Salar de Uyuni

10 Amazing Things In Nature You Won’t Believe Are Real

We think that space is the most amazing thing in the world. But, our Earth is sufficient to satisfy us that amazing things do exist here. Water, air and fire are some of the known yet fascinating things in our world. There are many things in nature that are well beyond our imaginations. Such amazing things in nature are uncommon and rare. They are specific to certain geological locations, country or ecosystem. These are not just amazing but are mysterious, weird and unbelievable. These are examples of nature’s craftsmanship and are beyond the power of humans.

List of 10 amazing things in nature you won’t believe are real:

10. Sailing Stones, USA

Sailing Stones

Sailing stones are an amazing geological phenomenon where rocks or stones slide from one place to another leaving a trail behind. For decades this has left scientists, geologists and theorists baffled. These famous mystery occurs at various places, the most famous one being Racetrack Playa, Death Valley National Park in California. For many years, there have been several theories explaining this phenomenon but none could breakthrough. But, in 2006 the mystery was cracked by a NASA scientist by name Ralph Lorenz. It explains that wind drives these rocks which weigh as much as 700 lbs. (318 kilograms) to move up to 820 feet (250 meters) when large floating ice sheets break during sunny days and the ice panels slide.

9. Baigong Pipes, China

Baigong Pipes

Baigong pipes are a unique creation of nature. The mysterious Baigong pipes are found on Mount Baigong in Qinghai province, China. They are a series of pipe-like structures whose existence is unknown. These pipes were found in 1996 by Bai Yu, a Chinese writer when exploring the remote parts of Qaidam Basin. Some believe that these are fossils of trees or tree roots. Many other scientists believe that these aren’t fossilized casts of tree roots but are of alien origin. There are several theories and predictions regarding the pipes.

Upon investigation and reports, the pipes are made of 30 percent ferric oxide (oxidized iron) and large amounts of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide. About 8% of the material compositions of the pipes haven’t been identified yet. In a 2007 article by People’s Daily, the scientists of Chinese Earthquake Administration report that the pipes contain radioactive material. These pipes are embedded into the rock itself and it is as old as 150,000 years. Is it an alien material or a nature’s creation or construction project? It remains a mystery.

8. Hair Ice, Several Countries at latitudes between 45–55 °N

Hair Ice
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Hair ice is another mystery which was finally solved after 90 years of puzzling scientists and researchers around the world. The delicate and beautiful strands of sparkling “Hair Ice” are formed by cold-tolerant fungi. The “Hair Ice” was first discovered by the famous scientist Alfred Wegener in 1918. At that time, Alfred Wegener suspected the ice formation is due to the presence of mycelium. Nearly after a century, the baffling mystery of “Hair Ice” was solved when scientists found that fungal roots on the dead wet wood were responsible for the formation. They are found in countries such as Canada, India, Germany, Ireland, United States, Russia and many more.

In 2015, the responsible fungus Exidiopsis effusa was identified. The Hair ice grows with the aid of the fungus on decomposing woods with a diameter of just 0.01 millimeters (0.0004 inches). The fungus also helps in retaining the fine and beautiful strands stay for several hours at the same shape at a temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius).

7. Electric Blue Flames of Kawah Ijen, Indonesia

Electric Blue Flames of Kawah Ijen
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A volcano in Indonesia produces blue lava and blue flames which looks amazing in the night. The Ijen volcano complex is a group of volcanoes which houses the unusual Kawah Ijen volcano and the largest acidic lake in the world. After the National Geographic mentioned about the electric-blue flames of Kawah Ijen, the place has seen an increase in tourists from around the world. Though, another Hawaiian Volcano threw up blue flames, the reasons behind the blue flames are different. The Hawaiian volcano’s blue flame is a result of surrounding methane gases whereas that of Kawah Ijen’s is due to high sulfur gases. The place looks spectacular at night when the blue lava drips on the volcano. The unusual amount of sulfur in Kawah Ijen is a subject of research among scientist and is a mystery.

6. Salar de Uyuni (Reflective Salt Flats), Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni

Salar de Uyuni or the reflective salt flats are the largest salt flats in the world which gives an amazing panoramic view. These salt flats became remarkably reflective when the lakes nearby overflow to form a thin layer of water above. Salar de Uyuni is part of the Andes in southwest Bolivia which stretches for an enormous area of more than 4,050 square miles of the Altiplano. The world’s largest salt flat is the remains of prehistoric lakes which evaporated long ago. It has left a vast region of thick crust of salt extending across the horizon. Wildlife is sparse in the region but is home to several pink flamingos.

The vista can be enjoyed from the central Incahuasi Island. It provides a breathtaking reflection of the sky when the region fills with a layer of water. The beautiful salt flats are rich in lithium and salt. Extraction of salt and lithium happens at the site. Salar has become an important landmark of Bolivia and South America which houses the world’s first salt hotel. Satellites use the region for calibrating the altimeters of Earth due to its large flat surface and clear sky.

