25 Greatest Natural Wonders of the World - Travel Video

Massive glaciers, staggering mountains, plains  dotted with wild animals: We sure live in a big, beautiful world. And while pinpointing all  of Mother Nature's greatest hits could take a lifetime, we think these out-of-this-world  landscapes and awe-inspiring wonders, from Arizona to Antarctica, need to move  to the very top of your travel list. Number 25.

Angel Falls. The tallest waterfall in the world, Angel Falls  in Venezuela certainly makes for one of the most spectacular sights imaginable. Shooting  off the summit of a table top mountain, the fall plunges 807 meters  uninterrupted to the jungle below, with much of the water turning to  mist before it reaches the ground.

Adding in its other cascades and rapids and Angel  Falls' total height is a whopping 979 meters. Due to its remote location in Canaima National  Park, Angel Falls is quite hard to visit, though its stunning setting and awe-inspiring  scenery certainly makes it well worth the effort. Number 24.

Giant's Causeway Situated at the base of steep cliffs  on the northeast coast of Ireland, the Giant’s Causeway is a natural rock formation  that does indeed look as if it were fashioned by giants. The honeycomb formation of hexagon-shaped  basalt columns appears too geometrically perfect to have been shaped by nature. It actually took  60 million years of tectonic plate movement, lava flows and erosion to fashion the  stepping-stone columns into their present shape.

Cliff-top trails offer great views of the rocks,  and a flight of steps leads down to sea level. Number 23. Nā Pali Coast.

Dominating and defining the northwest of Kaua'i,  the Na Pali Coast is one of Hawaii's most famous and photographed sights. Its gigantic jagged  cliffs rise to 1,200 metres above the sparkling waters of the Pacific Ocean, with scenic beaches  and coves hidden below. As the rugged terrain is so inaccessible, the only way to visit is by  hiking, kayaking, or helicopter, with phenomenal panoramas wherever you look.

While it is famed  for having featured in Jurassic Park, the grand and gorgeous stretch of coastline has appeared  in numerous films and TV shows over the years. Number 22. Mount Everest.

As the highest mountain in the world, Mount  Everest attracts climbers of all levels, from well experienced mountaineers to novice  climbers willing to pay substantial sums to professional mountain guides  to complete a successful climb. Although other eight-thousanders such  as K2 are much more difficult to climb, Mount Everest still has many inherent dangers  such as altitude sickness, weather and wind. At the base of Everest, Sherpas and mountaineers work  overtime to prepare for their trip to the summit.

Number 21. Pulpit Rock.
 One of the most famous and phenomenal sights in Norway, the prominent Pulpit Rock lies  in the southwest of the country, overlooking the lovely Lysefjorden.

Formed during the last  ice age, the sheer cliff towers 604 metres above its surroundings, with staggering views  of the deep, dark waters and dramatic landscapes below. Due to the outstanding beauty, Pulpit  Rock attracts hordes of tourists every year. Number 20.

Wadi Rum. In Southern Jordan is Wadi Rum, a desert valley known for its  breathtaking scenery. There are no permanent settlements in this secluded desert region, but  nomadic tribes do occasionally pass through.

Although deserts are often imagined as dunes,  Wadi Rum boasts sandstone mountains and towering granite cliffs. The distinctive reddish-orange  colors that lend the area an otherworldly quality has brought severals science-fiction films  here to replicate the Red Planet. Visitors can ride a camel across the amazing desert  and camp out under the clear, star-filled sky.

Number 19. Lake Baikal. The deepest and oldest lake on Earth, Lake  Baikal is reputed to boast some of the clearest and cleanest waters around.

To top it all off,  the enormous freshwater lake contains more water than all the Great Lakes in North America  combined. With so many accolades to its name, it’s no wonder that Lake Baikal is  nicknamed the 'Pearl of Siberia. ' While the lake makes for fabulous viewing when  the summer sun glints off its dark waters, it is no less impressive in winter when it freezes up  two meters deep in parts.

Whether it’s ice skating across the surface or hiking along the scenic  shoreline, Lake Baikal is a nature lover's dream. Number 18. The Maldives Located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the  idyllic Maldives archipelago is spellbindingly beautiful.

Close to the equator, the Maldives  has a warm and tropical climate that’s perfect for lazy beach days all year round. This  low-lying island group is celebrated for its high level of luxury and emphasis on the slow life.  Perfect for honeymooners, the Maldives’ designer accommodation is out of this world – take your  pick of underwater villas, over-water villas, and everything in between.

