Ngorongoro Crater, World's Largest Unbroken Caldera

Called the eighth wonder of the world, Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest unbroken and unflooded volcanic caldera in the Eastern (Great) Rift Valley, northern Tanzania, Africa. It lies 75 miles west of the town of Arusha. The crater measures between 10 and 12 miles across and has an area of 102 square miles. It's rim is heavily forested and rises 2,000 feet above the caldera’s floor to an elevation of 7,500 feet. It is included within a UNESCO World Heritage site designated in 1979.

Panoramic view of the Ngorongoro Crater (Source)

When it was active some 2.5 million years ago, Ngorongoro volcano was one of the world's tallest mountains. After a major eruption, it's volcanic cone collapsed inward leaving the present vast, unbroken caldera as its chief remnant and a flat plain area.

Ngorongoro Crater Map (Source)

The Ngorongoro Crater floor is predominantly open grassland and is haven to a diverse array of animals including elephants, black rhinoceroses, leopards, buffalo, zebras, warthogs, wildebeests, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles, and the densest population of lions in the world.

Female lion on a hunt for zebra

Lake Magadi, a shallow soda lake ringed by extinct volcanoes, is renowned as a habitat for great flocks of pink flamingos.

Panoramic view of the Ngorongoro Crater (Source)

The local Masai people also graze their livestock in the crater. Some villagers don't like to be taken pictures, others ask money from tourist in exchange of pictures.

Masai family in Ngorongoro (Source)

When a lodge was built on its rim in the 1930s, large numbers of tourists began visiting the caldera. Since the region’s incorporation into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in 1959, additional lodges have been built.

Tourists taking pictures from Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge(Source)

Niagara Falls, The Most Powerful Waterfall in North America

Located in the borders of Canada and US, in the province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York, the Niagara falls is a group of waterfalls in the Niagara River. This massive waterfalls lies between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York.

Google Map view of Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls comprises of three separate waterfalls: the Horseshoe Falls in the Canadian side and the American Falls, and the smaller Bridal Veil Falls, both in the US side.

Aerial view of Niagara Falls (Source)

The two major sections, the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls, are separated by Goat Island while the Bridal Veil Falls is separated from the American Falls by the Luna Island. The Horseshoe Falls drop about 173 feet and 2,600 feet wide.

The Horseshoe Falls (Source)

On the other hand, the American Falls varies between 70-100 feet in height because of the presence of giant boulders at its base and 1,060 feet wide.

The American Falls and the smaller Bridal Veil Falls (Source)

Though not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls is very wide. So wide the more than six million cubic feet of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow, and almost 4 million cubic feet on average. This amount of water flow makes the Niagara Falls the most powerful waterfall in North America.

Niagara Falls at night (Source)

Mount Fuji, Japan's Highest Mountain

At 3,776 meters (12,388 ft), Mount Fuji is Japan's Highest Mountain. It stands on the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures and can be seen from Tokyo and Yokohama on clear days. It is located near the Pacific coast of central Honshū. There are three small cities surrounding it: Gotemba (south), Fujiyoshida (north) and Fujinomiya (southwest).

Google Map View of Mount Fuji (Source)

Although it's last eruption was in 1708, Mount Fuji is an active stratovolcano volcano. This nearly perfectly shaped volcano has been worshiped as a sacred mountain and experienced big popularity among artists, common people and tourists.

Mount Fuji capped wit snow (Source)

Mount Fuji is surrounded by five lakes: Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, Lake Sai, Lake Motosu and Lake Shoji. The climate is very cold due to the altitude and the cone is covered by snow for several months of the year. The lowest recorded temperature is −38.0 °C while on June 2008 the highest temperature was recorded at 17.8 °C.

Mount Fuji from Osezaki beach (Source)

Mount Fuji view from an airplane (Source)

Mount Fuji view from an airplane (Source)

Lake Baikal, World's Deepest and Largest Freshwater Lake

At 1,637 meters in deep and with a surface area of 31,494 square kilometers, Lake Baikal is the deepest and largest freshwater lake in the world. It is located in Southern Siberia in Russia. It is also known as the "Blue Eye of Siberia" and "the Pearl of Siberia" and contains more water than all the North American Great Lakes combined.

Map of Lake Baikal (Source)

During winter months, Lake Baikal's upper layer solidify into ice. The ice is so thick that it can support people and snowmobiles.

Lake Baikal during winter months (Source)

At more than 25 million years old, it is the oldest lake in the world. It hosts 1,085 species of plants and 1,550 species and varieties of animals and more than 80% of the animals found in the area are endemic. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Satellite image of Lake Baikal (Source)

Olchon Island inside the lake (Source)

Dead Sea, the World's Saltiest Lake

Despite it's name, Dead Sea is a salty lake between the West Bank/Palestine/Israel and Jordan. The "sea" in it's name is because it is so salty. In fact, it is the world's saltiest lake. It is called "dead" because fish and aquatic plants cannot grow in it because of its high salt and mineral content.

Blue water of the Dead Sea (Source)

The Dead Sea is 420 metres below sea level and its shores are the lowest point on Earth that are on dry land. With 30 percent salinity, it is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean. In times of drought, to salinity climb to 35 percent.

Salt deposit in the shores of Dead See (Source)

Because of it's salinity, the Dead Sea is famous among tourists because one can float in it without using a life vest. The famous trick is to float and read a book.

Tourist floating in the Dead Sea (Source)

The Dead Sea's salt content is due to it's location. Being the lowest point on Earth, during wet season, minerals flow to it's basin. This has been happening for millions of year, thus the water became concentrated with minerals including salt.

