Prepare to be amazed by Earth's most unbelievable natural wonders! From a burning gas crater to a salt flat that becomes a perfect mirror, these incredible locations will challenge everything you thought you knew about our planet's extraordinary landscapes.
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00:00The ice caves are the glacier's surreal interior.
00:04Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for Earth's most awe-inspiring sights.
00:10For this list, we're only considering natural phenomena, rather than human-made wonders.
00:15We're in these marble caves, and I also hit my head because they're so low.
00:22Number 10, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Hunan, China.
00:27Hunan is famous for its fiery cuisine, the ancient city of Fenghuang, and an abundance of natural beauty.
00:34If you desire a hefty dose of stunning Chinese nature, visit Zhangjiajie in northern Hunan.
00:40It literally looks like a fairy tale come true. I really couldn't move my eyes.
00:44It's home to countless stone pillars towering above a vast forest that sprawls for 1,400 square miles.
00:53There are so many of those freestanding sandstone rock pillars formed by the power of nature and time.
01:01One 3,540-foot stone pillar was renamed the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain since the region was a major inspiration for James Cameron's Avatar.
01:12It's also home to the Bailong Elevator, or the Hundred Dragons Skylift in English, the world's tallest outdoor lift.
01:20They also placed the world's largest pedestrian glass bridge here, making it even more worthwhile to visit.
01:26I feel a little scared, but, you know, I'm strong enough.
01:31Number 9, Lake Natron, Ngorongoro, Tanzania.
01:35East Africa is one of the most vibrant areas on Earth and one of the oldest inhabited regions on the planet.
01:42In northern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border, Lake Natron can be found.
01:46It's famous for being one of the planet's deadliest lakes.
01:50On getting to the lake, the first thing I noticed was how deserted and alone we were in the vast landscape. Everything was dead quiet.
01:57This is because it's incredibly alkaline due to a high concentration of natron, or sodium carbonate decahydrate.
02:04The lake's water can have a pH as high as 10.5, which is almost as alkaline as ammonia.
02:10It's got a one-of-a-kind ecosystem and is home to 75% of the world's lesser flamingos.
02:17If all conditions are just right, tens of thousands of baby flamingos will soon be walking in a great mass across the dry lake bed to fresh water, which they can drink and wash their feathers in.
02:28Also, have we mentioned it's a beautiful shade of red?
02:31This is made even more ominous by the huge quantity of petrified animals preserved at the lake's edges, a natural form of mummification.
02:398. The Door to Hell – Darvaza, Turkmenistan
02:43The Caspian Sea provides the only coastline in Turkmenistan, which, despite its name, is an entirely inland water body.
02:51If you travel to central Turkmenistan, you won't be too far from the Darvaza gas crater, also known as the Door to Hell.
02:58It looks like the kind of spot where Satan himself should jump out with a pitchfork and the hole works.
03:06It's a naturally burning gas field, supposedly caused by a collapsed gas drilling rig.
03:11This happened in 1971, and the Soviets at the time decided to set it on fire to prevent toxic gas from spreading.
03:18Having an uncontrolled release of methane is a really terrible idea.
03:25It's just incredibly dangerous because, again, if you're constantly burning it off, then it's not accumulating.
03:35Otherwise, it could have just every once in a while would have just created a huge, huge explosion.
03:41They expected it to quickly burn itself out, but it's still burning strong more than three decades after the Soviet Union's collapse.
03:48Due to safety concerns, Turkmenistan is seeking to extinguish the crater, so make this a priority on your bucket list.
03:55Don't worry, though, there will still be plenty of ways to get to hell, just not via this big gassy pit in Turkmenistan.
04:047. Zhongge National Geopark – Gansu, China
04:09As one of the world's largest countries, China is full of magnificent nature.
04:13One of their most unique sights is the mountains of Zhongge National Geopark in Gansu, neighboring Inner Mongolia.
04:20The rock formations and the colors really remind me of somewhere in America or Australia.
