5 Amazing Natural Wonders to Explore Around the World
Choosing only five natural wonders for travelers to visit isn’t easy, for there are many contenders. A quick decision was to avoid usual suspects like the Grand Canyon that everybody has heard of. Another was to choose places that were reasonably accessible to the average person or family. As impressive as the Matterhorn is, only a handful of people can climb and appreciate it. The natural wonders below, by contrast, are relatively easy to reach and have facilities for tourists.
Uyuni Salt Flats
At 4086 square miles (10,582 square kilometers), the Uyuni salts flats in South America are the world’s largest salt flats. They are part of Bolivia’s Altiplano, which is a high plateau located in the Andes. The salt forms raised polygonal patterns on the ground that create an otherworldly effect and allow photographers to play around with field depth and perspective.
The salt flats are also home to the world’s first salt hotel, which is called the Palacio de Sal or “Palace of Salt.” The first hotel was built in the 1990s and was eventually replaced by a new hotel in 2007. The hotel is indeed built out of salt blocks, as is some of the furniture.
The Sundarbans
The Sundarbans, located in Bangladesh and India, is the largest tidal mangrove forest in the world. It is formed by the confluence by the confluence of three rivers in the Bay of Bengal. It is also home to one the world’s largest Bengal tiger reserves. The Sundarbans is home to 260 bird species as well as the Indian python and estuarine crocodile, both of which are threatened.
Uluru
Uluru, also known as Ayer’s Rock, is a huge monolith that stands 1142 feet (348 meters) tall. It is probably the best-known rock formation in Australia and may have started forming 550 million years ago.
It is the centerpiece of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Australia’s Northern Territory. Visitors may explore the base, take camel tours, or hear stories about the Dreamtime from Anangu or Aboriginal guides, who consider Uluru an important part of their culture.
Masurian Lake District
Poland’s Masurian Lake District, which is about a three-hour drive from Warsaw, boasts over 2,000 lakes. It is also known for its dense forests, resort towns, and many outdoor activities. Visitors can go fishing or sailing on any of the bigger lakes. They can cycle or hike through the forests or kayak along the Krutynia River. World War II buffs may want to visit the Wolf’s Lair, which had been Hitler’s military headquarters for part of World War II.
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls is the longest waterfall in the world; it is over a kilometer or 2/3 of a mile long. It is located on the Zambezi River, which borders Zambia and Zimbabwe. Two national parks, the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and the Victoria Falls National Park, are located on either side of the river.
“Mosi-oa-Tunya” is an African name for the waterfall and means “the smoke that roars;” Victoria Falls can be heard from nearly 25 miles or 40 kilometers away!
