Travel

TRAVEL Wonders that never cease

While you’re on this planet, check out seven of Mother Nature’s most spectacular shows. By Darius Amos

We’re always fascinated by feats of human engineering, from skyscrapers to suspension bridges. But when it comes to making a stunning impression, our species’ creations still play second fiddle to the most dramatic scenes nature has to offer. Take Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon, for instance. Seeing images of them on the printed page and the TV or computer screen a thousand times doesn’t prevent that gulp of awed surprise when you first actually glimpse them. Here, from around the world, are seven other sights you simply must experience:

AURORA BOREALIS, ICELAND.

On rare occasions, the awe-inspiring aurora borealis (aka Northern Lights) can be seen in the lower 48 by lucky northern Minnesotans, Michiganders, Wisconsinites and the like who are in the right place at the right time. But to catch a consistent glimpse of this now-my-life-is-complete sight, a trip to Iceland is in order. In the land of fire and ice, the aurora—caused when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with Earth’s magnetic field, typically near the North and South poles—is almost always visible during a dark and clear night. That’s because light pollution is minimal in Iceland, located on the southern edge of the Arctic Circle. Peak viewing season is September through March, when nights are longest. Just be sure to check lunar schedules if you’re planning a trip to Reykjavik or Hella (which has an aurora alert service and outdoor hot tubs), as a full moon, while beautiful, can light up the night and spoil your aurora borealis moment.

THE GREAT MIGRATION, KENYA AND TANZANIA.

There’s nothing ordinary about an African safari—for Westerners, catching a glimpse of lions, cheetahs, hyenas, rhinos and elephants in their natural habitat is always a thrill. But one event truly exceeds extraordinary: the migration of wildebeests from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya. More than 1 million wildebeests—and an equal number of zebras and other animals—are guided by their primal instincts toward the greener pastures that follow the region’s rain patterns. Though the weekslong journey occurs several times a year, the most spectacular herds migrate from the northern edge of the Serengeti to Masai Mara in late summer. Their trek, best seen with experienced drivers and guides, goes over dusty game trails that create National Geographic-worthy images as well as two rivers, the Mara and the Talek. Camera-ready tourists stationed at the waterways are warned of the dangers posed by the wildebeest stampede as well as those that await the wildebeests themselves as they cross the crocodile-infested waters.

RIVER OF FIVE COLORS, COLOMBIA.

Somewhere over the rainbow, there’s a land that you may never have heard of: Colombia’s Serrania De La Macarena National Park. The isolated mountain range here is on the boundaries that separate three distinct ecosystems: the Andes, the Eastern Llanos and the Amazon rainforest. And between those environments is Cano Cristales, a river whose name translates to “crystal channel.” But this isn’t a typical crystal-clear body of water—visitors over the years have declared it “the most beautiful river in the world.” It earns that title and its “river of five colors” nickname thanks to the black, blue, green, red and yellow aquatic plants (not algae) that grow along the riverbed from the end of July through November. Conditions must also be right to see the show: Water must be high enough for the plants to thrive but not so high that you can’t see the riverbed. In addition, bright sunlight is needed to reflect the colors. Getting there isn’t a walk in the park either. Travelers will likely have to fly into central Colombia, charter a plane to La Macarena then hire a guide to take them to the park. Start packing, because this once-in-a-lifetime sight shouldn’t be missed.

YOSEMITE FIREFALL, UNITED STATES.

Once described by famed naturalist, conservationist and writer John Muir as the “grandest of all the special temples of nature,” California’s Yosemite National Park is home to its own list of wonders. The land serves as Earth’s bridge to the divine, highlighted by ancient sequoia trees that almost touch the heavens and granite cliffs like El Capitan and Half Dome that are so artfully carved they would make Michelangelo or Canova swoon. Visitors—the park gets around 4 million annually—also seek out Yosemite’s waterfalls, some of which are among the tallest in the country. Bridalveil Falls, located across El Capitan, is one of the most famous, but the smaller Horsetail Fall on the eastern edge of El Capitan may be the most special. It’s an ephemeral waterfall, usually flowing during winter months. And on certain evenings when conditions are perfect, the falling water will appear orange when it’s backlit by the sunset. The phenomenon is called Yosemite’s natural firefall, terminology that differentiates it from a former manmade tourist attraction where a bonfire was pushed off the edge of nearby Glacier Point.

BIOLUMINESCENT SHORES, THE MALDIVES.

The Republic of Maldives is a group of islands located in the Indian Ocean off the southwest coasts of India and Sri Lanka, and it’s a bucket-list destination for longtime jet-setters and those who dare to dream. And what’s not to love? Though tourism is on the rise, the exotic islands are still relatively private and secluded, so you can enjoy paradise in peace. And paradise includes delicious cuisine, luxurious accommodations and breathtaking beaches. But a natural, underwater occurrence is perhaps the Maldives’ most famous attraction. The beaches of the 1,000+ islands, particularly Vaadhoo Island, are blanketed with microorganisms that can glow for up to one to two minutes at a time when they come in contact with the water’s surface. Scientifically speaking, the bioluminescent creatures contain a compound called luciferin, which, when exposed to oxygen, causes a chemical reaction that emits the bright blue glow. This aquatic light show is best viewed from June to October, when temperatures are warmer, and Vaadhoo is accessible by boat and ferry from Malé, the capital of the Maldives.

CHRISTMAS ISLAND CRAB MIGRATION, AUSTRALIA.

Isn’t it only natural that there be a surprise in a place named for Christmas? An Australian territory in the Indian Ocean, the island is an unassuming wonderland that features pristine, deserted beaches, blessed with rare birds and filled with cultural festivals and culinary delights. But despite all the activity and R&R that happen here, aquatic adventures and marine life always take center stage, especially after the first rainfall of the wet season (October through January) when the migration of the Christmas Island red crab begins. Though not as Earth-moving as the Great Migration, the sudden relocation of bright red crabs from the forest to the ocean is pretty epic. For as long as 18 days, streams of red crabs can be seen leaving the wooded areas, climbing down cliff faces and crawling around obstacles on their way to the coast to breed and release eggs into the ocean. The annual event draws so many tourists that the local government installed crab road crossings, tunnels and safety walls to ensure the crustaceans a safe passage to the sea.

RAINBOW MOUNTAINS, CHINA.

Chinese media call the formations of Zhangye National Geopark one of the country’s most beautiful landforms, and for good reason: The landscape is as complex as the layers of the Grand Canyon, as mysterious as the four vortexes in Sedona, Arizona—and as mouthwatering as fresh-baked rainbow cookies. Like many national parks, Zhangye Danxia (as it’s known locally) is equipped with boardwalks and access roads to aid exploration of the natural towers, pillars and ravines, but most of the two to three million annual visitors go to see the colors and patterns. And unlike the aforementioned cookies, the Technicolor striations of the mountains are all natural: They’re the result of centuries of tectonic shifts, climate changes and the erosion of red sedimentary rock beds.

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