Worldwide phenomenons are believed to be scarce, rare occurrences witnessed maybe once or twice in a lifetime. But there are way more natural phenomenons across the globe, and you don’t have to wait until a blue moon to see them. Whether you are curious about massive bodies of water or are drawn into exciting and interesting global formations, you owe it to yourself to check out these natural phenomenons at least once in your lifetime.
Angel Falls
The largest uninterrupted waterfall in the world, Angel Falls is a massive 979-meter Venezuelan waterfall that pours more than 2 billion gallons of water into the Carrao River every day. Named after the American aviator Jimmie Angel, Angel Falls is part of the Canaima National Park and is three times higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. If it looks a little familiar, that’s because the Walt Disney films “Dinosaur” and “Up” modeled its own waterfalls after it. During the summer, the water evaporates into a steamy mist before it even touches the ground. But in rainy weather, it can overflow into two separate waterfalls, spraying water up to a mile away. The fastest ways to get there are either by helicopter or by canoeing up the Canaima Lagoon. And if Angel Falls’ size is a little intimidating, there are smaller El Sapo and Sapito waterfalls surrounding it that you can enjoy at your leisure. Salto-Angel.com
Mauna Loa
The largest active volcano on the planet may not sound like the safest destination. But don’t worry. Mauna Loa hasn’t erupted since 1984, and the United States Geological Survey is constantly monitoring it for signs of disruption. Covering more than half of the Hawaii island, Mauna Loa, or “Long Mountain,” is the star attraction behind Hawaii’s Volcano National Park and stands more than 55,000 feet tall. Erupting 33 times since 1843, Mauna Loa is covered in more than 15,000 miles of lava that has hardened into solid rock. It pumps over 12 million meters of lava daily, with volcanic gas commonly emitting from its fissures. And with camping and hiking trails circulating around the island, it’s simple to get a permit and experience all of the magnificence this volcanic titan has to offer. Go-Hawaii.com
Mount Everest
The highest peak in the Himalayas, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world at 29,000 feet. First discovered in 1841 by British geographer Sir George Everest, Mount Everest brings in about 800 climbers every year attempting to reach the summit. Inexperienced hikers should be warned. The harsh climate keeps the mountain at -20-degree freezing weather, and the increased elevation makes it difficult to breathe with 66% less oxygen in each breath. More than 300 people have died while climbing the mountain. For those that can persevere the 10-week trek, they join a group of 4,000 climbers that made the expedition up and down the mountain. For those that don’t want to test the forces of Mother Nature, don’t worry. There are several base camp and flight tours you can experience that are warmer, not as dangerous and have Wi-Fi. MountEverest.net
Great Barrier Reef
Spanning more than 1,430 miles, or 70 million football fields, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth with more than 2,900 reefs and 900 islands comprising its makeup. Located alongside the East coast of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef has more than 600 types of hard and soft coral that houses more than 1,500 fish species, 215 bird species, 17 sea snake species and six turtle species. It’s so big that 10% of the world’s total fish species can be found in its reef. Its diversity of plant and animal life make the Great Barrier Reef perfect for some deep-sea scuba diving, which you can sign up for with any one of its local tourism companies. And with other exciting attractions such as sailing, swimming and a slew of savory seafood restaurants, you won’t run out of ways to explore the exotic Great Barrier Reef. GreatBarrierReef.org