Discover 16 breathtakingly beautiful places that seem almost unreal in their splendor. From enchanting natural wonders to stunning artificial creations, these places will leave you in awe of the incredible beauty that exists in the world. Explore these genuinely magical destinations and let your wanderlust take flight as you immerse yourself in the wonder of these remarkable locations.
Who knew Mother Nature had so many tricks up her sleeve?
01. Great Blue Hole
In Brazil, an underwater sinkhole was formed from an eroded limestone cave during the most recent glacial period. An aerial view reveals a dark blue circle in the middle of the ocean—a scuba diver’s dream come true.
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02. Bigar Waterfall
The water on this waterfall in Romania rolls off a green carpet of moss that covers the rock formation, resulting in a magically soft display, much unlike roaring waterfalls.
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03. Champagne Pool
The name of this hot spring in New Zealand is a nod to the carbon dioxide in the water, which causes a bubbling effect similar to everyone’s New Year’s Eve beverage of choice.
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04. Blue Lagoon
This geothermal spa is one of the biggest attractions in Iceland for good reason: The water is warm enough to swim in even when it’s freezing outside, and it’s also rich in minerals like silica and algae that give it its bright blue color.
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05. Dead Sea
You probably know this body of water in Israel because of its unique hypersaline water, which allows swimmers to float. But the natural salt formations and pools are a stunning perk to the unusual sea.
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06. Victoria Falls
There’s a reason this African waterfall is one of the most famous in the world: It’s located on the fourth largest river in Africa (the Zambezi) and is the only waterfall in the world with a length that reaches more than a kilometer and a height of more than a hundred meters.
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07. Glowworm Caves
Since these glowworms are unique to New Zealand, their stunning, luminescent light in pitch-black caves is famous worldwide.
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08. Grand Prismatic Spring
This Yellowstone National Park hot spring is the largest in the United States, but we’d also argue it’s the most beautiful. The rainbow-like discoloration results from pigmented archaea in the microbial mats that grow around the edges of the water.
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09. Lake Hillier
This Australian lake is pink, and the cause is still not fully understood. Many believe it results from Dunaliella saline microalgae in the water (say that five times fast). However, you might be surprised that the pink color is less accentuated from the surface level.
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10. Mount Roraima
From the flat top of this South American mountain to the clouds that look almost like a blank wrapped around it, the Tepui Mountain rock formation is one-of-a-kind and boasts some of the oldest sedimentary rocks on the planet.
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11. Salar De Uyuni
Several prehistoric lakes form Bolivia’s largest salt flat (4,086 square miles), now covered in a salt crust forming natural hexagon-like shapes.
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12. Grand Canyon
OK, so you’ve heard of this one. But have you ever really looked at it? This canyon (also the 15th oldest national park of the U.S.) was craved into Arizona by the Colorado River and is known for its size — it’s a whopping 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide.
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13. Fairy Pools
The crystal clear blue pools of water at the base of the waterfalls at the River Brittle in Isle of Skye, Scotland, are known as Fairy Pools. The name comes from their spell-like quality: While they look warm enough to swim in, they’re anything but.
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14. The Wave
This famous sandstone rock formation is located near the Arizona-Utah border and features bands of red, pink, yellow, and white arches resulting from windblown sand.
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15. Tunnel Of Love
In the forests of Ukraine, you’ll find this tunnel that provides a passageway for a private train. It’s only 1.8 miles long, a reminder of what happens to nature when given free rein, and the destination for lovers who want to make a wish and have it come true.
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16. Stonehenge
This prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England, is one of the world’s most fantastic puzzles. Scientists cannot figure out how a civilization without modern technology could build such a substantial monument. The green country setting that nearly 1 million people visit yearly is just the cherry on top.
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