TOP 10 NATURAL WORLD WONDERS
1.
Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan:
Popularly
known as the “The Door to Hell,” this burning crater is a 196 feet wide and 65
feet deep hole in the Karakum desert in Turkmenistan. It has been burning for
the past 38 years. It is not of natural occurrence, but by the exploration
accident of a Soviet company. The geologists decided to burn away the poisonous
gas to protect the local people.
2.
Jeita Grotto, Nahr al-Kalb Valley, Lebanon:
These two
caves together make up the longest explored cave in Lebanon. Found in the
outskirts of Beirut, these caves attract thousands of visitors for it
stalactites formed in different colors. The world’s largest stalactite (26.9
ft.) is found in these caves.
3.
Mount Roraima, Guyana/Brazil/Venezuela:
Stretching
along the borders of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana is found the massive
sandstone plateau. It is surrounded by 1300 ft cliffs, which creates an
isolated and unique ecosystem. There are huge crystal formations on the floor
and amazing rock formations carved by wind and water on the top of the plateau
4.
Belize Barrier Reef, Belize City:
Being one
of the largest barrier reefs in the world, it is also known as “The Great Blue
Hole.” It has atolls, hundreds of cays,
mangrove forests, coastal lagoons and estuaries. It is so big that much of it
still stays undiscovered and only 10% of its marine life has been identified. It
is very famous for its clear and warm protected water which is very apt for
snorkelers and novice divers.
5.
Eye of the Sahara, Mauritania, Sahara Desert:
Found in
the surreal landscape Mauritania, in the Sahara Desert, this mysterious Eye of
the Sahara is also known as the Richat Structure. This circular structure was
once thought to be a crater, but now it has been determined to be an outcome of
erosion. With almost 25 miles diameter, it looks like a gigantic bulls eye from
space.
6.
Valley of the Moon, San Juan, Argentina:
This Ischigualasto
Formation, popularly known as the Valley of the Moon, is filled with strange
clay formations of different shapes and colors, which were created by
deposition of minerals and sediments. It houses dinosaur fossils dating back to
225 million years ago, and has all the dinosaur fossils from the Triassic
period.
7.
Ngorogoro Crater, Tanzania:
This crater
is such a beautiful natural wonder because; it is a deep, volcanic crater that
is the largest unflooded and unbroken caldera in the world. It was created by a
volcanic eruption 2-3 million years ago. It is 13 miles across and 2000 ft
deep. Today it houses nearly 25,000 wild animals. There are many resorts around
the crater. This attracts many visitors to see the animals in their natural
habitat.
8.
Blue Grotto, Capri, Italy:
This is
a sea cave made of limestone on the coast of the island of Capri. The water
inside the cave has a brilliant sapphire blue color. This is because of the
light entering this cave through another one which reflects off the whit floor
of the water. This creates an magical environment which was once a bathing spot
for emperors.
9.
The Shilin Stone Forest, China:
Found in
the Yunnan province, the Shilin Forest spreads over 135 square miles looking
like an ancient petrified forest filled with rock formations that jut
vertically from the ground. It is suggested to have been formed 270 million
years ago. It was formed when a large sea covering the area was made to retreat
due to the constant movement of the earth, allowing the limestone cliffs to
rise.
10.
Slot Canyons, Arizona and Utah:
The Slot
Canyons are very deep canyons, with very unique shapes, formed when water was rushed
through sandstone and limestone. They are found in Arizona and Utah. Situated just
outside Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is the most visited Antelope
Canyon, just outside slot canyon in the Southwest.
