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We’re not here to tell you that nature is amazing - you already know it. Yet, that does not mean that knowing this fact eliminates the factor of various natural phenomena being totally breathtaking and awe-inspiring! And, since we love ourselves a bit of beautiful nature in our day, here’s our list of the most wondrous natural phenomena on Earth.

But before we skip straight to the natural phenomena examples, we must contain our excitement and learn what exactly these amazing nature occurrences are. So, for starters, we must know that these majestical things always happen without the interference of humans (that’s why they’re called natural), and it’s all nature’s play. Now, examples of natural phenomena include, but are not limited to, gravity, tides, moons, sandstorms, oscillation, volcanic lighting, cloud formations, and even ant armies! And while some of these occurrences do happen pretty frequently - like rainbows - some rare natural phenomena only grace us perhaps once a year or in one specific place. And very predictably, Australia has plenty of these weird natural phenomena to itself. Well, we guess it’s a fair trade for living in a place where everything can eliminate you - at least you get a pretty view!

Anyway, it’s not all about Australia in this list, and as you’re about to see, these beautiful nature occurrences do happen everywhere in the world. From glowworm caves to light pillars to a literal hellhole, there are lots of natural phenomena to gawk at on this list! So, scroll down below, check out the submissions, and give your vote to the natural phenomena examples you found the most awesome. 

#1

Light Pillars, Canada

Light Pillars, Canada

This incredible phenomenon occurs when ice crystals are suspended in the air due to extreme cold conditions. The crystal then reacts with every light source around and create this stunning view. 

dartanner Report

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Tash
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would genuinely think i was being abducted by aliens if i saw this

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#2

Bioluminescent Shore, Maldives

Bioluminescent Shore, Maldives

Again, this might seem magical and otherworldly, but bioluminescent phytoplankton actually creates this view of a starry shore.

dhia_hassouna Report

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Snorky The Pig
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stunning. I would upvote, but it is at 69. (Edit: someone already did so now I can upvote 😂 I am so immature y'all)

#3

Lenticular Clouds

Lenticular Clouds

Lenticular clouds are stunning everywhere, but especially so when they hang atop the Mayon Volcano crater!

Patryk Reba Report

#4

Moonbow, Hawaii

Moonbow, Hawaii

Commonly known as lunar rainbows, they differ from regular rainbows in that the moon's beams produce them rather than the sun.

Arne-kaiser Report

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majandess
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think I've been somewhere that had quite as many rainbows as Hawaii. Loved it!

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#5

Rainbow Eucalyptus

Rainbow Eucalyptus

Probably the only reason this tree exists is to be a living work of art!

dm16 Report

#6

Bismuth Crystals

Bismuth Crystals

Known to be included in Pepto-Bismol as well as other well-known items like safety valves and paintings, bismuth is a solid, highly lustrous grey metal.

crysta_wholesale_china2 Report

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Fenchurch
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just to state, the picture isn't bismuth but bismuth crystals. Made by melting bismuth and allowing it to cool into crystals.

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#7

Halos

Halos

Similar to fire rainbows, halos require just the correct arrangement of ice crystals to develop in clouds located far above Earth's surface in order to perfectly bend sunlight into a ring.

Mikhail Kapychka Report

#8

Glowworm Caves, New Zeland

Glowworm Caves, New Zeland

Most of these caves are in Australia and New Zealand, although there is also a well-known one in Alabama. The most well-known are the Waitomo Caves in New Zealand, formed more than 30 million years ago.

abutzzz Report

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#9

Aurora Borealis, Iceland

Aurora Borealis, Iceland

Although Aurora Borealis might seem like pure magic, it actually appears when electrically charged particles from the sun react with atoms in the upper atmosphere. Expect it to see on a freezing cold night!

aveutor Report

#10

Sky Mirror, Bolivia

Sky Mirror, Bolivia

It's Salar de Uyuni - the largest salt flat in the world. The views are pretty surreal there!

Javier Collarte Report

#11

Sakurajima Dirty Thunderstorms, Japan

Sakurajima Dirty Thunderstorms, Japan

Sakurajima volcano is just breathtaking when it rains fire and ash. 

