The document describes several unique natural wonders around the world, including: - Giant's Causeway in Ireland, known for its hexagonal basalt columns formed by cooled magma. - Hvitserkur rock formation in Iceland, which resembles a monster or dragon and has bird droppings streaking down its sides. - The Red Beach in Vietnam, dominated by red seaweed that gives the beach a bizarre coloring, especially in autumn. - Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, comprising over 1,600 limestone islands and pillars eroded from the bay's limestone over time.

2. Nestled next to the Atlantic Ocean, the
Giant’s Causeway in Ireland is easily one
of the most incredible, bizarre natural
wonders in the world. The Causeway is
home to more than 40,000 columns, most
of which have six sides and form a
honeycomb-like pattern.

3. Giant’s Causeway wasn’t always the
spectacular tourist hotspot it is today,
though. Created from cooled magma, it
took nearly 60 million years of erosion for
the columns to be visible. Scientists believe
that they were finally revealed after the
last Ice Age, around 15,000 years ago.

5. The scallop-shaped basins of water and
frozen waterfalls decorate the area’s
cliffside. Here, the spring water is hot and
high in calcium, magnesium sulfrate and
bicarbonate. The Pamukkale hot springs
flow at a rate of 400 liters per second, with
their mineral-saturated flows forming its
hollow, circular basins all the while

7. While some claim that it’s a monster,
others are sure it looks most like a dragon.
Either way, the natural Hvitserkur rock
formation evokes all sorts of human
interest. Located at the northern tip of the
Vatnsnes Peninsula in Iceland, thousands
of people travel to see the rock each year.
The rock already has three holes in its
foundation, and the structure has been
reinforced with concrete to prevent further
erosion. Even in pictures, viewers can see
streaks of white bird droppings that drip
down the edges, giving the formation the
name Hvitserkur, which means white
shirt.

8. Named after the hero of an 18th century
epic poem, Fingal’s Cave boasts numerous
geometric columns reminiscent of Ireland’s
Giant’s Causeway. Fingal’s Cave is formed
from hexagonally jointed basalt columns
created by solidified lava. The sea cave is
located on Staffa, an uninhabited island
that’s part of Scotland. Fingal’s cave
contains high, arched roofs that magnify
the sound of the ocean. Although boats
cannot enter the cave, many local
companies offer sightseeing tours of the
surrounding area.

10. The Red Beach is probably the furthest
thing from any traditional understanding
of a beach. Instead of vast expanses of
sand, a species of red seaweed called sueda
dominates the Red Beach. This seaweed
stays green for most of the year, then
transforms into a dark, cherry-red color
once autumn rolls around.

11. Aside from its bizarre coloring, the Red
Beach is home to more than 260 bird
species and 399 kinds of wild animals,
making it one of the most complex
ecosystems in the world. The Red Beach is
also the world’s biggest wetland and reed
marsh.

12. Situated in Vietnam’s Gulf of Tonkin, Ha
Long Bay comprises over 1,600 islands and
limestone pillars, making it one of the most
surreal places in the world. Geologically-
savvy visitors can find an enormous array
of caves, peaks and other landforms here.
The bay is an extraordinary example of
erosion’s effect on limestone.

13. One of the most notable features is the
well-developed notches, many of which
extend into caves or arches. Because of the
islands’ vertical natures, few are inhabited.
While some are incredibly small—only 50
to 100 km high–the bay’s larger, more
developed limestone islands contain their
own lakes and other water sources.

14. The Antelope Canyon is both the most
visited and most photographed slot
canyon in the American Southwest. One
glance at the smooth, orange-red walls and
it’s easy to see why. This canyon was
formed by flash flooding and other
subaerial processes that eroded the
sandstone. As the rains continue (in 2006, a
flood lasted for more than 36 hours) the
canyon’s landscape slowly forges on in its
topical transformation. While scientists are
unsure of when people discovered the
cave, local Navajos claim that the surreal
canyon has been part of their cultural
heritage for ages.

16. Founded in 1949, Plitvice Lakes National
Park is the oldest national park in
southeast Europe, as well as Croatia’s
largest national park. Like other surreal
places, the site has been declared a
UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979.
These days, more than one million visitors
flock to the gorgeous park, drawn by its
spectacular waterfalls, caves and lakes. The
area is home to more than 100 bird species
that live in the beech and fir tree-filled
forest. As if the area couldn’t get any more
beautiful, the entire landscape transforms
during winter, when the waters freeze and
turn winter white.

17. Found in Nanping County just north of
Chengdu City, the Jiuhaigou Valley is
touted as a holy mountain and
watercourse by local Tibetan people.
Within its 230 square mile area, Jiuzhaigou
Valley contains an impressive array of
fantastical forests, serene lakes and
breathtaking waterfalls. The land is home
to over 2,576 higher plant species.

19. The caves at the edge of Iceland’s
Svinafellsjokull glacier were formed by
highly pressurized glacier ice that contains
few air bubbles. Without air, the cave’s ice
absorbs all colors but blue, which is
refracted and visible to onlookers after rain
removes the ice’s surface layer. People can
access the cave through a 22-foot entrance
that funnels down to a limited, 4-foot
opening. Since glaciers are highly active,
one can hear loud cracks and groans
created by the shifting ice.