaccessible ranges - the Bolshoy Sayan, Tunkinskie Goltsy, Kitoiskie Goltsy, Kropotkin. The highest point of the Eastern Sayan - Munku-Sardyk (3491 m) is located in the ridge of the same name. Between the Sayan ridges there are more than a dozen basins of various sizes and depths, the most famous of which is the Abakan-Minusinsk basin, known for its archaeological sites. It is worth noting the large number of waterfalls.

Almost everywhere in the Sayan Mountains, dark coniferous taiga spruce-cedar-fir forests predominate, rising in the western and central parts to heights of 1500–1800 m or more; light deciduous cedar forests form the upper border of the forest at altitudes of 2000–2500 m. The fauna is as rich as the flora. The largest city located in the Sayan Mountains is Krasnoyarsk.

Shikhany Mountains. Republic of Bashkortostan

Shikhany are isolated hills in the Bashkir Cis-Urals, consisting of four single mountains: Tratau, Shakhtau, Yuraktau and Kushtau, which form a narrow chain stretched along the Belaya River for 20 km. Shihans are located near the cities of Sterlitamak and Ishimbay. They are unique natural monuments - the remains of a barrier reef formed in the warm sea of ​​the early Permian period. The stones from which these shikhans are made contain imprints of ancient plants and animals.

The highest shihan is Tratau (or Toratau). Its height is 402 meters above sea level, and its relative height is 280 meters. At its foot are the ruins of a women's prison - one of the islands of the Gulag archipelago. Shikhan Tratau flaunts on the coat of arms of the city of Ishimbay, is a symbol of the Ishimbay region of Bashkiria. In the past, this mountain was considered sacred.

Volcano Krenitsyn. Sakhalin region, Onekotan island

An active volcano on the Onekotan Island of the Great Kuril Ridge. The largest two-tiered “volcano within a volcano” in the world is located in the southern part of Onekotan Island. The height of the volcano is 1324 m.

The volcanic cone rises in the form of an island inside Lake Koltsevoye, which lies at an altitude of 400 m (diameter about 7 km). The lake is surrounded by a somma - the walls of the more ancient Tao-Rusyr caldera (heights 540–920 m with a base diameter of 16–17 km).

There is only one known historical eruption, which occurred in 1952.

Volcano Tyatya, Kuril Islands

An active volcano on the Kunashir Island of the Great Kuril Ridge, on the territory of the Kuril Nature Reserve. In geographical terms, Tyatya is a stratovolcano of the somma-vesuvius type (“volcano within a volcano”). The height reaches 1819 m (the highest point of Kunashir; in 1977 and subsequent years, the south-eastern part of the edge of the summit crater collapsed and most of the material fell inside the north-eastern crater. As a result of this, the total height of the volcano decreased by about 30-50 meters and is currently probably less than 1800 meters above sea level)..

The height of the somma is 1485 m, it has a regular truncated cone with a diameter of 15–18 km at the base and up to 2.5 km at the annular ridge. The foothills of the volcano are decorated with coniferous-deciduous forests with bamboo and thickets of stone birch and dwarf cedar. In the forests at the foot you can often find a bear. The path to the volcano is difficult, but most tourists get to the volcano from Yuzhno-Kurilsk.

Caves

Orda Cave, Perm region

The Orda Cave is located on the southwestern outskirts of the village of Orda, Perm Territory, on the left bank of the Kungur River. Consists of a “dry” and underwater part. The length of the dry part is 300 meters, the underwater part is 4600 meters. Today, Orda Cave is the longest flooded cave in Russia. In addition, part of the cave is the longest siphon in the CIS - 935 meters.

The cave ranks 21st among the longest gypsum caves in the world. Famous photographer Viktor Lyagushkin dedicated an entire photo project to the Orda Cave.

Kungur Cave, Perm region

This is one of the most popular attractions in Siberia and the Urals, a natural monument of all-Russian significance. The cave is located in the Perm region, on the right bank of the Sylva River on the outskirts of the city of Kungur in the village of Filippovka, 100 km from Perm.

A unique geological monument - one of the largest karst caves in the European part of Russia, the seventh longest gypsum cave in the world. The length of the cave is about 5700 m, of which 1.5 km is equipped for visits by tourists. The average air temperature in the center of the cave is +5 °C, the relative humidity in the center of the cave is 100%. The Kungur cave contains 58 grottoes, 70 lakes, 146 so-called. “organ pipes” (the highest is in the Ethereal Grotto, 22 m) - high shafts reaching almost to the surface.

