You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again—the world is an amazing place filled with some truly beautiful sights. But no matter how many countries you’ve visited or pictures you’ve seen, your perspective on the planet will be forever changed after viewing these ten places in person. They’re so spectacular, you might want to drop what you’re doing and book tickets right this second! If you do decide to go, don’t forget your camera, because when you get home, everyone will want to see the proof!
1) Norway’s Fjords
Norway’s Fjords are breathtaking! They are made up of a series of deep, narrow valleys carved by glaciers. The fjords generally run parallel to each other and they create a spectacular coastline. Some of the most famous fjords in Norway include Geirangerfjord, Hornindalsvatnet, and Nærøyfjord.
2) The Great Barrier Reef
This world wonder is located off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The Great Barrier Reef is made up of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. It stretches for 2,600 kilometers, making it the largest coral reef system on earth. The reef was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 because of its universal importance and spectacular beauty.
3) The Northern Lights
With a name like The Northern Lights, it’s not surprising that this is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Located in Iceland, this natural wonder is best seen from October to March. The lights are caused by particles from a solar storm being swept into Earth’s atmosphere and colliding with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen, causing them to glow. If you’re lucky enough to see them, you’ll be treated with an unforgettable display of colors and shapes dancing across the sky.
4) The Grand Canyon
Located in Arizona, USA, The Grand Canyon is one of the natural wonders of the world. Lying at an average elevation of about 4,000 feet, this enormous canyon measures over 18 miles long and is up to 1 mile deep. Starting from a height of 8,000 feet above sea level and traveling down into what was once thought to be a river bed more than 2 billion years ago, it’s hard not to feel small when you stand next to this gigantic gorge.
5) Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls is a waterfall where Africa’s Zambezi River and its tributary, the Lualaba River, burst through a lip of rock and flow into a gorge below. It is located on either side of Livingstone, Zambia and Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls. The falls are known as Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders) in Zambia and The Devil’s Throat at Victoria Falls.
6) Petra
Petra is a historical and archaeological city located in southern Jordan. It was established sometime around 312 BC and served as the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom until 106 AD. The city was most likely named after the Greek name for rock or cliff, with Petra meaning rock and Petra being a play on words of petros, which means stone. Petras is an ancient city that is unlike any other place you will ever see.
7) Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu, also known as The Lost City of the Incas is a 15th-century Inca citadel situated on a mountain ridge 2,430 meters above sea level. The site was built from 1450 to 1480 and abandoned just 100 years later. It was never conquered by Spanish invaders, who may have been afraid of its curse. Machu Picchu is one of Peru’s most popular tourist destinations because of its natural beauty and rich history.
8) Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia. It was originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. When Buddhism spread throughout Southeast Asia, it became a Buddhist shrine and place of worship. The temple remained abandoned until 1860 when it was rediscovered by French explorers.
9) Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is one of the most beautiful places in North America. The natural beauty and power of this waterfall will leave you speechless. There are two waterfalls, American and Horseshoe, that are both very different. The American falls is 173 feet high while Horseshoe falls is only 25 feet high but has a larger volume flow than the American falls. Horseshoe falls can be seen from different angles including from below which is an amazing experience!
10) The Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert is a place of extreme beauty, as well as extreme danger. But despite this, it’s one of the most beautiful places you can visit on Earth. The desert stretches all the way from Algeria to Sudan and covers nine countries, meaning that you have a lot of options when it comes to planning your trip.