The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is not only the largest coral reef system in the world but also the largest living structure on Earth. It's visible from space and hosts an incredible diversity of marine life.
Largest Living Structure
Göbekli Tepe, located in present-day Turkey, is considered the oldest known temple in the world. It dates back to around 9600 BCE, challenging our understanding of the development of early human civilizations.
Oldest Known Temple
Derinkuyu in Turkey is an ancient underground city that could accommodate around 20,000 people. It was used for protection and habitation during times of conflict and has numerous levels, including living quarters, kitchens, churches, and more.
Hidden Underground City
The Popigai Crater in Russia is one of the largest impact craters in the world, with an estimated age of 35 million years. It was formed by the impact of a massive asteroid or comet and is known for its diamond-bearing deposits.
Largest Impact Crater in Europe
Ball's Pyramid, a tall and narrow volcanic stack in the Pacific Ocean, is often cited as the world's tallest volcanic island. It's uninhabited by humans but is home to a unique species called the Lord Howe Island stick insect.
Uninhabited Island in the Pacific
There's a lone Sitka spruce tree on Campbell Island in the Southern Ocean that's considered the loneliest tree in the world. It was planted by a New Zealand meteorologist in 1901 and has been the only tree on the island ever since.
The Loneliest Tree
The Shanay-Timpishka in Peru is known as the "Boiling River." It can reach temperatures of up to 210 degrees Fahrenheit (98 degrees Celsius). Geothermal activity heats the river, making it a natural wonder.
The Boiling River
Lake Taal in the Philippines is a lake that partially fills the caldera of a large active volcano. Within the lake, there's a smaller volcanic island called Volcano Island, which contains its own crater lake known as the Main Crater Lake.
Lake in a Volcano
In Yoro, Honduras, there's an annual meteorological event called the "Lluvia de Peces" or "Rain of Fish." During certain times of the year, fish seemingly fall from the sky along with rain, baffling locals and scientists alike.
Rain of Fish
In the town of Knaresborough, England, there's a well that seemingly turns objects to stone. The Petrifying Well has a high mineral content that creates a calcifying effect on objects placed in the well.