Architecture

Nevyansk Leaning Tower. Sverdlovsk region, Nevyansk city

Not everyone knows that in Russia we have our own version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa - a leaning tower in the center of Nevyansk, built in the first half of the 18th century by order of Akinfiy Demidov.

The height of the tower is 57.5 meters, the base is a square with a side of 9.5 m. The deviation of the tower from the vertical is about 1.85 m, with the greatest inclination observed at the lower tier (3 ° 16"). The exact date of construction of the tower is unknown, different sources give dates ranging from 1721 to 1745.

The tower is a massive quadrangle, with 3 octagonal tiers built on top. Inside, the tower is divided into several levels - floors.

The purpose of the first floor is not precisely established. Demidov's office was located on the second floor, and during Soviet times it was a prison. On the third floor there was a laboratory: traces of silver and gold were found in the soot taken from the chimneys of the furnaces. According to one version, Demidov minted counterfeit money here. According to another, here Demidov, secretly from the state treasury, smelted silver and gold, which was mined at his mines in Altai.

Even higher is the so-called “auditory room”. Its peculiarity is that standing in one corner of the room, you can clearly hear what is being said in the opposite corner. The effect observed in the room is associated with the special shape of the ceiling - it is vaulted and at the same time slightly flattened.

On the seventh and eighth floors there are chimes with musical chimes, created by the English watchmaker Richard Phelps in 1730. The tower is completed by a roof and a metal spire with a weather vane mounted on it, made of milled iron, in which the noble coat of arms of the Demidovs is embossed.

There is a legend that the tower tilted because the basements were flooded with all the workers minting counterfeit money. By Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR No. 1327 of August 30, 1960, the tower was included in the list of historical monuments subject to protection as monuments of national importance.

Ivolginsky datsan. Republic of Buryatia, village of Verkhnyaya Ivolga

Ivolginsky datsan is a large Buddhist monastery complex, the center of the Buddhist traditional Sangha of Russia, which is the largest Buddhist community in Buryatia. One of the most striking monuments of Russian history and architecture. Located in the village of Verkhnyaya Ivolga, 36 km from the center of Ulan-Ude.

Bird home. Republic of Crimea

Among all the attractions of Crimea, it is not easy to choose just one. But we decided to stop at one of the most inspiring places. Swallow's Nest is an architectural and historical monument located on the steep 40-meter Aurora rock of Cape Ai-Todor in the village of Gaspra (Yalta City Council).

The structure resembles a medieval knight's castle like the Belem Tower or Villa Miramare near Trieste. The first wooden structure on this site was erected for a retired Russian general after the Russian-Turkish War of 1877–1878; it can be seen on the canvases of famous marine painters: I.K. Aivazovsky, L.F. Lagorio, A.P. Bogolyubov, and also in photographs from that time.

The second owner of this amazing dacha was the court physician A.K. Tobin. There is also very little information left about him. After his death, the house was owned for some time by a widow, who sold the plot to the Moscow merchant Rakhmanina. She demolished the old building, and soon a wooden castle appeared, which she called “Swallow’s Nest.”

“Swallow’s Nest” received its current appearance thanks to the oil industrialist Baron Steingel, who loved to vacation in Crimea. Steingel purchased a summer cottage on Aurora Rock and decided to build a romantic castle there, which is reminiscent of medieval buildings on the banks of the Rhine. The design of the new house was commissioned from engineer and sculptor Leonid Sherwood, the son of architect Vladimir Sherwood, author of the Historical Museum on Red Square in Moscow.

At the beginning of the First World War, the estate was bought by the Moscow merchant P. Shelaputin, who opened a restaurant in the castle. In the 1930s, there was a reading room here at the local holiday home, but the premises were considered unsafe and closed.

In 1927, Swallow's Nest was damaged during a strong earthquake. Only in 1967–1968 were repairs carried out. In addition to the monolithic slab, the entire structure was surrounded by anti-seismic belts. The tower, increased in height, became more decorative thanks to its four spiers. In 2013, cracks were discovered in the foundation slab, and in the fall the visit was suspended for design work to carry out reconstruction - strengthening the rock.