Marc Szeglat Report

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#12

Desert Roses

Desert Roses

It is a rose-like gypsum mineral formation that can grow in arid, sandy areas that periodically flood. Gypsum crystals can grow between sand grains and trap them due to the transition between wet and dry conditions.

Laura Peña Report

#13

Circumhorizontal Arc

Circumhorizontal Arc

When sunlight or moonlight is refracted by air ice crystals, ice halos that mimic fire rainbows are created.

Nbarr Report

#14

Frozen Ice Bubbles, Canada

Frozen Ice Bubbles, Canada

These bubbles are created by the emission of inflammable methane gas. The bubbles freeze in ice and we get these incredible patterns!

hueytruong Report

#15

Marble Caves, Chile

Marble Caves, Chile

We doubt a few would mind seeing these gorgeous views in real life! These incredible caves and walls took around 6000 years to form, and it was the waves that washed them into these breathtaking shapes.

hikinghannahjo Report

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#16

Great Blue Hole, Belize

Great Blue Hole, Belize

This virtually perfect sphere of the deep blue abyss, formed during the last ice age when the sea level was much lower, is a haven for scuba divers. Naturally, the hole grew into a much more endless chasm as the sea level rose.

carriewu5120 Report

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#17

Lake Hillier, Australia

Lake Hillier, Australia

This vivid natural phenomenon in Australia is caused by the high salt content of the water and the energy released by the microalgae "Dunaliella Salina."

rossinthesea Report

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Huddo's sister
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was so jealous when my brother drove from Melbourne to Perth last year. This was just one of the incredible things he got to experience.

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#18

Danxia Landform, China

Danxia Landform, China

Minerals are magic, and so are their colors. Just look at this place! It's like Pantone bursted here!

Cajeo Zhang Report

#19

Sandstone Waves, Arizona

Sandstone Waves, Arizona

"The Wave" features intersecting throughs of sandstone that have converted to rock that were formerly dunes in Arizona dating back more than 190 million years. The dunes grow vertically and horizontally; over time, moderate erosion brought on by wind and rain reveals their wave-like appearance. 

bdreyer1 Report

#20

Blue Volcano, Indonesia

Blue Volcano, Indonesia

Although it seems absolutely otherworldly, the Kawah Iljen volcano is absolutely real! It gets this color due to high quantities of sulfuric gas - it glimmers blue once it comes in contact with air. 

Thomas Fuhrmann Report

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#21

Giant’s Causeway, Ireland

Giant’s Causeway, Ireland

Although these hexagon-shaped boulders seem like a man-made creation it's absolutely the workings of nature!

Sam Forson Report

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Huddo's sister
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have some of these in Australia too. The ones I have been to are in the Organ Pipes National Park, Victoria. They really do look like the pipes on a large organ.

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#22

The Underwater River, Mexico

The Underwater River, Mexico

When fresh top water meets exposed salty groundwater, an underwater river forms. The different density levels in the two water bodies cause them to layer. The result is a breathtaking convergence of two habitats.

AB TV Report

#23

Mammatus Cloud

Mammatus Cloud

This magical cloud structure is a beautiful sight to behold and is typically visible after the tornado has passed.

MsaalMatt Saal Report

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BakedKahuna
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once was lucky enough to to watch a field of mammatus clouds pass by. It was on a parking lot of a grocery shop. People were hustling around me, not noticing what was happening just above them, while I stood there frozen and completely in awe.

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#24

Socotra Dragon Tree, Yemen

Socotra Dragon Tree, Yemen

They probably remember dinosaurs! Also, as legend states, these trees bleed dragon blood when cut.

Andrew Svk Report

#25

Eternal Flame Falls

Eternal Flame Falls

It's not entirely natural, a little waterfall in upstate New York, close to the Canadian border, conceals a significant surprise: an eight-inch-tall jet of fire. There is a natural gas leak that fuels the flame behind the waterfall. Although hikers do re-light it if they notice it has been blown out, it is protected enough by the waterfall to remain lighted quite consistently. 

mason_wrightt Report

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Firstname Lastname
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you go, wear proper footwear. It's nifty, but not worth falling on the slippery rocks.

