12 Most Beautiful Places on Planet Earth

Summary

Explore the world's most mythical places in this video, featuring 12 enchanting locations that seem to defy reality. From Ireland's Cliffs of Moher, known as the 'Cliffs of Insanity' from 'The Princess Bride', to Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat, each site offers a unique experience. Discover Senegal's pink Lake Retba, Colombia's Los Lajas Sanctuary, China's Rainbow Mountains, and more. Top the list with Russia's Lake Baikal and Wyoming's Grand Prismatic Spring, a must-visit for any traveler seeking magical landscapes.

Takeaways

• 🌄 The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, also known as the 'Cliffs of Insanity' from 'The Princess Bride', offer a breathtaking view along the Atlantic coast and are home to over 3,000 bird species.
• 🏜 Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is the world's largest salt flat, a remarkable landscape formed by prehistoric lakes that attract millions of tourists annually.
• 🌸 Lake Retba in Senegal, known for its vivid pink color due to a specific type of bacteria, is best visited during the dry season from November to June.
• 🌉 Los Lajas Sanctuary in Colombia was built to honor miracles, including the curing of a deaf girl and a blind man's regained sight, and remains a pilgrimage site.
• 🏞 The Rainbow Mountains in China's Zhonye Dakshiyad Landform Geological Park are famous for their rainbow-like colors resulting from various geological processes.
• 🏔 Moraine Lake in Canada is surrounded by mountains and waterfalls, with its turquoise color intensifying in summer due to glacier melt and rock particles.
• 🏜️ Guacachina in Peru is a desert oasis with a lagoon and sand dunes, offering a unique perspective and activities like sandboarding.
• 🌊 Lake Baikal in Russia is the world's deepest, oldest, and largest lake by volume, holding 20% of the world's fresh water and home to many endemic species.
• 🔮 The Cave of Crystals in Mexico, with giant selenite crystals formed by underground magma, is a hidden gem that requires professional supervision to visit.
• 🎍 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Japan provides an otherworldly experience with its tall bamboo stalks, and is a popular site in Kyoto for walks and bicycle rides.
• 🌧 Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River forms a border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, known for its massive curtain of falling water and being one of the most spectacular waterfalls globally.
• 🌈 Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, is the largest and most colorful hot spring in the United States, with its surreal and enchanting appearance.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland?

The Cliffs of Moher are a five-mile stretch of 400-foot high cliffs along the Atlantic coast of Ireland, offering breathtaking views and being home to over 3,000 bird species, making it a unique and magical location for bird watching.

Why is Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia considered a mythical place?

Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat, created by prehistoric lakes that evaporated millions of years ago, and it attracts millions of tourists annually with its reflective surface and extreme landscape.

What makes Lake Retba in Senegal stand out?

Lake Retba is known for its vivid pink color, caused by a type of bacteria called tuna allela which thrives in the lake's high salt content. The color is most intense during the dry season from November to June.

What is the historical significance of Los Lajas Sanctuary in Colombia?

Los Lajas Sanctuary was built to honor the miracles of healing that occurred in 1754, including the curing of a young girl's deafness and a blind man's sight, after they saw the Virgin Mary's image on the rocks of the gorge.

How are the Rainbow Mountains in China's Zhonye Dakshiyad Landform Geological Park formed?

The Rainbow Mountains' colors are a result of various diagenetic and mineralogical processes, creating a geological wonder that mimics a rainbow painted over the mountaintops.

Why is Moraine Lake in Canada described as magical?

Moraine Lake is surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, and rock piles, with its waters displaying a vivid turquoise color due to light refracting off fine particles of rock in the glacier runoff.

What activities can tourists enjoy in Huacachina, Peru?

Tourists in Huacachina can enjoy the therapeutic properties of the lagoon, visit bars and clubs, and experience the breathtaking sand dunes by sandboarding down them.

Why is Lake Baikal in Russia considered the 'Sacred Sea' by locals?

Lake Baikal is the world's largest and deepest lake by volume, the oldest lake, and holds 20 percent of the world's fresh water supply. It is home to 1800 endemic plant species, earning it the nickname 'Sacred Sea'.

What makes the Crystal Cave, or Cueva de los Cristales, in Mexico unique?

The Crystal Cave is known for its giant selenite crystals formed by underground magma approximately half a million years ago, and it can only be visited under direct professional supervision due to its depth.

What is special about the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Japan?

The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is known for its towering bamboo stalks that create an otherworldly atmosphere, with walking paths that provide a serene and tranquil experience, especially when the bamboo sways in the wind.

Why is Victoria Falls often described as 'the smoke that thunders'?

Victoria Falls is called 'the smoke that thunders' due to the massive columns of spray that can be seen from miles away, and the sheer volume of water that falls over the edge during the rainy season, creating a thunderous sound.

What makes the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park so mythical?

The Grand Prismatic Spring is known for its unbelievable colors and is the largest and deepest hot spring in the United States. Its vibrant colors and size make it the most photographed feature in Yellowstone, contributing to its mythical status.