We’re not here to tell you that nature is amazing - you already know it. Yet, that does not mean that knowing this fact eliminates the factor of various natural phenomena being totally breathtaking and awe-inspiring! And, since we love ourselves a bit of beautiful nature in our day, here’s our list of the most wondrous natural phenomena on Earth.
But before we skip straight to the natural phenomena examples, we must contain our excitement and learn what exactly these amazing nature occurrences are. So, for starters, we must know that these majestical things always happen without the interference of humans (that’s why they’re called natural), and it’s all nature’s play. Now, examples of natural phenomena include, but are not limited to, gravity, tides, moons, sandstorms, oscillation, volcanic lighting, cloud formations, and even ant armies! And while some of these occurrences do happen pretty frequently - like rainbows - some rare natural phenomena only grace us perhaps once a year or in one specific place. And very predictably, Australia has plenty of these weird natural phenomena to itself. Well, we guess it’s a fair trade for living in a place where everything can eliminate you - at least you get a pretty view!
Anyway, it’s not all about Australia in this list, and as you’re about to see, these beautiful nature occurrences do happen everywhere in the world. From glowworm caves to light pillars to a literal hellhole, there are lots of natural phenomena to gawk at on this list! So, scroll down below, check out the submissions, and give your vote to the natural phenomena examples you found the most awesome.
#1 Light Pillars, Canada
This incredible phenomenon occurs when ice crystals are suspended in the air due to extreme cold conditions. The crystal then reacts with every light source around and create this stunning view.
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78points
#2 Bioluminescent Shore, Maldives
Again, this might seem magical and otherworldly, but bioluminescent phytoplankton actually creates this view of a starry shore.
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76points
#3 Lenticular Clouds
Lenticular clouds are stunning everywhere, but especially so when they hang atop the Mayon Volcano crater!
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73points
#4 Moonbow, Hawaii
Commonly known as lunar rainbows, they differ from regular rainbows in that the moon's beams produce them rather than the sun.
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69points
#5 Rainbow Eucalyptus
Probably the only reason this tree exists is to be a living work of art!
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66points
#6 Halos
Similar to fire rainbows, halos require just the correct arrangement of ice crystals to develop in clouds located far above Earth's surface in order to perfectly bend sunlight into a ring.
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65points
#7 Bismuth Crystals
Known to be included in Pepto-Bismol as well as other well-known items like safety valves and paintings, bismuth is a solid, highly lustrous grey metal.
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65points
#8 Glowworm Caves, New Zeland
Most of these caves are in Australia and New Zealand, although there is also a well-known one in Alabama. The most well-known are the Waitomo Caves in New Zealand, formed more than 30 million years ago.
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64points
#9 Aurora Borealis, Iceland
Although Aurora Borealis might seem like pure magic, it actually appears when electrically charged particles from the sun react with atoms in the upper atmosphere. Expect it to see on a freezing cold night!
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55points
#10 Sky Mirror, Bolivia
It's Salar de Uyuni - the largest salt flat in the world. The views are pretty surreal there!
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54points
#11 Sakurajima Dirty Thunderstorms, Japan
Sakurajima volcano is just breathtaking when it rains fire and ash.
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52points
#12 Desert Roses
It is a rose-like gypsum mineral formation that can grow in arid, sandy areas that periodically flood. Gypsum crystals can grow between sand grains and trap them due to the transition between wet and dry conditions.
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52points
#13 Circumhorizontal Arc
When sunlight or moonlight is refracted by air ice crystals, ice halos that mimic fire rainbows are created.
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50points
#14 Frozen Ice Bubbles, Canada
These bubbles are created by the emission of inflammable methane gas. The bubbles freeze in ice and we get these incredible patterns!
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47points
#15 Marble Caves, Chile
We doubt a few would mind seeing these gorgeous views in real life! These incredible caves and walls took around 6000 years to form, and it was the waves that washed them into these breathtaking shapes.
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46points
#16 Great Blue Hole, Belize
This virtually perfect sphere of the deep blue abyss, formed during the last ice age when the sea level was much lower, is a haven for scuba divers. Naturally, the hole grew into a much more endless chasm as the sea level rose.
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44points
#17 Lake Hillier, Australia
This vivid natural phenomenon in Australia is caused by the high salt content of the water and the energy released by the microalgae "Dunaliella Salina."
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44points
#18 Danxia Landform, China
Minerals are magic, and so are their colors. Just look at this place! It's like Pantone bursted here!
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44points
#19 Sandstone Waves, Arizona
"The Wave" features intersecting throughs of sandstone that have converted to rock that were formerly dunes in Arizona dating back more than 190 million years. The dunes grow vertically and horizontally; over time, moderate erosion brought on by wind and rain reveals their wave-like appearance.
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44points
#20 Blue Volcano, Indonesia
Although it seems absolutely otherworldly, the Kawah Iljen volcano is absolutely real! It gets this color due to high quantities of sulfuric gas - it glimmers blue once it comes in contact with air.
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43points