Wonders of Nature
Wonders of nature, the treasures of humankind’s natural heritage, are found in the world’s awe-inspiring deserts, mountainous regions, coastal areas and forests, which captivate with their beauty. Untouched by human development, such areas are home to ancient ecosystems and plants and animals threatened with extinction. The natural wonders of the world also include the great geological formations that reveal the history of the forces that have shaped Earth over millions of years.
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Grand Canyon
Location: United States, North America
Carved out by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon (nearly 1,500 m deep) is the most spectacular gorge in the world. Located in the state of Arizona, it cuts across the Grand Canyon National Park.
See also: Parks & Gardens
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Great Barrier Reef
Location: Australia, Oceania
The Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety and beauty on the north-east coast of Australia.
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Gulf of California
Location: Mexico, North America
The Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California, Mexico, are known as the world’s aquarium.
See also: Regions & Landscapes
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Kakadu National Park
Location: Jabiru Northern Territory, Australia, Oceania
Kakadu National Park, in one of the most remote and wild regions of Australia, is an ancient wilderness of extraordinary natural and human history.
See also: Parks & Gardens
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Ogasawara Islands
Location: Ogasawara, Japan, Asia
Known as the Galapagos of the East, the Ogasawara Islands, Japan, exhibit a unique evolutionary process found nowhere else on Earth.
See also: Regions & Landscapes
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Shark Bay
Location: Australia, Oceania
Some of the oldest life forms on Earth live among the isolated habitats of Shark Bay, Australia.
See also: Regions & Landscapes
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Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch
Location: Switzerland, Europe
The site provides an outstanding example of the formation of the High Alps, including the most glaciated part of the mountain range and the largest glacier in Eurasia.
See also: Regions & Landscapes
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Yellowstone National Park
Location: United States, North America
Yellowstone National Park sits atop a supervolcano. It is the first national park in the world and home of Old Faithful Geyser.
See also: Parks & Gardens
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Yosemite National Park
Location: United States, North America
Yosemite National Park, California, boasts hanging valleys, plunging waterfalls, granite domes, a grove of ancient Sequoia trees and hundreds of wildlife species.
See also: Parks & Gardens
