Mother Nature has the power to take your breath away. From incredibly strong waterfalls that could engulf you in an instant to deep canyons in the dessert that are more colourful than a painting, the beauty of the natural world is immense and inspiring. If you want to discover the beauty of Mother Nature up close then here are just a few of the best places around the world to see and be inspired by the natural world.
A natural wonder found in Arizona, the Grand Canyon can take the breath away from even the most difficult to impress travellers. Layers of colourful sediments that are a lasting echo of the layers of time and rock formations that can tower over Colorado’s expanse of scenery make this an easy place to spend hours wandering around. One of the most eagerly photographed sites in the world, Antelope Canyon, is one of the most visited canyons in the Southwest because it is easily accessible and intensely beautiful. Be sure to make a visit while you’re here.
The natural world can certainly put on a show, and that is absolutely clear during a bright colourful sky dance that is the aurora borealis, or the Northern Lights, in the northern hemisphere, or the aurora australis in the south. Shimmers of green, pink, yellow, purple and even red can be seen waving across the sky, creating an illuminated background that will catch the eye as well as the imagination.
Niagara Falls is not one but three waterfalls that can been found at the Canada-US border. Not only is the magnitude of the cascades a sight in itself, but there’s also the guarantee of seeing a rainbow, at least if you’re on the Canadian side of the border.
Formerly known as Ayers Rock, Uluru is more than 1,100 feet high and almost 4km long and the photos of the monolith just don’t do the site justice. It wasn’t until 1950 that the rock was declared a national park and since 1985 the Anangu, the traditional owners of the land, manage the area with Parks Australia.
The beauty of Iguazu Falls isn’t just apparent upon witnessing its size, but it’s the sound of the powerful series of waterfalls that will really be remembered long after you’ve left. The falls are located on the Argentine-Brazilian border and can be seen well from either side. A tour from the Argentine side will allow you to actually be covered by the falls, while the Brazilian side will give you a panoramic view from Foz do Iguazu.
Located in the alps of both Switzerland and Italy, the Matterhorn is a jagged spike in the expansive mountainous landscape. The word Matterhorn means mountain peak in German, while the Italian name, Cervino, means place of Cervus, Cervus being a type of deer. Climbers are drawn to the area for the sense of adventure, while others are happy to take in her view from the ground below.
It looks like a scene out of Jurassic Park, but Zhangjiajie Forest Park is a 480,000sqm park in China that is known for its tall peaks covered by pine trees. The region’s claim to fame was being the inspiration behind the Hallelujah Mountains in the Hollywood film Avatar.