50 of the most beautiful natural wonders around the world

This body of water actually looks pretty normal most of the time, at least until it explodes into color from around July through November, the BBC reported.

During this time, Macarenia clavigera, a unique plant that lines the bottom of the river, turns a vibrant red, interspersed with blue waters, green moss, and yellow sand.

A slot canyon in Arizona, Antelope Canyon, has narrow walkways that were formed by millions of years of water erosion.

The largest of these columns stands 36 feet high.

One of the more notable species on the island of Socotra is the dragon’s blood trees. Their canopies look like flying saucers.

The Chocolate Hills vary in height from 98 feet to 393 feet, per CBS. During dry season, the grass turns a distinct brown color, reminiscent of chocolate. There are more than 1,268 cone-shaped hills covering an area of 31 miles.

Water regularly gathers in the terraces of rust-colored minerals that turn a fiery red at sunset, Atlas Obscura reported.

Skógafoss flows from not one, but two glaciers (Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull). According to legend, a viking named Thrasi hid his chest of gold under this stunning waterfall.

An inspiration for the alien visages in James Cameron’s “Avatar,” some of the towers are as tall as 4,100 feet with sandstone peaks that are 300 million years old.

The ledges capture soil, allowing forests to grow around and even on top of the peaks.

The geyser formed after a geothermic energy company failed to reseal a test well, and the geothermic heat forced the water upward in a geyser, according to Atlas Obscura. For the past 40 years, the water has brought minerals to the surface, creating the geyser’s distinct mound.

While it’s named after a Norse god, the sinkhole is reminiscent of the Greek mythological creature Charybdis, which drowned sailors trapped in its currents. Thor’s Well probably formed when an undersea cave’s roof collapsed, creating the sight of the sea sinking into itself.

The caves have been open to the public since 1889, but known to the indigenous Maori people for much longer. In fact, Waitomo comes from the Maori words wai, for water, and tomo, for hole or entrance.

The magical experience is heightened by the fact that visitors silently glide through the caves by gondola.

The bubble-gum pink lake defies science: No one knows why it’s as pink as it is, or why the color is actually stronger the further from the lake you are. Most believe that it’s caused by a specific algae in the lake that is drawn to its high salinity, as well as a pink bacteria known as halobacteria.

Whatever the reason for its unique hue, the lake sits on Middle Island, an island on the Recherche Archipelago that is used solely for research purposes, and can only be viewed by helicopter.

The lake’s pattern is caused by minerals: magnesium sulfate, calcium, and sodium sulfates, along with other minerals.

The area around Red Beach is also known as home to one of the rarest cranes in the world, the red-crowned crane.

Known as “cotton castle” in Turkish, the terraces were created over time by limestone mineral deposits from geothermal activity, the Telegraph reported.

The boulder is surprisingly accessible (you don’t need special equipment to reach it), which makes it a popular photo-op for adventurous Instagrammers.

With over 139,000 acres of trees, the Redwood National Park covers California’s northern coast. The redwoods are some of the tallest trees in the world; one stands 379 feet high and is around 600 years old.

Japan’s tallest mountain (12,388 feet high) towers over the nearby countryside, which is often enveloped in a thick layer of fog.

Masazir Lake is not far from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. This pink saline lake gets its color from microorganisms.

The blinding-white sand dunes are inter-cut with rivers, pushing thousands of tons of sand out into the Atlantic Ocean, per Smithsonian Magazine.

Located in Patagonia on Lake General Carrera, Chile’s Marble Caves (also known as the “Marble Cathedral”) were created more than 6,000 years ago by waves that eroded the rocks.

Danxia refers to a special type of landscape found in southwestern China. The colorful mountains are made up of layers of minerals and rock, which were disrupted when tectonic plates caused the island that is now India to collide with the rest of the Eurasia continent, Gizmodo reported.

Now a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, the once little-known wonder is a popular tourist draw, and for good reason: Chances are you’ve never seen anything like it before.

