There is nothing more surreal than looking up in the sky and seeing an unearthly, alien green color swirl all around you. No, it’s not UFOs, it’s the Northern Lights.It only happens in winter in really, really cold places. Formally known as Aurora Borealis, this phenomenon occurs when charged particles of the sun collide with atoms in the Earth’s atmosphere, releasing little bursts of light known as photons. As the Northern Lights are only visible near the North Pole, one of the best places to witness the bright dancing auroras is in Norway, especially during winter.
There is something romantic about taking a night stroll along the beach with your loved one; but can you imagine how much cooler it would be if the sea was lit up? Turn that imagination into reality at Planktons Beach, Maldives, where thousands of bio luminescent planktons emit bright blue lights like constellations in the night sky, except it’s on the surface of the water.
Here’s a great idea for an educational yet memorable family holiday – visit the Waitomo Glowworms Cave in New Zealand, home to thousands of glowworms that are unique to the country. Complete with an informative tour around the luminescent cave, visitors get to experience over 120 years of cultural and natural history.
Basalt columns are extrusive rock structures formed from basaltic lava that rapidly cools over time, taking the shape of unique polygons and prisms. While there are many popular basalt columns aroung the world, arguably one of the most stunning of all is the Svartifoss in Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland, highlighted by its iconic waterfall.
Sandstone are composed of sedimentary rocks and sand minerals that takes centuries and a lot of heat and pressure to form. They are usually white, brown or black in color; however, certain elements can combine to create colors in sandstone. Dubbed the ‘Rainbow Mountains of China’, the Zhangye Danxia National Park has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in China for its colorful sandstone in the vivid shades of red, blue, green and yellow.
We often think of winter as a time to build snowmen and ski down mountains. But here’s something else to do when the next winter comes – observe natural displays of frost flowers. No, frost flowers are not flowers that are frozen by ice, but rather natural ice sculptures in the shape of flowers. They are formed by the combination of winds, tides and currents and when the atmosphere is much colder than the ground temperature. It is a rare sight found only in several places in the world, one of which is Swiecajty Lake in Poland.
This colossal canyon has beckoned people to its cutaway gorges for hundreds of years—from Native Americans who considered it a holy site to the masses of tourists who visit today to take in the grandeur. The Grand Canyon with its almost two billion years of geological history is a landmark whose importance is evident at first sight, so be sure to make the trip in your lifetime.
This national park is more like a scene from a fairy tale than an actual place on earth, but the 16 crystal clear lakes, breathtaking waterfalls and vaulted caves are not only real—they’re natural formations. Water rich with minerals winds its way down waterfalls and along rocks, continuously changing the landscape as diverse wildlife (bears, wolves, rare birds and butterflies) live in the vast forest that surrounds the lakes.
Pulpit Rock (or Preikestolen) is one of the most popular natural attractions in Norway calling thrill seekers and daredevil photographers to its unbelievable drop-off. The rock formation can only be reached by hiking 2.4 miles; then you’ll find yourself standing on a cliff that rises 1,982 feet above the waterway below. Without guardrails, nets or any other safety measures, Pulpit Rock is a risky destination, so consider whether the risk is worth the rewarding views.
As well as being covered with white-sand beaches, populated with some incredible restaurants and shops, and being home to mesmerizing sea turtles, Mauritius is also the location of the phenomenal Underwater Waterfall. Admittedly, the Underwater Waterfall isn’t a waterfall at all, it’s actually an optical illusion created by strong tides that have washed sand into the pattern of a waterfall; however the sight is far from disappointing. You can see this spectacular feature by boat or by taking a tour above the island by plane, both of which are both unforgettable trips.Believe it or not, the Underwater Waterfall is so big it can even be seen by satellites from space.
