1Massive glaciers, staggering mountains, plains dotted with wild animals.
2We sure live in a big, beautiful world.
3And while pinpointing all of Mother Nature's greatest hits could take a life time,
4we think these out-of-this-world landscapes and awe-inspiring wonders, from Arizona to Antarctica,
5need to move to the very top of your travel list.
6...
7Number 25 - Angel Falls
8The tallest waterfall in the world,
9Angel Falls in Venezuela certainly makes for one of the most spectacular sights imaginable.
10Shooting off the summit of a table top mountain,
11the falls plunge 807 meters uninterrupted to the jungle below,
12with much of the water turning to mist before it reaches the ground.
13Adding in its other cascades and rapids and Angel Falls' total height, it is a whopping 979 meters.
14Due to its remote location in Canaima National Park,
15Angel Falls is quite hard to visit,
16though its stunning setting and awe-inspiring scenery certainly makes it well worth the effort.
17...
18Number 24 - Giant's Causeway
19Situated at the base of steep cliffs on the northeast coast of Ireland,
20the Giant's Causeway is a natural rock formation that does indeed look as if it were fashioned by giants.
21The honeycomb formation of hexagon-shaped basalt columns appears too geometrically perfect to have been shaped by nature.
22It actually took 60 million years of tectonic plate movement,
23lava flows and erosion to fashion the stepping-stone columns into their present shape.
24Cliff-top trails offer great views of the rocks, and a flight of steps leads down to sea level.
25...
26Number 23 - Na Pali Coast
27Dominating and defining the northwest of Kaua'i,
28the Na Pali Coast is one of Hawaii's most famous and photographed sights.
29Its gigantic jagged cliffs rise to 1,200 metres above the sparkling waters of the Pacific Ocean,
30with scenic beaches and coves hidden below.
31As the rugged terrain is so inaccessible, the only way to visit is by hiking, kayaking, or helicopter,
32with phenomenal panoramas wherever you look.
33While it is famed for having featured in Jurassic Park,
34the grand and gorgeous stretch of coastline has appeared in numerous films and TV shows over the years.
35...
36Number 22 - Mount Everest
37As the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest attracts climbers of all levels,
38from well experienced mountaineers to novice climbers willing to pay substantial sums to professional mountain guides to complete a successful climb.
39Although other eight-thousanders such as K2 are much more difficult to climb,
40Mount Everest still has many inherent dangers such as altitude sickness, weather and wind.
41At the base of Everest, Sherpas and mountaineers work overtime to prepare for their trip to the summit.
42...
43Number 21 - Pulpit Rock
44One of the most famous and phenomenal sights in Norway,
45the prominent Pulpit Rock lies in the southwest of the country, overlooking the lovely Lysefjorden.
46Formed during the last ice age, the sheer cliff towers 604 metres above its surroundings,
47with staggering views of the deep, dark waters and dramatic landscapes below.
48Due to the outstanding beauty, Pulpit Rock attracts hordes of tourists every year.
49...
50Number 20 - Wadi Rum
51In Southern Jordan is Wadi Rum, a desert valley known for its breathtaking scenery.
52There are no permanent settlements in this secluded desert region,
53but nomadic tribes do occasionally pass through.
54Although deserts are often imagined as dunes, Wadi Rum boasts sandstone mountains and towering granite cliffs.
55The distinctive reddish-orange colors that lend the area an otherworldly quality has brought severals science-fiction films here to replicate the Red Planet.
56Visitors can ride a camel across the amazing desert and camp out under the clear, star-filled sky.
57...
58Number 19 - Lake Baikal
59The deepest and oldest lake on Earth,
60Lake Baikal is reputed to boast some of the clearest and cleanest waters around.
61To top it all off, the enormous freshwater lake contains more water than all the Great Lakes in North America combined.
62With so many accolades to its name,
63it's no wonder that Lake Baikal is nicknamed the 'Pearl of Siberia.'
64While the lake makes for fabulous viewing when the summer sun glints off its dark waters,
65it is no less impressive in the winter when it freezes up to two meters deep in parts.
66Whether it's ice skating across the surface or hiking along the scenic shoreline, Lake Baikal is a nature lovers' dream.
67...
68Number 18 - The Maldives
69Located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the idyllic Maldives archipelago is spellbindingly beautiful.
70Close to the equator, the Maldives has a warm and tropical climate that's perfect for lazy beach days all year round.
71This low-lying island group is celebrated for its high level of luxury and emphasis on the slow life.