There’s even an underwater  restaurant for those looking to dine surrounded by schools of tropical fish. As relaxation is key  in the Maldives, you can spend your days sipping on cocktails and sunbathing, interspersed with  a diving excursion to keep things interesting. Number 17.

Banff National Park. Canada’s oldest national park, Banff,  is chock full of awesome scenery. Set amongst the beauty of the Canadian Rockies,  the park contains several beautiful lakes, including Lake Louise, the gem of the park,  and the much photographed Moraine Lake.

It’s also a good place to see glaciers, ice  fields, and wildlife, including elk, deer, moose and bears. As a year-round tourism destination,  the park draws three million visitors annually; they come for the winter sports,  and summer hiking and camping. Number 16.

Salar de Uyuni. Located in the Andes Mountains, Salar de Uyuni is  the largest salt flat in the world. The expanse of salt creates an unending white landscape during  the dry season, but the area is most breathtaking in the rainy season when it is covered in  water.

The reflection of the blue sky creates a spectacular and surreal landscape, though some  tourists insist on seeing the salt. One of the most unusual places to visit in South America,  it’s also a major breeding ground for flamingoes. Number 15.

Yellowstone. The granddaddy of American national parks,  Yellowstone is the oldest in the United States and the world, having been founded in 1872. When it  was first discovered, stories of the magnificence of the area were passed off as lies and tall  tales.

You can see why: erupting geysers here belch steam and water, such as the clockwork  Old Faithful. There are boiling hot springs, like the Grand Prismatic Spring; thanks to  differing temperatures and minerals as the waters spread out, this is a veritable rainbow of  unbelievable colors. There’s even the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone – a natural wonder in granite. 

This place is a true icon of must-see nature. Number 14. Iguazu Falls.

Made up of some 275 different  cascades, falls, and drops, Iguazu Falls on the Argentine-Brazilian border  is the world's largest waterfall system. As such, it is the only waterfall that can rival  or possibly even surpass Victoria Falls. For almost three kilometres in total,  gorgeous falls course over the Parana Plateau, with the undoubted highlight being Devil's Throat  Canyon.

This is best witnessed from the Brazilian side's viewing platform, where you are greeted  with teeming sheets of water, a deafening roar, and a fine spray. With lush rainforest lying  around it, the falls are a treat to visit. Visitors can take boat trips along the Iguazu  River or explore the nearby paths and trails.

Number 13. Sahara Desert. The Sahara is the world’s largest hot  desert covering most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as the United States. 

Contrary to popular belief, large sand dunes form only a minor part of the Sahara. Most of the  desert consists of largely barren, rocky plateaus, with very little sand. The Sahara receives less  than three inches of rain a year on average.

Even in the Sahara’s wettest areas, it may rain only  once or twice a week and not rain again for years. Number 12. Galapagos Islands.

If you want to get a glimpse of what  prehistoric animals may have looked like, head to the Galapagos Islands. The animals are  like no other place on earth, and include giant tortoises and scary-looking iguanas. They were  the impetus for Charles Darwin’s controversial 19th century book, On the Origin of Species. 

This archipelago of 18 major islands, about 550 miles off the coast of Ecuador, was formed –  and are still being formed – by volcanic action. Number 11. Pamukkale.

Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish,  is an unreal landscape in western Turkey, famous for its white terraces. The  terraces are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by water with a  very high mineral content from the hot springs. People have bathed in its  pools for thousands of years.

The ancient Greek city of Hierapolis was built on  top of the hot springs by the kings of Pergamon. The ruins of the baths and other Greek  monuments can still be seen at the site. Number 10.

Zhangjiajie National Forest. Located in northwest Hunan Province, Zhangjiajie  National Forest boasts some of the most impressive and spectacular landscapes in China.  Part of the Wuling Mountain Range, the scenic area is particularly famous for the  thousands of pillars and peaks that punctuate the park.

Often shrouded in mist, these karst  formations look incredible, and many of them tower over two hundred meters high. Covered in  sub-tropical rainforest, they rise above plunging ravines and deep gorges, with sparkling rivers,  lakes, and waterfalls found here and there. Number 9.

