Nature is mysterious and often unpredictable. Rarely do we get to capture the intricacies and true mysteries of the natural world. It's hard to believe that all of these incredible phenomena occur right here on our very own planet...
Aurora Borealis
These geysers are located in Iceland, which is one of the best places in the world to see aurora borealis, otherwise known as the northern lights. On the southern edge of the Arctic Circle, you can see the auroras almost every night. If you're planning to visit, go in September, when the lights are most visible.
Guatemala City's Sinkhole
At first glance, it looks like this is a scene from a movie about the apocalypse. This photo of the sinkhole in Guatemala City was taken in 2010 after Agatha, the first tropical storm of the season, ravaged the area. Faulty sewage pipes, aggressive downpours, and soot from a recently ruptured volcano caused the pipes to clog and leak.
Moeraki Boulders
The Moeraki boulders are unusually large, perfectly spherical boulders lying along a stretch of Koekohe Beach on the coast of New Zealand. These boulders can either appear isolated or as clusters. In 1848, Walter Mantell sketched the beach and its boulders, which were more numerous back then.
Monarch Butterfly Migration
The eastern North American monarch butterfly population is known for its annual southward late-summer, early autumn migration from the northern and central U.S. and Canada to Florida and Mexico. During the fall migration, the butterflies cover thousands of miles, with a corresponding multi-generational return to the north.
Ice Cave
Ice caves are one of Iceland's most popular tourist attractions. It is impossible to access these caves without a trained tour guide as they can be incredibly dangerous. The natural ice waves are constantly shifting, meaning that they look different on a day-to-day basis. Ice caves can be white, blue, or even black.
Great Blue Hole
The Great Blue Hole is a giant marine sinkhole off the coast of Belize near the center of Lighthouse Reef. The hole was formed during a number of quaternary glaciation episodes when sea levels were much lower. As oceans rose, the cave flooded, causing this incredible natural phenomenon that still exists today.
Catatumbo Lightning
Catatumbo lightning is an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs over the mouth of the Catatumbo River in northern Colombia. It occurs between 140 and 160 nights per year, ten hours per day, and up to 280 times per hour. The phenomenon is caused by a mass of storm clouds at an altitude greater than 1 kilometer.
Icelandic Basalt Coastline
As basaltic lava cools over a period of time, geometric shapes are formed, resulting in the incredible columns of hexagonal basalt rock that can form cliffs on the coastline. They can be found all over the world, but the above image depicts a basaltic coast in Iceland.
Gates of Hell
The Door to Hell is a burning natural gas field in Derweze, Turkmenistan. It is one of the "Gates of Hell," believed to be an area on the surface of the Earth that acts as a portal to the underworld. These "portals" are often located in regions of unusual geological activity, particularly volcanic areas, as well as lakes, caves, and mountains.
Fredvang Bridges
This is one of the Fredvang Bridges in Norway. The Fredvang Bridges are two cantilever bridges that connect with the fishing village of Fredvang on the island of Moskenesøya. The bridges opened in 1988 and are among the many bridges that connect the islands of the Lofoten archipelago to one another.
Tetraodontidae
These mysterious circles on the seafloor are not caused by aliens—it's actually pufferfish hoping to snag a new mate. Divers first noticed the structures near Japan's Amami-Oshima Island about 20 years ago. Nobody knew what was creating them until recently when scientists discovered that male pufferfish spend about 10 days carefully constructing and decorating the structures to woo females.
Desert Bloom
A desert bloom is a climatic phenomenon that occurs in desert across the globe, in which a wide variety of flowers blossom during early-to-mid-spring in years when rainfall is unusually high. The blossoming is caused when rain reaches seeds or bulbs that have been dormant, causing them to germinate and flower.
Eaglehawk Neck
This bizarre structure seems as though it must have been manmade, but surprisingly, that isn't the case. Tessellated pavement occurs naturally when siltstone formed due to sediments that accumulated on a low-lying area about 300 million years ago. This picture was snapped in Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmania.
Kashmir Valley
These trees in India's Kashmir Valley change dramatically in the fall. Also known as the Vale of Kashmir, this region is in the portion of Kashmir administered by India. The valley has a moderate climate which is mainly defined by its mountain ranges—the Karakoram in the north, Pir Panjal in the south and west, and Zanskar in the east.
