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Home , Alpamayo, Cotahuasi Canyon, Fansipan, Hallasan, Hoverla, Jeita Grotto

Voting procedure for the

Presentation of the 452 nominees

1. Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (NIGER)

The Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves is the largest protected area in , covering over 7.7 million hectares. It includes the volcanic of the Aïr , a Sahelian island isolated in climate, flora and fauna in the surrounding Saharan desert of Ténéré. Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves contains an outstanding variety of landscapes, plant and wild animals.

2. Aitutaki Atoll (COOK ISLANDS)

Aitutaki is one of the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The barrier reef that forms the basis of Aitutaki is roughly the shape of an equilateral triangle with each side measuring 12 km in length. The southern edge of the triangle is almost totally below the surface of the ocean, and the eastern side is composed of a string of small islands (including Mangere, Akaiami, and Tekopua). 3. Al-hasa Oasis (SAUDI ARABIA)

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The Al-Hasa oasis is the largest oasis in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.In ancient times, Al-Hasa was at the center of the trade routes which traders followed between the east of the Arabian peninsula and , Persia and the Far East.The Oasis has a dry, tropical climate, with a five-month summer and a relatively cold winter. It enjoys the benefits of copious reserves of underground water.

4. Aldabra Atoll (SEYCHELLES)

Aldabra Atoll, 1,150 km southwest of Mahe, is the largest raised coral atoll in the world, encompassing more than a dozen islands bordering a vast lagoon.The atoll’s islands nurture an array of both unique flora and fauna, as well as the world’s largest population of 150,000 giant tortoises. Its lagoon boasts the most vibrant marine life of the entire archipelago. 5. Aletsch ()

Aletsch Glacier covers more than 120 square kilometres (more than 45 square miles) in southern Switzerland and is the largest glacier in the Alps. It descends round the south of the Jungfrau into the of the Upper Rhône and down its eastern extremity lies the glacier lake Marjelen. To the west rises the mountain Aletschhorn.

6. Ali Sadr ()

Ali Sadr is a cave about 100 km north of Hamedan in western Iran. Its walls extend up to 40 m high.The cave contains several large, deep lakes, and there is a river that flows through it. 7. Alpamayo, Mountain Peak ()

Alpamayo is one of the most impressive peaks in the of Peru, measuring 5,947 m. In 1966, the Alpamayo mountain was declared "the most beautiful mountain in the world" by UNESCO.

8. Amah Rock ()

Amah Rock ("the stone gazing out for her husband") is a naturally occurring rock located on a hilltop in southwest Sha Tin, Hong Kong. The rock is approximately 15 m in height, and its shape looks like a woman carrying a baby on her back. According to a legend, the faithful wife of a fisherman climbed the hills every day, carrying her son, to watch for the return of her husband, not knowing he had been drowned at sea. As a reward for her loyalty, she was turned into a rock by the Goddess of the Sea so that her spirit could unite with that of her husband. 9. Amazon (, , , , , , PERU, , )

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The , also known as Amazonia, the Amazon jungle or the Amazon Basin, encompasses seven million square kilometers (1.7 billion acres), though the forest itself occupies some 5.5 million square kilometers (1.4 billion acres), located within nine nations. The Amazon represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests and comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world. The is the largest river in the world by volume, with a total flow greater than the top ten rivers worldwide combined. It accounts for approximately one-fifth of the total world river flow and has the biggest drainage basin on the planet. Not a single bridge crosses the Amazon.

10. Angel Falls (VENEZUELA)

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Angel Falls is the highest in the world, at 1,002 m, and is located in the Canaima National Park in Bolivar State, along Venezuela’s border with Brazil. It is more than 19 times higher than Niagara Falls. The uninterrupted descent of water falls 807 m. 11. Antuco, ()

Antuco is a in the Bio-Bio region of Chile, on the shore of the Laguna del Laja lake. It rises 2,985 meters above sea level and has snow on its peak throughout the year. Many different kinds of forests grow on its slopes.

12. Apurimac, River (PERU)

The Apurimac River, in south-west Peru, is the source of the world’s largest river system, the Amazon. Its source is less than 160 km from the Pacific coast, and it is fed by glacial meltwater from the Nevado Mismi ridge in southern Peru. The river runs through narrow gorges of up to 3,000 m deep, or twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the , with rapids and falls spread out along its course. 13. Archipiélago de Bocas del Toro (PANAMA)

The Archipiélago de Bocas del Toro consists of six densely forested islands and scores of uninhabited islets. The islands are covered in dense jungles of vine tangles and forest palms that open up to pristine beaches fringed by reeds and mangroves. Beneath the water, an extensive coral reef ecosystem supports countless species of tropical fish.

14. Arenal Volcano (COSTA RICA)

Arenal Volcano is an active andesitic (meaning that the rock has been crystallized from silicate minerals) stratovolcano in north- western Costa Rica, where Arenal is the youngest and most active of all the mountains. It was presumed extinct until July 29, 1968 when an earthquake caused it to erupt, after approximately 400 years of dormancy. Arenal rises 1657 m above sea level and overlooks Lake Arenal; both are part of Arenal Volcano National Park. 15. Askania-Nova ()

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Askania-Nova is a biosphere reserve in Kherson Oblast, Ukraine, located within the dry Tavriya steppe. The natural reserve was established in 1874 by landowner Friedrich Eduardovych Falz-Fein around the German settlement Askania-Nova . The reserve consists of the acclimatization zoo, botanical garden (2.1 km²), and a virgin steppe preserve (110 km²), and has total area of 825 km².

16. Atacama Desert (CHILE)

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The Atacama Desert is a virtually rainless plateau in Chile, covering a 600 mile strip of land on the Pacific coast of South America, west of the mountains. The rain shadow on the leeward side of the Andes keeps this over 20 million-year-old desert 50 times drier than the California’s Death Valley. It is the second-driest desert in the world. The Atacama occupies 70,000 square miles in northern Chile, composed mostly of salt basins, sand, and flows. 17. Aukštaitija National Park (LITHUANIA)

Aukštaitija National Park is a national park in northeastern Lithuania, about 100 km north of Vilnius. Established in 1974, it is the oldest of the 5 national parks in Lithuania. Park territory occupies 405.7 square km. Over 70 percent of its territory is covered by woods, of which 80 percent are stands, some 200 years old. An amazing 64 species of plants, 8 of fungi and 48 different kinds of birds are found in the park. The park is famous for its - 59% of all plant species in Lithuania can be found in the park, although it covers less than 1% of Lithuania's territory.

18. Australian Alps ()

Stretching from Canberra through the Brindabella Range to the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales and along the Great Divide through eastern Victoria, Australia’s alpine and sub-alpine environments are unique. Broad mountain plateaus, rolling ridges and steep valleys, glacial lakes, clear mountain springs and all characterize the Australian Alps. The Australian Alps contain the head waters of some of Australia’s most important rivers. 19. Australia’s Coastal Wilderness (AUSTRALIA)

Australia’s Coastal Wilderness encompasses stunning coastal and wilderness walks, rich with diverse flora and fauna. A rare and relatively untouched region with an unspoilt wilderness coastline, Australia’s Coastal Wilderness provides year-round experiences of landscapes, natural history and living culture.

20. Auyantepui, Mountain (VENEZUELA)

Auyantepui, or "Devil's Mountain," is an impressive, heart-shaped table-top mountain almost 3,000 m high in the Guiana Highlands, in Venezuela’s Bolivar State. Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world, drops dramatically from a cleft near the . The falls are 979m high, with an uninterrupted descent of 807m. Auyantepui encompasses 650 square km. 21. Avenue of the Baobabs (MADAGASCAR)

The Avenue or Alley of the Baobabs is a prominent group of baobab trees in western Madagascar. Along the Avenue are about a dozen trees some 30 m in height, of the Adansonia grandidieri species, which is endemic to Madagascar. Baobab trees can be up to 800 years old and are known locally as renala (Malagasy for "mother of the forest"). They are a legacy of the dense tropical forests that once thrived on Madagascar. The trees did not originally tower in isolation over the scrub landscape but stood in a dense forest. Over the years, as the country's population grew, the forests were cleared for agriculture, leaving only the baobab trees, which the locals preserved as much in respect as for their value as a food source and building material.

22. Azul, Waterfall ()

The Cataratas de Agua Azul ("Waterfalls of Blue Water") consists of many cataracts following one after another. The water flow descends in two streams, with small islands in the middle. The water has a high mineral content. Where it falls on rocks or fallen trees it encases them in a thick shell-like coating of .(Source: Wikepedia) 23. Azure Window, Rock formation ()

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The Azure Window is a spectacular natural landmark on the Maltese archipelago. It features a table-like rock over the sea, and is particularly spectacular during the winter, when waves crash high inside the arch.

24. Baekdu Mountain (, (NORTH))

Baekdu Mountain is a volcanic mountain on the border between and China. It is the highest mountain of the Changbai to the north and the mountain range to the south. Baekdu Mountain is also the highest mountain in Korea.One of the highest crater lakes in the world, , is at the top of the mountain. 25. Baikal, Lake ()

Lake Baikal is located in Southern Siberia near the City of Irkutske in the republic of Buryat near the city of Irkutsk. The name Baikal comes from Baigal which means nature in the Mongolaian language. At 1,637 meters (5,371 ft) it is the deepest lake in the world and is the largest freshwater lake by volume (23,000 km³), containing approximately twenty percent of the world's total surface fresh water.Baikal is home to more than 1,700 species of plants and animals, two thirds of which can be found nowhere else in the world

26. Bald Mountain (MARTINIQUE)

Mount Pelee (or "Bald Mountain") is a dormant volcano on the northern tip of the island of Martinique in the Lesser Antilles island arc of the Caribbean Sea. It is among the deadliest on Earth, with its volcanic cone composed of layers of volcanic ash and hardened lava. Mount Pelee is famous for its extremely destructive eruption in 1902 and the devastation that resulted, now called by many the worst volcanic disaster of the 20th century. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the West Indies. 27. Ballestas Islands, Archipelago (PERU)

The Ballestas Islands form an important wildlife reserve, with over 160 species of marine birds, including Humboldt penguins, cormorants, boobies, pelicans and, occasionally condors. There is also animal life, including sea lions, seals, dolphins and whales. The islands are off the coast of the , 240 km south of Lima.