72Perfect for honeymooners, the Maldives' designer accommodation is out of this world -
73take your pick of underwater villas, over-water villas, and everything in between.
74There's even an underwater restaurant for those looking to dine surrounded by schools of tropical fish.
75As relaxing is the key in the Maldives, you can spend your days sipping on cocktails and sunbathing,
76interspersed with a diving excursion to keep things interesting.
77...
78Number 17 - Banff National Park
79Canada's oldest national park, Banff, is chock full of awesome scenery.
80Set amongst the beauty of the Canadian Rockies, the park contains several beautiful lakes,
81including Lake Louise, the gem of the park, and the much photographed Moraine Lake.
82It's also a good place to see glaciers, ice fields, and wildlife, including elk, deer, moose and bears.
83As a year-round tourism destination, the park draws three million visitors annually;
84they come for the winter sports, and summer hiking and camping.
85...
86Number 16 - Salar de Uyuni
87Located in the Andes Mountains, Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world.
88The expanse of salt creates an unending white landscape during the dry season,
89but the area is most breathtaking in the rainy season when it is covered in water.
90The reflection of the blue sky creates a spectacular and surreal landscape,
91though some tourists insist on seeing the salt.
92One of the most unusual places to visit in South America, it's also a major breeding ground for flamingoes.
93...
94Number 15 - Yellowstone
95The granddaddy of American national parks, Yellowstone is the oldest in the United States and the world,
96having been founded in 1872.
97When it was first discovered, stories of the magnificence of the area were passed off as lies and tall tales.
98You can see why: erupting geysers here belch steam and water, such as the clockwork Old Faithful.
99There are boiling hot springs, like the Grand Prismatic Spring;
100thanks to differing temperatures and minerals as the water spreads out,
101this is a veritable rainbow of unbelievable colors.
102There's even the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone - a natural wonder in granite.
103This place is a true icon of must-see nature.
104...
105Number 14 - Iguazu Falls
106Made up of some 275 different cascades, falls, and drops,
107Iguazu Falls on the Argentine-Brazilian border is the world's largest waterfall system.
108As such, it is the only waterfall that can rival or possibly even surpass Victoria Falls.
109For almost three kilometres in total, gorgeous falls course over the Parana Plateau,
110with the undoubted highlight being Devil's Throat Canyon.
111This is best witnessed from the Brazilian side's viewing platform,
112where you are greeted with teeming sheets of water, a deafening roar, and a fine spray.
113With lush rainforest lying around it, the falls are a treat to visit.
114Visitors can take boat trips along the Iguazu River or explore the nearby paths and trails.
115...
116Number 13 - Sahara Desert
117The Sahara is the world's largest hot desert covering most of Northern Africa,
118making it almost as large as the United States.
119Contrary to popular belief, large sand dunes form only a minor part of the Sahara.
120Most of the desert consists of largely barren, rocky plateaus, with very little sand.
121The Sahara receives less than three inches of rain a year on average.
122Even in the Sahara's wettest areas, it may rain only once or twice a week and not rain again for years.
123...
124Number 12 - Galapagos Islands
125If you want to get a glimpse of what prehistoric animals may have looked like, head to the Galapagos Islands.
126The animals are like no other place on earth,
127and include giant tortoises and scary-looking iguanas.
128They were the impetus for Charles Darwin's controversial 19th century book, On the Origin of Species.
129This archipelago of 18 major islands,
130about 550 miles off the coast of Ecuador, was formed - and are still being formed - by volcanic action.
131...
132Number 11 - Pamukkale
133Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, is an unreal landscape in western Turkey, famous for its white terraces.
134The terraces are made of travertine,
135a sedimentary rock deposited by water with a very high mineral content from the hot springs.
136People have bathed in its pools for thousands of years.
137The ancient Greek city of Hierapolis was built on top of the hot springs by the kings of Pergamon.
138The ruins of the baths and other Greek monuments can still be seen at the site.
139...
140Number 10 - Zhangjiajie National Forest
141Located in northwest Hunan Province,
142Zhangjiajie National Forest boasts some of the most impressive and spectacular landscapes in China.
143Part of the Wuling Mountain Range,
144the scenic area is particularly famous for the thousands of pillars and peaks that punctuate the park.
145Often shrouded in mist, these karst formations look incredible,
146and many of them tower over two hundred meters high.
147Covered in sub-tropical rainforest, they rise above plunging ravines and deep gorges,
148with sparkling rivers, lakes, and waterfalls found here and there.
149...
