The world's greatest natural wonders

Jul 22, 2009 11:50:02 PM

Vivek Wagle
Lonely Planet Author

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What are the most amazing natural wonders on the planet?

It’s a question I got asked today by the good folks at Australia’s Sunrise program. They wanted to know how Australia’s candidates stack up.

You see, the ‘New 7 Wonders’ project, having tackled the question of what the world’s greatest wonders are, is now turning its attention to nature. Starting from a master list of hundreds, they’ve whittled the attractions down to a shortlist of 28.

That’s still an enormous number. So we picked our favourite wonders from each continent in order to get down to a manageable top 7 list. (Antarctica didn’t get a spot on the original list, so we’ve split Australia and the Pacific.)

Here’s what we came up with. What do you think?

South America: There are some spectacular formations and waterfalls on this continent, but how can you go past the Amazon? The lungs of the planet, and an ecosystem sprawling over billions of acres.
North America: Few places in the world can never be captured by images, no matter how great the photographer. The sublime, awe-inspiring Grand Canyon is one.
Europe: One of the most iconic landmarks in the world, despite geological shifts, is the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland.
Africa: Not only is Mt Kilimanjaro one of the most striking volcanoes in the world, but it’s remarkably accessible. With proper training, most folks would be able to experience the summit.
Asia: Everyone who has read Midnight’s Children was captivated by Rushdie’s magical description of the languorous Sundarbans, one of the most mysterious forests on Earth.
Australia: Uluru is magical, but the award has to go to the Great Barrier Reef - actually shared by Australia and Papua New Guinea. You can see it from space!
Pacific: New Zealand’s stunning Milford Sound has to take the cake here. Go in the winter and you might have it to yourself.

We think we’ve packed in the picks of the litter, but we know that you’ll disagree with some of these. Angry that Halong Bay didn’t make the list? Wondering how somewhere like Cappadocia didn’t even make the finals?

Let us have it.

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Comments

23 July 2009 12:51PM homeskillet Report this comment
Those are actually some well-thought-out choices (though I've never heard of Sundarbans). Milford Sound is indeed stunning, and I even managed to see it during two sunny days in a row (a rarity in NZ's Fiordland)! I do wish, though, that NA's Yosemite National Park would get more recognition - it wasn't even a nominee! To me, it's the most beautiful place on earth.
3 August 2009 8:58AM nelven Report this comment
Ok, Amazon is fine but too generic. That's like saying the outback vs Uluru, or the south pacific vs the barrier reef. I say ANGEL FALLS has to be on that list. Water streaming from the sky.
4 August 2009 2:29AM andynovagiandi Report this comment
I was shocked when i heard that Ha Long Bay was eliminated.You know,it's such a great paradise that you have to shout out loud when you actually visit it.I just can't understand why you get it our of this competition.
12 August 2009 11:14PM pelagina Report this comment
Abaout of the beautiful landscape natural of India, Iwant tell about a beautiful trekking that no more guide propose. It' the trekking in Singalila Range from Darjeeling. I take this trk in may and i think is my better experience in my travels (also the travels that I take in South America). With my good Guide Subash Tamang I walk near the Hymalayan mountains for 7 days and 6 nights. It' is a tired trk, but very, very beautiful. The people in this part of India is very kind and ospitality. My guide organized all: equipments, accomodations (in good and clean refuge), eat and trasport with car, to a city when begin a trk. I conseil all peaple that love the natur and the animals and also India to make this travel. When you arrived in darjeeling contatct Subash that is very good official guide and also very cheap. His number telephone is 0091.9733106312, adress email is subash_tamang20@yahoo.com
28 September 2009 7:20PM steveomac Report this comment
I agree with homeskillet, Yosemite is utterly breath-taking and deserves a spot on the list. Of course the grand canyon is awesome - but my 2 cents Yogi's joint takes the cake :-)
30 September 2009 3:01AM zoe100 Report this comment
Yosemite has to be on there. When I saw the main valley I was literally breathless and tears pricked my eyes. I could have sat and just stared all day. No photo could do it justice. Those sequoia trees down the road were amazing as well and how about Lake Mono- like being on the moon.
Ngorongoro crater is a vestigal Garden of Eden if we're talking Tanzania. Cappadocia is fabulous, especially in spring when wild flowers grow.
Looking at a snow-capped Mount Teide a few k's away while you are baking on the beach in Tenerife is special too.
Vic falls is a wonder of the world too.
The Drakensberg in South Africa are stunning too, but you know what, flying over England's green and pleasant patchwork of fields when you've come back from somewhere hot and parched is always a joy too.
3 October 2009 6:22PM robylp Report this comment
what about Iguazu falls Argentina & Brazil?, Vic falls , Angel falls in Venezuela? Perito moreno glacier ? The Uyuni salar in Bolivia? Alaska's Denali NP? and less but not least the bays: Cape town Harbour from Table Mountain? Rio de Janeiro bay from any angle? Sidney harbour? The sahara desert..., Bora Bora french Polinesia?