28. Banff, National Park ()

Canada's oldest national park, established in 1885, is located in the Canadian Rockies, 120 kilometres west of Calgary in the province of Alberta. It encompasses 6,641 square kilometres of mountainous terrain, with numerous and fields, forest and alpine landscapes. 29. Bay of Fundy (CANADA)

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The Bay of Fundy is renowned for having the highest tides on the planet (16.2 metres or 53 feet). One hundred billion tonnes of sea water flow in and out of the Bay of Fundy twice daily – more water than the combined flow of all the world’s fresh water rivers. Fundy’s extreme tides create a dynamic and diverse marine ecosystem. The Bay is renowned for its coastal rock formations, extreme tidal effects (vertical, horizontal, rapids and bores) and sustainable coastal development. It is also a critical international feeding ground for migratory birds, a vibrant habitat for rare and endangered Right whales, and one of the world’s most significant plant and animal fossil discovery regions. The Bay of Fundy is located between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on North America’s east coast.

30. Bayanzag Cliffs (Gobi Desert) ()

The Bayanzag or ''Flaming'' Cliffs is a region within the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, in which important fossil finds have been made. The area is most famous for yielding the first discovery of dinosaur eggs. The rock formation displays an orange glow. 31. Barrier Reef (BELIZE)

Belize Barrier Reef is a series of coral reels off the coast of Belize. Home to a one of the most important ecosystems in the world, the reef system has 70 hard coral species, 36 soft coral species, 500 species of fish and hundreds of invertebrate species. It extends for some 300 km, making it the second only to Australia’s .

32. Belogradchik Rocks ()

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The Belogradchik Rocks are a group of bizarre sandstone and limestone rock formations, reaching up to 200 m in height. They form a strip, which is 30 km long and up to 3 km wide, and are located north of the western slopes of Stara Planina, near the town of Belogradchik in Bulgaria. The formations, which vary in color from red through yellow to grey, are a product of erosion and every distinct rock is named after an object it is believed to resemble. 33. Berchtesgaden National Park ()

This German biosphere reserve is located in the Berchtesgaden Alps (150 km south-east of Munich at the border to ) which belong to the northern limestone Alps. It is the only alpine biosphere reserve in Germany with an elevation up to 2,700 meters above sea level. However, the transition zone is situated in low elevated areas (about 500 meters above sea level) in the north of the mountain ranges. Therefore, the biosphere reserve encompasses submontane, montane and subalpine forests and alpine meadows. The core area and buffer zone are identical with the Berchtesgaden National Park with the famous lake Königssee.

34. Berlenga Islands ()

The Berlenga Islands are a group of small island off the Portugeses coast near the city of Peniche consisting of the three islands Berlenga Grande, Os Farilhões und As Estelas. The archipelago has been declared a nature reserve and is inhabited by various species of seabirds. The main Island, Berlenga Grande (or Ilha da Berlenga) measures 1500 metres by 800 metres and is 85 metres high. It has beaches and several , its waters are very clean with barrier reefs and vibrant marine life. Part of the island was torn off in the past, forming a separated part of the island called Ilha Velha (Old Island). In the summer, the island becomes covered with various sorts of wildflowers. 35. Beveridge Reef (NIUE)

Niue is a small island in the South Pacific Ocean, to the east of Tonga. The Beveridge Reef, now called a drying sand-bar reef, is located some 130 miles east of 's Niue Island. A small part of the reef is only visible at low tide; most of it is under shallow water. This island, composited by sand and coral, is about 100 by 40 yards in area, and rises up to 4 ft at high tide.

36. Bialowieza Forest (BELARUS, )

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Białowieza Primaeval Forest, is located in Poland straddking the border between Belarus and Poland. It is the only remaining part of the immense forest which once spread across the Europoean Plain. On the Polish side it is partly protected as a National Park, and occupies over 100 km². On the Belarusian side the Biosphere Reserve occupies 1,771 km The border between the two countries runs through the forest and is closed for large animals and tourists for the time being. 37. Big Sur, Beach (UNITED STATES)

Big Sur is a thinly populated region of the California, United States coast. Here the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. The terrain offers spectacular views, making Big Sur a popular tourist destination. Cone Peak is the highest coastal mountain at Big Sur, ascending nearly a mile above sea level, only three miles from the ocean.

38. Bikini Atoll (MARSHALL ISLANDS)

Bikini Atoll is one of the 29 atolls and five islands that make up the Marshall Islands. These atolls are scattered over 924,626 sq. km just north of the equator in the Pacific Ocean. They help define a geographic area referred to as Micronesia. 39. Bissagos Islands (GUINEA-BISSAU)

The Bissagos Islands, or Bijagós Archipelago, is a group of eighteen major islands and dozens of smaller ones 30 miles off the Guinea coast in western Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean. The southern islands constitute a Biosphere Reserve.

40. Black Forest (GERMANY)

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Black Forest (Schwarzwald) is a wooded mountain range in southwestern It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the mountain Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 meters. The region is almost rectangular with a length of 200 km and breadth of 60 km. 41. Black Rocks at Pungo Andongo (ANGOLA)

The Black Rocks at Pungo Andongo (Pedras Negras de Pungo Andongo) are found some 116 km from the provincial capital of Malange in Angola. They are a series of mysterious rock formations, many incredibly shaped in the form of animals, standing high above the flat African savannah.

42. Bledowska Desert (POLAND)

The Bledowska Sands are the largest accumulation of loose sand away from any sea in Central , deposited thousands of years ago by a melting glacier. The appearance of a desert landscape has been created since the Middle Ages, as an accidental effect of (zinc, silver, coal), but the specific geological structure has been of great importance - the average thickness of the sand layer is about 40 m (maximum 70 m), which facilitated the fast and deep drainage.

43. Blue Grotto, Cave ()

Blue Grotto is a on the coast of the island of Capri in Italy.It has a partially submerged opening into the sea, as do other grottoes into the island.Roman emperors with villas on Capri reportedly used the Blue Grotto as a private bath. In modern times, it has become a popular tourist attraction with visitors touring it by boat.

44. Blue Hole ()

Guam is the southernmost island in the Mariana island chain and the largest island in Micronesia. Guam's Blue Hole is a natural limestone vertical shaft formed millions of years ago which extends down into the reef. The opening is approximately 35 x 25 feet. The upper reef varies in depth from 20 feet near the cliffline, to 55-60 ft at the upper opening of the shaft. From there, it drops downward to 300+ feet.

45. Blue Mountains (AUSTRALIA)

A truly unique area of the Great Dividing Range named after the mystical blue haze found lingering over its peaks, the Blue Mountains World Heritage area is Australia’s most accessible wilderness, stretching over one million hectares. The area is an inspiring and diverse mix of rainforest, canyons, tall forests and heathlands. Rich in eucalyptus, the fragrant oil emitted by these trees forms a blue mist. This mist adorns the rugged peaks, sheer cliffs and inaccessible valleys of the Range year-round, and encapsulates the expansive rivers and forests found teeming with wildlife.

46. Boiling Lake (DOMINICA)

The Boiling Lake is situated in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, Dominica's World Heritage site. It is a flooded fumarole, or hole in the earth’s surface, 10.5 km east of Roseau, Dominica. It is filled with bubbling greyish-blue water that is usually enveloped in a cloud of vapor. The lake is approximately 60 m across.

47. Bora Bora Island (FRENCH POLYNESIA)

Bora Bora is in the Leeward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean. The island covers an area of approximately 39 square km, is located about 230 km of Papeete and is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volvano rising to two peaks.

48. Boyoma Falls, Waterfall (CONGO (DRC))

Boyoma Falls consists of seven sets of waterfalls in the Lualaba River in central Congo. The falls extend for 97 km along a curve of the river between Ubundu and Kisangani. The total fall in the river's elevation is some 200 feet, and the seventh and largest falls are 800 m wide. Beyond the falls, the Lualaba becomes the Congo River. 49. Brecon Beacons ()

The Brecon Beacons is a mountain range located in the south-east of Wales. It forms the central section of the Brecon Beacons National Park, one of Wales's three National Parks. The Brecon Beacons range consists of the mountains to the south of Brecon. The highest of these is Pen y Fan (886 m); other notable include Corn Du (873 m), Cribyn (795 m), and Fan y Bîg (719 m). These summits form a long ridge which forms a horseshoe around the head of the Taf Fechan river to the south-east, with long parallel spurs extending to the north-east.

50. Bryce Canyon, National Park (UNITED STATES)

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southwestern Utah in the United States. The Bryce Canyon itself is a giant natural amphitheater created by erosion along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Bryce Canyon is also known its geological structures, called hoodoos, formed from wind, water, and ice erosion of the river and lakebed sedimentary rocks. Red, orange and white colors of the rocks provide spectacular views to visitors. 51. Bu Tinah Island ()

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Off the western shores of Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, lies a unique natural treasure, wild and undisturbed by human activity: Bu Tinah Island. Bu Tinah’s thriving ecosystem forms a unique living laboratory with key significance for climate change research. An undisturbed paradise, Bu Tinah has much to teach mankind about environmental protection and survival. This distinctive natural habitat has shallow waters, seagrass beds and tall mangroves, set amid extensive coral reefs. It hosts beautiful and endangered marine life. Seabirds, including flamingos and osprey, various species of dolphins and the critically endangered hawksbill turtle live in Bu Tinah. The island’s waters host the world’s second-largest population of dugong, a large marine mammal that is threatened worldwide. Bu Tinah Island, rich in biodiversity, lies within the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve - the region's largest marine reserve. Its protection and survival must be ensured.

52. Buada Lagoon (NAURU)

Buada Lagoon is a landlocked, slightly brackish freshwater lake on the island of Nauru. It is about 5 m above sea level. The lake is located in the southwest of the island, in the district of Buada. The fertile land around the lake is farmed. Unlike in many areas of Nauru, trees are in relative abundance in the vicinity of Buada Lagoon. 54. Buck Island Reef National Monument (VIRGIN ISLANDS, U.S.)

The Buck Island Reef National Monumen is a small, uninhabited island, measuring 712,000 square m, about 2.4 km off the northeast coast of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The marine ecosystem surrounding the island includes an elkhorn coral barrier reef that surrounds two-thirds of the island and provides cover for a great variety of reef fish. Endangered species that nest on the island include sea turtles and least terns.

54. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (SINGAPORE)

The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is a small nature reserve, measuring only 1.64 sq. km, near the geographic center of the city-state of Singapore. It is on the slopes of and parts of the surrounding area. Despite its small size, it is considered one of the most "productive" pieces of nature - together with the neighbouring Central Catchment Nature Reserve, it houses over 840 species of flowering plants and over 500 species of fauna. Today, it is one of the largest patches of primary rainforest left in Singapore. 55. Bungle Bungles (AUSTRALIA)

The Bungle Bungles, found in the Purnululu national park are one of the most outstanding geological features of Western Australia. Formed over 350 million years the porous layers of these towering sandstone domes have been infiltrated by black algae. This has resulted in the famed ‘tiger-like’ striped features of the rock formations. Best seen from a bird’s eye view, within these rolling domes lies a further hidden world of natural formations – magnificent gorges, tropical pools and dramatic caves.