04:24Definitely didn't expect this in China.
04:26They're famous for their iconic rainbow pattern, which can easily be mistaken for paint.
04:31The mountains are so brilliant, they were voted one of China's most beautiful landforms.
04:36And when you finally get an uninterrupted view of the rainbow mountains, it's something really special.
04:42Their colors have been attributed to layers of sandstone and minerals enhanced by tectonic activity which has angled the layers.
04:49It took over 24 million years to form and covers 124 square miles, making it the largest multicolored mountain range.
04:57As the crowds thinned even more and the sun got lower in the sky, the views just got better and better.
05:046. Glowworm Caves, Waitomo, New Zealand
05:08Famed for its wildlife, New Zealand is a country so gorgeous it was used as the backdrop for the Lord of the Rings movies.
05:15Its northernmost island, Waitomo, is home to the capital Auckland, alongside a lesser-known cave teeming with glowworms.
05:22In the heart of New Zealand's North Island, there are caves where underground rivers roar beneath what looks like a sky speckled with twinkling stars.
05:31These are specifically the Arachnocampa luminosa, a species exclusive to New Zealand.
05:37Boat rides through the caves provide a jaw-dropping view of the thousands of worms who live there.
05:43Oh my god, it's just like all of a sudden, the whole forest is just lit up.
05:47Pictures are unable to do the sight justice, making it a must-see.
05:51I got pictures of their goopy little intestines and I couldn't be happier.
05:57It's also home to some impressive limestone formations first formed 30 million years ago when the area was still submerged beneath the ocean.
06:055. Antelope Canyon, Arizona, United States
06:09The Navajo Nation is a Native American reservation covering parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
06:15It's the country's largest reservation, and unlike most, it's grown since its initial formation.
06:21On the Arizona side, you can visit the Upper Antelope Canyon, a sensational slot canyon.
06:26Antelope Canyon probably receives about over a million people a year.
06:32At high noon, stunning light rays will shine directly through the canyon, revealing remarkable, colorful patterns along its rock faces.
06:40It's become a big source of tourism for the Navajo, and was formed by centuries of flash flooding.
06:45See this very sharp edge right here?
06:48This is a contact between water out here flowing this way and swirling back around in here,
06:53taking the sediment probably up to almost fist size, grinding against the edge,
06:58and carving this out over time, and driving that erosion by an abrasion process.
07:04It's still prone to these floods, making it semi-dangerous.
07:07Site safety has improved recently, meaning now is a better time than ever to visit.
07:12I don't know no other place where you can feel like you're near everything sacred.
07:184. Mount Roraima
07:20Pacaraima Mountains, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana
07:24At the junction between three countries lives Mount Roraima, one of the largest flat-topped mountains on Earth.
07:31For hundreds of years, explorers tried to conquer Mount Roraima, but failed.
07:37They returned empty-handed, defeated by Roraima's immense cliffs.
07:43For those who have seen Pixar's Up, it might look familiar.
07:46That's because this mountain was the inspiration for its setting,
07:49with creators even hiking the mountain for ideas.
07:52It boasts a very fitting name, originating from the indigenous Pamon people,
07:56which roughly translates to amazing blue-green.
08:00It's home to a plethora of unique flora and fauna.
08:03However, most of these remain unknown.
08:05Its flat peak has an area of roughly 13 to 19 square miles,
08:09and it's more than 7,200 feet above sea level.
08:13It can take almost a week to hike, but it's more than worth it.
08:17Seven days, six nights, and every day hiking, if not far, then hard.
08:22But the pace of the hike is so intense,
08:25and every day hiking, if not far, then hard.
08:28But the payoff are those unforgettable views,
08:31standing on clifftops and looking down at the clouds below,
08:34just seeing the savannah stretch away into the distance.
08:38Number 3. Marble Caves, Patagonia, Chile
08:42The Andes mountain range runs along Chile's western border,
08:46giving it its long, snaky shape.
08:48In its southern portion, travelers can visit the Cuevas de Marmol.