Volcano Lightning
This picture captures lightning striking a volcano mid-eruption. It's hard to imagine something scarier than these two events occurring simultaneously, but one brave photographer managed to capture this once-in-a-lifetime moment for our viewing pleasure. A similar incident occurred as early as 79 AD when Pliny the Younger observed Mount Vesuvius erupting along with "the transient blaze of lightning."
N3 Cave
Although it may look like this photo was taken on an alien planet, it actually captures one of Earth's most incredible salt caves. The N3 Cave is located in Qeshm, Iran. The name is an abbreviation—the cave was first discovered by three naked people. Since the cave's entrance was beyond a pool of water, they stripped down to their birthday suits to swim through it and explore.
Kauai Tropical Rainforest
This image was captured on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, which is best known for its tropical rainforests. Hawaii is actually known as "The Rainbow State," which is why a rainbow is also depicted on license plates in this state. Rainbows are caused by the extra reflection of sunlight within raindrops.
Mount Rainier
This image is so pristine that it looks like it was generated by a computer. In reality, this is a photo of snow-covered treetops in Mount Rainier, Washington. Most years, Mount Rainier remains free from snow from mid-July through late September, but the ground is totally blanketed by Thanksgiving.
Circumhorizontal Arc
This incredible optical phenomenon is an ice halo formed by the refraction of sunlight or moonlight in plate-shaped ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere, usually in cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. The arc in its full form generally appears to be a rainbow spectrum running parallel to the horizon.
Meeting of the Waters
The Meeting of the Waters, also known as Encontro das Águas, is the confluence between the blackwater Rio Negro and the pale whitewater Amazon River. It is one of the main tourist attractions of Manaus, Brazil. This phenomenon is caused by differences in temperature, speed, and the dissolved sediments in the two rivers' waters.
Lake Natron
This unique saline lake looks like it came straight out of a sci-fi movie. However, the red color is caused naturally: as water evaporates, the concentration of salts and other minerals in the water increases, attracting microorganisms that cause the water to turn red. This lake is also the only breeding ground of an endangered species, the lesser flamingo.
Lightning Strikes
It's quite rare to capture the exact moment that lightning strikes a tree, but this photographer managed to snap a photo using long exposure the second that it happened. Electric currents shot down the tree trunk and spread toward the ground, creating this beautiful (and somewhat terrifying) image. Remember, if you get struck by lightning, this could happen to you!
Honduran White Bat
The Honduran white bat, also known as the Caribbean white tent-making bat, only eats one type of fig. These incredible creatures then use the fig's leaves to build "tents," which they cut and fold down to provide shelter. Although they are certainly fascinating animals, don't go out searching for them unless you live in the Central American countries of Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, or Paraguay.
Black Spotted Jaguar
Even if you live in South America or parts of Central America where these massive jungle cats reside, it's unlikely that you'll ever see one in real life. Originally thought to be a different species from jaguars with normal spotted coats, the black spotted jaguar has a dominant melanistic allele that gives them their gorgeous dark coat.
Colorado Forest
This image was captured in Colorado near the San Juan Mountains. The San Juans are home to some of the highest and most jagged summits in the continental United States. The area is highly mineralized and figured in the gold and silver mining industry of early Colorado.
Yellowstone National Park
The most common tree in Yellowstone National Park is the lodgepole pine, pictured above, which covers roughly 80% of the park. Yellowstone encompasses 3,472 square miles, meaning that it's larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined. It is also home to over 500 active geysers.
Furry Friends
While this picture is very sweet, we specifically advise not to approach a mother polar bear with her cubs unless you want to end up in the hospital. This photo was taken during the Soviet era in the easternmost part of Russia, the Chukchi Peninsula. A Soviet soldier can be seen here handing the bear a can of condensed milk.
Pyramids of Giza
The Milky Way serves as a beautiful backdrop to the Giza pyramid complex. Ancient Egyptians buried their pharaohs in the pyramids; they associated our solar system's galaxy with fertility, believing the image above was a pool of cow's milk flowing from their cow goddess, Bat. The pyramids' locations correspond to Orion's Belt, which is part of the Orion constellation associated with the Egyptian god of afterlife and rebirth, Osiris.
Rayleigh Scattering
Rayleigh scattering was named after the 19th-century British physicist Lord Rayleigh. It is the predominantly elastic scattering of light or other electromagnetic radiation by particles much tinier than the wavelength of the radiation. Rayleigh scattering on sunlight in the Earth's atmosphere causes diffuse sky radiation, which is the reason for the blue color of the sky, as well as the reddish hue of the low sun.