56. Bwindi Rain Forest ()

The Bwindi National Park covers 331 sq km of in southwestern Uganda, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is best known as the home of half the world's population of mountain gorillas, though the park also boasts chimpanzees and several other species of primates. 57. Cades Reef (ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA)

Antigua and Barbuda is an island nation located on the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. As its name suggests, it consists of two major islands – Antigua and Barbuda – as well as a number of smaller islets. Cades Reef, the island of Antiguas biggest reef, is located on the southern or the protected leewards side of the island.

58. Calf Of Man (ISLE OF MAN)

Calf of Man is a small island, almost one square mile (2.6 km²) in area, off the southwest coast of the Isle of Man. It is separated from the Isle of Man by a narrow stretch of water called the Calf Sound. It has two seasonal inhabitants. The word 'calf' derives from the Old Norse word kalfr which means a small island lying near a larger one. Calf of Man is home to a breeding population of Manx Shearwaters, a seabird which derives its name from its presence in Manx waters. 59. Camargue Marsh ()

The Camargue is home to more than 400 species of birds, the brine ponds providing one of the few European habitats for the greater flamingo. The marshes are also a prime habitat for many species of insects, notably (and notoriously) some of the most ferocious mosquitoes to be found anywhere in France. It is also famous for bulls and the Camargue horse.

60. Canaima National Park (VENEZUELA)

Canaima National Park is a 30,000 square km park in south-eastern Venezuela, in the state of Bolivar, that borders Brazil and Guyana. The park, which is the size of , is characterized by the many tepuis or table-top mountains. The most famous tepuis in the park are Mt. Roraima, the tallest and easiest to climb, and Auyantepui, from which fall the Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world. The tepuis are sandstone and date back to a time when South America and Africa were part of a super-continent. 61. Caño Cristales, River (COLOMBIA)

The Caño Cristales river is in the La Macarena National and Ecological Reserve Park in Colombia and is considered to be one of the most unusual rivers in the world. Depending on the time of year, the amount of colorful algae found in the river gives it an impressively technicolor appearance. Caño Cristales is about 100 kilometers long.

62. Cape of Good Hope ()

The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of South Africa. As one of the great capes of the South Atlantic Ocean, the Cape of Good Hope has been of special significance to sailors for many years and is widely referred to by them simply as "The Cape." 63. Cappadocia, Rock Formation ()

The Cappadocia region is largely underlain by sedimentary rocks formed in lakes and streams, and deposits erupted from ancient volcanoes. Some 60 million years ago, during three seperate geological periods, the Toros Mountains rose up and in the north, with the land of the Anatolia Plateau beeing squeezed, volcanoes erupted. The mountains of Erciyas, Hasandagi, Golludag all spewed forth lava. The ashes that piled up on the plaetau formed a soft tufa layer. Some of the upper levels of the tufa became covered with a hard formed by a thin layer of lava. In time, the basalt cracked and broke into pieces and the rainwater running in the cracks began eroding the tufa. The changes in temperatures and the wind also contributed to the erosion. Thus, from the hard basalt stones hat-like cones were formed.People came to call these strange formations fairy Chinmeys. Those tufa layers that were not coated with basalt, thanks to the continental erosion, turned into valleys and strangely shaped canyons. Almost 2,000 years ago, Christians carved their first churches into these stones.

64. Carbet Falls (GUADELOUPE)

Carbet Falls is a series of waterfalls on the Carbet River in Guadeloupe, an overseas department of France located in the Leeward Islands of the eastern Caribbean Sea. Its three cascades are set amid the tropical rainforests on the lower slopes of the volcano La Soufrière. The falls are one of the most popular visitor sites in Guadeloupe. In 1493, Christopher Columbus noted Carbet Falls in his log. Appropriately, he named Guadeloupe Karukera, which translates as "the island of beautiful waters." 65. Cedars of (LEBANON)

The cedar forests of Lebanon enjoy the unique distinction as the oldest documented forests in history. The cedars were important enough in the history of man to be traceable to the very earliest written records, that of the Sumerians in the third millennium BC. The Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh designates the cedar groves of Lebanon as the dwelling of the gods. The Lebanon Cedar is mentioned over 70 times in the Bible. It has always been the national emblem of Lebanon. There are 18 cedars reserves in Lebanon, most significantly the Barouk forest and the forest of the Cedars of God in Bsharri.

66. Chapada Diamantina National Park (BRAZIL)

The Chapada Diamantina National Park is a 1,520 square km national park in the Chapada Diamantina region in the northeast of Brazil. Chapada is a Brazilian word that means a region of steep cliffs, usually at the edge of a plateau. Diamantina refers to the diamonds found there in the mid 1800s. Many cave systems were formed by the rivers that run through the region. Several of these rivers run red due to tannin in the water. Both gold and diamonds have been found there. 67. Charles Brewer's Cave (VENEZUELA)

This cave is in the Canaima National Park, in south-eastern Venezuela, and has an underground river system, waterfalls, rock slides, and diverse . It is today considered the largest quartzite cave in the world, and has been baptized Cueva Charles Brewer, in honor of its discoverer.

68. Chicamocha Canyon (COLOMBIA)

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The Chicamocha Canyon, a 1,524-meter-high vertical wall, is one of the most breathtaking sites of Colombia. The Chicamocha River winds its way southeastward through this impressive canyon. The panoramic view from the rim extends for hundreds of miles across towering mountain ranges and deep valleys bathed in tropical greens and blues. 69. Chitwan, National Park (NEPAL)

Chitwan National Park, covering an area of 932 km², was established in 1973. It is located at the foot of the in the Terai region, and the park is rich in flora and fauna, which include one of the last populations of single-horned Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) and the Bengal tiger.

70. Chocolate Hills ()

The Chocolate Hills is an unusual geological formation in Bohol, Philippines. It is composed of around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills, all about the same size, spread over an area of more than 50 sq km The hills are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, giving them the name ''Chocolate Hills.'' 71. Chott el Djerid, Salt Lake (TUNISIA)

Chott el Djerid is a large endorheic salt lake (one with an inflow but no outflow for the water) in southern Tunisia. It is the largest salt pan of the Sahara, with a surface area of over 5,000 sq km. Due to the extreme climate, with an annual rainfall of only 100 mm and temperatures reaching 50° C, water evaporates from the lake. In summer, Chott el Djerid is almost entirely dried up, and numerous fata morganas occur.

72. Christmas Island National Park (CHRISTMAS ISLAND)

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Christmas Island National Park is on Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean, south of . The park is home to many species of animal and plant life, including red crabs during their annual migration, when around 100 million crabs move to the sea to spawn, and Abbott's Booby, an endangered bird that only nests on the island.The park protects & preserves the important ecological systems which characterize this beautiful tropical island: the magnificent rainforests, the ocean shores & reefs. 73. Cliffs at Etretat (FRANCE)

Étretat is a coastal commune in the Seine-Maritime department of Normandy, France. Étretat is best known for its chalk cliffs, including the three natural arches. These cliffs and the associated resort beach attracted artists including Eugène Boudin, Gustave Courbet and Claude Monet.

74. Cliffs of Moher (IRELAND)

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Located in county Clare, the Cliffs of Moher are amongst the most impressive places to see in Ireland. The cliffs consist mainly of beds of Namurian shale and sandstone, with the oldest rocks being found at of the cliffs. One can see 300 million year old river channels cutting through the base of the cliffs.There are many animals living on the cliffs, most of them birds.

75. Coatepeque Lake, Crater Lake (EL SALVADOR)

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Lake Coatepeque is a large crater lake in the east part of the Coatepeque . At 26 sq. km, it is one of the largest lakes in El Salvador, and has hot springs near its shores. In the lake is the island of Teopan, which was a Mayan site of some importance.

76. Cocos Island (COSTA RICA)

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Cocos Island National Park is a unique oceanic island. It is the only emerged volcanic peak of the Cocos underwater ridge (Central Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean) 532 km off the coast of Costa Rica. With 24 square km of terrestrial and 1997 square km of marine ecosystems, it constitutes one of the privileged natural sites on the planet. Due to its isolation and state of conservation, with its unique biological diversity, it is ideal for conducting research about the of species and environmental monitoring processes. According to legend, Cocos Island was a refuge for pirates who supposedly hid treasures here. The search for these treasures has motivated more than 300 expeditions; however, the real treasure is the island. 77. Codri (MOLDOVA)

Codri is the name of the forests that grow in the hilly part of Moldova. These uplands are interlaced by deep, flat valleys, ravines, and landslide-scoured depressions separated by sharp ridges. Steep, forest-clad slopes account for much of the Codri. The highest point in Moldova, Bălăneşti Hill, measures 429 m and is located in the Corneşti Hills, between Prut and Răut rivers, in a core Codri area.

78. Colca Canyon (PERU)

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Colca Canyon is a canyon of the Colca River, in the Andes mountain range, in southern Peru. It is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States, but is not as steep. The local people still maintain ancestral traditions and continue to cultivate the pre-Inca stepped terraces. 79. Coloane Island (MACAO)

Coloane is one of the two main islands of Macau, located directly south of Macau's other main island, Taipa. Coloane has an area of 8.07 square km (4-km long) and is 5.6 km from the Macau Peninsula.

80. Conchi ()

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The Conchi is a natural pool on the northern side of the island of Aruba. It is hidden in a natural rock formation that juts into the ocean, just off the shore of the island. Aruba is a Caribbean island 15 miles north of the coast of Venezuela. 81. Congo Basin Forest (GABON, EQUATORIAL GUINEA, CONGO (DRC), CONGO, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, )

The Congo Basin forest is the world’s second largest tropical forest, covering 700,000 square miles in six countries and containing a quarter of the world’s remaining tropical forest. This vast area hosts a wealth of biodiversity, including over 10,000 species of plants, 1,000 species of birds and 400 species of mammals. It is also home to more than 24 million people, most of whom depend on the forest for their livelihoods.

82. Copper Canyon (MEXICO)

The Copper Canyon is a group of canyons consisting of 6 individual canyons in the Sierra Tarahumara in the Southwest part of the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. The whole canyon system is larger and portions are deeper than the Grand Canyon in the United States.The Copper Canyon is the traditional home of the indigenous Raramuri (Tarahumara) people. 83. Coral Triangle (TIMOR-LESTE, SOLOMON ISLANDS, PHILIPPINES, , , INDONESIA)

The Coral Triangle is a geographical term referring to the waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste with an abundance of coral reef. It is listed by World Wildlife Fund as one of the top priority for conservancy of marine life and the focus of its WWF Coral Triangle Program launched in 2007. The Coral Triangle has been identified as covering more than 1,600,000,000 acres (6,500,000 km2), with over 600 reef-building coral species which encompasses 75 percent of all species known in the world. More than 3,000 species of fish live in the Coral Triangle, including the largest fish - the whale shark, and the living fossil coelacanths.

