Nothing is so amazing and so mysterious as the wonders that are created by nature. This article takes a look at some of the truly fantastic natural wonders of the world that no man can take credit for, but we all get to enjoy in their splendor and beauty.
You are encouraged to read more about each of the natural wonders mentioned below. You can find lots of information in library books and by searching the Internet.
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is located in Northwest Arizona. It spans an amazing 280 miles long. The height of the Grand Canyon is approximately 8,500 feet above sea level. Tourists are allowed to ride the Colorado River through the canyon on inflatable rafts. It also makes it home to creatures such as the Grand Canyon snake, the Arizona gray fox, and chipmunks.
Crater Lake
The high peaks of the Oregon Cascade Range surround an absolutely breathtaking vision. It is called Crater Lake, and it is one of the most fascinating wonders of the world. One of the features that makes this lake so intriguing is its magnificent blue color. This once active volcano rests easy these days. When it had erupted, the volcano's cone became so weak that it caved in. Over many, many years rain and snow have filled the cavity with captivating blue waters that attracts thousands of visitors every year. The lake is 1,932 feet deep, while the crater walls rise about 2,000 feet above the surface of the lake. Another very interesting fact is that while it gets cold in this region in the winter, the lake never freezes. Geologists explain that perhaps volcanic activity warms the depths of the lake.
Carlsbad Caverns
Known for the thousands of bats that make their home here, the Carlsbad Caverns form a vast network of underground caves, tunnels, and chambers that cover approximately 73 miles and descend more than 1,000 feet. They are located in southeast New Mexico, near the Texas border. It took thousands of years of rainwater containing minerals to seep into the caverns and harden into strange and beautiful shapes. These caverns were declared a National Park in May 1930.
The Angel Falls
Angel Falls is located in eastern Venezuela. It is the largest waterfall in the world falling a total of 3,212 feet, which is about 15 times higher than the Niagara Falls in North America. The Churun River waters trickle through fissures of sandstone and burst out to join water falling over the top of the cliff into Devil's Canyon. Angel Falls is also surrounded by a rainforest, which is home to animals such as monkeys, butterflies, and huge tapirs that tramp the forest floors.
The Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is located in Jordan Valley on the Jordan and Israel border. It is the lowest sea on earth at 1, 286 feet below sea level. It is also the world's saltiest body of natural water. It is a sparkling blue in color, but holds a dark secret. The sea is poisonous for most fish and water creatures because of the water's density due to salt. The sea is approximately 34 miles long and 9 miles wide. It's maximum depth is 1,300 feet.
There are many more natural wonders that you can read about, including:
North and Central America
- Bryce Canyon
- The Everglades
South America
- The Amazon
- Roraima
- Lake Titicaca
Europe
- Island of Surtsey
- The Giant's Causeway
Asia
- Pamukkale
- Lake Baikal
- Mount Everest
Africa
- The Nile River
- The Sahara Desert
- The Great Rift Valley
Australia
- Uluru
- The Great Barrier Reef
- Milford Sound
Teacher Tip
These natural wonders make great report projects. Have your student research one of these natural wonders, writing about how it developed, what makes it so unique, what wildlife can be found near or in it, and any other interesting facts about the natural wonder. As an added treat, your student can research and prepare a food from this region of the world.
