22 Shockingly Beautiful Places That Are Hard To Believe Really Exist.

#22 Mendenhall Ice Caves, Juneau, Alaska

Enchanting is the only word that first comes to the mind when looking at this beautiful image. The place is Mendenhall Ice Caves in Juneau, Alaska. This state might be all cold and uninviting to many, but these caves here should arouse the curiosity of any interested traveler. The bluish ice adorning the walls and floor of the cave seem to come right out of a fairy tale replete with out-of-the-earth characters; perhaps some lovely mermaids and mer-people. This picture certainly holds the potential to make tourism in Alaska a prosperous business. Is anyone ready for a trip up north to these icy blue Alaskan caves?

#21 Tulip Fields in Netherlands

Everyone knows how famous Switzerland and Netherland in Europe are for their tulips in vivid colors. This picture of tulip fields in Netherlands in myriad colors, all neatly arranged in straight rows gives an effect of a huge carpet that could perhaps find a place for itself in the Guinness Book of World Records. In fact, when you just see at the top of the image, it does look as if it is a picture of a colorful carpet. It is only when you scroll down and see people seemingly walking amidst the flowers on the carpet, do you realize that this is no ordinary floor piece; it is a carpet of tulip flowers, literally!

#20 Bamboo Forest, Japan

While everyone is busy visiting the Seven Wonders of the World, beautiful nature has other exquisite wonders beckoning tourists from the world over. The bamboo forest in Japan as shown in the breathtaking image here is one example of an unexplored wonder on earth. The tall bamboo shoots all seemingly of a similar height, at a glance, appear as if a green carpet has been laid vertically, as if between the earth and the sky. And the border of the dry brown grass around the circumference of the bamboo fields lends the ‘vertical carpet’ a neat dressing. Nature’s beauty at iquestion.

#19 Street in Bonn, Germany

If that is a street, then perhaps no one in this world would mind not having a concrete roof over their heads! The canopy of beautiful pink colored leaves of the trees that neatly line both the sides of this street gives a feeling of being right up there in heaven and basking in God’s glory. Everything is just so perfect about this picture- the trees are all in a perfect line, the buildings have also been constructed in a line and the cars are also parked in a line. Even the pink leaves of the trees cover the entire sky over the street, so that is appears as if the sky is pink and not blue or inky black for the night.

#18 Wisteria Flower Tunnel in Japan

Tunnels are usually the scary part of riding in a train. They suddenly turn the day into a night and leave children squirming under the warm embrace of their parents. But if there is one tunnel on earth that is more stunning than being scary, then it has to be Wisteria Flower Tunnel in Japan. As shown in the picture here, this is a tunnel whose roof comprises only of wisteria flowers in three different colors- white, pink and purple. And underneath that attractive roof is a carpet of green grass that only adds to the beauty of the tunnel. Is anyone ready to pop the question here?

#17 Tunnel of Love, Ukraine

Who says that tunnels are always dark and foreboding? Who says that tunnels are passages carved out of huge mountains that make train routes shorter and yes, scarier, particularly for children? If the picture of this green tunnel is anything to go by, then it can change anyone’s perception of a fearsome tunnel. The tunnel shown in the image here is called the Tunnel of Love. Located in Ukraine, it has formed by the convergence of canopies of trees lining both the sides of the railway tracks. The tunnel may have formed anyhow, but it certainly makes for an ideal place to pop the all-important question?

#16 Black Forest, Germany

If you ask anybody what the Black Forest is, perhaps all that you will get for an answer is a ‘type of cake’. Well, that is certainly a correct answer no doubt, but the Black Forest being spoken about here is not a scrumptious bite; it is rather a stunning forest in Germany. Scattered with tall trees whose canopies seem to touch the skies above, this forest contains a bed of tall grass and bushes of lovely yellow flowers. Its name might be black and generate in you a sense of dark fear, but its blue image here certainly conjures up vivid images of enchanting forests from fairy tales!

#15 Lavender Fields, UK

The image of these lavender fields in the UK will certainly give the tulip fields in Netherlands some tough competition in terms of beauty and the number of tourists they are capable of attracting. Against the morning sun that has thrown up a bevy of bewitching colors into the sky, including some yellows, ochre and a hint of purple these lavender fields that have been lined so neatly as if someone used an inch-scale to mark their exact positions are just too stunning. Such is the breathtaking beauty of these fields that it promises to become the 8th wonder of the world!

#14 Fields of Tea, China

Did someone drop some green-colored pipes here? And did they line them up side by side in order to make the entire arrangement look prim and proper? And wherefrom did that pop of red come amidst all that green? All these questions are bound to plague anyone who takes a look at this picture. Well, for your information these are no boring pipes; rather they are neatly arranged fields of tea in China. And perhaps underneath that red umbrella, there is a sweet couple sitting and brewing for themselves a cup of aromatic tea. Wouldn’t you also want to savor that fresh tea on the green slopes?

#13 Tianzi Mountains, China (this inspired the world in ‘Avatar’)

Take a look at these tall straitjacket mountains here adorned by some greens here and there. Does this image appear familiar? Does it bring to your memory the images of some funny looking people? If yes, then you have hit the bull’s eye. The picture here is of the Tianzi Mountains in China whose breathtaking appearance was the inspiration for creating the ‘world’ in the internationally famous movie Avatar. In fact, these mountains here seem so different from the triangular peaks earthlings are used to, that it comes as little surprise to find that they have been used to create an ‘other world’ in the said film.

