Tanzania’s Lake Natron has a killer reputation. Said to turn local wildlife to stone, its bright red waters certainly seem to signal danger. But in fact, the concentration of harmful chemicals in this alkaline lake supports a rich ecosystem. The water of Lake Natron reaches scalding temperatures of more than 40°C (104°F). Fed by hot …
Like an enchanted forest that’s been turned to stone, Grand Tsingy in Madagascar is a sombre scene of spiky, tree-like rocks. The world’s largest stone forest was carved by tropical rain in a process that lasted millions of years. Tsingy de Bemaraha covers a vast 600 sq km (230 sq miles). Meaning “where one cannot …
Hidden away deep inside Earth’s crust is a magical subterranean world of caverns, such as these stunning examples Psychedelic salt mine A former salt mine in Yekaterinburg, Russia, is now one of the world’s most colourful caves. More than 200 m (650 ft) underground, its patterned rainbow walls are caused by the mineral carnallite swirling …
This lone lamb has broken away from the flock to make a gutsy stand on the Kjeragbolten boulder in Norway. The confident climber seems oblivious to the 984-m (3,228-ft) drop below. Kjeragbolten is the high point of a hiker’s paradise on Kjerag mountain, southern Norway. This rock hasn’t rolled since 50,000 BCE when it was …
One of the world’s largest hot springs, Grand Prismatic Spring is located in the USA’s Yellowstone National Park. Explorers gave the spring its name in 1871 after witnessing its incredible prism of colours. Measuring 113 m (370 ft) wide and 37 m (121 ft) deep, it releases 2,120 litres (560 gallons) of water a minute. …
Few people can stand the heat of the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia. Active volcanoes sizzle inside this desert basin, and sulphur springs emit choking gases. No wonder some have called it the cruelest place on Earth. The Afar triangle is a vast low area created where Earth’s tectonic plates are pullling apart. The huge forces …
Eye-popping from the air, the Elephant Foot Glacier in Greenland is the exact shape of a giant jumbo’s foot. Made from compacted snow over hundreds of years, this icy mass has perfect proportions and stunning symmetry. Glaciers are masses of land-based ice, which develop at the poles or in areas of high altitude. There are …
Fly Ranch in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert is no ordinary geyser. A faulty well drilled in the early 1900s caused geothermally heated water to burst through surface cracks. Repeated eruptions have left behind mineral deposits, forming a multicoloured mound. Each time Fly Ranch Geyser erupts, it releases minerals that have dissolved in the scalding water. …
Wind and water constantly batter the planet’s rocky regions, sculpting unusual formations that must be seen to be believed. Sandstone spirals Antelope Canyon (above), in Arizona, USA, is named after the herds of antelope that once inhabited the area. These breathtaking rocks were carved by rainwater flooding through the canyon and eroding the sandstone into …
These magical stone structures transform the Turkish terrain of Cappadocia into a fairy kingdom. Carved by the forces of nature, countless ancient rock formations tower over the surrounding valleys and villages. Fairy chimneys have explosive origins. Millions of years ago, volcanic activity resulted in layers of soft sedimentary rock, topped by a hard layer of …
The cenotes (“sacred wells”) of Mexico are secret pools with beautiful clear waters. These developed naturally around the Yucatán Peninsula when cavern roofs collapsed. The ancient Mayan people believed cenotes were entrances to the mysterious underworld of the gods. The Yucatán Peninsula is known for its porous limestone. Over time heavy rainfall caused the rock …
Meaning “glacier of rivers”, Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Europe, covering almost 10 per cent of Iceland. Underneath the ice is a frozen world called the Crystal Caves, a hidden labyrinth of blue chambers and tunnels that change with the seasons. In the summer sunshine the surface of Vatnajökull’s thick glacial ice melts, and …
Imagine a paradise island floating above the clouds and two billion years in the making. Welcome to Mount Roraima in South America, one of the world’s oldest mountain formations, with panoramic views across the borders of Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana. Mount Roraima is the highest peak in the dramatic Pakaraima mountains, considered some of the …
Island in the Sky – Mount Roraima, South America Read More »
There’s no need to roll out the red carpet at Danxia in China’s Gansu Province. The jaw-dropping rocky landscape is naturally red from a build up of sandstone over many millions of years, while the rainbow effect comes from colourful mineral deposits. The name Danxia means “rosy clouds” in Chinese. Covering 400 sq km (154 …
How did a polished pebble become one of the most expensive things on Earth? Well, the answer is quite simple: propaganda and monopoly. Two hundred years ago, diamonds were not so common and were mostly worn by royalty (because, of course, they were the only ones who could afford them). This thing changed in 1870 …
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