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13 Geologic Wonders Of The Natural World

This article is more than 8 years old.

From subtle changes in geochemistry to massive volcanoes, the geologic wonders of the world never cease to amaze . Here we span the earth to find the best natural wonders of the world, both in their importance to geology and in their awesome beauty. If you yearn for adventure, get ready to add a few incredible sights to your bucket list.

We carry within us the wonders we seek without us. - Thomas Browne

Tibetan Plateau, China

Often called the "Roof of the World," the Tibetan Plateau stands at 16,400 ft in western China. The Tibetan Plateau is about half the size of the lower 48 states and is bounded by the Himalayan Mountains to the south. This grand plateau's geologic story is still in debate with one theory suggesting it's uplift was part of the under thrusting of the Indian continent beneath Eurasia. Another theory suggests this massively thick continental crust was formed from folds and thrusts of rocks, causing it to shorten and increase in height. This would be analogous to your car's hood if you were to get in an accident.

The Door To Hell, Turkmenistan

The Door To Hell is located on top of the natural gas field in Turkmenistan. Soviet geologists found and drilled for natural gas here in 1971 when the ground began to collapse to leave a large crater. To prevent inhalation of poisonous gas, the crater was set on fire, believing the natural gas would quickly be burned off and the fire would go out. However, the fire pit is still burning today with no signs of letting up from the seeping natural gas. There have been many failed attempts to put the fire out.

Fumaroles Yellowstone, Wyoming, USA

The Yellowstone Fumaroles in Wyoming are an incredible display of color and geochemistry. A fumarole releases gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide, among others. Fumaroles deposit an array of minerals with the combination of acidic gases and high temperatures.

Mount Roraima, Brazil/Guyana/Venezuela

Mount Roraima is an amazing geologic wonder located primarily in Venezuela . Roraima is a spectacular example of a tepui, a flat tabletop like mountain made of Precambrian quartz arenite (pure quartz) sandstone that rises 9,000 ft into the air. This juxtaposition of low-lying rainforests and the elevated tepui produces the world's tallest waterfall, Angel Falls. Underlain by the ancient Guiana Shield, Mount Roraima is one of the oldest geological formations on earth, estimated to be approximately 2 billion years old.

Giants Causeway, Ireland

Giants Causeway, Ireland (Credit: Causeway Adventures

The Giants Causeway columns formed 50 to 60 million years ago when lava repeatedly flowed and cooled as it came into contact with the sea. The pillars are polygonal shaped due to the cooling of the layers of lava and the atomic structure and natural fracturing of basalt. There are 40,000 basalt pillars, each with 5 to 7 irregular sides. This process is similar to the mud cracks seen when mud dries after heavy rains.

Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, USA

Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii's most active shield volcano has produced the world's largest mountain. Although Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world at 29,035 ft, the highest peak of Hawaii, Mauna Kea, is 33,500 ft tall. This takes into account the ~20,000 ft below water that it had to grow to even reach the ocean's surface. Hawaii's hot spot has produced an incredible amount of basalt and continues to erupt daily. This is one of the few places you can walk right up to lava and wonder at its destructive power.

The Blue Hole, Belize

The Great Blue Hole is a gigantic sinkhole off the coast of Belize that measures 984 ft across and 407 ft deep. The blue hole was formed through karsting episodes of limestone where the limestone dissolves. The dissolution of limestone occurs differently during high and low sea levels, with the Great Blue Hole likely forming over the course of several glaciation cycles. Divers from around the world visit this UNESCO world heritage site to enjoy the natural wonder of the hole and diverse marine life.

Antelope Canyon, Arizona, USA

Antelope Canyon is an eroded slot canyon near Page, Arizona. These incredible sandstone features are carved primarily during tremendous flash flooding events. Erosion along the slots are episodic yet powerful, with rainfall collecting within the slots and rushing down slope through narrow passages. The rainwater erodes the sandstone, creating a mixture of water and sand, the perfect tool to smooth the walls on either side of the canyon.

Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) boundary, Geulhem, Netherlands

The Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary (previously the K-T boundary) represents one of the largest worldwide extinction events on record. Dating back to 66 million years ago, the K-Pg boundary represents the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs and many of the world's terrestrial species. This extinction event killed three quarters of plant and animal species on earth and is marked by high levels of iridium, a rare element on Earth but a common element in asteroids. With one finger, as seen above, you can put your finger on the remnants of three quarters of the world's species. It's an incredible lesson in geology and our earth's history in that so much can happen in a few centimeters of sediment.

Crystal Cave, Mexico

The Crystal Cave in Mexico is a geologic wonder worthy of visiting. This cave boasts up to 40 ft long and 13 ft diameter selenite crystals (Gypsum) that each can weigh up to 55 tons. The crystals were able to grow to massive sizes due to the high but stable temperature of around 136 degrees Fahrenheit.  Underlying magma heated the overlying cave water causing the high temperatures and environment for gypsum to crystalize. Tourists can explore the cave with a guide and training.

Travertine Deposits, Pamukkale, Turkey

Pamukkale in Turkey is an incredible display of natural travertine deposits. Travertine is a type of limestone that is deposited by hot springs. The fibrous travertine forms from precipitation of calcium carbonate from solution. Pamukkale was recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1988.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

The Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world at 4,086 square miles and at 12,000 ft elevation. This salt flat was formed during repeated flooding and drying of the region. During floods, rainwater brings minerals into the Salar, adding to the future salt deposits that form when the Salar dries. The Salar de Uyuni contains 50 to 70% of the world's lithium reserves, as well as many other rare trace minerals.

Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

Grand Canyon, Arizona (Credit: National Geographic)

The Grand Canyon formed by the entrenchment of the Colorado River during the Laramie orogeny uplift of the region. This orogeny formed the Rocky Mountains and provided the mechanism for the Colorado River to erode down into the underlying rock. The Grand Canyon displays rock from about 200 million to 2 billion years old. This is truly one of the geologic wonders of the world and is a must see.

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