#12 Salar de Uyuni: One of the World’s Largest Mirrors, Bolivia

Tired of checking out your appearance in that tiny mirror that you have tucked away in your huge handbag? Are you feeling that your mirror is not reflecting the truth? Then you must visit the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. Hailed as one of the largest mirrors in the world, this sheet of thick frozen ice promises to reflect the true you without as much as a flinch. It helps that this place on Earth has not been touched by the evil hands of pollution. So the water here is crystal clear, that needless to say, produces glassy mirror-like sheets of ice upon freezing.

#11 Antellope Canyon, USA

Nature’s beauty is truly beyond words and it is only for one to see and admire. Out of innocuous rocks, nature, in the US has created the Antellope Canyon that looks like a herd of antelope all gearing up for a strong tete-a-tete, quite literally too. In fact, this piece of natural wonder makes you think of what kind of a gifted chiseller or sculptor nature posses. Can any human artist ever match that kind of a skill and perfection? And remember, nature’s grand beauty is not created in one day; rather it is a product of prolonged patience and perseverance!

#10 Lake Hillier, Australia

Sandwiched between two parts of a seemingly endless ocean is a small green island. And on that island is a pink colored lake! Yes, you read it right; the water in this lake, Lake Hillier in Australia is for some reason not the typical blue but pink in color, which makes it another natural wonder you must visit during your next summer vacation. This bird’s eye-view of the pink lake between the vast blue oceans makes for a breathtaking scene that would have shutterbugs clicking away happily to no end. So how about a dip in some pink waters in that pink bikini, lady?

#9 Hang Son Doong, Vietnam

The cave here is called as the Hang Son Doong. It exists in Vietnam and at least for now, save for that one soul standing atop a huge boulder inside the cave and bravely flashing light all around, it has not garnered many visitors from around the world. But should this picture of Hang Son Doong circulate long enough on the worldwide web, there is no doubt that this cave would become a natural wonder and must-to-visit on every avid traveler’s list. Those brown towering rocks look like they have been chiseled away by an unseen, skilled hand. Could this be Nature’s own talent?

#8 Mount Roraima, Venezuela/Brazil/Guyana

Take a look at this picture. It will bring to your mind only one question- am I in heaven? The flat mountain here surrounded by white, cottony clouds certainly gives the feel of standing in God’s own place. But know that this is no heavenly mountain or put in another way, this heaven exists right here on earth! It is Mount Roraima, a definite roaring beauty that spans three countries in South America- Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana. Having seen this picture, next time you feel like going to heaven, you know which mountain you need to climb! No, it’s not Mount Everest, its Mount Roraima!

#7 Canola Flower Fields, China

You must have heard of the heart-healthy canola oil isn’t it? But did you know that this oil comes from the Canola flowers? For the interested, here is a picture of a canola field in China. Did you say sorry, you thought it was a yellow carpet torn in places? Well, your misconception is not misplaced, for the canola field here indeed, looks like a bright yellow carpet that has been ripped apart randomly. And springing up here and there in between all that yellow are dark brown colored peaks. Nature’s way of contrasting colors should teach a lesson or two about painting to budding artists the world over!

#6 Hitachi Seaside Park, Japan

At first glance, this picture and its name bring to your mind some artificial creation made in all probability by the Japanese company, Hitachi. You tend to think that these round things in the image are probably some pink to magenta colored balls all thrown, albeit neatly, on either of a meandering, narrow road. But take a look at the close up in the picture. Now you will realize that this beauty is no Hitachi creation; it is in fact, the wondrous work of Nature herself! And that these are no tiny balls, but yellow to pink to magenta colored bushes of a rare variety!

#5 Red Beach, Panjin, China

Nature has plenty of wonders that are waiting to be seen by the mankind. The world over people has been visiting beaches with blue water, warm sun and brown soft sand for years together. But these very beach lovers are perhaps not aware that on this earth there exists a red beach too. Yes, this is the Red Beach in Panjin, China. In fact, this beach is more beach and less water, where the liquid seems to just meander around trying to find a course for itself. And the beach is red not because the sand is colored so, but because on it grows a rare variety of a red plant. Visit the red beach to also catch some rare fowl sightings!

#4 Shibazakura Flowers, Takinoue Park, Japan

If the lavender flowers of the UK were bewitching, then here is its rival. The picture here is of the Shibazakura Flowers in Takinoue Park, Japan. These flowers may not be the exact attractive lavender shade, but they are purple enough with a hint of white to form a very pleasing carpet. And note that this flower carpet is thick enough for you to warm yourself in winter! What adds to the beauty of the flat carpet is the scatter of towering trees. Underneath a clear blue sky with hardly any cottony clouds, these purple Shibazakura flowers seem to smile up at you as if to say some a see us in person!

#3 Naica Mine, Mexico

If you thought under the ground everything was just dark and dingy, you are absolutely wrong. Deep underneath the surface of the earth, there are wonders to be seen too. One under the Earth’s surface wonder is the Naica Mine in Mexico. The mineral ores here that project out sharply from the underground caves are all white in color and appear quite like icy stalactites and stalagmites. Exploring this mine is no child’s play and certainly not the cup of tea for the faint-hearted. And yet if you think you are brave enough, you must visit them to fill your eyes with splendorous natural beauty!

#2 Lake Retba, Senegal

Pink lakes are not just the possession of Australia; they exist in Senegal too. This picture here is of the Lake Retba in Senegal on which two white boats seem to be drifting quite lazily. This sheet of pink that the image presents makes you feel as if someone splashed liquid bubble gum all around and placed two tiny boats on it. And perhaps this is exactly what Nature did too! The splash of pink is attractive enough for water-lovers to heed to the Lake Retba. After all, no one would mind disappearing in the pink waters in pink beachwear, would they?