And 6 more amazing places:

Chara Sands, Trans-Baikal Territory

Chara Sands is a tract in the Kalarsky district of the Trans-Baikal Territory, which is a sandy massif measuring approximately 10 km by 5 km. Chara sands are located in the basin of the same name, in the foothills of the Kodar ridge, 9 kilometers from the village of Chara, between the valleys of the Chara, Middle Sakukan and Upper Sakukan rivers. The massif is a geological natural monument of geomorphological type of federal rank.

BAM station Novaya Chara is 10 kilometers away. The massif stretches from southwest to northeast and covers an area of ​​about 50 sq. km. In no other basin of Transbaikalia are there such large massifs of loose moving sands. Chara sands are similar in appearance to the deserts of Central Asia. The vegetation is slightly different from the taiga: there are areas with larches, dwarf birches and moisture-loving dwarf cedar. In the northeastern part of the tract there are two small lakes - Alyonushka and Tayozhnoe.

Avachinskaya Bay, Kamchatka Territory

Avachinskaya Bay is a large ice-free bay of the Pacific Ocean off the south-eastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, and is the main transport “gate” of the Kamchatka Territory. The main advantage of the bay is that it is one of the largest bays in the world: it can accommodate any ship in the world!

The length of the bay is 24 kilometers, the width at the entrance is 3 kilometers, the total area of ​​the water surface is 215 sq. km. Depth up to 26 meters. The Avacha and Paratunka rivers flow into the bay. The cities of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Vilyuchinsk are located along the shores of the bay. The bay is the main base of the Russian Pacific Fleet in Kamchatka.

A unique symbol of the bay and its landmark are the Three Brothers rocks, located at the exit to the open Avacha Bay.

Commander Islands. Aleutsky district, Kamchatka region

The Commander Islands are an archipelago of four islands in the southwestern part of the Bering Sea of ​​the Pacific Ocean, administratively part of the Aleutian region of the Kamchatka Territory of Russia. The islands are named after the navigator Commander Vitus Bering who discovered them in 1741. On the largest of them, Bering Island, there is the navigator’s grave. The Commander Islands are a place of mixture of Russian and Aleutian cultures. They have huge potential for the development of northern tourism.

Patomsky crater. Irkutsk region

The Patomsky crater is a cone of crushed limestone blocks on the slope of a mountain in the Patom Highlands in the Irkutsk region. Discovered in 1949 by geologist Vadim Viktorovich Kolpakov. Among the local population it is called the “Nest of the Fire Eagle”, also known as the “Kolpakov Cone”, “Dzhebuldinsky Crater”, “Yavaldinsky Crater”.

This is a unique geological object in its characteristics, which is a ring structure of the central type with a bulk cone composed of limestone and other rocks. The Patomsky crater was formed over a long period of time, about 500 years ago.

The diameter of the crater along the ridge is 76 m. The cone is crowned with a flat top, which is a ring shaft. In the center of the funnel there is a slide up to 12 m high. The total volume of the cone is estimated at 230–250 thousand cubic meters, weight - about a million tons.

Agur waterfalls. Sochi city, Krasnodar region

A cascade of waterfalls located on the Agura River in the Khostinsky district of Sochi. Distance from the Black Sea coast - 4 km. Further up the river - the Middle Falls, then the Upper.

The Lower Agur Waterfall is the first and most interesting of all three large waterfalls on the Agura River. It consists of two cascades: the lower one is 18 m high and the upper one is 12 m high. Below it is a wide and deep pool of blue water. From the Devil's Hole canyon to the Lower Waterfall it is approximately 1.5 km. Behind the first waterfall, a series of stairs and climbs go up, leading through 500 m to the Middle Agur waterfall - 23 meters, and then to the Upper - 21-meter waterfall. Near the Upper Waterfall, to the left of the path, there are rocks called Eagle Rocks.

Vasyugan swamps. Tomsk, Novosibirsk and Omsk regions

Some of the largest swamps in the world are located in Western Siberia, in the interfluve of the Ob and Irtysh, on the territory of the Vasyugan Plain, located mostly within the Tomsk region, and in small parts - the Novosibirsk and Omsk regions and the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.

The area of ​​the swamps is 53 thousand square meters. km (for comparison: the area of ​​Switzerland is 41 thousand sq. km), the length from west to east is 573 km, from north to south - 320 km.