Spotted Lake
This is a saline endorheic alkali lake located northwest of Osoyoos in the eastern Similkameen Valley of British Columbia, Canada. In the spring and winter, this lake looks like any other body of water, but as water evaporates in summer, these briny pools appear on the lake's surface. The area is fenced off due to its ecological and cultural importance.
Goat Tree
Did you know that goats grow on trees? Well, not really, but this picture might lead you to believe otherwise. These goats have climbed an argan tree, which is native to Morocco. These trees are valued for their timber, oil, and fruits. The goats are after the latter.
Twin Twisters
On May 4, 1922, this incredible photo of two tornados raging through Austin was taken outside the state's capitol building. Historians consider this incident to be one of the worst natural disasters in Austin. The sister twisters were originally one twister that split in half, causing $400,000 in damages and killing 13 people.
Surprise Guest
Who invited this guy for dinner, and why didn't anyone tell him to use the front door? This still is actually from a 1981 film called Roar. At least 70 cast and crew members were injured by predatory animals during production, which lasted a whopping 11 years. Unfortunately, the movie bombed in theaters. Tippy Hedren later claimed that over 100 people were hurt: "If we wanna make a movie with lions, people are gonna get bitten," she said. "We just hope that nobody dies and we'll do everything we can to makes sure that doesn't happen."
Two Seas
This amazing picture was taken in the Gulf of Alaska. It captures an incredible feat of nature: saltwater meeting freshwater from glacial melt. Due to the differing densities and salinities, these bodies of water don't mix. Similar phenomenons can occur with other bodies of water, such as the Cape of Africa where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean.
Mammatus Clouds
Mammatus clouds, or mammary clouds, earned their name because they resemble udders. These clouds often appear along with severe stormy weather or tornados; pilots avoid them due to turbulence. They are formed by cold air sinking in pockets, causing their unique shape as hot air rises in tandem. These clouds were first sighted in 1894. They may be pretty, but they're definitely bad news.
Hard Rime
This brave man scaled a cell phone tower to do maintenance after an ice storm. When condensed water droplets freeze on surfaces, it is known as hard rime. Hard rime forms in the direction of the wind. It can often be found on planes, trees, towers, and other tall structures that are exposed to the elements.
Blue Ice
It may look like this bizarre structure was photoshopped, but it is a real natural phenomenon known as blue ice. Blue ice occurs when falling snow becomes packed so tightly on a glacier that it becomes part of the glacier. Ice absorbs lower light frequencies like red, orange, yellow, and green, while reflecting higher ones like blue and violet, causing a bluish hue.
La Jument
This photo was famously captured by Jean Guichard. La Jument is a lighthouse that resides on the Brittany coast in northwestern France. Built on a rock in the middle of the ocean, the lighthouse is critical for maintaining maritime safety, enduring storms and raging waters. The man pictured here heard Guichard's helicopter and went to see what all the fuss was about. "If I had been a little further away from the door, I wouldn't have made it back into the tower," he later said. "And I would be dead today. You can't play with the sea."
Cuff and Link
These turtles, named Cuff and Link, are actually the same turtles from the 1976 film Rocky. That means these turtles are over 45 years old! Sylvester Stallone posted this image to Twitter, writing, "In CREED 2 with my original buddies from the first Rocky."
That's Not Snow
You may be horrified to learn that all this white material isn't snow. This photo was taken in Australia where flooding drove spiders to higher ground. They used webs as hot air balloons to parachute themselves to safety. The webbing below covers about a mile-and-a-half of land. Arachnophobes, look away!
1989 Tornado
This young lady was very close to being swept off her feet! This photo was taken by Marrilee Thomas of her daughter, Audra, in 1989 on their family's property. One might think that her mother would be more concerned with getting them both to safety. Fortunately, although their barn was destroyed, no one was injured.
Ball Lightning
For years ball lightning was dismissed as a thing of legend, but it really does exist. It is so rare that only 5% of the world's population has witnessed this phenomenon. In 1843, English physician and electricity researcher Sir William Snow Harris shared that he had discovered ball lightning, but its causes are still debated to this day.
Tasmanian Tigers
This image was taken before the thylacine, otherwise known as the Tasmanian tiger, went extinct. This species was neither a tiger nor a canine; it was actually considered the biggest carnivorous marsupial on earth until it was declared extinct in 1982. However, there have been reported sightings in the wild, meaning that Tasmanian tigers may still be out there.
