Importance Score: 20 / 100 🔵
While numerous impressive man-made creations exist globally, nature’s artistry remains unparalleled. Explore a collection of unusual landscapes and natural wonders that showcase Earth’s most fascinating landscapes, from trees resembling mythical creatures to vibrant sinkholes, imposing rock formations, and lava falls.
Discover Earth’s Most Unusual and Fascinating Landscapes
Kingley Vale, Sussex, United Kingdom
Entwined and contorted over centuries, the ancient yew trees of Kingley Vale evoke a scene from a dark fairytale. Believed by some to be among Britain’s oldest living organisms, these trees may date back 2,000 years.
Yew groves suffered significant depletion in the 15th century as their wood was prized for longbows, making this particular cluster of trees exceptionally rare.
Fairy Chimneys, Turkey
These fairy chimney rock formations are located in the Cappadocia region of Goreme, Turkey.
The Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia in central Turkey stand as a remarkable geological spectacle.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
These towering basalt columns are sculpted by the gradual erosion of softer surrounding rock over millennia, resulting in formations that appear almost unearthly.
Adding to their uniqueness are the subterranean cave systems and cities carved beneath them by early Christians seeking refuge from persecution. These hidden spaces provided shelter during times of invasion along nearby trade routes.
Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
The Giant’s Causeway became Northern Ireland’s first World Heritage Site in 1986.
Perched on the rugged north Atlantic Coast of Northern Ireland, the Giant’s Causeway is steeped in legend.
Local folklore recounts that the giant Finn McCool constructed it to challenge his Scottish adversary Benandonner, only to have it destroyed during his retreat.
While the scientific explanation is less mythical, it is equally astounding. The basalt pillars are the product of lava cooling and contracting over vast geological timescales.
Comparable formations exist at Fingal’s Cave in Staffa, Scotland, all stemming from the same extensive lava flow.
Moeraki Boulders, New Zealand
The Moeraki Boulders are scattered across Koekohe Beach on New Zealand’s South Island.
The enormous, rounded Moeraki Boulders strewn across Koekohe Beach on the North Otago coast bear a striking resemblance to artificial creations washed ashore.
According to local Maori legend, these formations are remnants of food containers and produce that washed ashore from the wrecked Araiteuru Canoe, a vessel that brought their ancestors to New Zealand’s South Island.
Scientifically, these stones, reaching up to two meters in height, originated from mudstone consolidating over five million years, emerging as surrounding rocks gradually eroded.
Great Blue Hole, Belize
Spanning 300 meters in width (984 feet) and approximately 125 meters in depth (410 feet), the Great Blue Hole reigns as the world’s largest marine sinkhole.
Located within the Belize Barrier Reef System, this remarkable formation developed as sea levels ascended millennia ago, submerging its extensive cave network.
Celebrated by the renowned marine explorer Jacques Cousteau, recent underwater expeditions employing advanced 3D sonar technology have yielded unprecedented maps, revealing previously unseen mineral structures near the sinkhole’s base.
Caño Cristales, Colombia
Caño Cristales is often called the “River of Five Colors.”
During the brief interlude between Colombia’s rainy and dry seasons, the waters of Caño Cristales burst into a spectrum of red, yellow, and green.
This striking phenomenon originates from Macarenia clavigera, a plant species inhabiting the riverbed.
The plant only exhibits its red coloration between September and November. This period follows the abatement of rapid flows from the wet season but precedes the dry season’s excessive evaporation, which is essential for maintaining its vibrant hues.
Swimming is permitted in designated areas, with a restriction on sunscreen use to safeguard this delicate ecosystem.
Dead Vlei, Namibia
Dead Vlei – a truly intriguing location in Namibia.
Dead Vlei, translating to “dead marsh,” reposes amidst some of the world’s tallest sand dunes, some reaching heights of 400 meters.
Once flourishing, this now largely desolate region is populated by a striking collection of deceased Camel Thorn trees, desiccated by a severe climate shift approximately 900 years prior.
Due to the arid conditions, these trees resist decomposition, thus creating an profoundly eerie scenery.
Chocolate Hills, Philippines
The Chocolate Hills – a captivating natural wonder.
The gently undulating Chocolate Hills of Bohol in the Philippines may initially appear to be from a whimsical child’s drawing of a landscape.
However, these 1,268 hills are indeed a natural phenomenon: symmetrical conical limestone formations shaped by water action and erosion across geological ages.
