We all have heard and are aware of the seven wonders of the world but these wonders are the man-made structures that are symbolic of the finest craftsmanship and detail. But, as mother nature is always at work, it has also created exceptionally admirable and worth gazing at wonders. Interesting, isn’t it? Here is the list of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. From snow-capped mountains to waterfalls, each wonder narrates a different story of natural beauty.
1 Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the Earth’s highest mountain peak above sea level with an elevation of 8,848.86 meters. It is located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas and China-Nepal border runs across its summit point which technically makes it a part of both countries. It is an attraction point for many mountaineers and trekkers.
Considering the climatic conditions up there, there is very little native flora or fauna on Everest. This wonder of the seven natural wonders of the world has attracted a considerable amount of people with a zest to explore the mountain range through climbing and trekking. Several routes have been developed over the years of climbing expeditions to the mountains.
Apart from the adventurous tales of traversing the mountain, there are many spiritual stories related to it as well. The Sherpa people believe that Mount Everest and its adjacents exude spiritual energy and one should show respect when passing by. The southern part of Everest is one of the several hidden valleys of refuge designated by Padmasambhava- a ninth-century lotus-born Buddhist Saint.
2 Paricutin Volcano
Next on the Seven natural wonders of the world list is Paricutin, which is a cinder cone volcano in Michoacán, Mexico. The volcano captured both public and scientific attention when it surged suddenly in 1943 from the cornfield of local farmer Dionisio Pulido. It provided an opportunity to document the volcanic life cycle for the first time to modern science. Scientists mapped different events, took a thousand samples, and drew several sketches to understand the life cycle during the first course of the eruption. By 1952, the eruption left a 424-meter-high cone and extensively damaged an area of more than 233 sq km due to the ejection of volcanic ash, stone, and lava.
The crater of the volcano is around 200 meters across and is possible to climb the volcano and walk around its perimeter. The larger region is still highly active volcanically but Paricutin is a tourist destination now, climbed by tourists exploring the hardened lava-covered ruins. The volcano is a product of and lies on the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt which runs across 900 km from west to east across Central Mexico.Â
3 The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a massive and colorful canyon located in Arizona, USA. Standing at the rim of the canyon will give an idea of why this one is on the list of Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The colorful landscape and breathtaking views cannot be found elsewhere in the world. It is 446 km long, up to 29 km wide, and has a depth of over 1.8 km.
Usually, the visitors head over to the Southern Rim of the canyon to enjoy a day admiring the scenic beauty. A great view of the rock layers in the canyon wall can be enjoyed from Lipan Point. Not only the magnitude of the Grand Canyon is awe-inspiring but the age of the canyon which is speculated to be millions of years from its geographical history is another intriguing feature of this wonder.
4 Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls is a 1708 meters wide waterfall on the Zambezi River in Southern Africa. It is one of the largest waterfalls in the world and provides habitat to several unique species of flora and fauna. The waterfall is located along the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The place experiences the rainy season from late November to early April and immediately after that is a good time to visit the waterfall when an immense volume of water is coming over the falls and the weather is pleasant. Victoria Falls are one of the seven natural wonders of the world and have the largest sheet of cascading water anywhere on Earth that makes it the largest waterfall despite it not being the tallest or widest among other falls. Â
5 The Harbor of Rio De Janeiro
The harbor is located on the southeastern coastline of Brazil by the city of Rio De Janeiro. It is surrounded by Granite monoliths and rock formations welcoming visitors to the huge expanse of water. It is also referred to as Guanabara Bay and is surrounded by Corcovado Peak, SugarLoaf mountain, and the Tijuca Hills.
The monoliths and pinnacles add a visual appeal to the site and the harbor can be explored by tourists on a Helicopter flight for a more beautiful aerial view. The topmost region provides breathtaking views of the beaches lying inside the harbor. The Harbor of Rio De Janeiro is believed to be created by the erosion caused by the Atlantic Ocean.Â
6 Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland in Australia. It is composed of 2900 smaller reef sections and 900 islands which together make up 2300 km of reef spread across 3,44,400 km of ocean. It is separated from the coast by a 100 miles wide and over 200 feet deep channel.
The reef has a huge variety of corals, fish, and other marine species including plants and aquatic organisms like sharks, rays, and turtles. It is historically one of the most biologically diverse areas with a colorful ecosystem that makes it to the list of seven natural wonders of the world. Tourists can have a closer look at the reef through boat trips, dive trips, or snorkeling.Â
7 Northern lights
The Northern Lights or scientifically known as Aurora Borealis are the naturally occurring phenomena marking the last wonder on the list of seven natural wonders of the world. Predominantly visible in the high-altitude regions, these polar lights are the display of light in the sky. The light display forms different patterns in the sky which include curtains, spirals, rays, or dynamic flickers that cover the entire sky.
Solar winds cause disturbance in the Magnetosphere which results in Aurora. These are hosted by most of the planets in the Solar System, brown dwarfs, some natural satellites, and even comets. The popular regions to see the Northern Lights are Norway, Sweden, Finland, Alaska, Iceland, Greenland, and Northern Canada.Â