Each spring, Mother Nature puts on a truly captivating display in the heart of Antelope Valley, California. Situated on the western tip of the Mojave Desert, these rolling hills come to life for just a few months, treating visitors to colourful flora that turns the fields here purple and gold. Reminiscent of a Claude Monet painting, the valley becomes awash with native California poppies, lacy phacelias and delicate fiddlenecks.
We've all heard of Mount Everest and Fuji, and while these peaks are mesmerising in their own ways, Kirkjufell in Iceland is altogether more ethereal. The 1,519-foot (463m) mountain can be found on the island's western coastline, an area defined by crystalline fjords, geothermal pools and dynamic waterfalls. It's the most photographed peak in all of Iceland and was also used as Arrow Head Mountain in the TV series Game of Thrones.
As far as lakes go, Ala-Kul is one of the world's most impressive. Nestled at an altitude of over 11,483 feet (3,500m) inside the Terskey Alatau mountain range in Kyrgyzstan, this stunning pool is one of the globe's natural gems. Enclosed by snow-capped peaks, the glacial lake covers just 0.5 square miles (1.5sq km) but its vibrant cyan waters are enough to entice and delight even the most jaded explorer.
Located in the Guayana highlands of Venezuela, this mammoth waterfall is dramatic and beautiful in equal parts. The drop is more than 3,199 feet (975m), making Angel Falls the world's highest uninterrupted waterfall. It cascades over the edge of the Auyán-Tepuí mountain, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Majestic and dominating, this natural wonder highlights the immense power of Mother Nature.
Located a few miles from the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend is perhaps Arizona's most striking asset. Engulfed by an endless red landscape, this natural curve in the Colorado River was formed when the water hit a dense sandstone barrier and was forced to change direction. An observation platform allows for unforgettable views across this formidable valley.
Australia is awash with superb scenery but Blue Mountains National Park perhaps has the country's most dynamic offering. An area characterised by sheer cliffs, sweeping valleys, tranquil eucalyptus forests and dramatic waterfalls, this region of eastern Australia is well worth a visit. In the heart of the landscape, Hanging Rock is a huge sandstone ledge that became detached from the main cliff and now juts out over Grose Valley, 328 feet (100m) up.
In Indonesia, you can witness a miracle of the natural world. The lakes of Mount Kelimutu frequently change colour, from white to black, and green to red. Located inside Kelimutu National Park on the island of Flores, the lakes sit inside volcanic craters and look different every day of the year. The colours are triggered by mineral chemical reactions in the water.
Most people have heard of the Northern Lights but the dazzling show offered in the southern hemisphere is equally as captivating. The aurora australis, or the Southern Lights, is a dancing curtain of light that glows in every shade from pink to green. The result of energetic electrons colliding with atoms and molecules, this otherworldly multicoloured show can be seen in Antarctica, New Zealand, southern Australia, Chile and South Africa.
Located in Arizona, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is a truly majestic sight. Covering an area of 293,689 acres, this extraterrestrial-looking landscape offers a sweeping canyon of billowing, multicoloured rock. The natural park was created 190 million years ago when desert dunes were compacted into sandstone and slowly honed by wind and rain erosion. This ethereal wonder is one of America's greatest assets.
The strange and unique landscape of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park features marvellous sandstone pillars, towering up from a seemingly endless gorge. Located in Hunan, China, this bizarre but beautiful topography looks otherworldly. In fact, so fantastical is this dream-like place, that James Cameron used it as inspiration for his sci-fi hit Avatar.
There are thought to be just a handful of pink beaches in the world and one of the most famous (and most spectacular) can be found on Komodo Island in Indonesia. The beach's pastel hue is created when the red shells of tiny creatures called foraminifera combine with white sand. Sandwiched between crystalline waters and a rugged green landscape, this pink sand strip is almost too pretty to be real.
Over on Brazil’s North Atlantic coast, you'll find a seemingly endless stretch of white sand dunes. Covering an area of 598 square miles (1,550sq km), this plain springs to life between May and September when rainwater trickles through the landscape and forms thousands of seasonal azure pools and lakes. A paradise for wildlife, this otherworldly landscape attracts a wealth of animals, including 42 species of reptile.
This theatrical limestone canyon appears to carry on endlessly into the horizon. Located in central Provence in southeastern France, the spectacular wonder dates back to the Ice Age. It was created when moving plates and glaciation shifted and melted the landscape to create the peaks and troughs we see today. Known as Verdon Gorge, the canyon takes its name from the French word for green and is famed for its lush forests and dazzling river that's almost too blue to be true.
An unusual domed ceiling and natural skylight make Benagil Cave one of the world's most beautiful coastal landscapes. Located in Portugal’s Algarve region, the spectacular sea cave was formed about 20 million years ago and is the result of limestone build up. Often described as a cathedral sculpted by the sea, this envy-inducing cavern should find its way onto everyone's bucket list.
You might not normally consider plains to be natural wonders but this one in California might change your mind. Carrizo Plain National Monument, in San Luis Obispo County, is the largest single native grassland remaining in the state of California. Covering more than 200,000 acres, the landscape is considered one of the best kept secrets in America and boasts alkali flats, vast open fields and wildflowers every spring.
As the fourth-longest river in the whole of Africa, the Zambezi is a true spectacle of Mother Nature. Stretching for more than 1,550 miles (2,500km), the river weaves through Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia and Botswana until it reaches the Indian Ocean. With unrivalled natural scenery and some of the world's most attractive waterfalls, the Zambezi is also the home of the iconic Victoria Falls.
Situated along the Alberta and British Columbia border in Canada, Mount Assiniboine wouldn't look out of place in Iceland. This beautiful peak stretches up 11,870 feet (3,618m) and is surrounded by an equally idyllic area. There's the tranquil waters of Lake Magog and the prettiest carpet of native wildflowers.
Vatnajökull National Park is home to jaw-dropping Dettifoss, a waterfall in the north of Iceland. It plummets 144 feet (44m) and is reportedly the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Incredibly, 17,657 cubic feet (500 cubic metres) of water plunges over the edge of this fall every single second, making Dettifoss not only stunning but utterly formidable.
We're not sure about you but we've never seen anything more incredible than the Nā Pali Coast in Hawaii. This dazzling shoreline is punctuated by razor-sharp sea cliffs, delicate winding valleys and cascading waterfalls. The eye-catching area has had a silver screen moment too – it was the backdrop for 1997's The Lost World: Jurassic Park.