The Vasyugan swamps arose about 10 thousand years ago and have been constantly increasing since then - 75% of their current area was swamped less than 500 years ago. Swamps are the main source of fresh water in the region (water reserves are 400 cubic km), there are about 800 thousand small lakes, many rivers originate from swamps, in particular: Ava, Bakchar, Bolshoy Yugan, Vasyugan, Demyanka, etc. d.

The Vasyugan swamps are home to numerous local fauna, including rare ones. Rare species of animals in the swamps include, in particular, reindeer, golden eagles, white-tailed eagle, osprey, gray shrike, and peregrine falcon. There are significant quantities of squirrels, moose, sable, wood grouse, partridges, hazel grouse, black grouse, and in smaller quantities mink, otter, and wolverine. Flora also includes rare and endangered plant species and plant communities. Among wild plants, cranberries, blueberries, and cloudberries are widespread.

Now the flora and fauna of the swamps are under threat due to the development of the territory during the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas fields.

Wikipedia materials were used in preparing the article.

Happy travels!

The world is a strange, wonderful, and sometimes scary place. We present to you the most unusual places on Earth, which are the result of the whim of Mother Nature or the work of human hands.

Spotted Lake has long been revered by the Okanagan Indians, and it is easy to see why they consider it sacred. In summer, part of the lake's water evaporates, causing the formation of small multi-colored mineral spots that you can even walk on. This lake contains the largest amount of different minerals in the world.

This is the world's largest salt pan. And when a thin film of water collects on the surface of a dry salt lake, it becomes the world's largest natural mirror.

Looking for the strangest places in the world? What about this terrifying lake? Animals that die in it turn into statues through calcification. The presence of huge volumes of sodium bicarbonate ensures that all organisms that die in the lake will turn into mummies.

Next in the ranking of the strangest places on the planet is the bridge, which is famous for its unique structural precision. The bridge itself and its reflection merge into a perfect circle, regardless of the viewing angle.

Sixty million years ago, an erupting volcano “gave birth” from its depths to a mass of molten basalt, which then hardened and shrunk in volume. As it cooled, cracks appeared in it, which can be seen today. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has approximately 37,000 polygonal columns, all of which are perfectly geometric. According to local legend, they were created by the legendary hero Finn McCool, who was preparing to fight the giant Goll.

A surreal sight - a sun-drenched dead forest in a dry oasis, surrounded by rusty orange giant sand dunes. The lack of water causes tree roots to crawl out, right onto the sand in search of the slightest drops of moisture. This is a real fight for life!

At an altitude of 776 meters in the Alps there is a charming picturesque place, in the center of which there is a small lake. But in April, the park, which at first glance seems ordinary, changes dramatically. Powerful streams of water that roll down the mountain slopes fill the gorge with clean water. And benches, flower beds, bridges, lawns, trees and shrubs disappear under it. It turns out to be a real underwater park with a depth of 2 to 20 meters. Well, divers also need somewhere to relax.

This remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in southwest Turkey. This is Pamukkale (Cotton Palace), around which are the ancient ruins of Hierapolis, once a great city. Water cascades from natural springs rich in calcium bicarbonate flow down the white travertine terraces and form stunning thermal pools with a snow-white surface, which have no analogues in the world.

On one of the sections of the industrial railway near the Ukrainian village of Klevan there is a green tunnel formed by intertwined branches of trees and bushes. It seems that it was created as a setting for some beautiful fairy tale.

There is a belief that if a couple of lovers walk through this tunnel and make a wish, it will certainly come true.

11. Lake Hillier, Western Australia

This wonderful lake was discovered in 1802. Its deep pink color lasts all year round, which some scientists believe is due to the high salinity of the water combined with the presence of a salt-bearing algae species known as Dunaliella salina and pink bacteria called halobacteria.

In the waters of the Rivers Thames and Mersey stand the remains of sea forts built on stilts to deter German air raids during the Second World War.

After the war, the forts were chosen by a group of pirate radio operators, and in 1967 they were kicked out of there by retired Colonel Paddy Roy Bates. Having occupied one of the forts - Rafs Tower - he proclaimed the creation of his own independent state called the Principality of Sealand. And to make everything “grown-up”, Bates took the name Roy I Bates, developed a constitution and came up with the national symbols of Sealand. He transported family and friends to the platform, after which the legal confrontation between the “self-proclaimed king of the lemurs,” that is, the newly-minted prince, and the British government began. And the result was not in favor of the government.

