The Grand Canyon is close to being the most studied landscape in the world according to the National Park Service. Situated in the United States in Arizona, the canyon is a result of erosion caused by the Colorado River, which runs straight through it. Its deepest point is approximately 6,000 feet, and the canyon covers 277 miles.
The Great Barrier Reef runs along more than 1,600 miles of coastline in Australia, from Torres Strait to Southern Queensland. The 2,900 separate reefs that make up the Great Barrier Reef make it the world's biggest coral reef system. The Great Barrier Reef is also a nesting ground for several endangered species.
A totally natural formation, the Harbor of Rio de Janerio is Rio's most popular feature. The harbor spans an impressive 88 miles, which makes for some impressive views. Although Portuguese explorers discovered the harbor in the 16th century, it was not modernized until the 20th century.
Standing at an incredible 29,029 feet, Mount Everest is not only the highest mountain in the world, its summit is also the highest peak. Mount Everest is in the Himalayan Mountains where Tibet meets Nepal. Chomolungma is the name given to the mountain by locals; the mountain gets its English name from a former British surveyor general of India, Sir George Everest. A photographer named Barry Bishop and his team became the first Americans to reach Everest's summit in 1963, according to National Geographic.
Also known as the Northern Lights, the aurora borealis are a breathtaking naturally occurring phenomenon. A beautiful curtain of green, red and purple light, the aurora is caused by gases in the atmosphere traveling along the Earth's magnetic lines. The best way to see the aurora borealis is by traveling to the northern hemisphere, although there is no way to predict when they take place. The closer you are to the magnetic pole, the more likely you are to witness this magnificent event.
The dormant Paricutin Volcano is in Michoacán, Mexico, and last erupted in 1952. The youngest volcano in the United States, Paricutin's official recorded height varies between 9,101 feet and 10,397 feet. Paricutin is classified as a natural wonder because its birth was witnessed by humankind.
Located in South Africa, Victoria Falls is the world's largest waterfall at a staggering 360 feet high and one mile wide. Victoria Falls is on the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe, with the Zambezi River being the falls source of water. Locally the falls go by the name Mosi-oa-Tunya, or "smoke that thunders." A Scottish explorer called Dr. David Livingstone gave this magnificent waterfall the name Victoria Falls, according to the Seven Natural Wonders of the World website.