#26

Catatumbo Lightning, Venezuela

Catatumbo Lightning, Venezuela

Currents of chilly and warm air combine a few kilometers above the point where the Catatumbo river merges with the Maracaibo lake to literally electrify the place. 

Josep Castells Report

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#27

Spotted Lake, Canada

Spotted Lake, Canada

This landform's numerous colorful lakes are simply the result of a high concentration of minerals in the water. Of course, as a result, it's regarded as Canada's most magical location and we cannot argue with that!

reality_capture Report

#28

Forest Of Knives, Madagascar

Forest Of Knives, Madagascar

Yup, you'd have to pay us dearly to risk tackling this enormous limestone formation so aptly called the Forest of Knives!

mahayexpedition Report

#29

Flowering Desert, South America

Flowering Desert, South America

A desert in bloom is truly a breathtaking view!

felipeabarcia.95 Report

#30

Morning Glory Cloud, Australia

Morning Glory Cloud, Australia

The Morning Glory Cloud is a very rare phenomenon, but since we're talking about Australia, things are just different there. So, if you're ever in the Gulf of Carpentaria, you can observe these awesome clouds pretty often!

petrapouzar Report

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#31

Kjeragbolten Boulder, Norway

Kjeragbolten Boulder, Norway

The boulder, known as Kjeragbolten, is stuck in a tough spot. The glaciers in Norway alternately melted and overflowed, causing the natural phenomenon to become stranded. Nevertheless, it has become a well-liked hike for adventure seekers. You can ascend more than 1000 meters with the Kjeragbolten boulder.

adventure_of_a_day Report

#32

Sailing Stones, USA

Sailing Stones, USA

These are, in fact, rocks, and they do, in fact, move! However, there's no mystery here - these rocks get encased in ice and move due to natural buoyancy when partially immersed in water. 

kayla_j_elias Report

#33

Nacreous Clouds

Nacreous Clouds

Ice polar stratospheric clouds, or nacreous clouds, occur mainly at high latitudes and most often when the temperatures drop below freezing. Freezing or not, this is a view we'd love to see at least once in our lives!

brit_in_sweden Report

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#34

Fallstreak Hole

Fallstreak Hole

Although not really a hole in the sky, it definitely looks like one! Fallstreak holes form when the water temperature in clouds hasn't dropped to freezing yet due to ice nucleation. 

running.paramedic Report

#35

Frost Flowers

Frost Flowers

A sudden drop in temperatures creates these frost flowers, and to us, they look like the embodiment of poetry! (okay, except for maybe horses, running water, and fire)

duca.kichi.gogo.jpn Report

#36

Eye Of The Sahara, Africa

Eye Of The Sahara, Africa

Are you feeling as though you're being watched from above? The Eye of the Sahara is a natural artwork, created by ages of eruptions and erosions. 

migtavares Report

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#37

River Of Five Colours, Colombia

River Of Five Colours, Colombia

It's not an illusion created by the rocks at the bottom of this river, it's really the color of the water!

intrepid3xplorer Report

#38

Pele's Hair Lava, Havaii

Pele's Hair Lava, Havaii

Lava droplets from volcanic eruptions can be caught by the wind and stretched into what are essentially long, thin glass wires. These hair-like strands, often known as Pele's hair, can extend up to 6 feet. The phenomenon, known as Witch's Hair in Norway, is also present in Hawaii and is named after Pele, the goddess of volcanoes.

James St. John Report

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K W
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've got a crack in my screen so I thought that said Pete's hair. Pele makes entirely more sense.

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#39

Sort Sol, Denmark

Sort Sol, Denmark

Every autumn, flocks of Starling birds undertake an ostentatious sky march, creating the picturesque phenomenon known as "the black sun."

bjarne_mansa Report

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Fenchurch
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the UK we call it a murmer and a still photo doesn't do it justice

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#40

Blood Falls

Blood Falls

An underground lake supplies water to Blood Falls, which is located in one of Antarctica's driest places. Because these bacteria use sulfates as fuel rather than sugars, experts are interested in studying and learning more about them.