The Endurance
The Endurance is a ship that got caught in the ice during a 1914 expedition to Antarctica. The crew figured that the warmer spring weather would thaw the ice, allowing them to escape, but the climatic changes cause the ice to exert pressure on the hull, and the ship sank.
Arctic Hares
These may look like sentient snowballs, but they are actually Arctic hares, also known as polar rabbits. This species has adapted over thousands of years to survive the harsh Arctic climate. In winter, their fur shifts from white to brown or gray in order to camouflage them from predators.
Two Landscapes
This photo almost looks like two images stacked on top of each other, but that's not the case! This picture was snapped in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Established in 1955, Banff is Canada's oldest national park. It's no surprise that this incredible scenery attracts over 3 million visitors each year.
Water Meets Electricity
There is a reason that people are advised not to use electric devices near the water. When lightning strikes the ocean, one bolt can send 300 million volts into the sea, obliterating any unlucky animals in its path. In other words, don't go swimming in a thunderstorm unless you want to become a human fish fry.
Brown Panda
This is the only known brown panda in existence. Qizai the brown panda lives in the Foping Panda Valley in China. It is believed that Qizai's unique coloring is due to a genetic mutation. Sadly, Qizai's coloring made the other pandas bully him. We hope that Qizai is living his best life out there today.
The Flying Dutchman
This incredible picture was taken in the Mission District of San Fransisco. Although it appears as though a ship is floating in mid-air, this is simply a radio tower on top of Twin Peaks, which overlooks the city. San Fransisco's unique topography often causes fog to obscure the view.
Fallstreak Hole
This natural phenomenon has a number of names, including a fallstreak hole, a hole-punch cloud, or a cloud hole. It is formed when water molecules are cooled but do not have anything around which they can solidiy. After a catalyst causes the molecules to freeze instantaneously, the absence of water molecules causes this hole to appear in the clouds.
Rude Dinner Guest
This dog has simply resigned himself to the reality of his circumstances. Unless he wants to get sprayed and stink for months on end, he has to watch as this skunk devours his evening meal. In the end, it's better for him to cut his losses and move on.
Snow Platforms
These floating snow platforms are caused by winter flooding. The surface of the water turned to ice, which remained long after the waters receded. Then, snowfall accumulated on the frozen disks. If you live in an area with lots of snowfall, this sight may not be all that uncommon to you.
Floating Boat
Yet again, this optical illusion may make it appear as though a boat is floating in midair, but that isn't the case. This picture was not photoshopped. Rather, the water is so clear that we can see the shadow of this fishing boat on the bottom of the gulf.
Imperial Snowflake
This snowflake was not inspired by the Imperial Starfleet. Instead, this shape was created due to the molecular shape of H2O, which forms repeating fractals when water freezes. Freezing causes two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom to form a solid lattice structure.
Port Campbell National Park
Port Campbell National Park may seem out of this world, but it is actually located in Victoria, Australia. "I spent a couple of hours working the scene in the dark and finally settled on this unique photo of the 12 Apostles with all the glory of the Milky Way above," said photographer Mark Gray. Despite the name "12 Apostles," there are only 8 left standing today.
Midnight Visitors
This terrifying image was captured by a poor woman who woke up in the middle of the night while camping. It turned out that the strange rustling noises outside her tent were none other than an army of raccoons. Raccoons generally keep to themselves, but her food wasn't sealed properly, attracting this horde of forest creatures.
Equus Ferus Caballus
This majestic image is part of a collection called "Emotions" by Dutch photographer Claire Droppert. Droppert managed to capture a Lusitano horse on the beach. Lusitano horses are known for their intelligence and willing nature. Originally bred for dressage and bullfighting, Lusitanos are still used today for the latter.
Jaws IRL
There's a reason that megalodon means "big tooth." This extinct shark species was four times longer than a great white shark, measuring up to 60 feet. This photo depicts a reconstruction of this mammoth sea predator's jaw alongside a life-size model of a great white shark for comparison. The megalodon is considered one of the most powerful predators in history.
The Landscape of Aruba
Droppert also captured this beautiful lone tree on the Caribbean beaches of Aruba. "This Caribbean gem provides an abundance of opportunities to capture the quintessential feeling of silence in a unique, diverse and stunning landscape Aruba has to offer," she said.
Hiding in Plain Sight
This pair of Doberman pinschers are very close to discovering the feline so deftly concealed behind that green door. Pinschers were first bred in 1890 by Karl Dobermann, who then named the species after himself. Despite their high intelligence, these dogs seem quite oblivious to the situation at hand.