20 most beautiful places on the planet. The most interesting and beautiful places on planet earth. Iguazu Falls, Argentina, Brazil
We would like to introduce you to a dozen places on our planet that look more like scenes from a science fiction film. But no... All these places really exist. Below is a list of the most unusual places on the planet!
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Plitvice Lakes National Park was founded in 1949. It is the largest national park in Croatia, as well as the oldest park in South-Eastern Europe. More than a million visitors flock here to admire the beauty of the park. There are many waterfalls, caves and lakes here. The area is home to more than 100 bird species. Most of the park consists of beech and fir. The park is incredibly beautiful in winter, when the waterfalls freeze and everything is covered in white snow.
Fingal's Cave, Scotland
Named after the hero of an 18th century epic poem, Fingal's Cave has numerous geometric columns reminiscent of Ireland's Giant's Causeway. The cave is formed from hexagonally connected basalt columns created by solidified lava. This sea cave is located on the Isle of Staffa, which is part of Scotland. The high arched roof enhances the sound of the ocean. Although even small boats cannot enter the cave, many local companies offer tours of the area.
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
The bay is located in the Gulf of Tonkin in the South China Sea. It includes more than 3,000 islands, as well as rocks, caves and cliffs, making it one of the most unusual places in the world. The bay is an extraordinary example of limestone erosion. The name Ha Long means "where the dragon descended into the sea." Due to its vertical nature, the archipelago is sparsely populated. Most of the islands are negligible, however, the largest ones have their own internal lakes. Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Red Beach, Panjin, China
This place is perhaps far from the traditional understanding of the beach. Instead of endless expanses of sand, we see algae called sueda. Most of the year, these algae are green, but with the onset of autumn they turn a dark, cherry-red color. In addition to its whimsical colors, Red Beach is home to more than 260 species of birds and 399 species of animals. This makes it one of the most complex ecosystems in the world. It is also the largest swamp and wetland on Earth.
Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
Located next to the Atlantic Ocean, the Giant's Causeway, or Giant's Causeway as it is also known, is one of the strangest natural wonders. It consists of about 40,000 columns, most of which have six sides. These columns look remarkably like a honeycomb. The creation of this place from cooled magma took almost 60 million years. Scientists believe that it took its final form some 15,000 years ago after the last ice age.
Thermal springs, Pamukkale, Türkiye
Take a trip along the Aegean Sea and not far from the Menderes River you will find beautiful thermal springs. For centuries, people have bathed in these hot, mineral-rich waters. Pools and frozen waterfalls form multi-level cliffs. In spring, the water is rich in calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate. The current in Pamukkale occurs at a speed of 400 liters per second and this flow constantly forms new small round pools.
Hvitserkur, Iceland
Some are sure that this rock has the appearance of a dinosaur, others say that it is a dragon, and still others claim that it is a monster. In any case, this natural formation arouses human interest. Every year thousands of people come to the north of the Vatnes Peninsula to look at this “dinosaur at a watering hole.” The rock has three holes and has been reinforced with concrete to prevent further erosion. Even in photographs, viewers can see the bird droppings that give the rock its name. Translated from Icelandic, the word Hvitserkur means white shirt.
Antelope Canyon, USA
This canyon is the most visited in the Southwestern United States. One look at the smooth, orange-red walls makes people delighted. Antelope Canyon was formed by a flash flood. Due to heavy rains, it continues to change its shape to this day. While scientists are not sure when people discovered this cave, local Navajo tribes say this surreal canyon has always been part of their history.
Jiuzhaigou Valley, China
The valley is located slightly north of the city of Chengdu. Covering an area of approximately 720 square kilometers, it contains an impressive array of fantastic forests, spectacular waterfalls and tranquil lakes. More than 2,550 plant species grow in this area.
Skaftafell, Iceland
Skaftafell is a national park in Iceland, however the photos shown are of the Skaftafellsjokull glacier. The caves at the edge of the glacier were formed by high pressure ice that contained air bubbles. The cave with a six-meter entrance gradually narrows to one meter. Since glaciers are highly active, you can hear them cracking and groaning.
