Sunday, June 14, 2015

Earth Day 2014: 19 Natural Wonders

While it could pass as a work of art, the mountains in Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park are very much real. The mountain range formed over 24 million years ago after coloured sandstone and deposits were pressed together, then ruptured by shifting tectonic plates. Sure, it looks like someone might have poured toxic waste into a perfectly good river, but Colombia's Cano Cristales is actually nicknamed "The River of Five Colours" for its seasonal bloom of moss which turns the rocks beneath the water into vibrant shades of purple, green, red, yellow and magenta. Located on the uninhabited island of Staffa, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland lies Fingal's Cave, a collection of hexagonally jointed basalt columns. Continuous crashing of waves during ocean storms wore away at a fissure, causing it to break open and create the opening travellers can see today. If you're seeing double, there's a strong chance it just rained in Salar De Uyuni. The Bolivian salt flat is the result of an ancient salt lake evaporating, leaving behind a tons of residue. Add enough water, and the area essentially becomes a giant mirror. What do you get when you mix mineral forests, petrified waterfalls, and ethereal hot springs safe for swimming? You get Turkey's Pamukkale. Its name loosely translates to "cotton castle" in Turkish, and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. See more..http://www.huffingtonpost.ca

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