84. (PERU)

Cotahuasi Canyon, the deepest canyon in the world, is a 3,501 m canyon of the Cotahuasi River, in the Andes mountain range, in southern Peru. It is much deeper than the Grand Canyon in the United States. The local people still maintain ancestral traditions and continue to cultivate the pre-Inca stepped terraces 85. Cotopaxi Volcano (ECUADOR)

Cotopaxi is a stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, located about 75 km south of Quito, Ecuador. It is the second-highest summit in the country, reaching a height of 5,897 m. Cotopaxi has an almost symmetrical cone that rises from a highland plain of about 3,800 m, with a width at its base of about 23 km. It has one of the few equatorial glaciers in the world, which starts at the height of 5,000 m. Cotopaxi is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world.

86. Cox's Bazaar Beach ()

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Cox's Bazaar is known for its wide sandy beach which is claimed to be the world's longest natural sandy sea beach. It is an unbroken 125 km sandy sea beach with a gentle slop. Since the rise and fall of the tide here is not great, it is a good place for sea bathing. 87. Cradle Mountain (AUSTRALIA)

Formed over two million years ago the jagged contours of Cradle Mountain are a modern day reminder of the last ice age. An ancient landscape of marked geological contrast, its key features are extensively shaped by glacial erosion. These include the deep valley of the Dove River, fed by the mountain’s crystal clear lakes and tarns, and a mosaic of cascading streams. Ancient rainforest, alpine heathlands, buttongrass and tiers of colourful deciduous beech populations adorn the land.The World Heritage listed site is also home to an eclectic mix of wildlife – some endangered such as the Tasmanian Devil, Platypus and Echidna. Others are not found beyond Tasmanian shores.

88. Crater Lake (UNITED STATES)

The caldera lake in the state of Oregon in the United States is the main feature of Crater Lake National Park and famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. The deep caldera was formed around 5,677 BC by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama. Crater Lake is known for its famous piece of driftwood named the "Old Man of the Lake.", which is a full-sized tree that has been bobbing vertically in the lake for more than a century. Due to the cold water of the lake, the tree has been well preserved. 89. Crystal Caves (BERMUDA)

The Crystal Caves are the most famous of many caves in Bermuda and are named after the crystal clear water that fills the cave, making it possible to see the cave floor down some 55 feet below the water’s surface. The cave is full of and that have taken millions of years to form. Sometimes, they join to form a single column from floor to ceiling.

90. Cueva del Guacharo, Cave (VENEZUELA)

The Cueva del Guácharo National Park has as its centerpiece a large cave, which is the home of thousands of oilbirds or guacharos in Spanish. The cave itself was designated Venezuela's first National Monument, in 1949. The National Park was later created to conserve the cave-system and environment of the birds. The cave is a limestone cavern over 10 km long, with a number of large chambers and spectacular rock formations. The temperature inside the cave generally remains near 19° C and the humidity at 100%. 91. Curonian Spit (LITHUANIA, RUSSIA)

The Curonian Spit is a 98-km long, thin, curved sand-dune spit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. It stretches from the Sambian Peninsula to the south. The width of the spit varies from a minimum of 400 m in Russia to a maximum of 3,8 km in Lithuania.

92. Dahlak Archipelago (ERITREA)

Off the Eritrean coast in the Red Sea lies the Dahlak Archipelago, a group of more than 100 small coral and reef-fringed islands 93. Danube Delta ()

The Danube Delta is the second largest delta in Europe, after the Volga Delta, and the best preserved on the continent. The greater part of the Danube Delta lies in Romania (Tulcea county), while its northern part, on the left bank of the Chilia arm, is situated in Ukraine (Odessa Oblast). The approximate surface is 4,152 square km, of which 3,446 square km are in Romania. The Danube Delta is a low alluvial plain, mostly covered by wetlands and water. It consists of an intricate pattern of marshes, channels, streamlets and lakes. Dunes on the most extensive strandplains of the delta (Letea and Caraorman strandplains) stand as high as 12.4 m. Situated on major migratory routes, and providing adequate conditions for nesting and hatching, the Danube Delta is a magnet for birds from six major eco-regions of the world, including Mongolia, the Arctic and Siberia.

94. Danube River (UKRAINE, , , ROMANIA, MOLDOVA, , GERMANY, , BULGARIA, AUSTRIA)

The Danube is Europe's second-longest river, after the Volga. It originates in the Black Forest in Germany and flows eastwards for a distance of some 2,850 km, passing through several Central and Eastern European capitals, before emptying into the Black Sea via the Danube Delta in Romania and Ukraine. 95. (, , PALESTINE)

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The Dead Sea is a salt lake between Palestine and Israel to the west and Jordan to the east. At 420 metres below sea level, its shores are the lowest point on Earth that are on dry land. With 30 percent salinity, it is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean.

96. Dean's Blue Hole (BAHAMAS)

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Dean's Blue Hole is the world's deepest blue hole, which plunges 202 m to the ocean floor, west of Clarence Town on Long Island, Bahamas. Dean's Blue Hole is roughly circular at the surface, with a diameter ranging from 25 to 35 m. After descending 20 m, the hole widens considerably into a cavern with a diameter of 100 m.

97. Dinosaur Provincial Park (CANADA)

Dinosaur Provincial Park is situated in the valley of the Red Deer River, which is noted for its badland topography. It is well known for being one of the greatest dinosaur fossil beds in the world. Thirty-nine dinosaur species have been discovered here and more than 500 specimens have been removed and exhibited in museums across the globe. Its significance justified it becoming a World Heritage Site in 1979.

98. Dja Faunal Reserve, National Park (CAMEROON)

Dja Faunal Reserve is located in Cameroon and includes a diversity of species. There are more than 1,500 known plant species, over 107 mammals and more than 320 bird species in the park. The Dja Faunal Reserve covers 5.260km².

99. Djavolja Varos, Rock Formation (SERBIA)

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Djavolja Varos (the name means "devil's town") is a group of earth pyramids in the Radan Mountains in the southern region of Serbia.

100. Djoudj, Sanctuary (SENEGAL)

The Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary lies on the southeast bank of the River Senegal in Senegal, north east of St-Louis. It provides a range of wetland habitats which prove very popular with migrating birds. About 400 species of birds and a wide range of wildlife inhabit the park. 101. Dnieper River (UKRAINE, RUSSIA, BELARUS)

The Dnieper River flows from Russia, through Belarus and the Ukraine, to the Black Sea. Its total length is 2,285 km, of which 485 km lie within Russia, 595 km within Belarus, and 1,095 km within the Ukraine. Its basin covers 504,000 sq. km, of which the majority (289,000 sq. km) are within the Ukraine.

102. Dobsinska (SLOVAKIA)

The Dobsinska Ice Cave is an ice cave in Slovakia, close to the mining town of Dobšiná, in what is called the "Slovak Paradise." It is part of Caves of Aggtelek and Slovak Karst site. The cave was open to the public just one year after its discovery in 1870. In 1887, it was the first electrically lit cave in Europe. The total length of the cave is 1,483 m, of which 515 m are open to the public from May to September. 103. Douro, River/Valley (PORTUGAL)

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Douro is one of the major rivers of the Iberian Peninsula, flowing from its source near Duruelo de la Sierra in the province of Soria across northern-central and Portugal to its outlet at Porto.The reaches of the Douro have a microclimate allowing for cultivation of olives, almonds, and especially grapes important for making the famous Posrt wine.

104. Drin River (ALBANIA)

The Drin is the longest river in Albania with a total length of 160 km. It has two confluences, one into the and the other one into the Bojana River (Buna in Albanian). The Drin and its surrounding mountainous areas have a great variety of flora and fauna. Recently, many fish species have been introduced, such as the zander of northern Europe which is a predator of the native fish population. 105. Dune of Pilat (FRANCE)

Dune of Pilat is the largest sand dune in Europe. It is located in La Teste-de-Buch in the Arcachon Bay area. The dune is about 60,000,000 m², measuring around 500m wide from East to West by 3km long from North to South. Its height varies from 100 to 117 metres above sea level.

106. Dunn's River Falls ()

Dunn's River Falls is a famous waterfall near Ocho Rios, Jamaica and a major Caribbean tourist attraction. The falls empty into the Caribbean Sea. It is one of the very few rivers in the world that actually fall directly into the sea. Several small lagoons collect the water briefly between the vertical sections of the falls. 107. Dwingelderveld National Park ()

The National Park Dwingelderveld is located in the province of Drenthe in the north-eastern part of the Netherlands. The National Park is 3700 ha large, with 1500 ha of wet heath land, which makes it the largest wet heath land in western Europe. The heath is for a large part surrounded by various woods and sand dispersions. The varied scenery accommodates a large amount of animals and plants in the area.

108. Ein Gedi Oasis (ISRAEL)

Ein Gedi is an oasis located west of the Dead Sea, close to Masada and the caves of Qumran. It is known for its caves, springs, and its rich diversity of flora and fauna. It contains an internationally acclaimed botanical garden covering an area of 100 dunams (10 ha, 24.7 acres). There one can find more than 900 species of plants from all over the world. 109. Eisriesenwelt Cave (AUSTRIA)

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The Eisriesenwelt (German for "World of the Ice Giants") is a natural limestone ice cave located in Werfen, Austria, inside the Hochkogel Mountain in the Tennengebirge section of the Alps. It is the largest ice cave in the world, extending more than 42 km. Only the first kilometer, the area that tourists are allowed to visit, is covered in ice. The rest of the cave is made of limestone.

110. El Kala National Park ()

Created in 1983 the El Kala National Park covers a surface of 76438 ha. It is located in the north-east of Algeria. On account of the position the Park is composed by a number of ecosystems (forets, dunes, and mediterranean basins) which provide an important biological value. 111. El Tatio, Volcano (CHILE)

El Tatio is located within the Andes Mountains of nothern Chile at 4,200 meters above the mean sea level. With over 80 active geysers, El Tatio is the largest geyser field in the southern hemisphere and the third largest field in the world. “El Tatio" is roughly translated to "the grandfather”.

112. El Yunque ()

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El Yunque National Forest, formerly known as the Caribbean National Forest, is located on the island of Puerto Rico. It is also the name of the second highest mountain peak in the Forest. El Yunque is the only tropical rain forest in the United States National Forest System.

113. Erg Chebbi Dunes ()

Erg Chebbi is the only Saharan erg in Morocco. This flat area of desert is 22 km long and 5 km wide. Its dunes reach a maximum height of 150 meters. It is located roughly 40 kilometers south-east of Erfoud.