08:52Right, excuse my hair, but we're about to go in the first cave.
08:55After six millennia, these caves have been carved by the Lake General Carrera,
09:00creating exquisite patterns.
09:02The lake itself is spectacular,
09:04with clear blue water caused by its glacial origins.
09:07The cave walls are decorated with picturesque blue patterns.
09:10So this is the cathedral.
09:12This is the best one, they said, for photos, and it's the coolest one.
09:15Small boats and kayaks are needed to visit,
09:18since they're inaccessible by land.
09:20If you do go, try to sail over during the early morning,
09:23when the lighting is best for photography.
09:26I think we took like 600 photos, just firing away.
09:30But it was super cool, and yes, we hope you enjoy it.
09:32We'll see you guys later.
09:34Number 2. Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey
09:37Anatolia is one of the oldest regions inhabited by humans,
09:41making up most of modern Turkey.
09:43It's a hotspot for astonishing nature,
09:45and one of its most unique natural wonders
09:48is the Pamukkale Travertines in southwestern Turkey.
09:51Pamukkale is called the Cotton Castle
09:53because of its one-of-a-kind thermal pools
09:55nestled within the thick layers of white limestone.
09:58Travertines are thermal pools formed due to hot springs.
10:02The result is a lush blue mineral water
10:04cascading down bright white ridges.
10:07Tourists are even allowed to take a dip
10:09in some of the largest pools.
10:11If you come about halfway down the hill,
10:13you can find these cool thermal hot tubs
10:15and enjoy the sunset from here.
10:17Cleopatra is also home to Hierapolis,
10:20an ancient Greek city abandoned since the medieval period.
10:23Cleopatra's pools are also nearby,
10:25a stunning blue pool that was allegedly ordered
10:28constructed by Cleopatra herself.
10:31Before we unveil our top pick,
10:33here are a few honorable mentions.
10:35Mendenhall Ice Caves, Alaska, United States
10:38Magnificent ice caves can be found under this glacier.
10:42Access to see these icy walls
10:44is only available to the truly adventurous.
10:47Casa del Arbol, also known as the Treehouse
10:50Baños, Ecuador
10:52Swing atop the edge of a mountain at this astounding location.
10:55The Sea of Stars
10:57Vadu Island
10:58Maldives
10:59Bioluminescent plankton turn these beaches beautifully blue.
11:03As the waves crash on the beach,
11:05the water glows in the dark
11:07and gives the impression it is acting like a mirror
11:09that reflects the sparkling stars above.
11:12Hitachi Seaside Park
11:14Hitachinaka, Japan
11:16This park has some of the world's largest fields of flowers.
11:19Trolltunga
11:20Hordaland, Norway
11:22Perch yourself atop the troll's tongue for a stunning view.
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11:48Salar de Uyuni, Daniel Campos, Bolivia
11:51Also known as the world's greatest mirror,
11:53Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat.
11:57It's estimated that there are 10 billion tons of salt there.
12:01It's over 4,000 square miles in area
12:04and located in southwest Bolivia.
12:06It's totally flat and is home to more than 70%
12:10of the world's lithium.
12:11When dry, you will be able to admire
12:13its mind-blowing hexagonal formations.
12:16After rain, a layer of water will settle on top,
12:19creating breathtaking reflections.
12:21When it happens, it can be almost impossible
12:24to distinguish where the land ends and the sky begins.
12:27At night, it becomes an astronomer's dream,
12:30with the entire Milky Way being visible
12:32across both the sky and the floor.
12:35A fraction of its beauty can be revealed in photos,
12:37but you will have to visit to experience its full glory.
12:40Barring a few islands, the area is mostly flat,
12:43which makes the remarkable mirror effect
12:46even more effective.
12:48What natural wonder blew your mind?
12:50Tell us in the comments below.
12:52Do you agree with our picks?
12:53Check out this other recent clip from MsMojo
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13:07NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
13:09California Institute of Technology