Beauty is an entirely subjective concept. Looking at the most fascinating places on our planet, a person begins to realize that true beauty is all around him, and it is impossible not to enjoy it. Over endless millions of years, Mother Nature has created so many masterpieces that still not all the most beautiful places on Earth are covered by tourist routes.
Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia)
This is the largest salt lake in the world, and here time seems to slow down. You can even walk on its surface! During the rains, this salt marsh becomes a huge and extraordinary mirror. Here salt is mined, which is exported using antediluvian locomotives, the cemetery of which is located three kilometers from the city of Uyuni. The ideally flat and stable surface of the salt marsh, better than the surface of the ocean, makes it possible to adjust satellite instruments probing our planet. There are islands on the salt lake on which cacti manage to grow - photographs of such vegetation against the backdrop of the sparkling whiteness of the salt marsh are incredibly spectacular.
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Pamukkale (Türkiye)
In the southwest of Turkey there is a very beautiful geological formation - a rock made of limestone tuff - Pamukkale. Here the river begins, which descends along stone terraces in the form of waterfalls and forms multi-tiered pools. Local residents rather poetically called this place “cotton castle.” Calcium-saturated water provided this unusual landscape with incredible whiteness. Thousands of tourists began to come to the natural terraces and thermal springs at the foot of the mountains every year.
Yunnan Rice Terraces (China)
The rice fields located on the mountain terraces of the Chinese province of Yunnan are extremely picturesque. They stretch for several tens of kilometers, exactly repeating all the curves of the earth's topography. The local ecological system is unique in its formation. In February, rice is planted in the soil, renewed by mountain springs, and the harvest is harvested in early autumn. The tourist season lasts from late autumn to mid-spring. Inexperienced travelers are attracted by the mirror surfaces of rice paddies, reflecting the rays of the sun, which, when refracted, provide the entire solar spectrum.
Great Blue Hole (Belize)
Off the coast of Belize in the Caribbean Sea there is a barrier reef, in the center of one of its atolls there is an unusual object - a mysterious, beautiful blue hole, perfectly round and going far into the depths. However, in nature such phenomena occur often; in this case, the size of the hole is striking - the diameter is 300 meters and the depth is 120 meters. Extreme divers love to come here to get new doses of adrenaline. Once upon a time this hole was explored by Jacques Cousteau himself, after him it became famous throughout the world.
Arizona Wave (USA)
Near the border separating the states of Arizona and Utah, on the Colorado Plateau, there is an unusual sandstone formation, which has irregular, intricate shapes with smooth curves and is painted in rich ocher colors, which is given the name “Arizona wave”. All self-respecting professional landscape photographers definitely strive to get here, but to do this they have to overcome many obstacles, because there are no good roads here. The peculiar structure, reminiscent of a frozen stream of caramel, arose as a result of a long process of petrification of sand dunes into solid rock.
Jiuzhaigou National Park (China)
The southeastern Chinese province of Sichuan has many attractions, one of which is the incredibly beautiful Jiuzhaigou National Park. It is located in the north of the province. There are many lakes and waterfalls here, and the special composition of the local water gives them an incredibly beautiful turquoise color. They look especially magnificent in the fall, when their waters reflect the crowns of trees with leaves of all kinds of colors.
Plitvice Lakes (Croatia)
The Balkan country of Croatia also has a mysterious, colorful and incredibly beautiful place - Plitvice Lakes. They are included in the largest national park in Croatia. The landscapes of the park smell of mysticism: it is surrounded by impenetrable dense thickets, which locals call the “devil’s forest.” A chain of lakes is located in one mountain valley; water from each upper lake flows through numerous waterfalls into the lake located below. Since water quickly destroys limestone rock, the waterfalls change every year. In winter, frozen waterfalls are no less spectacular than in summer. All Plitvice lakes are divided into upper and lower.
Valley of the 10 Peaks (Canada)
The nature of Canada is very beautiful, especially its icy beauty. One of the notable natural sites is the Valley of 10 Peaks, which is located at the base of the multi-headed Vekchemna mountain range, which has 10 peaks. Nearby is glacial Moraine Lake, which is a prominent feature of Banff National Park. To better explore the local attractions, there are many trails for tourists. One of the views is called "20 dollars", because a 20 dollar bill was once issued with this landscape.