114. Eua National Park (TONGA)

Eua Island is a high island 40 km off the south coast of Tongatapu, Tonga. This is where the Eua National Park is located, which boast 450 hectares of pristine tropical rainforest with exotic bird life including lorikeets, musk parrots, pacific pigeons, kingfishers and tropic sea birds. 115. Everglades, National Park (UNITED STATES)

Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. It is the third largest national park in the lower 48 states after Death Valley National Park and Yellowstone National Park and contains the southern part of the Everglades. There are 15 threatened and protected species that exist within park boundaries. Everglades National Park protects the largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River.

116. Failaka Island (KUWAIT)

Failaka Island lies twenty km east of Kuwait city, opposite the bay of the same name. It is the biggest of Kuwait's nine islands, 12 km long, 6 km wide and mostly flat. Its land is fertile and favorable for cultivation; it has fresh underground water and, until recently, it was economically self-sufficient. 117. , Mountain (VIET NAM)

Fansipan is a mountain in , the highest in Indochina, at 3 143 m. It is located in the Lào Cai province in Northwest Vietnam. Fansipan is dubbed "the Roof of Indochina"; it is to be approved as one of the very few ecotourist spots of Vietnam, with about 2,024 floral varieties and 327 faunal species.

118. Fernando de Noronha, Archipelago (BRAZIL)

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Fernando de Noronha is an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, around 354 km offshore from the Brazilian coast. The islands of this archipelago are the visible parts of a range of submerged mountains. Consisting of 21 islands, the base of this enormous volcanic formation is 756 m below the surface. The main island, from which the group gets its name, makes up 91% of the total area. 119. Fitz Roy, Mountain peak (, CHILE)

Cerro Chaltén, also known as Cerro Fitz Roy or Monte Fitz Roy, is a mountain located in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, on the border between Argentina and Chile. The mountain has a reputation of being "ultimate" for climbers, despite its average height, because the sheer granite faces present long stretches of arduous technical climbing. The weather in the area is exceptionally inclement and treacherous. It also attracts many photographers thanks to its otherworldly shape.

120. Flaming Cliffs (MONGOLIA)

The Flaming Cliffs site is a region of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, in which important fossil finds have been made. The area is most famous for yielding the first discovery of dinosaur eggs. Other finds in the area include specimens of Velociraptor. The rock gives off a glowing orange colour, hence the nickname. 121. Flinders Ranges (AUSTRALIA)

The Flinders Ranges is South Australia's largest mountain range, stretching for over 430 kilometres from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna. It is formed from an 800 million year-old quartzite and limestone outcrop, carefully moulded into an array of stunning peaks by the effects of weather and time. The emotional heart of the Flinders Ranges is Wilpena Pound. This huge, sickle-shaped, natural amphitheatre covers nearly 80 square kilometres, and features the highest peak, St Mary Peak, rising 1,170 meters above sea level.

122. Franz Josef Glacier (NEW ZEALAND)

From its origins high in the Southern Alps, the Franz Josef Glacier descends deep into the green and lush rainforest of Westland’s National Park on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Plunging from a height of 2700m above sea level to only 240m in 11 km, it is one of the world’s steepest and fastest-flowing glaciers. 123. Fraser Island (AUSTRALIA)

Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world, stretches over 123 kilometres along the southern coast of Queensland. It has over 100 freshwater lakes, some tea-coloured and others clear and blue. Ancient rainforests grow in sand along the banks of fast-flowing, crystal-clear creeks. It is the only place in the world where tall rainforests grow on sand dunes at elevations of over 200 m. The low “wallum” heaths on the island provide magnificent wildflower displays in and summer.

124. Funafuti Atoll ()

The small island nation of Tuvalu has a population of 4,500, making the Funafuti Atoll the most populated atoll in this small country. It is a narrow sweep of land between 20 and 400 m wide, encircling a large lagoon 18 km long and 14 km wide - at 275 square km, by far the largest lagoon in Tuvalu. The land area of the 33 islets amounts to square 2.4 km, less than one percent of the total area of the atoll. The largest island is Fongafale. On this island, there are four villages, of which one is Vaiaku, where Tuvalu's government is located. The entire atoll of Funafuti is officially the capital. 125. Gahar Lake (IRAN)

Gahar Lake is a very attractive natural site, situated in the heart of the Iranian mountains. Located 121 km to the east of Khorramabad and 25 km to the southwest of Doroud, Gahar Lake is 2,250 m above sea-level. The lake is divided into two lakes, one large and one small, that span an area of approximately 100 hectares. The lake emerged after an earthquake that occurred in Oshtorankouh mountains. It is very important in terms of ecology and natural environment and because of not having a roadway, it has mostly been protected from destruction and pollution by human activity.

126. Galapagos (ECUADOR)

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The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator, 965 kilometres west of continental Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are all part of Ecuador's national park system. They are famed for their vast number of endemic species.

127. Ganga Talao (MAURITIUS)

Ganga Talao is a lake situated in a secluded mountain area in the district of Savanne, in the center of Mauritius. It is a crater lake within an extinct volcano. Ganga Talao lies 1800 feet above sea level and has a small island in its middle.

128. Ganges River (INDIA, BANGLADESH)

The 2,510 km long Ganges is a major river in the Indian subcontinent flowing east through the eponymous plains of northern India into Bangladesh. The river and its tributaries drain a large and fertile basin with an area of about one million square kilometres that supports one of the world's highest density human populations. 129. Gangkhar Puensum ()

Gangkhar Puensum is the highest mountain in Bhutan and the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, with an elevation of 7,570 m and a prominence of over 2,990 m. The book of the 1986 British expedition gives the mountain's height as 24,770 feet and states that Gangkhar Puensum is completely inside Bhutan, whereas the nearby Kula Kangri is completely inside .

130. Gauja National Park (LATVIA)

The Gauja National Park is the largest national park in Latvia, with an area of 917.45 square km running from northeast of Sigulda to southwest of Cēsis along the valley of the Gauja River, from which the park takes its name. The park is particularly noted for the Devonian sandstone cliffs, in some places more than 40m in height, along the banks of the Gauja. In the southwest, it is mainly used by the inhabitants of Riga as a leisure facility, while it is more strictly protected further to the northeast. Some 47% of the park's territory is forest, mostly spruce and pine, but with some deciduous growth. Of the numerous lakes in the park, the largest is Lake Ungurs. 131. Geirangerfjord ()

The Geirangerfjord is a fjord in the Sunnmøre region in Norway. It is a 15km long branch of Storfjord. Innermost in the fjord lies the small village Geiranger. It is under constant threat from the mountain Åkerneset which is about to erode into the fjord. This will cause a tsunami hitting several nearby towns including Geiranger and Hellesylt in about ten minutes.

132. Giant's Causeway, Rock Formation in Northern Ireland (UNITED KINGDOM)

Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is located on the north-east coast of Nothern Ireland. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven and eight sides. 133. Gocta Waterfall (PERU)

The Gocta Waterfall a waterfall with two drops is approximately 700 km to the north-east of Lima in Peru. Its existence was made public following an expedition in 2005 by the Edward Smith and Joseph Valle & German Stefan Ziemendorff with a group of Peruvian explorers. The waterfall, which can be seen from kilometers away in the heart of the Chachapoyas region, has been christened Gocta Falls, after the name of the nearest settlement.

134. Gola Forest (SIERRA LEONE)

The Gola Forest, at 750 square km, is the largest area of lowland rain forest remaining in Sierra Leone, and is one of the most important sites for the conservation of threatened wildlife in the country. It consists of three reserves that are located in the Eastern and Southern Provinces, about 330km southeast of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. 135. Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary (BARBADOS)

The Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary is home to Graeme Hall Swamp, a mangrove swamp, near Christ Church, Barbados. It is an example of the coastal swamps which once dotted the leeward coast of Barbados from Speightstown to Chancery Lane.

136. Gran Sabana, Valley (VENEZUELA)

The Gran Sabana is one of the major natural attractions in Venezuela and is located in the approximately 1,400 km from Caracas. The area has a tropical and humid climate. The Gran Sabana lies on a plateau with a mean altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level and is dotted with huge table-top mountains called tepuis, which rise dramatically from the surrounding plains. The tallees of them is Mount Roraima at 2,810 meters above sea level. 137. Grand Canyon (UNITED STATES)

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The Grand Canyon, created by the Colorado River over a period of 6 million years, is 446 km long, ranges in width from 6 to 29 km and attains a depth of more than 1.6 km. During , the area was inhabited by Native Americans who built settlements within the canyon and its many caves.

138. Grand Etang Forest Reserve (GRENADA)

High up in the mountains of Grenada's interior, the Grand Etang Forest Reserve's varied elevations and terrains give life to several different ecological subsystems. These culminate in the elfin woodlands high up the slopes of the reserve's central mountains. The focal point of the forest reserve is Grand Etang Lake, which fills the crater of one of the island's extinct . The rainforest around the lake holds a stupendously rich diversity of flora and fauna. 139. Great Barrier Reef (AUSTRALIA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA)

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The Great Barrier Reef is the planet’s largest coral reef system, with some 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 2,600 km over an area of approximately 344,400 square km. It is the biggest single structure made by living creatures and can be seen from outer space.

140. Great Blue Hole, Underwater (BELIZE)

The Great Blue Hole is a large underwater sinkhole off of the coast of Belize. It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 60 miles from the mainland and Belize City. The hole is almost perfectly circular, over 1,000 feet across and 400 feet deep. It was formed as a limestone cave system during the last ice age when sea levels were much lower. As the ocean began to rise again the caves flooded, and the roof collapsed. 141. Great Rift Valley (, MALAWI, , ETHIOPIA)

Africa's Great Rift Valley is a 9,656-km long fissure in the earth's crust, stretching from Lebanon to . One of its most dramatic sections slices through East Africa, dividing Kenya into two segments. The Rift Valley was formed by violent subterranean forces that tore apart the earth's crust. These forces caused huge chunks of the crust to sink between parallel fault lines and force up molten rock in volcanic eruptions. Evidence that this process, called rifting, is still in progress comes from the many active and semi- active volcanoes, located along the Rift. Evidence of volcanic activity along the rift is provided by the presence of numerous boiling hot springs.