As a result, Sealand existed safely until 2006, and then, due to a short circuit in the generator and a fire, the principality burned to the ground. It would take a huge amount of money to restore it, and its owner decided to put the miniature state up for sale. So far no one has bought it.

And the rest of the forts had a less eventful and bright fate. They look like an army of rusty but merciless robots decided to launch an invasion from the sea and then stopped on their way.

Siberia has one of the most unusual places on the planet. It is known as the “Seven Giants” and “Mansi blockheads”. These huge weathering stone pillars, 30 to 42 meters high, are located west of the Urals, on Mount Man-Pupu-ner. They were created not by human hands, but by ice and snow over many years.

Legend says that the monoliths were once giant brothers, and their leader was Torev (Bear). Hearing about the beauty of the daughter of the Mansi leader, the giants went to war against the tribe in order to capture the beauty by force. But good spirits gave the leader’s son a magical weapon - a fiery sword and shield, with which he turned the giants to stone. Dying, one of them threw aside the tambourine, which also petrified and turned into the top of the Koyp (“Drum”).

Lakes generally don't have a giant "drain" that sucks water into some cavernous, invisible drain. However, the man-made Lake Berryesa is special.

When heavy rains create excessive water pressure, a hole appears in the water surface of the lake, creating a fantastically beautiful and strange hole that you hardly want to fall into.

The unique design of the spillway, officially known as the “glory hole,” allows excess water equal to 1,370 cubic meters to pass through in one second. The depth of the drain is 21 meters.

Since 1990, a man named Ra Paulette took a shovel and a pickaxe and went into the New Mexico desert to carve caves out of the pliable sand mountains. The caves, which he excavates by hand, include underground galleries decorated with intricate designs. They come to the mind of the creator right while working.

“Is this Antarctic glacier bleeding?” This is a perfectly reasonable question when you look at the Taylor Glacier, just east of the Ross Ice Shelf. A red liquid flows down it, staining the ice in its path, but there is a completely reasonable explanation for this. The red substance is highly saline, microbe-laden water that has accumulated under the glacier for millions of years. As the water reaches the surface, it is saturated with oxygen, resulting in the formation of a rusty waterfall, worthy of being included in the top 20 strangest places on Earth

For most people, death is a terrible and sad event. However, some believe that people who have passed on to another world should be remembered with a smile, and not with tears.

An example of a non-standard approach to death is the cemetery located in the Romanian village of Sepinta. Each of the 800 colorful headstones is marked with an amusing anecdote from the life of the person buried beneath it, and often contains details of his death, accompanied by a cheerful illustration.

The colors of wooden headstones have a specific meaning.

• Green has become a symbol of life.
• The color black traditionally represented death.
• Yellow is a symbol of fertility.
• Red symbolized passion.

And blue was originally the dominant color chosen by the artist Stan Jon Petrash, the author of the first “cheerful” tombstone.

Fragmented epigraphs and bright colors make this cemetery one of the most unusual places in the world.

These beautiful travertine terraces in northern Iran are an incredible natural phenomenon that were formed at an altitude of 1840 meters above sea level, over thousands of years. Travertine is a type of limestone formed from calcium deposits in running water.

The unusual reddish color of the terraces is due to the high content of iron oxide in one of the sources.

The animal figures and geometric patterns engraved on the Nazca Plateau in Peru are one of South America's greatest mysteries. Who created them and why? Scientists have no answer, only guesses.

The images are clearly visible only from the air or from an observation tower located next to the highway. The outline of each of these geoglyphs (some of them are up to 200 m long) is made using a single continuous line.

Separated from mainland Africa more than six million years ago, this island looks like the set of a science fiction movie. Socotra's incredible and unique biodiversity means it has plants and trees found nowhere else in the world. The ancient and twisted dragon tree and mushroom tree look especially strange.

There is a joke that cats actually rule the world. Well, in every joke, as you know, there is only a grain of joke. The seals still managed to capture one island.

A short ferry ride from Japan's east coast takes you to Tashiro Island, home to about 100 people and many, many cats.

Cat breeding was initially encouraged on the island because the locals made silk and mice were a natural enemy of silkworms. Local fishermen believed that the fluffies brought them good luck, and there is even a cat temple on the island, as well as a recently built cat-shaped basin (an attraction for tourists). It goes without saying that dogs are not allowed on the island.

Incredible and strange places on the planet on video