Mount Roraima (Brazil and Venezuela)
On the border between Brazil and Venezuela is the very beautiful peak of Roraima. In fact, Roraima is the name given to several mountain ranges rising among the Amazon wilds. This place became especially famous after the publication of Arthur Conan Doyle’s most popular novel “The Lost World”; it was here that he transferred the main events of the novel and populated the local lands, closed from the whole world by inaccessible mountains. Indeed, these places can serve as a powerful source of imagination and creative inspiration.
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Monument Valley (USA)
In northeastern Arizona, on the border with Utah, there is the Colorado Plateau, a desert with an unusual and fascinating landscape. It was called Monument Valley because in the middle of the flat desert there are rocks carved into unusual shapes by the wind, creating an alien landscape. Almost all American westerns were filmed here; we have long been accustomed to seeing dashing cowboys on the screen, galloping through the desert against the backdrop of these reddish rocks.
Colored rocks of Zhangye (China)
There are many amazing places in China, for example, the unusually beautiful colorful rocks in Gansu province. They arose during the Cretaceous period. The unusual color scheme is explained by the fact that among other rocks, red sandstone clearly predominates, as well as sedimentary silt rocks that have undergone oxidation after the waters receded from these places. Currently, the Chinese authorities have turned this place into one of the popular tourist routes. Landscape artists adore the local colorful rocks.
Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
The poetic name Halong translated from Vietnamese means “the bay where dragons find shelter.” Following the bay, the city located on its shores inherited the same name. Perhaps the bay fully lives up to its mystical name, because it contains over 3 thousand small islands, mysterious caves and rocky mountains along the shores. In some caves, penetrating deep into the rocks, attractions are arranged, here exciting adventure routes are prepared for tourists, and multi-colored lighting is provided. Any guest here feels as if he is in the cave of a real dragon.
Iguazu Falls (Brazil and Argentina)
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Iguazu Falls refers to a large complex of 275 waterfalls. They are twice as tall and wide as the famous Niagara Falls. The waterfalls owe their origin to volcanic activity: after the eruption, a huge crack formed in the ground, right under the bed of the Iguazu River, which caused the appearance of a whole cascade of waterfalls. The waterfall looks especially impressive during the rainy season, which occurs in November-March, when the turbulent river brings down 13 thousand cubic meters of water every second.
Crystal River (Columbia)
Although this Colombian river is officially called Caño Cristales, Indian tribes living in the wilds of Central Colombia call it “the escaped from paradise” or “the river of five colors.” There are many natural wonders in the tropics, but this fabulously picturesque multi-colored river is especially original! In different places its bottom is colored pink, red, yellow, green, blue and black. It's all because of the amazing colorful algae that turn the river into a rainbow flowing through the Amazon forests.
Enchanted Well (Brazil)
The magic of this unusual attraction manifests itself every day for only an hour and a half - from 10:30 to noon, when the rays of the sun penetrate into the cave. This well, 37 meters deep, is located at the bottom of an even deeper cave (80 m). But the water in it is so clean that at the bottom of the well you can see fragments of trees that fell there in time immemorial. As if by magic, the walls of the cave and the lake at its bottom are suddenly illuminated with a magical blue light. Access to this cave, located in the Chapada Diamantina National Park, is strictly regulated due to the abundance of visitors and the fragility of the local ecosystem.
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Marble Caves (Chile and Argentina)
This place is located on the border between Argentina and Chile and has three names: among the Argentines - Buenos Aires, among the Chileans - General Carrera, and among the local Indian tribes - Chelenko (lake of storms). The mountain climate here is actually very harsh. But there are a lot of fish in the lake, including salmon and trout. On the Chilean side there is the most interesting place - the marble caves. There are huge reserves of this valuable stone, in different shades, including even the rarest deep blue. The sunlight entering the cave is refracted in different colors.
Sagano Bamboo Grove (Japan)
In the west of the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto there is an extraordinary bamboo forest. Thousands of bamboo trunks, like masts, sway gracefully in the wind, while they rub against each other, emitting a subtle ringing sound. Next to the grove stands the ancient Buddhist temple Tenryu-Ji, protected by UNESCO.