The Northern Lights. An incredible natural phenomenon, the polar  lights and their captivating colors, shapes, and swirls appear when there is solar activity. The  best chance to spot them will be in the winter, when the nights are longer.

The further north you  go, and the further you travel away from cities, the better your view will be. Besides  watching them out of your window, you can also take tours into the wilderness  to see the shimmering lights from secluded, light-free spots and stay at  cosy cabins and campgrounds. Number 8.

Great Barrier Reef. The largest coral reef system on the face of the  earth, the Great Barrier Reef is simply colossal. Stretching for over 1,400 miles, it is remarkably  visible from space, with 900 islands dot this enormous ecosystem.

Snorkeling and scuba diving  are the best ways to experience the joys of the rich underwater world, while boat trips, kayaking,  and even helicopter rides offer another view of the reef’s gargantuan proportions. Gently sailing  through the perfect turquoise waters, dolphins, sea turtles and the reef itself are visible  below the waves, is an unforgettable experience. Number 7.

Antarctica. Antarctica, on average, is the coldest,  driest, and windiest continent on the planet, and has the highest average elevation of all the  continents. Although about 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice, it is technically a desert  with very little precipitation.

Antarctica is colder than the Arctic because much of the  continent is more than 2 miles above sea level, and because the Arctic Ocean covers the north  polar zone transferring the ocean’s relative warmth through the icepack. Sea life of Antarctica  include penguins, blue whales, orcas, and seals. Number 6.

Mount Bromo Mount Bromo is an active volcano and  part of the Tengger massif, in East Java. At 2,329 meters it is not the highest peak of the  massif, but it is the most well known. The area is one of the most visited tourist attractions in  Java.

The top of the volcano has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches  white smoke. It is surrounded by the Sea of Sand of fine volcanic sand. The  overall effect is unsettlingly unearthly.

Number 5. Victoria Falls. If you thought that Niagara Falls was large, well,  Victoria Falls dwarfs it with its colossal curtain of water that stretches for 1,708 metres, reaching  108 metres in height.

It is these epic proportions that make Victoria Falls the largest waterfall  in the world. Breathtaking to behold, the endless flow of water that tumbles over  the cliff almost defies belief. Fittingly, the cacophonous roar that rises from the gorge  below and the fine spray that hangs in the air saw the falls named 'The Smoke That Thunders'  in the local Lozi language.

Nestled on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria  Falls truly needs to be seen to be believed. Number 4. Grand Canyon.

Renowned the world over, the Grand Canyon  needs no introduction. One of the largest canyon in the world really has to  be seen to be properly appreciated. Whether you visit the North,  South, East or West Rim areas, it’s always a giant sculpture of light and shadow  that barrels its way across an awesome landscape.

Around the national park that encompasses it  there are a whole host of trails and viewpoints; Cape Royal on the North Rim is a top vista of  many major parts of the Grand Canyon. You can even reach down to the canyon floor, over a mile  down in some places, via steep, meandering trails. Number 3.

Ha Long Bay. Located in northeastern Vietnam, Ha Long  Bay resembles a scene from a fantasy story with its thousands of limestone karst  islands of different shapes and sizes. Halong means descending dragons, which is  indicative of the silhouette of the limestone outcrops that poke out from the water.

Some of  the islands contain lakes while some are hollow, with a colorful fairyland of grottoes inside.  An overnight boat trip is a spectacular way to experience the beauty of the bay and to  see as many of the islands as possible. Number 2.

Amazon Rainforest. If you lived long enough to count  that high, you could count 390 billion trees in the Amazon rainforest.  This statistic is mind-boggling, to be sure, but then the Amazon rainforest is one awesome  piece of nature, covering about ¾ of the Amazon River basin.

It is the world’s largest tropical  rainforest. Sixty percent of the rainforest is located in Brazil with sizeable chunks in Peru and  Columbia; bordering countries have small shares. For sure, the rainforest is loaded  with unique flora and fauna.

Number 1. Serengeti Migration. The Serengeti ecosystem is located in  northwestern Tanzania and extends to southwestern Kenya.

The region hosts the largest  mass movement of land mammals on the planet and one of the most breathtaking events  in the animal kingdom. Every year, one million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra make a  300 mile round trip from the Southern Serengeti in Tanzania to the northern edge of the Masai Mara  National Reserve in Kenya. The Great Migration is probably Africa’s greatest safari spectacle and  the most exceptional natural wonder of the world.