On April 22nd we celebrated Earth Day. For the first time, its celebration was proposed back in 1969, with an emphasis on world peace, but over time this idea has transformed, and now more importance is attached to environmental protection, the promotion of respect for everything that nature has given us, and the desire for new knowledge.
Natural wonders of the world
The Earth, as you probably already know, is a rather amazing place to live, which must be paid attention to every time we get such a chance. This is the only house that we have ever known. Considering the incredibly large size of the Universe, our planet against its background seems to be nothing more than a pale blue dot, very tiny in comparison with it. But despite this, there are many amazing wonderful treasures that we have all heard about. For example, famous natural sites such as the Grand Canyon or the Great Barrier Reef are on the list of the seven natural wonders of the world. But we should remember about the lesser-known natural wonders, which are not objects of worship of tourists, but still attract many people who want to see them with their own eyes. Perhaps you should follow their example.
1. Lightning Catatumbo, Venezuela
At the mouth of the Catatumbo River, on Lake Maracaibo, you can see a very peculiar atmospheric phenomenon. The landform of this area ensures that cold winds blow from the sea towards the high mountain ranges of the Andes. The wind becomes electrically charged as it travels across the water and the plain. Therefore, when it rises upward, the electrical charge is quickly released into the environment, resulting in lightning strikes.
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However, they are not exactly the same as those you are used to seeing during a thunderstorm. The unique landscape contributes to the occurrence of these lightnings 280 times an hour, for 10 hours a day, and for 260 days a year. This means that about 728 thousand lightning strikes appear in this area per year. The state of Zulia, where this phenomenon is observed, is so proud of its "Maracaibo Lighthouse" that lightning even features prominently on its flag.
2. Stromboli, Aeolian Islands, Italy
If you want to see lava flow out of a volcano, there are several places on Earth that can boast of it. Hawaii is considered one of the best, where the Kilauea volcano is currently spewing so much lava that it cascades into the sea in the form of fiery waterfalls. However, there is a place on Earth that could be even more impressive and that is the island of Stromboli in Sicily.
This volcano is one of the most predictable in the world. Its height is just under one kilometer, so you can climb its slopes to the top and watch an unusual sight. On average, every 45-90 minutes a fountain of fire erupts into the sky tens of meters high. Eruptions occur because streams of gas get stuck in the "throat" of the volcano, but when they enter the vent, they burst outward, throwing out lava and lava bombs. Climb to the top of the volcano at night and you will feel like a dragon is chasing you. It is a truly breathtaking sight.
3. Arctic foxes in Iceland
If we are already talking about volcanoes, then it is worth remembering that Iceland is one of the best places in the world where you can watch them. But that's not all that the island nation has to offer you. Iceland is also home to a very rare Arctic fox, one of the cutest animals you will ever see.
These animals are small in size, from 46 to 68 centimeters. In summer they are brown, but in winter it turns to snow-white. Their coat color changes during adaptation to better camouflage themselves in the environment. Arctic foxes are solitary animals, and they are also a little cowardly, so they are often difficult to spot. If you get to the north coast of Iceland and only see one animal, you may be in luck.
4. "Gates of Hell", Turkmenistan
You may have already heard about this place, but nevertheless, we cannot fail to mention it. About four decades ago, while searching for natural gas, geologists stumbled upon a well of significant size, emitting methane and other toxic gases. They began to conduct exploration work and drill a well, trying to better study it. As a result, geologists stumbled upon an underground void, which led to the collapse of the earth in this place. This is how the Darvaza crater was formed. However, the geologists had fears that the gas could harm people living nearby, so they decided to set it on fire, hoping that it would burn out in a few days. However, this time the scientists were wrong. Forty years later, the crater is still burning, making it a one of a kind object.
The first expedition to the crater was carried out in 2014, as scientists wanted to find signs of life in it. It turned out that at the bottom of this burning crater, special bacteria live that are not found anywhere else in the world. They have formed their own ecosystem and feel quite comfortable in a hot crater that leads to the inevitable death of any other living creature. But tourists can admire the "Gates of Hell", or "Door to the Underworld", as it is also customary to call the crater, from its edge.
5. "Dragon Hole", China
Impressively deep sea sinkholes can be found all over the world, but the one in China is hard to beat. It was found in large coral reefs within the Paracel Islands. The sinkhole is 300.89 meters deep, which means it can hold more than three Statues of Liberty or London's Shard skyscraper.
Given that the Dragon Hole is the world's deepest sinkhole, it is not surprising that it is associated with ancient legends about how the monkey ruler and the dragon king tried to trick each other. In fact, the sinkhole was formed at a time when sea levels were much lower and acid rain formed the lake. As the sea level rose, it filled the "lake" and today this funnel is an incredible sight.
6. Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand
The dark, ominous caves within the North Island of the Land of the Long White Cloud are absolutely amazing places that you must visit at least once in your life. The most secluded parts of these caves are home to hordes of fireflies that stick to the ceiling.
While fireflies can be found in other parts of the world, such a high concentration of them in these caves is certainly an impressive sight. The caves are like a whimsical night sky with a green tint. Looking at them, you will forget that this is just one of the many bioluminescent animal species found on the planet.
7. Perseids meteor shower on the top of Mount Fuji, Japan
You have certainly heard of Fuji, a sacred Japanese mountain that is not only a dormant volcano, but also one of the most symmetrical in the world. You've also probably heard of the Perseids, the meteor shower that can be seen every year. It reaches its maximum around mid-August.
However, you should combine these two natural wonders and you will see them in a different light. If you climb to the top of the volcano, you will find yourself above the cloud cover, which will also block the electric light from neighboring Tokyo.
This means that on a moonless night, you can see about 200 meteors per hour if you climb to the very top of Mount Fuji. Believe me, nothing in the world can compare with this sight.
Anna Pismenna