142. Great Salt Pond (SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS)

Great Salt Pond is the largest lake in the small island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, covering an area of covers 3 square miles. it is located close to the end of the Southeast Peninsula of St. Kitts. It is an unusual inland beach opening onto the Atlantic Ocean in the north and the calmer Caribbean Sea to the south. 143. Green Cauldron (AUSTRALIA)

Australia’s Green Cauldron includes the world’s second largest erosion crater. Stretching from Byron Bay to the Gold Coast and west towards the Great Dividing Range, this vast caldera shelters a huge diversity of rare flora and fauna, subtropical rainforests and a breathtaking rim of mountain ranges. Mount Warning has special meaning for Indigenous communities. It was used for initiation ceremonies and spiritual education, still retaining its cultural significance today. Activities in the area include bushwalking and touring in the region’s splendid rainforest areas, diving or snorkeling with abundant marine life where the caldera meets the coast or discovering the region’s alternative communities.

144. Gros Morne National Park (CANADA)

Situated on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland, the park provides a rare example of the process of continental drift, where deep ocean crust and the rocks of the earth's mantle lie exposed. More recent glacial action has resulted in some spectacular scenery, with coastal lowland, alpine plateau, fjords, glacial valleys, sheer cliffs, waterfalls and many pristine lakes. 145. , Mountain peak (AUSTRIA)

The Grossglockner is Austria's highest mountain at 3,798 m above sea level, and the highest mountain in the Alps east of the Brenner Pass. It is, after , the second-most-prominent mountain in the Alps. Its name means "big (bell) ringer". The pyramid- shaped peak actually consists of two pinnacles, the Grossglockner and Kleinglockner (3,700 m), separated by a saddle-like formation known as the Glocknerscharte.

146. Guilin Mountains (CHINA)

The Chinese area of Guilin, situated in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on the west bank of the Lijiang River, has long been renowned for its unique scenery. Guilin's spectacular misty mountains and lush landscaping have been an inspiration to Chinese poets and artists throughout the centuries.Along every twist and turn of the Li River, mist-shrouded limestone mountains, in all shapes and sizes, rise out of the water to form dramatic settings. 147. Halong Bay (VIET NAM)

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Halong Bay is located in Quáng Ninh province, Vietnam. The bay features thousands of limestone and isles in various sizes and shapes. The bay has a 120 kilometre long coastline and is approximately 1,553 square kilometres in size with 1969 islets. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves, other support floating villages of fishermen, who ply the shallow waters for 200 species of fish and 450 different kinds of mollusks. Another specific feature of Halong Bay is the abundance of lakes inside the limestone islands, for example, Dau Be island has six enclosed lakes. All these island lakes occupy drowned dolines within fengcong karst.

148. Han-Sur-Lesse Caves (BELGIUM)

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The Caves of Han-sur-Lesse are on the outskirts of the village of the same name. These caves are the result of the underground erosion of a limestone hill by the river Lesse. The river forces its way under the hill over a distance of over one kilometer. The caves have a constant temperature of 13°C and a high level of humidity. Access is only possible via a vintage streetcar, a remnant of the country's once extensive tramway system. 149. Hardangerfjord, Fjord (NORWAY)

With a length of 179 km, the Hardangerfjord in the county of Hordaland in Norway is the third largest fjord in the world and the second largest in Norway. About 10,000 years ago the Scandinavian land mass started to rise up as enormous glacial ice started to melt. The lower parts of the valleys became flooded, and so created what we today know as the Hardangerfjord. The valley was originally not only made through glacial erosion but by the high pressure melting water which pushed its way beneath the ice.

150. Havasupai, Waterfall (UNITED STATES)

Havasu Falls plunges 100 feet into a pool of blue-green waters. One of the most photographed waterfalls in the world.The water temperature of about 70 degrees remains relatively constant throughout the year. It's high mineral content and carbonate precipitate account for the pools and natural dams. 151. Hoge Veluwe National Park (NETHERLANDS)

The National Park Hoge Veluwe is a National Park in the area of Ede, Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland. It is approximately 55 squarekilometers in area, consisting of heathlands, sand dunes, and woodlands. It is situated in the Veluwe, the area of the largest terminal moraine in the Netherlands, created in the last Ice Age. This National Park forms one of the largest continuous nature reserves in the Netherlands. Wild animals in the park include wild boars, swine, red deer, and roe deer.

152. (UKRAINE)

Hoverla mountain, measuring 2,061 m, is the highest mountain in Ukraine and part of the . The mountain is located in the Eastern Beskides, in the so-called region. The slopes are covered with beech and spruce forests, above which there is a belt of sub-alpine meadows called polonyna in Ukrainian. On the eastern slope, there is the main spring of the Prut river. In late 19th century, the mountain became a notable tourist attraction, and it gained popularity even more during the 20th century as an site for practicing extreme sports. 153. Huacachina, Oasis (PERU)

Huacachina is a small town in the Ica Region, in southwestern Peru. Huacachina is built around a small lake in the desert. Called the "oasis of America," it serves as a resort for local families from the nearby city of Ica, and increasingly as an attraction for tourists. Legend holds that the lagoon was created when a beautiful native princess was apprehended at her bath by a young hunter. She fled, leaving the pool of water she had been bathing in to become the lagoon.

154. Mountain (CHINA)

The Huangshan is a mountain range in the southern Anhui province in eastern China. The area is very famous for its scenic beauty, which lies in the peculiar shapes of the granite peaks, in the weather-shaped Huangshan Pine trees, and in views of the clouds from above. The area also has hot springs and natural pools. The Huang Shan are a frequent subject of traditional Chinese paintings and literature. The mountain range comprises many peaks, 77 of which exceed 1,000 m in altitude. 155. Huascaran, National Park (PERU)

Huascarán is a national park in the Cordillera Blanca, a range of the Andes, in Ancash of central Peru. The highest snow-covered mountain is here (whose name is also Huascarán and is 6,768 meters tall). The park has a very rich flora, fauna, and beauty landscapes. Some of this peaks and lagoons which are very popular around the world. It is the habitat of many species for instance the or the Llama.

156. Hundred Islands National Park (PHILIPPINES)

The Hundred Islands National Park is in the province of Pangasinan in northern Philippines. It is located in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. The islands are scattered along Lingayen Gulf and cover an area of 18.44 square km. They are believed to be some two million years old. Only three of them have been developed: Governor Island, Quezon Island, and Children's Island. 157. Ichkeul, Lake (TUNISIA)

Ichkeul Lake is a lake located in nothern Tunisia. Ichkeul National Park is an important stopping-over point for innumerous migrating birds each year. Dam construction on the lake’s feeder rivers has produced major changes to the ecological balance of the lake and wetlands. The migratory bird population has been reduced and fresh-water plant species have been replaced with salt-loving plants.

158. Iguazu Falls (ARGENTINA, BRAZIL)

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Iguazu Falls, in Iguazu River, are one of the world's largest waterfalls. They extend over 2,700 m (nearly 2 miles) in a semi-circular shape. Of the 275 falls that collectively make up Iguassu Falls, "Devil's Throat" is the tallest at 80 m in height. Iguazu Falls are on the border between the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentine province of Misiones, and are surrounded by two National Parks (BR/ARG). Both are subtropical rainforests that are host to hundreds of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.

159. Ilulissat Icefjord (GREENLAND)

The Ilulissat Icefjord runs west 40 kilometres from the Greenland Ice Sheet to Disko Bay close to Ilulissat town. At its eastern end is the Jakobshavn Isbræ glacier, the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere. The glacier flows at a rate of 20-35 metres per day, resulting in around 20 billion tonnes of icebergs calved off and passing out of the fjord every year. Icebergs breaking from the glacier are often up to a kilometer in height large that they are too tall to float down the fjord and lie stuck on the bottom of its shallower areas, sometimes for years, until they are broken up by the force of the glacier and icebergs further up the fjord.

160. Ischigualasto Provincial Park (ARGENTINA)

Ischigualasto is a geological formation and a natural park associated with it in the province of San Juan, north-western Argentina, near the border with Chile. The Ischigualasto Formation contains Late Triassic (Carnian) deposits (230 million years before the present), with some of the oldest known dinosaur remains, which are the world's first with regards to quality, number and importance. It is the only place in the world where nearly all of the Triassic is represented in an undisturbed sequence of rock deposits. This allows for the study of the transition between dinosaurs and ancient mammals; research is ongoing. The arid badlands around the formation are known as Valle de la Luna ("Valley of the Moon") due to their rugged, otherworldly appearance. 161. Islands of Ofu and Olosega (AMERICAN )

Ofu and Olosega are the parts of a volcanic doublet in the Manu‘a Group of the Samoa Archipelago—part of American Samoa. Although geographically separate volcanic remnants, only a narrow strait (Asaga) naturally bridged by a shallow coral reef separates them. The islands of Ofu and Olosega have scenic beaches with spectacular Sunu’itao Peak and Piumafua Mountain backdrops.

162. Issyk Kul Lake (KYRGYZSTAN)

Issyk Kul is an endorheic lake (one that retains water, allowing no outflow to other bodies of water) in the northern mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan. It is the ninth-largest lake in the world by volume and the second-largest saline lake, after the . Although it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, it never freezes; hence its name, which means ""warm lake"" in Kyrgyz. Some 118 rivers and streams flow into the lake; the largest being the Djyrgalan and Tyup. Issyk Kul Lake is fed by springs, including many hot springs, and snow melt-off. 163. Jaco Island (TIMOR-LESTE)

Jaco is an island in the Lesser Sunda Islands belonging to . It is separated from the mainland by a narrow channel and covers an area of about 10 square km. The island is uninhabited. It is considered holy by the indigenous population, so setting foot on the island is forbidden.

164. Jaegala Fall (Laheema National Park) (ESTONIA)

This wonderful 7.8-m high waterfall in Estonia has smoothed the limestone edge for centuries. As a result, a 12-14 m deep and 300- m-long valley has been created. These waterfalls are nicknamed “the Niagara Falls of the Baltics” by the Latvians! 165. Jebel Hafit (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)

The isolated mountain of Jebel Hafit lies immediately to the south of the city of Al Ain. Its imposing whaleback appearance is instantly recognisable even at a considerable distance, standing proudly almost 1000m higher than the surrounding desert floor. 1300m at the summit, it is Abu Dhabi's highest mountain. Close by the foot of Jebel Hafit lies Ayn al-Faydah. This is an area of wetland, modified and maintained by human activity, but which provides a refreshing change from the otherwise mainly arid rocky local scenery. Dragonflies are ubiquitous here, while a number of restricted range beetle and moth species have been discovered locally.

166. Grotto (LEBANON)

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Jeita Grotto is a compound of crystallized caves in Lebanon located 20 km north of in the Valley of Nahr al-Kalb (Dog River). This grotto is made up of two limestone caves, upper galleries and a lower cave through which a 6230 m long river runs. Geologically, the caves provide a tunnel or escape route for the underground river. In this cave and galleries, the action of water in the limestone has created cathedral-like vaults full of various sizes, colors and shapes of stalactites and stalagmites, majestic curtains and fantastic rock formations. The total length of the cave is more than 9000 m and there is one among the biggest stalactites in the world hanging 8,20 m. The grotto accommodates a huge hall with a distance of 108 m from the ceiling till the water level. 167. (KOREA (SOUTH))

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Jejudo is a volcanic island, 130 km from the southern coast of Korea. The largest island and smallest province in Korea, the island has a surface area of 1,846 sqkm. A central feature of Jeju is , the tallest mountain in and a dormant volcano, which rises 1,950 m above sea level. 360 satellite volcanoes are around the main volcano.

