The Hubbard Glacier in Alaska sits peacefully off the coast of Yakutat. Its majestic face stretches up to 400 feet (122m) tall and six miles (9.6km) wide. Most of the ice is below water but what you can see is still incredibly impressive. Cruise ships aren't allowed to get too close as the ice can be very thick.
Natural beauty isn't all about power and drama, and Buttermere, a lake in the English Lake District, is here to prove it. This spellbinding waterway is surrounded by idyllic woodlands and sits in the shadows of the peaks of Haystacks and Red Pike. The area offers some of the best walking trails in the country.
Despite being one of America's most attractive regions, the Palouse often slips under the radar. This major agricultural area, which also encompasses parts of Idaho, is known for picture-perfect pastoral fields that shimmer in shades of purple and green. These idyllic hills were formed over tens of thousands of years, from wind-blown dust and silt from dryer climes.
Situated inside Paparoa National Park on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island, the Punakaki Pancake Rocks are in a class of their own. These bulging limestone pillars were created 30 million years ago when dead marine creatures landed on the seabed. Immense water pressure solidified their fragments and earthquake activity slowly pushed the newly formed pillars upwards. Wind and seawater finally sculpted the rocks into the pancake-like structures we see today.
Nicknamed the drainpipe of the Pacific, Thor's Well appears to be stealing water from the sea itself. The natural sinkhole is nestled on the coast of Oregon, close to Cape Perpetua, and is thought to have started out as a sea cave that eventually collapsed into itself. Thought to be around 20 feet (6m) deep, the hole becomes even more mesmerising at high tide or during intense storms when water violently thrashes over the rocks.
It's hard to resist jumping in this natural swimming hole, around 20 miles (32km) west ofAustin. Entirely inviting, the shimmering emerald pool was once hidden underground until its limestone roof collapsed, revealing this oasis. Now a popular swimming spot for locals and visitors alike, the pool is fed by a 50-foot (15m) waterfall and is only accessible to those with a reservation.
Dropping 215 feet (65.5m), this mesmerising waterfall can be found in Taughannock Falls State Park in Tompkins County, New York. Considered one of the finest natural wonders in the northeast of America, this colossal fall also happens to be the highest single-drop waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains.
Over in Nevada's Black Rock Desert, you'll find one of the world's most remarkable geysers. Offering a kaleidoscope of colours and an entirely unique form, Fly Geyser was created by accident. In the 1960s, an energy company drilled on the site in hopes of finding a new power source. The water they found wasn't warm enough but they failed to properly seal the opening they had created. Today, the geyser still spews water and steam, and the brilliant colours are formed by the algae it's covered in.
Mystical and magical, the expansive desert of White Sands National Monument is one of nature’s most unusual marvels. Covering 275 square miles (712sq km) inside New Mexico's Tularosa Basin, the dunes are formed from gypsum sand – a rare mineral found in only a few locations on Earth. The sand dissolves in water but luckily the state's dry climate is the perfect breeding ground for this rare and wonderful material.
This breathtaking natural wonder is considered one of Thailand's finest waterfalls. Found inside Srinakarin Dam National Park, the tiered fall drops for seven levels and stretches around 1.2 miles (2km). Surrounded by a stunning jungle landscape, this scenic waterfall can be reached via a three-hour hike through the foliage – it's worth every single step.
The Highlands of Iceland are renowned for thermal springs and mirror-like fjords but Landmannalaugar is unlike anywhere else in the world. Inside Fjallabak Nature Reserve on the edge of the Laugahraun lava field, this unique and unusual landscape was formed during a volcanic eruption around 1477. Famed for its geothermal springs and azure rivers, this rugged region also benefits from candy-coloured hills that appear to be painted by hand.
The islands of Indonesia sit on a so-called ring of fire which results in numerous earthquakes and volcanic activity. Yet it also means the country is awash with incredible natural wonders and Mount Bromo is just one of them. This gorgeous volcano sits on the eastern edge of the island of Java, inside Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. Towering 7,848 feet tall (2,329m), this active volcano last erupted in 2016 and stands as a symbol of the power of Mother Nature.
Renowned for its spring-fed emerald pools, towering waterfalls and swirls of red rock, Hamersley Gorge is in Karijini National Park in Western Australia. This cavernous gorge is also home to a wide variety of birds and reptiles, as well as red kangaroos, rock-wallabies, echidnas and several species of bat. Huge termite mounds can also be found dotted across its picturesque and unusual landscape.
Located inside Los Glaciares National Park in the Santa Cruz province of Argentina, Perito Moreno Glacier is otherworldly. Considered one of the most important tourist attractions in Patagonia, the epic glacier covers around 121 square miles (313sq km). Every two to four years in mid-March, the large arched section of the glacier falls into Lake Argentino below and the spectacular event attracts thousands of tourists.
Acadia National Park spans 47,000 acres and is characterised by its lush forests, craggy beaches and iconic granite peaks – the greatest of which is the Cadillac Mountain. Considered the jewel in the crown of the North Atlantic Coast, this lush landscape attracts 3.5 million visitors every year. As well as drop-dead-gorgeous scenery, the area is known for its wildlife such as bears and whales.
The town of Pamukkale in Turkey is celebrated for its natural travertine terraces which cascade down its hillside like clouds. These 17 mineral-rich thermal pools attract thousands of tourists each year and are part of an ancient Roman spa city. The pools are formed by calcium carbonate deposits on the surface of the water.
