A
list of the seven natural wonders of the world as noted by CNN and
seven natural wonders. org. Places and phenomenon noted for great natural beauty
and immense scale.
If
the Seven Wonders of the World demonstrate the human race's most impressive
creations, then the Seven Wonders of the Natural World are proof — if proof is
needed — that Mother Nature is just as talented an architect. Compiled
by CNN and Seven Natural Wonders in 1997, this list spans
all 7 continents, and includes some of the greatest heights of the earth and
depths of the oceans, some lesser known sites, and some well-known features
that you may have already visited yourself.
While the list of Natural Wonders is often disputed, these seven locations are generally agreed upon as being among the most breathtaking natural sights anywhere in the world.
The
Grand Canyon
Situated
in Arizona, USA, the 277-mile long Grand Canyon is a truly
awe-inspiring sight. The canyon, up to a mile deep and some 18 miles wide at
its broadest, was forged by the unstoppable course of the Colorado River.
Scientists estimate that the river first carved out its path more than 17
million years ago, exposing a wealth of information on the geological history
of the region as it cut through the land. While
in recent years increased safety measures have prevented visitors from approaching the edge of the canyon quite as closely they would like, the Grand
Canyon site is still a popular tourist destination for anyone wishing to catch
a glimpse of nature at its most powerful and majestic.
Parícutin
One
of the lesser-known entries on the list of Natural Wonders, Parícutin is just
as impressive as many more well known landmarks. This particular wonder is an
example of a near perfect cinder cone volcano located in Michoacán, Mexico. What
sets this particular volcano apart from the many others around the world is
that modern scientists were able to observe and document every stage of its
lifespan – from creation to extinction – as it happened. Over the course of the
1940s and 1950s, visiting experts and residents of the region were able to
witness the volcano growing from a fissure in a cornfield to a mountainous
height of 1,391 ft. Erupting for 19 years, the volcano went quiet in 1952,
never expected to erupt again.
Aurora
Seen
in both polar regions of the planet, this dazzling light show is aptly referred
to as the Northern (or Southern) Lights. Unlike most of the entries on this
list, you can view an aurora from many different locations around the world;
the higher the latitude, the more likely you are to see them. While
most of the Natural Wonders of the World play out on land or at sea, aurora are
an unforgettable sight that can only be witnessed by looking to the skies. The
effect is brought on by charged cosmic particles entering and interacting with
the Earth's atmosphere, causing vivid colours to be painted across the night
sky. Humans
have speculated about the cause of this night-time display of colour endlessly
for centuries, with references to the lights being found in texts from Ancient Greece, in stories from Norse Mythology, and sources
from Medieval England.
Victoria
Falls
Victoria Falls & Purple Sky at
Dusk, Zambia. As
the Zambezi River crosses the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, its waters descend 355 feet down the
astonishing Victoria Falls. The waterfall was named in 1855 for the reigning
English monarch, Queen Victoria, by Scottish explorer David Livingstone during
his famous journey across Africa. The indigenous name Mosi-oa-Tunya – or The
Smoke that Thunders – is still in use locally, and in 2013 the government of
Zimbabwe announced plans to officially rename the falls as such. Victoria
Falls isn't the highest or the broadest waterfall on the planet, but when
taking both attributes into consideration, it qualifies as the largest. One
particular highlight for visitors is the so-called 'Devil's Pool' that
typically forms between September and December. The seasonally lowered level of
the Zambezi river, combined with a rock barrier, make it possible to swim in a
relatively sedate pool mere feet away from the edge of the falls. However, it's
far from the safest option; several deaths have been reported in recent years.
Harbour
of Rio de Janeiro
Summer Sunrise on Rio de Janeiro
Harbour, Brazil – Thinkstock.com
Guanabara
Bay is a 19-mile stretch of land just to the east of Rio de Janeiro, the second
largest city in Brazil. More than 100 islands are situated around
the bay, including the car-free Paquetá Island, and Villegagnon Island, the
site of the Brazilian Naval School. While
the bay once boasted a vibrant and diverse ecosystem, recent decades have seen
the perils of urbanization wreak havoc on this once-beautiful environment.
Thankfully, legislation put in place ahead of the 2016
Summer Olympic Games in Rio stipulates a requirement for the
country's government to reinvigorate attempts to return the bay to its former
glory. While there are doubts as to whether these plans will be executed as
expected, locals and ecologists around the world remain hopeful that it's not
too late to save this particular wonder.
Great
Barrier Reef
Clownfish Poking Out of Anenome,
Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Made
up of nearly 3,000 individual reefs and almost 1,000 islands over a span of
1,400 miles, to truly understand the sheer scale of the Great Barrier Reef, you
need to see it to believe it. While the Great Wall of China is often mistakenly
described as being visible from space, astronauts and satellites have managed
to capture images of the Barrier Reef.
Constructed
by billions of minuscule organisms called coral polyps, the reef is a globally
recognized landmark of Australia, and a point of pride for Australians
around the globe. Lots of work is done each year to ensure that the delicate
ecosystem of the reef is preserved for future generations; central to this effort
is the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, a protective designation established in
1975 meant to protect the reef and the species within it.
Mount
Everest
Last,
but certainly not least, is the world's highest point. Known as Sagarmāthā in Nepal, and Chomolungma in Tibet, Mount Everest is
one of the most iconic natural features of the globe. At 29,029 feet tall, it's
ranked first among mountains for both elevation and prominence. The five
entries below it on the list of the world's highest peaks all name Everest as
their parent mountain.
The
first recorded attempts to scale Everest were made in the 1920s by British
mountaineers, but it would take more than three decades until Sherpa Tenzing
Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hilary managed to reach the
summit in 1953.
Today,
climbing Everest isn't quite the unassailable goal that it once was — but those
looking to do so still have to be in peak physical condition, and take great
risks in undergoing the venture. However, conquering the mountain remains one
of the greatest feats of man, and is a hugely popular challenge for anyone
really looking to test their mettle.
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