Their name originates from the grass covering that turns cocoa-brown during the dry season, with December to March being considered the optimal period for visitation. Legend suggests these hills are the solidified teardrops of a sorrowful giant, although the geological explanation is less romantic, the vistas remain equally breathtaking.
Kilauea, Hawaii
Kilauea is recognized as one of the world’s most active volcanoes.
Kilauea, the most dynamic volcano on the island of Hawaii, experiences almost constant volcanic activity, with streams of molten rock traversing roads and engulfing residences and tourist accommodations.
Following a three-month inactive period, it reignited in late 2024, drawing spectators eager to witness dramatic plumes of vivid orange lava soaring over 90 meters (300 feet).
With an estimated age between 210,000 and 280,000 years, it emerged above sea level along the island’s southeastern coastline roughly 100,000 years ago.
Lake Hillier, Australia
Australia’s “pink lake” measures 600 meters in length and 250 meters in width.
Mere meters from the sandy shore and ocean waves of Middle Island, within Australia’s Recherche Archipelago, Lake Hillier‘s vibrant pink water presents a striking contrast to the adjacent ocean’s azure expanse.
Its coloration is attributed to an algae species known as Dunaliella salina, which produces a pigment imparting an ostensibly unnatural tint to the saline water.
Halophilic bacteria residing in the salt crusts bordering its shores are also considered contributing factors to this remarkable phenomenon.
Devils Tower, Wyoming
Devils Tower – the inaugural US national monument.
Ascending dramatically from the prairie against the Wyoming skyline, Devils Tower (its apostrophe omitted since its 19th-century naming) holds profound sacred significance for numerous Native American tribes.
This butte, rising approximately 385 meters over the Belle Fourche River, was sculpted as softer sedimentary strata eroded, leaving behind more resistant igneous rock standing prominently over the landscape.
Lakota tradition narrates that Devils Tower emerged to shield two young girls from a pursuing bear, with the vertical markings along its sides attributed to the bear’s claw marks.
Science fiction enthusiasts will recognize it as the designated alien meeting site featured in Steven Spielberg’s iconic 1977 film “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”
Dallol, Ethiopia
The Dallol region ranks among the hottest locations on the planet.
With average temperatures reaching a scorching 94 degrees Fahrenheit, Dallol is recognized as one of the most hostile environments on Earth.
Located near the Eritrean border, its otherworldly, Martian-like terrain resides within the Danakil Depression.
Beyond its extreme heat, Dallol is famed for its vivid hydrothermal areas, featuring aquamarine pools and yellow mineral deposits presenting a surreal, painterly tableau against the vibrant red geological formations.
The intense colors are attributed to inorganic iron oxidation processes.
The Eye of the Sahara, Mauritania
The Richat Structure is readily visible from space.
Also recognized as the Richat Structure, the Eye of the Sahara may appear unremarkable from ground level within this vast, continental desert. However, viewed from space, this 40-kilometer (24-mile) diameter geological marvel is truly exceptional.
Hypothesized to be an eroded geological dome, rather than an impact crater, its circular pattern strikingly resembles a fossilized ammonite when observed from orbit.
Snow Monsters, Mount Zao, Japan
Mount Zao is renowned as the home of Japan’s spectacular snow monsters.
Elevated within Japan’s northern Tohoku region, Mount Zao is the setting for an extensive array of remarkable ice sculptures. As the intense winter season advances, Siberian winds sweep across the Zao mountain range as snow accumulates and solidifies on the mountain’s trees.
Subsequently, the trees transform into intriguing formations, resembling figures plucked directly from a manga narrative.
Regular light displays contribute to their nocturnal allure, although a daytime cable car journey across their summits offers equally captivating perspectives.
Valley of the Moon, Argentina
This secluded valley is situated within a protected zone of the South American nation.
The name itself reveals the essence of this extensive terrain in northern Argentina: lunar landscapes of wind-eroded stone formations, where celestial skies unveil countless stars and the moon radiates brilliantly.
Also designated as Ischigualasto Provincial Park, its prominent features include The Sphinx, mirroring its Ancient Egyptian namesake in form.
Additionally, there is The Mushroom, a pillar that expands into a broad cap at its peak, and the Bowling Field, characterized by rounded stones scattered across the terrain.
Vermilion Cliffs, Arizona
The Vermilion Cliffs stretch along the Utah-Arizona border.
Located just south of the Utah state boundary, Vermilion Cliffs stands as one of the most visually stunning destinations within the United States.
The region’s intricate sandstone canyons and arches beckon exploration, often with few other visitors encountered.
The extensive cliffs themselves, extending for 48 kilometers and rising between 2,000 and 3,000 feet, are prominently visible from Highway 89A, showcasing their grandeur.
