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If you look at these photos, you might think they
were created on a film set or a computer. They look like a work of
fantasy, devoid of magical beings that should rightly be within frame.
But that's not the case. These photos come from right here on Earth. If
you ever thought that terrestrial life was dull, check these out and
enjoy some newfound appreciation for our little planet's amazing beauty.
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Antarctica - The frozen wilds of Antarctica are some of the last places
on Earth not crawling with humans, and they make spectacular vistas like
this possible.
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Three Sisters Volcano, Oregon, USA - This
volcano in the Cascade Range gets its name from its three joint peaks.
The peaks are nicknamed Faith (to the north) Hope (in the middle) and
Charity (to the south).
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Goðafoss, Iceland - Its name means "waterfall of the gods," and is
pronounced "Gothafoss." It's 12 meters high and more than 30 meters
across.
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The Devil's Punchbowl, Central Oregon, USA - These caves are carved out
by the sea along central Oregon's coastline. The bowl shape was formed
when two caves collapsed, and the site is known for its deep purple
seaweed and white sands.
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Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada - This lake is actually artificial,
created with the construction of Bighorn Dam. Here, gas bubbles sit
frozen in its ice, creating an interesting effect.
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Valley of Fire, Nevada, USA - This wash of sedimentary stone in the
Valley of Fire State Park is a rainbow of pastels. The sandstone
formations were created over millions of years from shifting desert
sands.
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Spotted Lake, Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada - This unusual lake gets
its spots from various mineral deposits. The spots are visible in summer
when much of the lake's water evaporates. Depending on the type of
mineral and the amount of water left over, the spots will be different
colors. It was traditionally revered for its healing properties.
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The Wave in Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, Arizona, USA -
This famous rock formation is notoriously tricky to get to, as there's
no trail leading to it. Erosion has worn away the sandstone layers here
to reveal the bands of color.
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Alentejo Beach, Portugal - This area has one of the richest diversities
of flora and fauna in the country.
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Rainbow Mountains, Gansu Province, China - These
mountains in the Zhangye Danxia Geological Park feature multicolored
striations of sandstone collected over the period of 24 million years.
Erosion sculpted the mountains into impressive peaks and spires, and
revealed the colors below.
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