Hamilton Basin (USA)
This unusual ecosystem is located near the city of Austin in Texas and is a lake hidden under the dome of a cave. Many thousands of years ago, an underground river flowed in this place through the karst rocks and gradually undermined them until the cave vaults collapsed in the center, revealing the river hidden beneath them to the sun. It turned out to be a very cozy secluded bay with a beach under the canopy. The water in the lake has a rich blue color. Moss and climbing plants hang from the vaults of the grotto in some places, and beautiful limestone stalactites descend in others. Swallows make their nests under the dome, and nearby a waterfall falls from a 15-meter height.
Valley of Flowers (India)
In the western Himalayas, in the upper reaches of the Ganges, there are incredibly beautiful flowering meadows. Almost all plants growing here are endemic. Scientists are closely monitoring the local alpine meadows, which stretch over 88 square meters. km. Magnificent flower meadows are adjacent to mountains, forests and waterfalls.
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Grand Canyon (USA)
The Grand Canyon area is one of the oldest national parks in the United States. This is one of the most large-scale creations of nature that has attracted human attention. The canyon is located in Arizona, and was carved over millions of years by the Colorado River. Until the middle of the 16th century, a tribe of Pueblo Indians lived in the canyon, who settled in small gaps in the walls of the canyon. These are the most beautiful places in the world, so now the Grand Canyon has turned into a giant tourist complex - there are many descents, places to stay overnight and parking lots.
Hands to Feet. Subscribe to our channel atOur planet is so beautiful and multifaceted that it is difficult to single out the most beautiful places on Earth. The thought of the magnificent natural wonders that you want to visit makes your head spin. Therefore, the selection includes 25 places that are definitely worth seeing and enjoying the wonderful spectacle.
Beautiful nature is the best masterpiece, which cannot be compared with the creation of mankind. Everyone can find beauty in any country and locality. But there are places in the world that take your breath away when you see them. Here they are:
Jasper National Park (Canada)
The largest national park is located in the province of Alberta. It was here that the oldest glacier in the world was formed - Athabasca, located on 200 km². Relic spruce trees grow on the territory of the park, which are more than 700 years old. Nearby is the Malin Canyon with caves famous for their rock paintings. The lakes and rivers of the park have crystal clear water and are protected by UNESCO.
Molokai Island (Hawaii)
The island of Molokai is Hawaii in the distant past: untouched nature, wild landscapes, rocks, reefs, beaches and no civilization. One of the interesting places on the island is Kalaupapa Park. Lepers were once exiled here, so the sand dunes are dotted with graves. The north of the island is famous for the Pali coast, which is surrounded by huge cliffs. The road to the city of Hana passes through the Halawa Valley, offering tourists beautiful sights: rivers, beaches and bays.
Mount Roraima (Venezuela)
Beautiful mountains are located in Venezuela. It was under the impression of Mount Roraima that Arthur Conan Doyle created the novel The Lost World. Indeed, the existence of the mountain was considered an invention of the Indians who lived in these parts. After all, Roraima is lost in the Amazon jungle, and its flat peak, 2810 meters high, is often hidden by thick fog. Rare species of plants and animals are found on the slopes of the mountain - this area was isolated from the outside world for a long time.
Canyonlands National Park (USA)
The most unusual and beautiful canyons are located in Canyonlands Park. The main attraction is the high-mountain plateau “Island in the Sky”. At an altitude of 1828 meters, a beautiful panorama of the park opens up, where wild paths and majestic arches are visible. One of these is the Mesa Arch, which is magnificent at sunrise. In the lowest part of the park is the Needles area - these are massive sandstone spiers where climbers like to hone their skills.
Faroe Islands (Denmark)
The most beautiful places in the world are located in the Norwegian Sea - the Faroe Islands. Officially, the lands belong to Denmark, but have autonomous governance. The number of inhabitants is 50,000 people. The most popular archipelago among tourists is Mycines. This wilderness area is famous for its deep gorges and puffin bird life. At the very top there is a lighthouse with a beautiful view. The neighboring island of Vágar is famous for the hanging lake Sorvágsvatn. It is located on the edge of a platform 100 meters high above the ocean.
Engadin Valley (Switzerland)
No matter what corner of the valley a tourist goes to, he will find pristine nature and incredible landscapes everywhere. The area is divided into two parts - Upper and Lower Engadin. On the territory of Verkhny there are high-mountain resort lakes: Sils, Silvaplana and St. Moritz. The Lower Engadin is rich in vegetation and limestone rocks. Here glaciers border on vast valleys covered with pine and larch trees.