Ali Sadr Cave

Ali Sadr or Alisadr Cave is a cave located in 75 km north of Hamedan in Iran. It was formed 130-190 million years ago in the second Jurassic period. The caves walls can extend up to 40 meters high, and it contains several large, deep lakes.

Near the entrance of the cave (Source)

It has a river flowing through it and and so traveling through the cave is mostly done by boats. In the summer of 2001, a German/British expedition surveyed the cave to be 11 kilometers long. The main chamber of the cave is 100 meters by 50 meters and 40 meters high.

Rental boats and tourists (Source)

Ali Sadr cave is situated between the large cities in Hamedan, Tehran and Zanjan making it a popular destination for Iranians and foreign tourists.

Rock wall (Source)

The cave was originally discovered during the reign of Darius I (521-485 BC) which can be verified by an old inscription at the entrance of the tunnel. However, the knowledge of the existence of the tunnel was lost, and only rediscovered in 1978 when a local shepherd followed the tunnel searching for water or a lost goat.

The lion-elephant rock (Source)

Lake Saiful Muluk, One of the Most Beautiful Lake in Pakistan

Located in the northern end of the Kaghan Valley near Naran, Pakistan, Lake Saiful Muluk is dubbed the most beautiful lake in Pakistan. At an altitude of 3,224 m above sea level, it is one of the highest lakes in the country. The lake's water is clear with a slight green tone.

Tourist boat at Lake Saiful Muluk (Source)

Lake Saiful Muluk is feed by multiple glaciers from the surrounding mountains. These glaciers contribute to the clear water of the lake.

Crystal clear water at Lake Saiful Muluk (Source)

Due to the natural beauty of the Kaghan Valley, this place has a flourishing tourism industry.

Lake Saiful Muluk during summer months (Source)

If you're planning to visit this place, it is accessible by a 14 km jeep road from Naran or you can trek from Naran to the lake takes which about 4-6 hours.

Full view of Lake Saiful Muluk and the surrounding mountains (Source)

Subterranean River, the Navigable Underground River

Located in the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan in the Philippines, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 kilometers navigable underground river. This park is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Subterranean River entrance (Source)

The underground river is said to be the world's longest. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water's edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave.

Inside the Subterranean River (Source)

Inside the Subterranean River (Source)

Inside the cave are major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers.

Subterranean River rock formation (Source)

Subterranean River rock formation (Source)

Subterranean River rock formation (Source)

The most spectacular feature of the river is that it winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. The lower portion of the river is subject to tidal influences.

Subterranean River exit (Source)

Auyantepui, the Devil's Mountain

Mount Auyantepui a.k.a. the Devil's Mountain is the most visited and famous table-top mountain in Venezuela. At more or less 700 square kilometers, it is one of the largest table-top mountain in the world and is located in the Gran Sabana region in Bolivar State.

Mount Auyantepui, the Devil's Mountain (Source)

This impressive and heart-shaped table-top mountain is almost 3,000 meters high and houses the Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world,

Mount Auyantepui with the Angel Falls (Source: ent108)

Auyantepui surrounded by clouds (Source)

Panoramic view of Auyantepui (Source)

Flaming Cliffs, the Dinosaurs' Graveyard

The Flaming Cliffs is the area of the Gobi desert in Mongolia famous for the first nest of dinosaur eggs and other fossils found by the American paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews in 1922. Andrews nicknamed the site "Flaming Cliffs" because of the surreal glowing orange color of the rocks.

The Flaming Cliffs panorama (Source)

In Mongolian dialect, this region is called Bayanzag, which means "rich in saxaul shrubs". It is comprised of red sand, rocks, scorching sun, and emptiness.

The Flaming Cliffs (Source)

Flaming Cliffs is also close to the region where researchers discovered the tangled remains of a Protoceratops and a Velociraptor. The remains appear to have been locked in a death struggle at the time of their sudden demise. Researchers suggested that the dinosaurs who died at Flaming Cliffs died quickly, possibly by fierce sandstorms which buried them alive.

Rock formation at Flaming Cliffs (Source)

The Flaming Cliffs at mid-day (Source)

Al-Hasa Oasis, World's Largest Oasis

The Al-Hasa oasis is the largest oasis in the world. It is located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and has an area of of about 120 km with a population of 600,000 based on 2003 estimate. The Oasis has a dry and tropical climate, with a five-month summer and a relatively cold winter. Despite being surrounded by desserts, it enjoys the benefits of copious reserves of underground water.

Al-Hasa Oasis (Source)

Having an abundant source of water, the central economic activity of the oasis is agriculture. Some of agricultural products are date palms, rice, corn, citrus and other fruits and raising of sheep, goats, cattle and camels also exists making Al-Hasa one of the major food producers in this arid country.

Al-Hasa Natioanl Park (Source)

Ha Long, Bay of the Descending Dragon

Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the northeastern part of Vietnam in Quảng Ninh province. It is the country's pride, and Vietnamese consider it the Eight Wonders of the world. Ha Long literally means descending dragons. The bay features thousands of karsts and isles.

Ha Long Bay features some 1,600 limestone islands and islets in various shapes and sizes, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site's outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.

Towering rocks at Ha Long Bay [Source]

Misty morning at Ha Long Bay [Source]

Another main attractions of Ha long is the bay's calm water and the thousands of limestone mountains dotting the seascape. The Bay's water is clear during the spring and early summer. Some of the islands are quite large and there are small alcoves with sandy beaches where swimming is possible.

A quiet and relaxing beach at Ha Long [Source]

Tourist boats at Ha Long [Source]