The Seven Natural Wonders of the World: Part II

Click here to view Part I of this post.

Courtesy of National Geographic

Great Barrier Reef

Located off the coast of Queensland in Australia, the world’s largest coral reef system stretches over 1,500 miles and consists of nearly 3,000 separate reefs. It includes over 900 islands and can be seen from outer space. The reef system supports dolphins, sea turtles, crocodiles, birds, sea snakes, and other species, many of which are endangered or vulnerable.

The best way to see the spectacular reefs and their vibrant sea life is to get up close by scuba diving or snorkeling. You can take a boat tour or cruise and experience the Great Barrier Reef for any length of time you choose. For a bird’s-eye view of the immense size and magnificence of the reefs, you can also take a helicopter tour.

Courtesy of mexonline.com

Parícutin

A cinder cone volcano in Michoacán, Mexico, Parícutin is the youngest volcano in America, and it is unique among the wonders of the world because humans witnessed its birth. In 1943, a farmer named Dionisio Pulido and his family saw the first eruption of ash and watched the volcano grow to five stories tall in one week. Within a month, Parícutin could be seen from a distance. During its first year, it buried the nearby villages in lava and ash.

The volcano continued erupting for the next eight years, and in 1952, the volcano went dormant. Parícutin is unlikely to erupt again, as cinder cone volcanoes do not normally erupt after their creation. To see Parícutin any time of year, hike or ride horseback to the top. You will be amazed at the buried buildings and lava fields that surround it.

Courtesy of VictoriaFalls.com

Victoria Falls

A stunning waterfall in southern Africa fed by the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls measures one mile wide and 360 feet high. It is the largest sheet of falling water in the world, and is the widest and highest waterfall as well. Victoria Falls lies on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, and visitors often cross the border to enjoy the view from different vantage points.

To experience the falls, take a helicopter tour, and you’ll also see abundant wildlife, such as hippos and elephants, set against the breathtaking view of the water. A microlite, which is a two-person aircraft that resembles a hang glider, lets you see the falls and enjoy the crisp air, making for a rejuvenating, exciting trip. To get close to the falls, try one of the hiking trails that take you within 200 feet of the water. Here you’ll see, smell, and hear the spectacular falls and see why Victoria Falls is also called Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning “smoke that thunders.”

Courtesy of famouswonders.com

Mount Everest

The highest point on earth, Mount Everest’s summit peaks at just over 29,000 feet. It is located in the Himalaya Mountains between Nepal and Tibet, and is known as Mount Chomolungma.

If you wish to see Mount Everest, you can either climb it or fly around it. If you don’t wish to hike to the peak, you can hike to the base of the mountain and stay at base camp. If you wish to climb it, the Nepalese government now charges $25,000 for a climbing permit. If you’d rather have an aerial view, flights around the mountain are offered by guides who have vast knowledge of the mountain and surrounding areas.

Have you ever witnessed one of the 7 natural wonders of the world?

The Seven Natural Wonders of the World: Part I

We’ve all heard of at least one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, but many of us have never seen the complete list. We thought it would be fun to share all seven with you.

Northern Lights

Also known as the Aurora Borealis or polar auroras, the Northern Lights look like a glowing wave of colored light dancing across the sky at night. They are seen in the Northern Hemisphere, and in North America, the best vantage points are in Alaska and Canada during spring and fall months. The Lights are fascinating to watch because they fluctuate in size, color, and movement each night. However, this unpredictable behavior also means you don’t know when or for how long they will appear.

An intriguing phenomenon causes the Northern Lights. As the sun burns, it continuously releases charged particles into space. As this solar wind of particles approaches the earth, it is attracted by magnetic fields to the earth’s poles. As the particles reach the upper atmosphere at high speed, they collide with the gases that surround the earth. These collisions emit light, and the type of gas involved in the collisions determines the color of the lights: green is oxygen, blue is nitrogen, and red is hydrogen.

The South Pole has its own polar auroras known as the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights.

Harbor of Rio de Janeiro or Guanabara Bay

The largest bay in the world, the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro was created by erosion from the Atlantic Ocean. The granite and quartz mountain formations surrounding the harbor rise straight from the water’s edge. The famed Sugarloaf Mountain is a striking feature of the harbor’s peninsula, and for panoramic views of the harbor, take the cable car from Urca Hill to the top of the mountain.

In the early 1500s, Portuguese explorers named it Rio de Janeiro (first of January in Portuguese) because they believed they had reached the mouth of a great river on New Year’s Day.  

Grand Canyon

Almost 300 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and one mile deep, the Grand Canyon is a spectacular gorge in northern Arizona. Carved by the Colorado River millions of years ago, its massive size, stunning landscapes, and geologic beauty make it one of the world’s natural wonders. The South Rim offers several amazing vantage points, but for the most magnificent views, you’ll need to make your way along the dirt path to the Toroweap Overlook or brave the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

Located at the west rim of the canyon, the skywalk is a glass bottomed, U-shaped observation deck that sits 70 feet past the canyon’s rim and 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. Completed in 2007, the Skywalk is part of the Hualapai Indian Reservation and gives you an unfettered view of the canyon, though walking over the Grand Canyon on glass is not for the faint of heart. The Hualapai tribe also offers shopping, dining, and outdoor song and dance performances at the Skywalk. 

Love this post? Share it with your followers on Twitter.