Plitvice Lakes (Croatia)
The largest park in Croatia is famous for the location of 16 lakes with turquoise water. The territory is divided into high and low parts, so the lakes cascade over one another, forming networks of large and small waterfalls. The upper part of the park is overgrown with dense forests where wild animals live. The lower part is not so rich in vegetation, but no less beautiful. Every year new waterfalls appear in Plitvice.
Chocolate Hills (Philippines)
The chocolate hills have become the hallmark of the island of Bohol. 1268 limestone hills of regular cone shape grew on the plateau. Because of the brown grass, the hills are nicknamed Chocolate, because their peaks contrast sharply with the greenery of the forests. Scientists believe that the hills arose due to volcanic activity or are the bottom of an ancient ocean. The territory is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Temple complex Angkor Wat (Cambodia)
The powerful and majestic Angkor Wat (Temple City) was lost in the jungles of Cambodia until it was discovered by the French explorer Henri Muot in 1861. It is difficult to imagine that the Khmers were able to erect huge buildings, which included pavilions, temples, tombs, and pyramids. The heart of this place is the huge temple complex of Angkor Wat. It is interesting that all stone blocks are subject to artistic processing. They depict the faces of the gods, the walls are dotted with patterns and bas-reliefs of dancing people.
Santorini Island (Greece)
Santorini consists of five islands in the Aegean Sea. The most popular resort is located on the island of Thira (Fira). This is where photographs are taken with a panorama of snow-white houses with blue roofs and shutters. The island of Oia is no less popular. People come here to see the best sunsets. Other islands have small villages and beaches with a variety of sand: white, black and red. In Santorini you can see the excavations of the city of Akrotiri, as well as ancient Fira with buildings from the Doric era.
Li River (China)
The Li River, which originates in the Maoer Mountains and flows along the populated areas of the Chinese district, opens up beautiful places. The clear and clear water reflects the high rock peaks and lush vegetation that surrounds the river. Fishing villages are located on the shores, and mysterious caves have formed in the rocks. Musical instruments are made from reeds that grow on the banks of the Li River. For tourists, ships are supervised here, allowing you to see all the abundance of nature.
Bagan (Myanmar)
Myanmar is Thailand's neighbor, but much less explored by tourists. Here is the city of Bagan, which is rich in architectural monuments. The eclectic Asian-style buildings were once part of the cultural center of Myanmar (Burma). Now only echoes of the former grandeur of Buddhist temples and palaces remain, stretching over 16 square miles. Bagan was supposed to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, but this did not happen due to the fault of the local authorities. They restored ancient temples, ignoring the original style and materials of the buildings.
Yosemite National Park (USA)
Who hasn't heard about the grove of giant sequoias? These relict trees grow in Yosemite National Park. The age of some sequoias reaches 1900–2400 years, and their height is 87 meters. In the center of the reserve lies the Yosemite Valley, formed by glaciers. This is where the monolithic rock El Capitan is located. The park is home to Horsetail, Bridlevale, Nevada and Vernal falls.
Bamboo Forest (Japan)
One of the most amazing attractions is located in the western part of the city of Kyoto in Japan. Anyone looking for harmony and enlightenment should visit the 16 km² bamboo grove. Walking along the shady alleys, everyone will enjoy the enchanting sound that bamboos make when the wind blows. Along the sides of the narrow paths, thick bamboo stems reach up to a height of up to 40 m. The thickness of some stems reaches 35 cm.
Pamukkale (Türkiye)
Pamukkale or 'cotton castle' is a thermal resort in the Turkish province of Denizli. Legend has it that Queen Cleopatra found her beauty and youth here. Seventeen reservoirs-terraces made of travertine from afar resemble snow-white icebergs. The terraces are filled with crystal clear water, rich in magnesium, calcium and hydrocarbons. However, swimming on the slopes is prohibited. The area is included in the UNESCO heritage list; security guards monitor its safety and cleanliness.
