You don’t have to leave the country to see jaw-dropping landscapes. Some of the world’s most stunning natural wonders are right here in the US. Think vanishing ice caves and bays that glow in the dark. Here are eight spots in the US that look straight out of a fantasy movie.
8. The Rainbow Geyser of the Nevada Desert
Imagine a geothermal geyser that looks like a multi-colored sculpture, spewing boiling water five feet into the air. This is Fly Geyser, a bizarre wonder located in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. What makes it unbelievable is that it was born from a human mistake. In 1964, a geothermal energy company drilled a test well and failed to seal it properly. The result is a constantly growing mound of calcium carbonate, painted in reds, greens, and oranges by thermophilic algae.
7. The Ice Caves Beneath an Alaskan Glacier
In Juneau, Alaska, the Mendenhall Ice Caves are a fleeting, ethereal wonder. Inside, you’ll find bright-blue ice ceilings that glow as if lit from within. The caves are also constantly changing and, tragically, disappearing as the Mendenhall Glacier retreats due to climate change. Accessing them requires a journey across a lake and a glacier.
6. The Texas Swimming Hole Hidden Inside a Cave
We’re talking about the Hamilton Pool Preserve, a natural swimming hole formed thousands of years ago when the roof of an underground river collapsed. The contrast of this lush sanctuary against the arid Texas landscape makes it unforgettable. It’s a hidden gem that offers a refreshing escape and a surreal swimming experience.
5. The Tallest Sand Dunes in North America
Tucked against the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Colorado, Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America. Star Dune, the highest in the park, rises 750 feet from its base. The scale and unexpected location of these dunes make them a truly unbelievable sight.
4. A White Desert Made of Gypsum, Not Sand
Imagine a desert of white dunes that shimmer under the sun. This is White Sands National Park in New Mexico. The sand dunes are made of gypsum, a soft mineral that rarely forms sand because it dissolves in water. This 275-square-mile dunefield is the largest of its kind on Earth, created from the gypsum-rich waters of a lake that evaporated long ago.
3. A Caribbean Paradise with a Civil War Fort
Seventy miles west of Key West lies a tropical paradise with a massive secret. Dry Tortugas National Park is a collection of seven small islands with vibrant coral reefs and abundant marine life. The secret? It’s also home to Fort Jefferson, a 19th-century coastal fortress that’s the largest brick masonry structure in the Americas. This tropical paradise offers a unique blend of natural beauty and rich history, making it a one-of-a-kind destination.
2. The Violent ‘Drainpipe of the Pacific’ on the Oregon Coast
On the Oregon coast, near Cape Perpetua, you’ll find a natural wonder that’s both violent and mesmerizing. Thor’s Well, often called the ‘drainpipe of the Pacific,’ is a seemingly bottomless sinkhole that appears to swallow the ocean. But actually, it’s a 20-foot-deep collapsed sea cave. During high tide, waves surge into the hole, then shoot upwards with great force before draining back down.
1. The Puerto Rican Bays That Glow in the Dark
It sounds like something from a fantasy movie, but this one’s real. In Puerto Rico, there are three bays where the water glows with a blue-green light when disturbed. Of the five such ecosystems in the world, three are in this US territory, with Mosquito Bay in Vieques being the brightest, and officially recognized by the Guinness World Records. The glow comes from microscopic organisms called dinoflagellates, which flash with light when agitated.