Victoria Falls (1947-04) by Eliot ElisofonLIFE Photo Collection
Peaks, falls, canyons, and a celestial phenomenon: scroll on and use the click-and-drag function to explore some of the world's natural wonders.
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Mount Everest
The highest peak on Earth, capping the Himalayas and separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. Mount Everest was first climbed in 1953, and while it may have become easier than ever to visit, it remains a natural wonder.
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Volcán de Parícutin
On the 20th of February 1943, in a cornfield on the outskirts of Uruapan, Mexico, the ground split, and fire and gas poured out. Within ten years, what had been fertile farmland became a towering cinder cone volcano. Today, the view from the rim of Parícutin is breathtaking.
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Victoria Falls
Known in the Lozi language as Mosi-oa-Tunya, 'The Smoke That Thunders', Victoria Falls is one of the world's largest waterfalls, measuring nearly two kilometres in length, where the entire flow of the Zambezi river plunges 100 metres into the gorge below.
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Guanabara Bay
The way to Rio de Janeiro passes through Guanabara Bay, and at its entrance is is a sight recognised around the world, Pão de Açúcar, Sugarloaf Mountain. But this is just one of the many stunning mountains that rise straight from the waters of Guanabara Bay.
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Great Barrier Reef
Under the shallow waters of the Coral Sea, off the east coast of Australia, is the Great Barrier Reef - the largest coral reef system on Earth, and a marvel of nature. The reef supports an abundance of animals, and features in the myths and folklore of aboriginal peoples.
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The Grand Canyon
The Colorado River first reached this plateau around 8 million years ago. Since then, the river has cut a winding course through the rock. The canyon is 446km long, up to 30km wide, and nearly 2km deep. For millennia, the canyon has been a holy site for the the Pueblo people.
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The Aurora Borealis
If you're ever travelling in the Arctic or Antarctic circles, make sure to watch the dark winter skies, you might just catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis. The uncertainty and fleeting nature of these mercurial lights makes them all the more a wonder to behold.
Earth Observations taken by the Expedition 23 Crew (2010-05-29)NASA