Navagio Bay (Greece)
The bay, hidden from prying eyes, is located in the north-west of the island of Zakynthos. The pristine white sand beach can only be accessed from the sea. Greece is a gigantic open-air museum, and even the small bay of Navagio has a landmark - a beached ship. The transport once belonged to smugglers, but those, noticed by border guards, abandoned the ship and sailed away on a boat.
Provence (France)
The French province of Provence is associated with endless lavender fields. It’s not for nothing that the local landscapes inspired Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Renoir. Picturesque mountain villages here give way to fashionable resorts on the Cote d'Azur. One of these is the city of Nice. The high plateau of Valensole is covered with lavender thickets, which are broken up by the small villages of Sisteron, Manosque, Castellane. A beautiful panorama of the sea opens from the Verdon Gorge.
Victoria Falls (South Africa)
Another UNESCO heritage site is the Zambezi River. This is the magnificent Victoria Falls or, as the local tribe called it, Thundering Smoke. The mist from the spray above the waterfall is visible at a distance of 64 km, because the water falls into the gorge from a height of 120 m. The width of Victoria reaches 1800 m, which makes the waterfall one of the most majestic in the world.
Antelope Canyon (USA)
In the state of Arizona there is a mysterious and bizarre place created by nature - Antelope Canyon. Thanks to the red-red color of the walls, which is so similar to the skin of an antelope, the canyon got its name. When sunlight enters the canyon, the walls in the gorge light up with a special light, creating interesting shapes and shadows. These giant depressions in the sandstone are created by wind and water, they stretch for several kilometers. Therefore, Antelope Canyon is divided into Upper and Lower. The Upper part is easier to get to, but the Lower canyon is less accessible, since you have to go down into the gorge.
Valley of the Ten Peaks (Canada)
Alberta is home to Banff National Park, which includes the Valley of the Ten Peaks. The valley of ten mountain peaks was discovered by researchers in 1894. At the foot of the mountains lies Moraine Lake. Due to mineral deposits, the water in the lake is an unusual blue color. The reservoir was formed due to the melting of glaciers. There is a high probability of encountering a bear here, so tourists are not recommended to deviate from the established routes.
Multnomah Falls (USA)
The second highest waterfall in America is located in Oregon. Multnomah Falls is divided into two tiers: the upper one is 165 m high and the lower one is 21 m high. To get a good look at the beauty of this place, Italian masons built the Benson Bridge between the tiers. You can also appreciate the beauty from a bird's eye view if you climb the rock along a steep path. Legend has it that Multnomah Falls was formed by the wishes of a princess who was looking for a secluded place to bathe.
Freycinet National Park (Australia)
The park is located on the east coast of Tasmania. Named after the French navigator Louis de Freycinet. The island's coastline is dotted with secluded coves and clean beaches with white sand and crystal blue water. People come here to swim in unusual waters, go diving and explore the rich underwater world. The inland part of Freycinet is famous for the wildlife that can only be found in Australia. These are opossums, echidnas, wombats, kangaroo rats and Tasmanian devils.
Keukenhof (Netherlands)
Between Amsterdam and The Hague lies the royal flower park Keukenhof. More than 7 million bulbous plants grow on 32 hectares of land, including tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses. Streams and canals gurgle between the flowerbeds; there are also lakes and waterfalls on the territory. There are bridges across the reservoirs for easy viewing of the area. To enjoy the abundance of flowers, you should visit the park from the end of March to the end of May.
Alentejo (Portugal)
The largest region of Portugal is also the most sparsely populated. Alentejo has magnificent natural landscapes, plains of vineyards and olive groves, mountain ranges and sandy beaches. The central city of the region, Evora, is famous for its medieval churches and temples. In the neighboring town of Elvas you can see castles and the Cathedral of Nossa Senhor Assuncao.
Geirangerfjord (Norway)
Norway's incredibly picturesque fjord is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The place is often visited by tourists, since the road to Geiranger is rich in observation platforms from which it offers magnificent views. The Seven Sisters, Groom and Bridal Veil waterfalls fall from the steep cliffs of the fjord. The unique landscape was formed during the last ice age. One of the roads leading into the region is called the Troll Staircase. From a narrow mountain serpentine you can see a view of the waterfalls that will take your breath away.
