Seven Natural Wonders of the World

The seven natural wonders of the world capture the breathtaking beauty that provides the make-up of the Earth. From rock formations to gaseous, atmospheric collisions that create a majestic, otherworldly light show, these wonders prove just how amazing Earth actually is.

Learn About the Seven Natural Wonders

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is maintained by the National Park Service, the Hualapai Tribe, and the Havasupai Tribe in Arizona, USA. It is a 277-mile-long canyon carved by the Colorado River and while it is neither the widest nor the longest canyon in the world, it is considered one of its seven natural wonders due to its immense beauty and sheer size. The exposed rock in the sides of the canyon provide evidence to the incredible geologic history of the area and it is known that the canyon was once home to several different Native American tribes.

The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest and most beautiful coral reef. Located in the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland, Australia, the reef is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world due to its size and incredible beauty. The Great Barrier Reef is home to over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching over 1,800 miles. Due to its immense spread, it is able to be seen from outer space and it is home to hundreds of different species of birds, fish, sea turtles, whales, and other animals.

The Harbor at Rio de Janeiro

Another of the seven natural wonders of the world is the Harbor at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, also known as Guanabara Bay. The bay stretches approximately 20 miles inland and is surrounded by several beautiful Brazilian cities. Based on the volume of water in the bay, the harbor is considered the largest in the world. Gorgeous, granite mountains encapsulate the bay from all sides; beautiful sunrises and sunsets can also be seen from different areas near the harbor.

Mount Everest

Mount Everest is the world’s tallest mountain, located in the Himalayas and stretching 29,029 feet above sea level. The international border between China and Nepal runs through the summit point, though it was first determined by the British to be one of the tallest mountains in 1802. While there have been hundreds of expeditions and attempts to reach the peak, it is unknown as to who was actually the first person to successfully climb to the summit of Mount Everest.

The Northern Lights

The bright, dancing Northern Lights have been named one of the seven natural wonders due to their incredible beauty and mysterious nature. Also known as Aurora Borealis, this beautiful natural phenomenon appears as a brightly-colored red, green, or blue glow in the sky in the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the world. In medieval Europe, people believed that the Northern Lights were a sign from God. The Northern Lights occur due to collisions of gaseous particles between the Earth’s atmosphere and the sun’s atmosphere; the variations of these gasses are what produce the beautiful colors.

The Paricutin Volcano

The Paricutin Volcano, located in Michoacán, Mexico, is considered unique simply because its complete evolution has been observed and recorded by humans. A small, lava-covered village beside the volcano shares its name. It is considered part of the Ring of Fire, a large area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are likely to occur. Paricutin’s last eruption occurred in 1952 after the volcano had reached its maximum height at 1,391 feet. Interestingly, the volcano can be seen during its later activity during shots of 20th Century Fox’s 1947 film, Captain from Castile.

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is a waterfall located in southern Africa, near the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe on the Zambezi River. The discovery of Victoria Falls can be attributed to the famous missionary explorer David Livingstone; while it is neither the tallest nor the widest waterfall in the world, it is considered the largest due to its make-up resulting in the largest sheet of falling water. The surrounding national parks are home to hundreds of species of wildlife, including lions, zebras, elephants, and buffalo; the waterfall itself is home to approximately 130 species of fish and water animals.