NATURAL
WONDERS OF
THE WORLD
THE WORLD
NATURAL
WONDERS OF
THE WORLD
THE WORLD
NATURAL
WONDERS OF
THE WORLD
THE WORLD
Paricutin
The Northern Lights
Mount Everest
Victoria falls
Great barrier reef
Harbor of Rio de Janeiro
Grand Canyon National Park
In 1997, the Cable News Network (CNN) put together a list of what their editors and experts’ thought were the most amazing creations of nature. They based this on statistical and traditional significance, uniqueness and pure splendor. The list below describes the wonders that Mother Nature created at her own will to enchant and put humans in awe at the mere sight of these wonders. From mountain peaks to waterfalls, underwater marvels and dazzling sky optics, each natural wonder highlights a different aspect of the beauty of Earth’s natural world. They titled the list “The Seven Natural Wonders of the World,” and it’s still the gold standard today.
The Northern Lights
One of several astronomical phenomena called polar lights (aurora polaris), are shafts or curtains of colored light visible on occasion in the night sky. Polar lights are a natural phenomenon found in both the northern and southern hemispheres that can be truly awe inspiring. Northern lights are also called by their scientific name, aurora borealis, and southern lights are called aurora australis.

What causes the colors and patterns?
Colors and patterns are from the types of ions or atoms being energized as they collide with the atmosphere and are affected by lines of magnetic force. Displays may take many forms, including rippling curtains, pulsating auroras, traveling pulses, or steady glows. Altitude affects the colors. Blue violet/reds occur below 60 miles, with bright green strongest between 60-150 miles. Above 150 miles ruby reds appear.
Did you know?
Sometimes, astronauts aboard the International Space Station pass through the aurora borealis during orbit. Typically occurring 90-130km above Earth, Northern Lights can extend up to 600km into space. The ISS orbits at 408km.


Grand Canyon National Park – USA
Located in Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park is lit by flaming sunsets, filled with billowing seas of fog, and iced with crystal dustings of snow. The mile-deep, 277 mile long Grand Canyon is nature’s cathedral. The park is home to much of the immense Grand Canyon; a mile deep, and up to 18 miles wide. Layered bands of colourful rock reveal millions of years of geologic history. It is unmatched in the vistas it offers visitors from the rim.

The park was created in 1919, and its area was greatly enlarged in 1975. This was due to the addition of the former Grand Canyon, Marble Canyon national monuments and by portions of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, as well as other adjoining lands. It has an area of 1,902 square miles.
Did you know?
Despite its appearance as an ideal spot for dinosaur fossils, the Grand Canyon has none. The canyon’s rock predates dinosaurs by about a billion years, forming long after their extinction.
Paricutin – Mexico
Mexico is known for its active volcanoes. The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt has 1400 vents! The Paricutin Volcano is the youngest of them all. The volcano grew very quickly. It started off as small eruptions of ash and stones. These small eruptions grew into eruptions the height of five stories in only a week! It continued to grow and reached 336 meters. The final height that the volcano reached was 424 meters. You can climb the volcano and it is an amazing thing to do!
The process of the volcano formation began on February 20, 1943, with the formation of a fissure in a cornfield. The Paricutin Volcano continued to erupt for eight years until 1952. The volcano has remained silent since then. It is believed to be a monogenetic volcano and that means that when it is finished erupting it will never explode again.
Did you know?
What makes this Natural Wonder unique is that humans observed its activity from birth to extinction. Two weeks before Paricutin’s rapid growth, villagers reported rumblings and earthquake sensations. Dionisio Pulido and his wife witnessed the volcanic eruption in their cornfield in February 1943—a volcano in their backyard!

Victoria falls – Zimbabwe/Zambia
Victoria Falls presents a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, forming the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It was described by the Kololo tribe living in the area in the 1800s as ‘Mosi-oa- Tunya’ – ‘The Smoke that Thunders’.
In more modern terms Victoria Falls is known as the greatest curtain of falling water in the world. 500 million litres of water cascade every minute. The numbers almost seem too impossible to imagine! That’s the equivalent of 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools, to put things into perspective. Visitors can view the falls from vantage points, or more adventurous travellers can swim in the river right up to the fall’s edge (in low season) and even bungee jump from the Victoria Falls Bridge.
Did you know?
Victoria Falls produces “moonbows,” a rare and unique phenomenon occurring in only two locations globally. This enchanting lunar rainbow forms when the full moonlight interacts with the Falls, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

Mount Everest – Nepal
Mount Everest is a peak in the Himalaya Mountain range. It is located between Nepal and Tibet, an autonomous region of China. At 8,849 meters, it is considered the tallest point on Earth. In the nineteenth century, the mountain was named after George Everest, a former Surveyor General of India. The Tibetan name is Chomolungma, which means “Mother Goddess of the World.” The Nepali name is Sagarmatha, which has various meanings.

In 2015 Everest Base Camp, Nepal was devastated by an avalanche. It has since proven its resilience over the years; people will return to trek through villages where people live among the biggest mountains on earth. There is a “2 o’clock rule” when climbing Mount Everest. Due to its cold and unpredictable weather, climbers must be sure to get to the summit by 2pm. Experience has shown that they should turn back to avoid being caught in the death zone, or short of camp in falling light and temperatures, not to mention bad weather.
Did you know?
Climbing Mount Everest requires 10 weeks and a minimum of 30,000 USD. While the ascent from the lowest base camp to the summit takes only a few days, much of the two-month expedition involves acclimatization and waiting for favourable conditions to proceed.


Great Barrier Reef – Australia
With almost 3,000 individual reefs, 900 islands, and stretching for 2,600km there is no denying the reef is massive. This incredible living system can even be viewed from space. If you want to get an idea of size, then imagine the country of Italy lying just off the coast of Australia and you begin to get an idea of its vastness.

When conditions are right, often after a full moon, the incredible phenomenon of coral reproduction takes place. An entire colony can synchronise, with each polyp releasing its genetic matter into the water creating a scene reminiscent of a snowstorm. This event can leave deposits on the surface of the water visible from space! Following this, new corals can form. Amazingly, it can take a single polyp to start a new reef!
The reef contains a huge variety of coral, fish, and marine species, from plant life and tiny aquatic organisms to sharks, turtles, and rays. This region has historically been one of the most biologically diverse areas, and the array of colours and life that can be found here is remarkable.
Did you know?
The living corals which form the reef now are sat upon old, dead structures. These corals of the past could be up to 20 million years old!
Harbor of Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
The Harbor of Rio de Janeiro is surrounded by granite mountains and pinnacles, including Sugar Loaf Mountain, Corcovada Peak, and the Tijuca hills. It was created by erosion caused by the Atlantic Ocean. Tourists can explore the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro on a helicopter flight to capture a breath-taking aerial view.
The traditional way of seeing this natural wonder is to travel to the uppermost region surrounding the granite peaks that overlook the harbor. This will provide spectacular views of the beautiful beaches that lie inside the harbor.
It extends 20 miles inland. The Bay spans 88 miles in length and has 50 miles of beaches. This harbor has the largest volume of water in the world at 49,470,899 cubic gallons of water and covers a surface area of 238.6 square miles.
Did you know?
Rio de Janeiro means January River, but the river is actually a bay.