Every tourist must visit the most beautiful places in the world. Every person has their own understanding of beauty, especially in their native places, where sunsets and sunrises are the most beautiful. But there are places on the planet created by nature itself that are definitely worth seeing.
Our planet is beautiful. And the more a person travels, the more he becomes convinced of this. But a lifetime is not enough to visit all the beautiful places, cities, lagoons and natural sites. It is difficult to rank the “Top 10 most beautiful places on the planet.” And what can serve as a criterion? People have different aesthetic senses. In addition, there are also man-made landscapes, the sight of which will take your breath away. These are, for example, tulip fields in Holland, flower plantations in Provence, Hitachi Park near the Japanese city of Hitatinaka, established in 1991 on the site of a former military base, or the Rhine Valley with its medieval castles and vineyards. But we still chose ten dizzying landscapes that should appeal to everyone. In this article we will list the most beautiful places on the planet with their descriptions and photographs. Do you agree with the rating below?
Big Blue Hole
This unique natural phenomenon is invariably present in all lists of the most beautiful places on our planet. Perhaps he doesn’t take first place everywhere. Not far from the Yucatan Peninsula, along the Caribbean coast, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef stretches for 700 kilometers.
Jacques Yves Cousteau discovered the Blue Hole in a section of the Lighthouse underwater coral ridge. The phenomenon administratively belongs to Belize and is located one hundred kilometers from the coast of this Latin American country. The hole is a perfectly round hole with a diameter of 305 meters and a depth of 120 m. Among the azure shallow waters, it appears as a dark blue pupil. Alas, the most beautiful places on the planet are often the most inaccessible. You can also admire the hole from the air. But to fully enjoy the beauty of this phenomenon, you need to immerse yourself in it - in the most literal sense of the word. If you are a professional diver, you will experience an unforgettable sight. The walls are surrounded by stalactites, and this “cave” is inhabited by huge groupers, stingrays and lemon sharks.
Geyser "Fly"
The most beautiful places on the planet are not limited to masterpieces created by nature, such as the Blue Hole. Fly Geyser is a thermal and permanent spring on the ranch of the same name in the US state of Nevada.
This beauty appeared... by mistake. In 1916, a rancher wanted to dig a well. But in his zeal he dug into a geothermal pocket. Boiling water began to dissolve mineral rocks and in 1964 came to the surface. Now the geyser is throwing out three jets of water to a height of one and a half meters. Cyanobacteria, algae and calcium carbonate give the liquid a strange color. Unfortunately, only a few can achieve beauty. And not because the ranch is located in inaccessible mountains. No, the geyser, which ranks second in the “Top Most Beautiful Places on the Planet,” is located 30 km from the town of Gerlach and very close to the R34 road. But the ranchers carefully hide their wealth and only allow anyone they want to see it. All attempts to purchase the territory in order to make the passage to the geyser accessible to the public have so far been unsuccessful.
Crystal River
The official name of this waterway is Caño Cristales. But local tribes living in the jungles of Central Colombia call it the “River of Five Colors” or “River of Paradise.” Many planets are in the tropics. But Caño Cristales is the most original river.
Its waters are indeed colored red, green, yellow, black and blue. They are made that way by the inhabitants of the river - algae. Rainbows flow through the foothills of the Amazon rainforest. You can get to this natural phenomenon with an excursion to the Serrania de la Macarena National Park. Tours last four days and run from June to November, during the peak algae bloom period.
Bend of the Colorado River
Many of the most beautiful places on the planet, photos of which are known to everyone from posters and postcards, are located in the USA. The government of this country carefully protects natural attractions, creating national parks and reserves. The Colorado River itself is very picturesque. But there is a section in its bed that, bending, forms the shape of an ideal horseshoe. The best way to look at such beauty is from a bird's eye view - from aboard a helicopter. The Colorado Bend is located near the city of Page, eight kilometers below Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam.
Arizona wave
To see this natural phenomenon, you need to be lucky and win the lottery. Why? Because these mountains were formed from ancient sand dunes about two hundred million years ago. Under the influence of winds and rains, the ridge acquired a truly unearthly landscape. However, excessive presence of people here can destroy the soft sandstone. Therefore, only twenty people are allowed here per day. Ten vouchers are drawn online four months before the excursion, and another 10 the day before, on R89. This highway passes near the already mentioned Page. It just so happens that these most beautiful places on the planet - the Colorado Bend and the Martian landscape of the Arizona Wave - are located nearby.
