10 fantastic natural wonders that will take your breath away (21 photo)

Bloody lakes, glowing caves and giant rocks really do exist on our planet.





Ice-blue grottoes, kaleidoscope lakes and bizarre rocks of our beautiful Earth can be compared to the creations of a brilliant artist. When you see these landscapes, it seems that you are entering another reality. These fascinating places allow you to escape from the boring everyday life, and sometimes even almost travel to another planet. Before you are some of the most incredible natural wonders - from beautiful to frightening.

1. Lake Natron, Tanzania



Don't let the salt marshes fool you: this is one of the most inhospitable places on Earth.





Lake Natron's deep blood-red color is due to the presence of salt-loving microorganisms and algae. The water here heats up to hellish temperatures, and its alkalinity is almost like that of ammonia. Although people have always settled near bodies of water, the barren lands around Natron clearly indicate that it is impossible to live here.

2. Marble Caves, Chile



6,000 years of waves have carved a labyrinth of turquoise grottoes in the rocks.



The Marble Caves (Cuevas de Mármol) are hidden in the Patagonian Andes on the shores of Lake General Carrera. Their walls, polished by water, shimmer with all shades of azure, from soft blue to deep sapphire. The intensity of the color changes depending on the season and water level.

3. Lençóis Maranhenses Dunes, Brazil



Here, endless sands reign, between which turquoise lagoons are hidden.



At first glance, these are ordinary sand dunes, but between them, crystal-clear lakes splash. During the rainy season (from July to September), the depressions fill with water, turning the desert into a surreal landscape.

4. White Desert, Egypt



The lunar landscape is conveniently located a few hours' drive from Cairo.



Over the millennia, winds and sandstorms have carved out bizarre figures from white limestone. Some resemble mushrooms and ice cream cones, while others resemble giant monoliths.

5. Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand



This is literally a starry sky underground.



In 1887, Maori chief Tane Tinorau and English explorer Fred Mace descended into the Waitomo Caves on a fragile raft. In the darkness, they saw thousands of glowing fungus gnat larvae, creating the effect of the Milky Way.

6. Caño Cristales, Colombia



The River of Five Colors "blooms" once a year.



From September to November, the bottom of Caño Cristales flares up scarlet: the algae Macarenia clavigera paints the water blood-red, contrasting with the yellow sand and emerald pools.

7. Mount Hallelujah from Avatar, China



Here, 3,000 stone pillars reign supreme, inspiring James Cameron.



In Zhangjiajie Park, hundreds of limestone columns soar into the sky to a height of 1,080 meters. One of them, the “Southern Sky Pillar,” became the prototype for the flying mountains of Pandora. In 2010, it was officially renamed "Hallelujah Avatar".

8. Spotted Lake, Canada



A sacred lake that turns into a mosaic in the summer.



Kliluk is a lake saturated with magnesium sulfate, calcium and other minerals and compounds. In summer, the water evaporates, revealing bizarre spots of yellow, green and turquoise shades. For the Indians, this is a place of power, surrounded by ritual stone pyramids.

9. Travertine terraces of Pamukkale, Turkey



This is the territory of snow-white "castles" with turquoise waters.



For thousands of years, hot springs have flowed down the slope, leaving behind a cascade of limestone terraces. In ancient times, the Romans sought treatment here, and today it is a UNESCO site.

10. Bisti Badlands, USA



The alien landscape of sandstone and shale resembles a fantasy scene come to life.



In the New Mexico desert, wind and water over millions of years have created "mushroom" rocks, labyrinths and stone arches. This place looks like a set for a science fiction film.