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| By: Sha - at August 22, 2013 |
Top 10 Natural Wonders of the World
 The world is full of endless, fascinating natural wonders. If you like to be
taken back by the splendor of nature, then there is no shortage of places in the
world that will leave their unforgettable mark on your life. Even for the most experienced
travelers, it is not easy to pick the top 10 natural wonders of the world. It is
not even easy to pick the top 20 natural destinations on this planet. Yet, some
of these natural wonders of the world are in some ways more alluring than other
wonders.
Here are top 10 natural wonders of the world that you should visit if you
have an opportunity to travel afar:
10) Amazon
River and Rain Forest (Brazil)
Even in this day of modern technology, the Amazon Rain Forest is one of the
truly unexplored places left on the earth. It is truly a remarkable wonder of nature. Filled
with a jungle dense with unique vegetation, it spans over most of Brazil’s
width. Brazil is the largest country in South America. The Amazon is the biggest
river in the world in terms of volume of water that is released, which is almost
one-fifth of the world’s total river flow. The river runs through the wilderness
of this enormously massive rainforest.
Aerial Photo of the Amazon River
The Amazon Rain Forest has such an
unparalleled, rich biodiversity. One in ten known species in the world live
there and it is the largest tropical rainforest in the world. The Amazon River
has over 3,000 recognized species of fish. Hundreds of thousands of visitors
from all over the world come to enjoy eco-tourism in designated areas of this
natural wonder.
9) Great
Barrier Reef (The Pacific Ocean / Australia)
If you want to be blown away by the beauty of nature, then the Great Barrier
Reef is the destination for you. Located off of Australia’s east coast, the
Great Barrier Reef is the largest system of coral reef on earth and it is listed
as a “World Heritage” wonder of the world.
Green Island - Great Barrier Reef, Cairns Australia
It stretches over 3,000 km and
features a host of wildlife such as dolphins, whales, clown fish and green sea
turtles, among other amazing creatures. It is the biggest single structure made
by living organisms and it is believed to be the only reef that can be seen from
space.
8) Niagara
Falls (Canada and USA)
Located on the border that has separated Canada from the USA, Niagara Falls is
an illuminating natural wonder. It is also known as a famous honeymoon
destination. Make sure to get a look at it from all sides when you visit this wonder.
You can take a boat ride to the mouth of the falls if you happen to be more
adventurous. Niagara Falls offers a variety of great things to do. There are
many attractions for people of all ages to enjoy. The main tourist areas include
Clifton Hill, Victoria-Centre, Falls Avenue, Fallsview and Lundy’s Lane.
Niagara Falls - American Side Pictured to Right and
Canadian to the Left
There
are a number of thrilling activities such as helicopter rides, indoor skydiving,
casinos, and much more. There is so much to do that it is sure to dazzle and thrill everyone,
even the most savvy travelers. There are
many theme parks, water parks, scenic rides and towers with the amazing view of
the falls and its surroundings. In addition to the scenic beauty, a variety of
entertainment and shows are offered very close to the hotels.
7) The Grand
Canyon (Arizona, USA)
The Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular geographical wonders
in the world. It took millions of years to develop. Located in northern Arizona,
it is one of the greatest tourist attractions in the United States. The Grand
Canyon is 446 km long and has a depth of over 1.6 km. It is also the home of the
famous Colorado River.
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon attracts thousands of visitors each week
to see its intricate and colorful landscape. It has been mentioned endless times
in text books, research papers and movies because of its typical geomorphology.
Nevertheless, it is mostly known for its features, such as its depth, width and
magnificent views. The Grand Canyon National Park is also listed as a “World
Heritage Site.”
6) Yellowstone
National Park (Western USA)
Yellowstone National Park is the oldest national park in the world. Established
on March 1, 1872, it is a natural wonder that spreads over a vast track of land.
Here you will find nearly 10,000 breathtaking Old Faithful geysers and hot
springs.
Yellowstone Fall, Yellowstone National Park
There are so many exciting things to do in Yellowstone National Park
and the scenery is beautiful. The most popular activities include: day hiking, camping, picnicking, wildlife viewing, boating, fishing,
skiing, snowshoeing, horseback riding, and more.
5) Antarctica
(Southern Hemisphere)
An expedition to Antarctica is really for those who are truly adventurous and
want to travel extremely rough grounds. This is not a destination for the fool
hearted or leisurely adventurer. When traveling to Antarctica, one must
want enjoy the raw, natural beauty of nature, such as: icebergs, jagged mountain
peaks and many more attractions. Antarctica is the coldest, driest and windiest
continent on the planet.
Snow-Capped Mountains Against the Sunset in Antarctica
Much of the continent is more than 3 km above sea
level. About 98% of the landmass is covered by ice. Technically, it is the
largest desert on earth, as very little precipitation occurs on this land of
ice. Antarctica is also rich in wildlife, including blue whales, seals, orcas,
and the always-popular penguins. The prime means of getting there is by an
Antarctica cruise that possibly could of departed from the Falkland Islands.
4) Serengeti
Migration (Kenya and Tanzania)
This wonder is located in the wilderness of Africa, which is known as one of the
most dangerous continents on the planet both in terms of humans and wildlife. The Serengeti Ecosystem or Migration route hosts the
largest mass movement of animals on the planet. Over a million animals make a
500 km round trip annually from southern Serengeti in Tanzania to the northern
edge of the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
The Serengeti Great Migration - Wildebeests Pictured
It is a spectacular natural
wonder for Safari goers to see lions, zebras, giraffes, elephants, wildebeests,
and many more wild animals. These animals travel in search of water and
pasturage.
3) Victoria
Falls (Zambia/Zimbabwe)
Victoria Falls is one of the world’s mightiest falls, rushing its enormous flow
over a 100 m high and 1.5 km long cliff. It releases 120 million gallons of
water per minute into the Claystrophobic Batoka Gorge.
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
It offers breathtaking
views when seeing the flow of water downstream when thundering over the cliff.
You can also walk down to the bases and take a boat tour below the falls.
2) Mount
Everest (Nepal / China)
Mount Everest is the tallest peak on the largest mountain in the world called
the Himalayas. It is one of the best natural wonders of the world. The mountain
is located at an altitude of 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) that serves as a
geographical border between Nepal, Tibet, and China. By descending down its peak
one way or another could land the hiker in one of these three countries
depending on the pathway chosen.
Lhotse Mountain Peak and Everest to the Right
It attracts climbers of all levels and thousands of
tourists from all across the world. Although it is relatively less dangerous to
climb than other 8,000 feet mountains such as K2, Mount Everest still possesses
many inherent dangers when climbing. It is also an amazing sight to see, even if
you are not a climber.
1) The
Galapagos Islands (Ecuador / Eastern Pacific Ocean)
Located in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the Galapagos Islands are an archipelago
of volcanic islands that belong to the South American country Ecuador. The
islands are geographically isolated and quite remote, lying some 1,000 km west
of Ecuador or the South American continent.
Bartolome Island, Galapagos Islands
The islands are particularly famous
for their unique ecosystem that allows the creatures to evolve differently.
Booking a Galapagos Islands cruise is the most convenient way of getting there.
Charles Darwin made the islands famous and they were known to be the inspiration
for his “Theory of Natural Selection.”
Final Words
The world is full of wonderful, natural places to see. Many historic and secluded
areas on earth are on the brink of dangers posed by environmental pollution and
effects of global warming. It is essential that humankind preserve these natural
wonders and other
beautiful places on the planet.
Locations
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