New Zealand The Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers are a pair of magnificent glaciers located in close proximity to one another. They are among the most visited glaciers in the world, thanks to their easy accessibility in a relatively warm climate (in face, the Fox Glacier ends next to a rainforest). They are both located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park, which is part of the … [Read more...]
MARIANA TRENCH
Pacific Ocean The Mariana Trench is the deepest point on the surface of the Earth. More than two miles down in the Pacific Ocean (possibly more than six miles in places), the bottome of the Mariana Trench was the last major geological feature of the planet to be reached by humans. The trench supports living creatures at great depths in one of the harshest environments in the … [Read more...]
GREAT BARRIER REEF
Australia The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef. Approximately 1,400 miles in length and 133,000 square miles in area, it encompasses nearly a thousand islands and nearly three thousand component reefs. It is one of the most important undersea ecological zones in the world, as well as one of the planet’s most popular destinations for divers. The Great … [Read more...]
PALAU REEFS
Palau The Palau Reefs, located far out in the Pacific Ocean, are famous for a particular reason: it is one of the best preserved coral reefs in the world, and has proven to be more resistant to modern day pollutants and global warming than other major reef systems. Located around the island system of Palau, it is also one of the world’s most popular dive spots. The coral … [Read more...]
MOERAKI BOULDERS
New Zealand The Moeraki Boulders are an amazing collection of large, hollow and nearly perfectly spherical boulders that are strewn along Koekohe Beach along the southern shore of New Zealand’s South Island. The boulders are mentioned in the legends of the local Maori tribesmen, and fascinate curious onlookers and scientists alike. Maori locals discovered the strange … [Read more...]
CHOCOLATE HILLS
Philippines The Chocolate Hills of the Philippines is an incredible formation of hills that sprawl out over a huge area in the center of the island of Bohol. Consisting of over a thousand nearly perfectly rounded grass covered hills, they get their name from the cocoa brown color they achieve during the area’s dry season. The Chocolate Hills are tied to several of the … [Read more...]
WAITOMO GLOWWORM CAVE
New Zealand The Waitomo Glowworm Cave is one of the top natural wonders of New Zealand’s North Island. A large but not enormous cave system, Waitomo is famous for being the only known home to the Arachnocampa Luminosa, more commonly known as the glow worm. Their presence in the cave causes the certain places along the ceiling to glitter like tiny stars in one of nature’s … [Read more...]
PUERTO PRINCESA RIVER CAVE
Philippines The Puerto Princessa Subterranean River is arguably the world’s most impressive cave-river system. It is possibly the longest subterranean river, and is navigable by small boats through large sections. An extension of the Cabayugan River, it flows through one of the world’s largest cave chambers and ultimately out into the the West Philippine Sea. The caves are … [Read more...]
MULU CAVES
Malaysia The Mulu Caves are home to the Sarawak Chamber, the largest single cave chamber in the world. It is also one of the largest cave systems on Earth, with several other near-record setting features. Located beneath Mount Mulu, it is part of a geological system that extends to magnificent rock formations on the surface. The Mulu Caves are located in Gunung Mulu … [Read more...]
WAIMEA CANYON
*Hawaii Waimea Canyon on the island of Kaua’i is one of the quintessential natural sites of Hawaii. Nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea is reminiscent of its Arizona cousin, just covered in carpets of lush green foliage. Waimea Canyon is mostly enclosed by Waimea Canyon State Park, which covers a little under a tenth of the island. The area of Waimea Canyon … [Read more...]
