CULTURE
The world's most incredible natural phenomena and where to see them
Mother Nature knows how to amaze us with phenomena of rare beauty capable of leaving those who observe them stunned, as if in contemplation of an incredible and unique spectacle.
If to admire them sometimes it is enough to gaze out the window of one's home and perhaps catch a glimpse of a fiery sunset or a particularly vivid rainbow, on other occasions one can set out to the remotest corners of the planet to unearth some of the most amazing natural phenomena ever seen.
But what are the rarest and most beautiful natural phenomena to see and where are they found?
Aurora borealis and aurora australis
This is an extraordinary optical phenomenon that occurs in the atmosphere with bright spots, usually red, green or blue, caused by the interaction of protons and electrons with the Earth's ionosphere. The phenomenon is most intense during periods of high solar activity.
Di National Science Foundation/Peter Rejcek - http://photolibrary.usap.gov/Portscripts/PortWeb.dll?q
Blood Falls, Blood Falls in Antarctica
About two million years ago, hyper-salty, ferrous water came in contact with oxygen, the chemical reaction created a spectacular waterfall of a scarlet blood-red color that still stands out in contrast to the white glacier Taylor and the lake Bonney below.
Bioluminescent sides
This natural phenomenon known as bioluminescence is light produced by marine microorganisms called phytoplankton, which illuminate only a few beaches around the world, including the shores of the island of Vaadhoo in the Maldives, bays in Thailand and Vietnam, Jervis Bay in Australia or Mosquito Bay, on the island of Vieques at Porto Rico just to name a few.
Lightning storm, Venezuela
The spectacular Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela has always been the site of an impressive natural phenomenon that has caught the attention of humans since the dawn of time: the thunderstorm. Here this impressive and frightening atmospheric phenomenon occurs with a record-breaking intensity and frequency that record the highest number of lightning strikes per square kilometer, about 250 on average per year spread over 260 days per year.
Pink Lakes, Australia
One of the most famous is the pink lake at Hillier, a 600-meter-long lake on the edge of the island of Middle in the archipelago Recherche off the south coast of Western Australia.
Martin Rietze / Bald Mountain
Cano Cristales, Liquid Rainbow in Colombia
The Caño Cristales river at La Macarena in Colombia, is also known by the name Liquid Rainbow because of its different colors.
Di Terry Wu - DSC02856, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54211411
Zhangye Danxia National Geopark, China
Another rainbow that is not found in the sky can be observed in all its colorful splendor on the mountainside of Zhangye National Geopark, where wide multicolored stripes color the mountain in rainbow hues. This natural phenomenon has become part of theUNESCO World Heritage Site and can be visited thanks to hiking trails or admired from afar as a whole from special viewing terraces.
Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia
In this earthly paradise you will have the feeling of walking on water or flying through the clouds in the sky floating in a surreal and magical atmosphere.
Volcanic lightning on Mt. Sakurajima, Japan
Active volcanoes are one of the most spectacular natural phenomena ever, but when real lightning also erupts from their craters, the scenery becomes truly hellish.
Travel without booking
30/09/2023
In the desert of Karakum, in Turkmenistan, there is a huge gaseous crater known as the Gate of Hell, which is presumed to have been burning, without ever stopping, since 1971.
The crater was formed following the collapse of a natural gas cave and the name Gate of Hell was given to it by the local population, who live in the nearby village of Derweze. The name is associated with the fact that inside the crater, with a diameter of about 70 meters and a depth of 20, there is constantly fire, flames and boiling mud. At night, flames are visible even several kilometers away.
According to the local population, the Gate of Hell is a supernatural phenomenon. The explorer George Kourounis managed to take some soil samples inside the crater and from the analysis would have discovered the presence of bacteria that survived despite the high temperatures and present are inside the crater and not in the surrounding terrain.
Villages
28/09/2023
Barcelona is a kaleidoscope of art, culture and natural beauty. Start with the Sagrada Familia, Gaudí's masterpiece, still under construction, and the Parc Güell, with its colourful and imaginative sculptures.
The Barri Gòtic, the historical heart of the city, fascinates with its alleys and squares.
Don't miss La Boqueria market, a gourmet's paradise, and Casa Batlló, another Gaudí jewel. Montjuïc offers breathtaking views and the Parc de la Ciutadella is perfect for a relaxing break.
Luxury shopping and modernist architecture await you at Passeig de Gràcia.
Enjoy the beach at Barceloneta and admire Picasso's art at the museum dedicated to the famous painter.