168. Jiuzhaigou National Park (CHINA)

Jiuzhaigou Valley is a nature reserve in the northern Sichuan province of China. It is known for its many multi-level waterfalls and colorful lakes. Jiuzhaigou lies at the southern end of the Minshan mountain range, 330 km north of the provincial capital of Chengdu. 169. Mountain (, CHINA)

K2 is the second-highest mountain on Earth. It is located in the Karakoram segment of the Himalayan range. K2 is notable for its local relief as well as its total height. It stands over 3,000 m above much of the glacial valley bottoms at its base. His degree of steepness, at this vertical scale, in so many different directions, is unmatched in the world.

170. Kafue National Park ()

Kafue National Park is the largest national park in Zambia, covering an area of about 22,400 square km. It is the second largest park in Africa and is home to over 55 different species of animals.The park is named for the Kafue River. It stretches over three provinces: North Western, Central and Southern. 171. Kaieteur Falls (GUYANA)

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Kaieteur Falls is a waterfall on the Potaro River in central Guyana. It is located in the Kaieteur National Park. It is 226 m when measured from its plunge over a sandstone cliff to the first break. It then flows over a series of steep cascades that, when included in the measurements, bring the total height to 251 m. Kaieteur Falls is about five times higher than Niagara Falls.

172. Kakadu National Park (AUSTRALIA)

Kakadu National Park, in eastern Australia, is almost 20,000 square kilometres in size (as large as Denmark or Ireland), with pristine waterfalls, a wide variety of bird and animal life, salt-water crocodiles and a rich, diverse plant life. 173. Kalahari Desert (, , SOUTH AFRICA)

The Kalahari Desert is a large arid to semi-arid sandy area in southern Kgalagadi Africa extending 900,000 km². The Kalahari supports some animals and plants because most of it is not real desert. There are small amounts of rainfall and the summer temperature is very high. The riverbeds are mostly grazing spots, though leopard or cheetah can still be found.

174. Kali Gandaki, River (NEPAL)

The Gandaki River in Nepal and the Gandak in India, is a tributary of the Ganga or Ganges River. It is one of the major rivers of Nepal and India is notable for the deep gorge through which it flows. It has a total catchment area of 46,300 km². 175. Kamchatka Peninsula (RUSSIA)

The Kamchatka Peninsula is a 1,250-kilometer long peninsula in the Russian Far East with an area of 472,300 square kilometers. It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west. The Kamchatka River and the surrounding central valley are flanked by large volcanic belts containing around 160 volcanoes, 29 of them still active. The highest volcano is (4,750 m), the largest active volcano in the Northern Hemisphere. Kamchatka boasts diverse and abundant wildlife. This is due to climates ranging from temperate to subarctic, diverse topography and geography, many free-flowing rivers and proximity to highly productive waters from the northwestern Pacific Ocean and the Bering and Okhotsk Seas.

176. Kanuku Mountains (FRENCH GUIANA)

The Kanuku Mountains are a group of mountains in Guyana, located in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region. The name means 'rich forest' in the Macushi language, a reference to the rich diversity of wildlife found there. Some 150 mammal species, or 80% of all mammals found in Guyana, live in the Kanuku Mountains. Prominent species include the giant otter, the Harpy eagle and the Arapaima. The Kunuku Mountains rise up almost 3,000 ft. 177. Kao Island (TONGA)

Kao is an island and stratovolcano in Tonga. It reaches 1,030 m above sea level, the highest point in Tonga. It lies some 6 km north of Tofua island. The slopes of the island rise at angles exceeding 35 degrees to the summit, which has a series of small volcanic craters. The island is densely jungled on its lower flanks, while the upper slopes are almost bare. The date of its last eruption is unknown, and fresh lava flows are not seen, but the absence of deep erosional gullies or high sea cliffs suggests a very recent origin.

178. Kara-Kul (TAJIKISTAN)

Kara-Kul is a 25-km diameter lake in the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan, which lies at an altitude of 3,900 m above sea level. A peninsula projecting from the southern shore and an island off the north shore divide the lake into two basins: a smaller eastern one, which is relatively shallow, between 13 to 19 m deep, and a larger western one, with depths of 221 to 230 m. Kara-Kul lake lies within a circular depression thought to be a meteorite impact crater with a rim diameter of 45 km. 179. Kaziranga National Park (INDIA)

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Kaziranga National Park is a national park in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam, India. Located on the edge of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity , the park combines high-species diversity and visibility. Kaziranga has the highest density of tigers among protected areas in the world and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006. It is also recognised as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International for conservation of avifaunal species.

180. Khao Yai, National Park ()

Khao Yai National Park is the second-largest park in Thailand. It was the country's first national park. It covers an area of 2,168 square kilometers, including evergreen forests and grasslands. Its altitude mostly ranges from 400 to 1000 m above sea level. The park is home to some 3,000 species of plants, 320 species of birds and 67 species of mammals, including Asiatic black bears, Asian elephants, gaur, tigers, gibbons, Indian sambar deer, Indian muntjac, dholes and wild pigs. Its waterfalls include the 80-meter high Heo Narok, and the Haeo Suwat falls that were made famous by the film The Beach. 181. Khawr al Udayd (QATAR)

Surrounded by massive sand dunes, Khawr al Udayd is an inlet of the Persian Gulf in the southeast of Qatar. It is known to local English speakers as the "Inland Sea."

182. Kilauea, Volcano (UNITED STATES)

Kilauea is an active volcano in the Hawaiian Islands, one of five shield volcanoes that together form the Island of . It is currently the most active volcano and one of the most visited active volcanoes on Earth. 183. Kilimanjaro (TANZANIA)

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With its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawensi, and Shira, is an inactive strato-volcano in north-eastern Tanzania. It is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, rising 4,600 m from its base, and includes the highest peak in Africa at 5,895 meters.

184. King Haakon Bay (SOUTH AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS)

King Haakon Bay is an inlet on the southern coast of the British island of South Georgia. The inlet is approximately 13 km long and 4 km wide. Cave Cove, which forms part of the bay, is best known as the landing place of Ernest Shackleton in May 1916 as he sought help for his shipwrecked crew marooned in the Antarctic with the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. 185. Ko Phi Phi Island (THAILAND)

The Phi Phi Islands are a small group of Islands between the large island of Phuket and the western Andaman Sea coast off the mainland of Thailand.

186. (INDONESIA)

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Indonesia’s Komodo National Park includes the three larger islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller ones, for a total area of 1,817 square kilometers (603 square kilometers of it land). The national park was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon. Later, it was also dedicated to protecting other species, including marine animals. The islands of the national park are of volcanic origin.

187. Krakatau, Volcanic Islands (INDONESIA)

Nestled between the large Indonesian islands of Java and is the Krakatau Volcano National Park. In the fourth century, a single marine volcano stood at this site, but in 416 A.D., the caldera of the volcano collapsed. The remnants formed a new caldera, or volcanic feature formed by the collapse of land following an eruption, around 7 km in diameter, with the peak’s remnants becoming the three islands of Verlaten, Lang and Krakatau. This volcano remnant was not dormant, however, and in August 1883, the volcano on Krakatau erupted with such violence that the sound was heard as far away as Madagscar and Alice Springs, Australia, thousands of km away. It was one of the largest terrestrial explosions in recorded history. The eruption also caused a tsunami 40 m high. Since 1927, continued eruptions and outflow material has formed a fourth island in the park, Anak Krakatau, or “Child of Krakatau.”

188. Kruger National Park (SOUTH AFRICA)

Kruger National Park is the largest natural reserve in South Africa. It covers 18,989 square km and extends 350 km from north to south and 60 km from east to west. It is part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere. 189. Kugitang Caves ()

The Kugitang caves are located on the slope of Kugitangtau Ridge and are a typical representation of various karst forms. Some 60 caves have been discovered, with a total length of 50 km, featuring galleries, passages, halls and labyrinths. The caves are rich in formations made of plaster, calcite, aragonite in the form of stalactites, stalagmites and stone curtains.

190. La Brea Pitch Lake (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO)

The La Brea Pitch Lake is a lake of natural asphalt in southwest Trinidad. It has fascinated explorers, scientists and the common folk since its discovery by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1595. The lake covers about 500 sq. m and is reported to be 75 m deep. The Pitch Lake attracts about 20,000 visitors annually. It is also mined for asphalt which is exported for high-quality road construction. 191. La Claire Mare Nature Reserve (GUERNSEY)

La Claire Mare is a low-lying saline wetland on the west coast of Guernsey. It is one of the island's premier reserves for birds and is comprised of wet grassland,reedbeds & open water. Located next to the shingle bank at L'Eree, salt water is forced into the pondon spring high tides, leading to a brackish envirionment. This is a rare habitat in Guernsey and the reserves has a few specialist plant species, such as sea aster, that are remnants from saltmarshes that were formerly more widespread. In winter it regularly supports wildfowl such as Teal,Wigeon & Shoveler & a roost of up to 50 Little Egrets at high tide.

192. La Digue, Rock (SEYCHELLES)

La Digue is the fourth largest inhabited island of the Seychelles, lying east of Praslin and west of Felicite Island in the Indian Ocean. It has an area of 10 sq km. 193. Laguna Colorada (BOLIVIA)

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Laguna Colorada is a shallow salt lake in the southwest of the altiplano of Bolivia and close to the border with Chile. The lake contains borax islands, whose white color contrasts nicely with the reddish color of its waters, which is caused by red sediments and pigmentation of some algae.

194. Lake al-Jabbul (SYRIA)

Covering 60 square miles near Aleppo Lake al-Jabbul is Syria's largest lake. The large, shallow body of salt water is an important staging and breeding site for many water birds in the . 195. Lake Asal (DJIBOUTI)

Lake Asal is a crater lake in central Djibouti, located at the southern border of the Tadjoura Region. The lowest point on the continent of Africa, it lies 153 m below sea level in the Afar Depression. Lake Asal is the most saline body of water on earth, with 34.8 percent more salt than the Dead Sea The sources of the lake are subsurface springs, which are fed by the Gulf of Tadjoura, the eastern extension of the Gulf of Aden.