Cave Cueva de los Cristales
Some of the most beautiful places on the planet, alas, are hidden underground. This natural object was discovered quite recently - in the year two thousand. And then the Mexican city of Chihuahua became known not only as the birthplace of the Chihuahuan dog breed. When they were digging a new mining tunnel, they came across an underground cavity filled with water. Its depth is three hundred meters. But this is not why the cave made it into the Top 10 “Most Beautiful Places on the Planet.” The photo shows giant ray-shaped crystals that grew on the walls of underground halls. Some of them reach a size of fifteen meters. And what’s most interesting is that these crystals formed in an aqueous environment. Over the course of several hundred thousand years, selenite (a type of gypsum) settled on the walls of the labyrinth. Tourists are not allowed into the cave, because the temperature in it is +60 o C, and the air contains hydrogen sulfide.
Salar de Uyuni Salar
The facility is located near the high-altitude Lake Titicaca. It is named after the nearby town of Uyuni (Bolivia). This is the largest dry lake in the world. But it wasn’t because of its size that it was included in the “Most Beautiful Places on the Planet” rating. The huge field is covered with small salt crystals. They sparkle so much in the desert sun that you won't be able to do it without protective glasses. But that's not all. Tourists are taken to look at the salt marsh during the rainy season, which lasts in Bolivia from November to March. Then this natural attraction again turns into a shallow lake. But a high concentration of salt gives the water the properties of a mirror. The reflected sky merges with the horizon.
Later, the lake becomes covered with a salt crust. The water breaks out into small cone-shaped volcanoes. The city of Uyuni is also famous for its Fisherman's Island (Isla de Pescadores). In fact, this is an oasis in which eight-meter cacti grow, which are sometimes up to a thousand years old. And the shores of the salt marsh are surrounded by a forest of stones. The whimsical sculptures are created by rain and wind.
Spotted Lake Kliluk
For three seasons a year, this is the most common body of water. And only in the hot summer the surface and shores of the lake turn into the most beautiful places on the planet. This body of water has the highest concentrations of sodium, calcium, magnesium sulfate, titanium and silver in the world. When the summer heat sets in, the top layer of water dries out. Minerals form multi-colored islands called “ice floes” that float on the surface of the lake, and you can walk on them. Imagine! The color of such icebergs depends on the predominant substance. The facility is located near the city of Osoyoos in Canada, near the US border.
Europeans gave the reservoir the name Spotted Lake, which is a literal translation of the name given to the object by the Okanagan Indians. For them, Kliluk is still a sacred place. After all, the waters of the lake heal wounds. The indigenous population bought the reservoir and does not allow whites near it. You can only admire the lake from a distance - from the highway.
Enchanted Well
If the Canadian lake is included in the Top 10 “Beautiful Places on Planet Earth” only in the summer, then this attraction reveals its magic only for an hour and a half a day. After all, there is an enchanted well at the bottom of an 80-meter cave. The water in it is so clean that you can see the bottom down to the smallest detail. But the well is deep - thirty-seven meters! At the bottom lie trees and branches that fell into the cave many years ago. The well reveals its charms from half past ten to noon. Then the sun's rays penetrate into the cave.
As if by the wave of a fairy's wand, everything - the reservoir and the walls of the underground cavity - is illuminated with magical sapphire light. This phenomenal natural site is located in the Chapada Diamontina National Park in northeastern Brazil. Due to the fragility of the eco-system, access to the well is strictly regulated.
Marble Caves
And the end of the list of “The most beautiful places on the planet” is a lake located on the border of Argentina and Chile. It has three names at once. The Argentines call it Buenos Aires, the Chileans call it General Carrera, and the local Indian tribes call it Chelenco, which means “Lake of Storms.” The name is very apt, since the climate here is harsh and mountainous. But the lake is teeming with fish, especially trout and salmon. The most beautiful and original corner is on the Chilean side. These are the Marble Caves.
There is no visible or invisible precious stone here. And the marble in the caves is of different shades - even deep blue. The sun's rays penetrating under the cave arches make the mineral play with hundreds of colors.