National Science Foundation/Peter Rejcek Report

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#41

Moeraki Boulders, New Zealand

Moeraki Boulders, New Zealand

As if New Zealand wasn't stunning enough, it also got these cool rocks!

Eddie Bugajewski Report

#42

Pando Aspen Grove, Utah

Pando Aspen Grove, Utah

Although it might seem like your regular grove, those aren't hundreds of trees. Not even tens! Pando Aspen Grove consists of just a single colony of naturally cloned Quaking Aspen male trees and it makes the largest living organism on earth. 

grallon Report

#43

Ice Caves, Iceland

Ice Caves, Iceland

As if Iceland wasn't the most gorgeous and mystical place on earth, they also got these awesome-looking, ages-old ice caves. 

mofitrando Report

#44

Snow Chimneys, Antarctica

Snow Chimneys, Antarctica

This stunning snow pillar results from the heat inside the volcano battling the cold outside. Only in Antarctica!

antarcticaflights Report

#45

Volcanic Lightning

Volcanic Lightning

Although it is challenging to examine, there are some theories as to why it occurs. One of the most frequent is lightning, which is caused when ash from an eruption accumulates so much friction that static electricity builds up.

Oliver Spalt Report

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#46

Shooting Stars

Shooting Stars

Meteors, or tiny rocks penetrating the earth's atmosphere, appear as shooting stars. The particles are burning and heating up as you see the light. A shooting star should appear every ten to fifteen minutes for observers of the stars.

Roy S. Report

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#47

Turquoise Ice Crystals, Russia

Turquoise Ice Crystals, Russia

The laden snow crusts sparkle in the finest colors when the temperature fluctuates.

nasha_usadba_138 Report

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#48

Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan

Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan

This is nothing more than a botched attempt by scientists to halt the release of methane gas from a dormant oilfield. It's been blazing continuously for more than 48 years now!

lamkafiona Report

#49

Striped Icebergs, Antarctica

Striped Icebergs, Antarctica

As if icebergs weren't already breathtaking, you can also get them in the even more breathtaking striped variety!

Image-Source Report

#50

Waterspout

Waterspout

If you ever see this ominous view outside your window, hide away! It's a clear sign that a tornado is coming. 

ant_wa_brisonowsky Report

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Red Ruffensor
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uh. . .it IS a tornado. If it's over water, it's a waterspout.

#51

Green Flash Sunset

Green Flash Sunset

Truly an ephemeric wonder here - you blink, and you'll miss it. And although we're a bit more used to seeing orange and purple sunsets, seeing this green beauty would surely be a treat! It's caused be the refraction of sunlight in the atmosphere. 

peterteigephotography Report

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Donnie Mc00
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hi , i work for Bored panda and couldnt be a.r.s.e.d to download an image of a green flash sunset to illustrate this item. feel free to google it yourself though.

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#52

Whirlpools

Whirlpools

Whirlpools are created when opposing currents collide, and they are frequently considerably more terrifying in fiction than in reality. The strongest whirlpools, known as maelstroms, are generated in shallow, fast-moving, narrow straits or at the base of waterfalls, but the swirl's speed hardly ever reaches 20 mph.

1995tds Report

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Booker
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was lucky enough to see one of these on the north side of Shemya, an island towards the end of the Aleutian chain. On the south side of the island is the Pacific Ocean and the north side is the Bering Sea. The best I could figure, currents from these two bodies of water caused it. Whatever caused it, it was very interesting to watch.

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#53

Ice Penitentes, South America

Ice Penitentes, South America

These snow pointers, which were given their name because they resembled little priests kneeling in prayer, are created when water vapor moves in the direction of the light and freezes as a result.

sergejf Report

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#54

Tidal Bores, Brazil

Tidal Bores, Brazil

Tidal bores happen when a river's current struggles with the oncoming tide. Even the best surfers can be humbled by the experience since it can be so daring.

alan.taylor_ Report