150Number 9 - The Northern Lights
151An incredible natural phenomenon,
152the polar lights and their captivating colors, shapes, and swirls appear when there is solar activity.
153The best chance to spot them will be in the winter, when the nights are longer.
154The further north you go, and the further you travel away from cities, the better your view will be.
155Besides watching them out of your window,
156you can also take tours into the wilderness to see the shimmering lights from secluded, light-free spots
157and stay at cosy cabins and campgrounds.
158...
159Number 8 - Great Barrier Reef
160The largest coral reef system on the face of the earth, the Great Barrier Reef is simply colossal.
161Stretching for over 1,400 miles, it is remarkably visible from space,
162with 900 islands dotting this enormous ecosystem.
163Snorkeling and scuba diving are the best ways to experience the joys of the rich underwater world,
164while boat trips, kayaking, and even helicopter rides offer another view of the reef's gargantuan proportions.
165Gently sailing through the perfect turquoise waters, dolphins, sea turtles and the reef itself visible below the waves, is an unforgettable experience.
166...
167Number 7 - Antarctica
168Antarctica, on average, is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent on the planet,
169and has the highest average elevation of all the continents.
170Although about 98% of Antarctica is covered in ice,
171it is technically a desert with very little precipitation.
172Antarctica is colder than the Arctic because much of the continent is more than 2 miles above sea level,
173and because the Arctic Ocean covers the north polar zone,
174transferring the ocean's relative warmth through the icepack.
175Sea life in Antarctica includes penguins, blue whales, orcas, and seals.
176...
177Number 6 - Mount Bromo
178Mount Bromo is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, in East Java.
179At 2,329 meters it is not the highest peak of the massif, but is the most well known.
180The area is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Java.
181The top of the volcano has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white smoke.
182It is surrounded by the Sea of Sand of fine volcanic sand.
183The overall effect is unsettlingly unearthly.
184...
185Number 5 - Victoria Falls
186If you thought that Niagara Falls was large,
187well, Victoria Falls dwarfs it with its colossal curtain of water that stretches for 1,708 metres,
188reaching 108 metres in height.
189It is these epic proportions that make Victoria Falls the largest waterfall in the world.
190Breathtaking to behold, the endless flow of water that tumbles over the cliff almost defies belief.
191Fittingly, the cacophonous roar that rises from the gorge below
192and the fine spray that hangs in the air saw the falls named 'The Smoke That Thunders' in the local Lozi language.
193Nestled on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls truly needs to be seen to be believed.
194...
195Number 4 - Grand Canyon
196Renowned the world over, the Grand Canyon needs no introduction.
197One of the largest canyons in the world, it really has to be seen to be properly appreciated.
198Whether you visit the North, South, East or West Rim areas,
199it's always a giant sculpture of light and shadow that barrels its way across an awesome landscape.
200Around the national park that encompasses it there are a whole host of trails and viewpoints;
201Cape Royal on the North Rim is a top vista of many major parts of the Grand Canyon.
202You can even reach down to the canyon floor, over a mile down in some places, via steep, meandering trails.
203...
204Number 3 - Ha Long Bay
205Located in northeastern Vietnam, Ha Long Bay resembles a scene from a fantasy story
206with its thousands of limestone karst islands of different shapes and sizes.
207Ha Long means descending dragons,
208which is indicative of the silhouette of the limestone outcrops that poke out from the water.
209Some of the islands contain lakes while some are hollow,
210with a colorful fairyland of grottoes inside.
211An overnight boat trip is a spectacular way to experience the beauty of the bay
212and to see as many of the islands as possible.
213...
214Number 2 - Amazon Rainforest
215If you lived long enough to count that high, you could count 390 billion trees in the Amazon rainforest.
216This statistic is mind-boggling, to be sure,
217but then the Amazon rainforest is one awesome piece of nature,
218covering about 3/4 of the Amazon River basin.
219It is the world's largest tropical rainforest.
22060% of the rainforest is located in Brazil with sizable chunks in Peru and Columbia;
221bordering countries have small shares.
222For sure, the rainforest is loaded with unique flora and fauna.
223...
224Number 1 - Serengeti Migration
225The Serengeti ecosystem is located in northwestern Tanzania and extends to southwestern Kenya.
226The region hosts the largest mass movement of land mammals on the planet
227and one of the most breathtaking events in the animal kingdom.
228Every year, one million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra make a 300 mile round trip
229from the Southern Serengeti in Tanzania to the northern edge of the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
230The Great Migration is probably Africa's greatest safari spectacle and the most exceptional natural wonder of the world.
231...