This article highlights the top 10 incredible landforms that are often overlooked but are worth exploring. These lesser-known wonders include Mount Roraima in Venezuela/Brazil/Guyana, Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, the Door to Hell in Turkmenistan, Tsingy de Bemahara in Madagascar, the Black Waterfall in Iceland, Chocolate Hills in the Philippines, Deadvlei in Namibia, Wave Rock in Australia, Painted Dunes in Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Caño Cristales River in Colombia. These landforms are caused by unique geological processes that create mesmerizing physical features. Many of these sites are open for tourism, although some may be located in remote areas or closed off for conservation purposes.
Introduction:
Landforms are the natural physical features of the earth. They are the highlights of the planet, providing us with a spectacular vista of mountains, rivers, valleys, canyons, and hills. But we often restrict ourselves to the well-known landforms like the Grand Canyon or Everest, and rarely explore the lesser-known wonders of the world. Hence, in this article, we will be revealing the top 10 incredible landforms you’ve never seen before.
HTML Headings:
1. Mount Roraima, Venezuela/Brazil/Guyana
2. Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, USA
3. Door to Hell, Turkmenistan
4. Tsingy de Bemaraha, Madagascar
5. Black Waterfall, Iceland
6. Chocolate Hills, The Philippines
7. Deadvlei, Namibia
8. Wave Rock, Australia
9. Painted Dunes, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California, USA
10. Caño Cristales River, Colombia
1. Mount Roraima, Venezuela/Brazil/Guyana:
Mount Roraima is a tabletop mountain, rising up to 2,723 meters, located at the borders of Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana. The unique feature of the mountain is the flat top, which spans an area of 31 square kilometers, with steep cliffs surrounding it. The summit of the mountain is a world of its own, with a high rainfall creating an ecosystem that is unlike anything seen before.
2. Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, USA:
Carlsbad Caverns is a renowned national park located in New Mexico, USA. The park is famous for its large cave, the Carlsbad Cavern, which is a limestone cave system, extending over 120 miles (190 km), with more than 119 known caves. The cave is known for its large chamber, called the Big Room, which is 600 feet (180 m) underground and 4,000 feet (1,200 m) long.
3. Door to Hell, Turkmenistan:
The Door to Hell is a natural gas crater located in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan. The crater is 69 meters wide and 30 meters deep, and has been burning continuously for over four decades. The fiery pit is a spectacular sight to see, especially at night, as the flames set up an eerie glow that can be seen from far.
4. Tsingy de Bemaraha, Madagascar:
Tsingy de Bemaraha is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in Madagascar. It is a national park known for its unique limestone plateau formations, which create a unique and captivating landscape. The word “Tsingy” in the Malagasy language means “where one can’t walk barefoot,” and the park has been aptly named as such.
5. Black Waterfall, Iceland:
The Black Waterfall is one of the most visually stunning waterfalls located in Iceland. The waterfall derives its name from the dark basalt rock it cascades down, which creates a surreal image against the green vegetation of the area. The waterfall has a drop of 60 meters and is surrounded by other geological formations, like basalt columns and lava tubes.
6. Chocolate Hills, The Philippines:
The Chocolate Hills are a geological formation located in Bohol, the Philippines. The hills are made up of more than 1,200 cone-shaped hills, which are spread over an area of 50 square kilometers. The hills are covered in green vegetation, but during the dry season, they turn brown, giving them the appearance of chocolate mounds.
7. Deadvlei, Namibia:
Deadvlei is a surreal white clay pan located in the Namib Desert, Namibia. The pan is surrounded by towering red sand dunes, which are estimated to be over 1,000 feet tall. The pan is studded with dead trees that are more than 900 years old and have been preserved by the dry air of the desert.
8. Wave Rock, Australia:
Wave Rock is a natural rock formation located in Western Australia. The rock is shaped like a huge wave that is about to crash, providing a unique landscape that is unparalleled. The rock is made up of granite and is more than 2,700 million years old.
9. Painted Dunes, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California, USA:
The Painted Dunes are a unique geological formation located in Lassen Volcanic National Park, California, USA. The dunes are made up of loose volcanic ash, which has been blown into the shape of small hills, with red and yellow hues accentuating the slopes.
10. Caño Cristales River, Colombia:
The Caño Cristales River is located in the Serranía de la Macarena National Park, Colombia. The River is also known as the “River of Five Colors” or the “Rainbow River” owing to its unique blend of colors, which includes yellow, green, blue, black, and red. The river gets its color from the sedimentations of endemic plant species and creates a spectacular sight.
FAQs:
Q. What is the most unique landform in the world?
A. There are numerous unique landforms in the world, with each providing a different experience. These include tabletop mountains, cave systems, waterfalls, geological formations, and rivers with unique colors.
Q. Can we visit these lesser-known landforms?
A. Yes, most of these sites are open for tourism, with many of them being located in national parks or under UNESCO World Heritage Sites. However, some of the sites are located in remote locations or are closed off for conservation purposes.
Q. What causes these unique geological formations?
A. These unique geological formations are caused by different natural processes, including volcanic activity, erosion, sedimentation, and tectonic uplift. These processes result in the creation of unique rock formations, mountains, cave systems, and colored rivers.