When lakes near these Bolivian salt flats overflow, they create a majestic mirrored surface that reflects the sky and clouds above. The Salar de Uyuni are the largest of their kind and cover a whopping 4,050 square miles of the Bolivian Altiplano, National Geographicreported.

A fjord is best described as an underwater valley. Formed by glaciers, these long and narrow waterways are deep and surrounded by steep mountains on all sides. The Geiranger Fjord is one of Norway’s most famous, and it is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The best way to see Ha Long’s awe-inspiring limestone towers is by boat. In fact, many tourists stay overnight on a boat in the bay.

Sitting at 1,410 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest body of water on Earth’s surface, according to Britannica. Located in a desert and featuring a high concentration of salt, it’s easy for visitors to float.

The water is beautiful enough on its own, but the deposits and columns of salt that rise out of the water give it a unique, otherworldly look.

Indonesia is known for its terraced rice fields, and Tegalalang is one of the most well-known. Farmers here use an irrigation system that’s been passed down for centuries.

As the name implies, this is basically a 150-square mile forest made of stone. The giant, otherworldly pillars are ancient karst formations, created by water and wind erosion, as well as seismic activity. The forest also features caves, waterfalls, ponds, and lakes, as well as an underground river.

Gorgeous Lake Nakaru sits in a national park famous for its epic bird-watching, especially its bright pink flamingos. The large, shallow lake is surrounded by marshes and grassland.

Cowboys discovered the valley while searching for cattle in the early 1900s. The valley’s rock formations were formed by both wind and water erosion, according to the state park.

You probably won’t want to sunbathe on Reynisfjara, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a visit. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

The Verdon Gorge’s blue-green waters are a picturesque setting for activities ranging from swimming to kayaking.

These incredible buttress-like formations were shaped solely by nature, according to Atlas Obscura.

The canyon stretches on for 277 river miles and spans 18 miles from side to side, according to the National Park Service. While the South Rim is open all year round, the North Rim is open to visitors on a more seasonal basis.

Mt. Erebus, the world’s southernmost active volcano, stretches a whopping 12,448 feet above sea level.

Even better, this biological reserve is known to be home to a multitude of species. In fact, it’s one of only a few places around the world that has all six species of the cat family.

Spanning Argentina and Brazil, the Iguazu Falls are part of a massive waterfall system that totals around 275 waterfalls, per CNN.

Jeju Island boasts South Korea’s highest mountain, Hallasan, a dormant volcano that towers nearly 6,400 feet above sea level, CNN reported.

Hiking the cliffs will afford you 4,000-foot-high views of the Pacific Ocean and Kalalau Valley, as well as plenty of beautiful waterfalls along the way.

The gypsum that forms these gently sloping dunes comes from a nearby ephemeral lake that has a high mineral content, according to the monument’s website. As the water from this lake evaporates, minerals remain, which then form gypsum deposits that are carried by the wind.

To experience the Maldives’ magical glowing beaches, you can visit any of the 1,190 islands that comprise the South Asian sovereign state. Some of the top spots to see this natural light show — the result of bioluminescent plankton — include Athuruga, Reethi, and Mirihi.

Mono Lake spans 65 square miles and has a high salt content, meaning it’s easy for visitors to float.

It is situated outside of San Juan.

The Garni Gorge is characterized by vertical cliffs notable for their basalt columns, per Atlas Obscura. You can only reach this breathtaking site by car.

Skye’s enchanting Fairy Pools are only accessible on foot via the Glen Brittle forest.

This fjord — located off the coast of New Zealand’s South Island — is renowned for its dynamic scenery, from waterfalls to soaring mountain peaks.

Visitors have to mount a 999-step “stairway to heaven” to reach the site, which is situated 5,000 feet above sea level, according to Travel + Leisure.

One of Ireland’s most-visited natural attractions, the Cliffs of Moher stretch along the country’s west coast for five majestic miles.

The island’s other draws include Devil’s Backbone, a coral reef filled with marine life, and Dunmore Town, whose pastel-colored homes will charm any visitor.

Blyde River Canyon sits at an elevation of more than 2,600 feet. This canyon also boasts diverse flora and fauna.