5. Turquoise Ice Lake in Baikal, Russia

Turquoise Ice Lake in Baikal
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Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake by volume, deepest lake and the oldest lake in the world. The lake has something beautiful to offer. The lake freezes during winter which leaves behind beautiful turquoise ice. These ice gems glitter in the sun giving a soothing effect to your eyes. The surface of the lake freezes unevenly during the winter pushing blocks of diamond cut ice blocks on the surfaces. This phenomenon causes the gem to show up on the surface. The sunlight passing through its clear ice turns it into a turquoise gem from the fairyland. These hidden ice jewels glow on the sides with a blanket of snow on the top. A Russian photographer, Alfred Trofimov was the first to capture these world wonder exquisitely and calls them as “the pearl of our planet.”

4. Danxia Landform, China

Beautiful Danxia Landform

Danxia landform is a vast mountainous landscape of rainbow-colored mountains. The landscape is for “real”. The Rainbow Mountains are in China’s Danxia Landform Geological Park. These unique geological formations mesmerize the tourists from around the world. The beautiful layers of colors are the results of red sandstone and minerals compressed together for 24 million years. These terrains were a result of the same tectonic movements responsible for the creation of the Great Himalayas. Wind, rainfall, weather, sun and natural erosion worked for millions of years to form these beautiful patterns of colors, valleys, waterfalls, mountains and natural pillars. Another peculiar feature of the Danxia landform is the large numbers of caves of various sizes and shapes. Some of these caves interconnect with each other, are deep and extremely isolated. In 2010, several Danxia landscapes were inscribed as a World Heritage Site.

A similar landscape on Earth is available at British Columbia. They are called as the Rainbow Range, previously as Rainbow Mountains.

3. Glowing Blue Waves, Maldives

Glowing Blue Waves

Maldives is a great tourist spot in the world and is a wonderful place to enjoy your honeymoon. Some visitors get to see the beautiful glowing blue waves in the seashores of Maldives islands. Scientists have discovered that these amazing blue waves are because of bioluminescent plankton in the warm shores. Though, the glow in the night are soothing to the eye, they are actually a defense mechanism of the plankton. They tend to glow when stressed. These microorganisms produce the bioluminescence using a chemical called as luciferin. These organisms are known as dinoflagellates which are unique in the way they emit light. They can produce the light on their own. They do not need any external aid such as a particular food or another creature. Other seashores such as San Diego, Vietnam, Jamaica, Australia and Thailand have reported the sightings of these magical blue light emitting organisms.

2. Fly Geyser, Nevada

Fly Geyser in Nevada
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Fly Geyser in Nevada is a geothermal geyser in Nevada’s Washoe County on a private land. The Fly Geyser stands colorfully with a height of 5 feet (1.5 m) and width of 12 feet (3.7 m). The natural geyser throws hot spring of water to the nearby terrace pools of around 30. The deep underground pool and hot rocks combined with tectonic rifting and faulting is the source of this wonderful geyser. The brilliant colors of red and green on the geyser deposits are due to a thermophilic algae making it standout in this world. There are actually two geysers at the location where one was created around 100 years ago by drilling a well for the purpose of irrigating the desert-like surrounding. Another one was a human error.

In 1964, the Fly Geyser was accidentally created by a geothermal company exploring the region for geothermal energy sources. From then on, the new geyser continues to grow by spurting hot water and minerals. The geyser didn’t throw hot water which wasn’t hot enough and the company tried to seal it. The seal gave way.

1. Crystal Ice Caves, Iceland

Crystal Ice Caves

Crystal Ice Caves in the Vatnajökull glaciers of Iceland are a breathtaking experience for tourists. The image here is an illustration, the actual ice caves of Iceland are way beyond imagination. Every winter, the caves transform into a beautiful glacial lagoon resulting in a glassy ice blue hue. The glassy ice hue is because of the towering weight of the ice compressing the air bubbles outside. The size, shape and hue in the caves are ever-changing. There are several ice caves in Iceland, but Vatnajökull glacier ice caves are the best and are a jewel on Earth.

There are branches of science called as glacio-speleology to study the formation of the mysterious glass structures in Iceland. These stunning ice caves are formed due to the melt/freeze life-cycle of ice in the region forming caves of different sizes and shapes. Since Iceland is a volcanic island with hydro-thermal activities, they play an important role in the formation of these crystal jewels. Crystal Ice Cave is the most famous, most visited, most beautiful and largest glacier in Europe. It is an example of great craftsmanship of nature.

Vinod Suthersan is an young tech enthusiast, Blogger addict, Internet craze and thriving to learn new things on the world of Internet.