Haukadalur geothermal field, Iceland
The earliest recorded mention of these geothermal fields dates back to 1294.
Iceland’s geothermal wonders position it as an ideal locale for enthusiasts of peculiar and spectacular terrains, particularly after a recent surge in geothermal activity in late 2024.
Renowned primarily for its Geysir and Strokkur geysers, this expansive area, situated 60 kilometers east of Reykjavik, merits devoted exploration, especially given the convenient proximity of a campsite.
Historical accounts of the bubbling geothermal zones here extend to 1294, noting their activation following a seismic event.
Trollkirka Caves, Norway
The Trollkirka – among Norway’s longest limestone cave systems.
Norway’s Trollkirka Caves, literally translated as Troll Church Caves, are not conventional places of worship. Rather, they are marble and limestone natural marvels accessible to adventurous visitors following a physically demanding trek.
The primary attraction is the 70-meter primary cave, which features a stunning waterfall. Smaller cave chambers house shimmering pools with crystalline water set against pale rock formations, which appear to have folded in on themselves across epochs.
Bryce Canyon, Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park’s rock formations exhibit red, orange, and white hues against the sky.
Often overshadowed by the nearby Grand Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon is arguably equally remarkable in its splendor.
Its appearance, marked by red, white, and yellow hues under radiant blue skies, is attributable to the “hoodoos” which stand sentry for vast distances in every direction.
These towering columns, composed of softer rock at their base capped by harder rock, are sculpted through eons of weathering and erosion. They reside within a series of expansive natural amphitheaters that present a spectacular sight, particularly at twilight.
Dead Sea, Israel/Jordan
The Dead Sea lies between Jordan (pictured) and Israel.
As the lowest point on Earth, the Dead Sea possesses a salinity level exceeding that of the ocean by over nine times.
Considered to be part of a geological rift zone extending northward into Turkey, it is believed to have once been a coastal lagoon of the Mediterranean Sea.
Salt accumulation on its bed ensures effortless buoyancy for swimmers, and its reputed therapeutic qualities have made it a sought-after destination for health-focused tourists for centuries.
Spotted Lake, Canada
Canada’s Spotted Lake – a truly remarkable vista.
Nestled in the heart of British Columbia, Spotted Lake appears as an ordinary freshwater lake during winter. However, with the arrival of warmer temperatures and water evaporation, it undergoes a striking transformation.
Distinct blue, yellow, and green spots emerge, resulting from deposited magnesium sulphates, sodium sulphates, and calcium.
The Okanagan First Nations people traditionally believed these spots possessed varied healing properties and have been custodians of the surrounding area since 2001.
Blood Falls, Antarctica
This incredible natural phenomenon was first documented by Australian geologist Griffith Taylor in 1911.
Blood Falls, emanating from Antarctica’s Taylor Glacier, gains its macabre hue from ancient geological processes.
In 2017, researchers determined that its crimson tint originates from oxidized iron within highly saline water, which has taken an astonishing one and a half million years to reach the surface, contradicting earlier theories of algal discoloration.
Upon exposure to atmospheric oxygen, the iron-rich water undergoes oxidation, resulting in the characteristic red color.
The source is believed to be a subglacial brine lake, interacting with iron-rich bedrock.
Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park, China
The “Rainbow Mountains” encompass an area of 322 square kilometers.
The “Rainbow Mountains” within Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park exemplify the profound impact of millions of years of geological processes shaping a landscape.
Composed of strata of sandstone, mudstone, and diverse sedimentary rocks deposited over vast timeframes, their dramatic inclination results from tectonic plate movements which also gave rise to the Himalayas.
River erosion played a crucial role in carving the deep gorges and towering peaks, exhibiting purple, green, yellow, and red layers that combine to form a vivid and brilliant panorama.
Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan
The Darvaza Gas Crater is situated in the heart of the Karakum Desert.
Referred to colloquially as the Door to Hell, the Darvaza Gas Crater represents a natural phenomenon indirectly initiated by human intervention less than fifty years ago.
During oil exploration activities, Soviet engineers encountered a subterranean gas pocket that subsequently caved in, consuming their equipment.
Alarmed by potential methane emissions endangering wildlife within the neighboring Karakum Desert, scientists ignited the gas accumulation in the expectation of a swift burn-off.
Presently, it continues to burn intensely to a depth of 30 meters, even though some observers note a gradual decrease in flame intensity. It remains a significant attraction for travelers venturing into this seldom-visited Central Asian nation.