196. Lake Atitlan (GUATEMALA)

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Atitlan is a large lake in the Guatemalan Highlands. While it is recognized to be the deepest lake in Central America, its bottom has not been completely sounded. Estimates of its maximum depth range up to 340 meters. The lake is shaped by deep escarpments which surround it and by three volcanoes on its southern flank. Lake Atitlan is further characterized by towns and villages of the Maya people. 197. Lake Azuei (HAITI)

Lake Azuei, Haiti's largest lake, is located in southeastern Haiti. The salt-water lake has an area of around square 170 km. The lake supports over 100 species of waterfowl, flamingos and American crocodiles, one of the few lakes of its type in the world to harbor such fauna. The lake's water is an intense shade of blue.

198. Lake Balaton (HUNGARY)

Lake Balaton, located in Hungary, is the largest lake in Central Europe and one of the foremost regional tourist destinations. Due to Hungary being landlocked, it is often affectionately called the "Hungarian Sea." The Zala River provides the largest inflow of water to the lake, and the canalized Sió is the only outflow. With a surface area of 592 square km, it has a length of 77 km and a width ranging from 4 to 14 km. The Mediterranean climate combined with the soil (containing volcanic rock) has made the region notable for its production of wines since the Roman era two thousand years ago. 199. Lake Bled ()

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Lake Bled is a glacial lake in the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia. It is 2,120 m long and 1,380 m wide, with a maximum depth of 30.6 m. The lake is nestled in a picturesque environment, surrounded by mountains and forests.

200. Lake Bosumtwi (GHANA)

Lake Bosumtwi is located in south-central Ghana, 27 km southeast of the regional Capital Kumasi. The only true inland lake in the country, it has no surface outlet and was formed either by volcanic eruption or by the impact of a meteorite. With an area of 49 square km and a depth of some 73 m, the lake is fed by small streams that tumble down the steep sides. 201. Lake Chad, Lake (CHAD)

Lake Chad is a large lake in Africa. It is economically very important, providing water to more than 20 million people living in the four countries which surround it — Chad, Cameroon, Niger and . The lake possesses several small islands and mudbanks, and its coasts largely consist of marshes. Its area is particularly sensitive to small changes in average depth, and it also shows seasonal fluctuations in size.

202. Lake Enriquillo ()

Lake Enriquillo is a lake in the Dominican Republic and one of only a few saltwater lakes in the world inhabited by crocodiles. Lake Enriquillo covers an area of 102 square miles (265 km²) and is the lowest point in the Caribbean falling 144 feet (44 m) below sea level. The lake contains 3 islands: Isla Barbarita, Islita and Isla Cabritos. 203. Lake Kivu (RWANDA, CONGO (DRC))

Lake Kivu is one of the Great Lakes of Africa. It is on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and is situated in the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu empties into the Ruzizi River, which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika.

204. Lake Lalolalo (WALLIS AND FUTUNA)

Surrounded by a very well-preserved tropical jungle full of flourishing abundance of fauna and flora, Lake Lalolalo is the definitely the most spectacular of all crater lakes on Wallis Island. The mysterious lake forms a perfect circle and the 30-m-high rocky cliffs fall straight into the limpid water, providing shelter to various species of rare tropical birds. 205. Lake Louise (CANADA)

Lake Louise is a glacial lake that is located in Banff National Park. It is named after the Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (1848- 1939), the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria. The unique emerald colour of the water comes from rock flour carried into the lake by melt-water from the glaciers that overlook the lake.

206. Lake Malawi (MALAWI)

Lake Malawi is the southernmost lake in the Great African Rift Valley system. The lake, which is the third-largest in Africa and the ninth-largest in the world, is situated between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. The lake's tropical waters teem with more fish species than any other lake on Earth. 207. Lake Michigan (UNITED STATES)

Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is bounded by the U.S. states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The word ''Michigan'' was originally used to refer to the lake itself, and is believed to come from the Ojibwa Indian word ''mishigami'' (''great water'').

208. Lake Narach (BELARUS)

Lake Narach is a lake in northwest Belarus, in the basin of the Vilija river. It is the largest lake in Belarus. Narach is a part of the Narach lake group and is surrounded by pine forests. Narach River flows out of it. The lake is a popular resort and site. 209. Lake Neusiedl (AUSTRIA)

Lake Neusiedl is the second-largest steppe lake in Central Europe, straddling the Austrian–Hungarian border. The lake's drainage basin has an area of about 1,120 sq. km. From north to south, the lake is about 36 km long, and at no point is it more than 1.8 m deep.

210. Lake Ohrid (ALBANIA, MACEDONIA (FYROM))

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Lake Ohrid straddles the mountainous border between the southwestern region of the Republic of Macedonia and eastern Albania. It is probably the oldest lake in Europe preserving a unique aquatic ecosystem with more than 200 endemic species. Lake Ohrid is the deepest lake of the Balkans with a maximum depth of 940 ft. It covers an area of 138 square miles. 211. Lake Retba (SENEGAL)

Lake Retba (Pink Lake) is located near Dakar in Senegal, close to the Atlantic coast. It has shallow, lagoon-like features. A hypersaline lake with a maximum salt concentration of 463 g per liter, Lake Retba's waters often appear pink, especially during the dry season.

212. Lake Saiful Maluk (PAKISTAN)

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Lake Saiful Muluk is at the northern end of the Kaghan Valley near Naran, Pakistan. At an altitude of 3,224 m above sea level, it is one of the highest lakes in Pakistan.The clarity of the water comes from the multiple glaciers around the high basin, which all feed the lake. 213. Lake Saimaa ()

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Lake Saimaa in southeastern Finland measures approximately 4,400 square km. It is the largest lake in Finland and the fourth-largest in Europe. It was formed by glacial melting at the end of the Ice Age. Most of the lake is spotted with islands, and narrow canals divide the lake into many parts.

214. Lake Sentani (INDONESIA)

An irregularly shaped body with approximate maximum dimensions of 28 km (E-W) by 19 km (N-S) and a surface area of 10,400 ha, Lake Sentani is by far the largest of the Irian Jaya lakes. It is fed by a catchment area of about 600 km2 and has one outlet only, via the Jafuri and Tami rivers to the Pacific Ocean near the Papua New Guinea border. Lake Sentani, near Jayapura at the NE extremity of Irian Jaya, lies at an elevation of 73 m in a fault-controlled depression mainly in Mesozoic mafic and ultramafic rocks of the Cyclops Ophiolite Belt. It is bounded by the Cyclops Mountains block to the north and the lower-standing terrain of the New Guinea fold thrust belt to the south. 215. Lake Sevan ()

Lake Sevan is the largest lake in Armenia and one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world. With Lake Van and , Sevan was one of the three great lakes of the historical Armenian Kingdom, collectively referred to as the Seas of Armenia, and it is the only one within the boundaries of today's Republic of Armenia. Before human intervention dramatically changed this ecosystem, the lake was 95 m deep and covered an area of 1,360 square km (5% of Armenia's entire surface).

216. Lake Superior (UNITED STATES, CANADA)

Lake Superior is the largest of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area and is the world's fourth-largest freshwater lake by volume. 217. Lake Tana (ETHIOPIA)

Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and the largest lake in Ethiopia. Located in the north-western Ethiopian highlands, the lake is approximately 84 km long and 66 km wide. Lake Tana is fed by the Little Abay, Reb and Gumara Rivers.

218. Lake Tanganyika (ZAMBIA, TANZANIA, CONGO (DRC), BURUNDI)

Lake Tanganyika is a large lake in central Africa. It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest. The lake is bordered by four countries: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania and Zambia. Its water flows into the Congo River system and, ultimately, into the Atlantic Ocean. 219. Lake Titicaca (BOLIVIA, PERU)

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Lake Titicaca sits 3,812 m above sea level making it the highest commercially navigable lake in the world. By volume of water it is also the largest lake in South America. The lake is located at the northern end of the endorheic Altiplano basin high in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia. It is composed of two nearly separate sub-basins that are connected by the Strait of Tiquina which is 800m across at the narrowest point.

220. Lake Toba (INDONESIA)

Lake Toba is the largest volcanic lake in the world. At 100 km long and 30 km wide, measuring 505 m at its deepest point, it is situated in the middle of the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Surrounded by tall mountains, it cradles the large island of Samosir in its middle. 221. Lake Togo (TOGO)

A low-lying, sandy beaches of this narrow African coastal region are backed by tidal flats and shallow lagoons, the largest of which is Lake Togo in Southern Togo, some 15 km long and up to 6 km wide. The lake is separated from the ocean by a narrow piece of land.

222. Lake Victoria (KENYA, TANZANIA, UGANDA)

Lake Victoria or Victoria Nyanza (also known as Ukerewe and Nalubaale) is one of the Great Lakes of Africa. It is 68,800 square kilometres (26,560 mi²) in size, making it the continent's largest lake, the largest tropical lake in the world, and the second widest fresh water lake in the world in terms of surface area. Being relatively shallow for its size, with a maximum depth of 84 m (276 ft) and a mean depth of 40 m (131 ft), it is the source of the longest branch of the River Nile, the White Nile, and has a water catchment area of 184,000 square kilometres (71,040 mi²). The lake lies within an elevated plateau in the western part of Africa's Great Rift Valley and has a shoreline of 3,440 km (2138 miles). It has more than 3,000 islands, many of which are inhabited. The lake's shallowness, limited river inflow, and large surface area relative to its volume make it vulnerable to climate changes; cores taken from its bottom show that Lake Victoria has dried up completely three times since it formed 400,000 years ago. 223. Le Cirque de Mafate, Volcanic Caldera (RÉUNION)

Located in the northwest portion of Reunion Island, in the Indian Ocean, the beautiful Cirque de Mafate is totally surrounded by mountains. This rugged and wild "cirque" or circus is the only one of the island’s three natural amphitheaters that is only accessible on foot or by helicopter.

224. Lencois Maranhenses, National Park (BRAZIL)

The Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is located in northeastern Brazil. It is an area of low, flat, occasionally flooded land, overlaid with large, discrete sand dunes. It encompasses roughly 1000 square kilometers, and despite abundant rain, supports almost no vegetation. 225. Lenin Peak (TAJIKISTAN, KYRGYZSTAN)

Lenin Peak is the highest mountain in the Trans-Alay Range of Central and the second-highest peak in the Pamir Mountains. It stands on the border of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

226. Liwa Oasis and Empty Quarter (OMAN, SAUDI ARABIA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, YEMEN)

Nestled on the northern edge of the Rub al Khali (Empty Quarter) desert, the extensive Al Liwa oasis stretches about 100 km east- west in an arch curved to the north. The Rub al Khali desert is one of the largest sand deserts in the world. 227. Llanganuco, Lagoon (PERU)

Llanganuco lagoon is located in a narrow valley glacier, flanked by the hills Huascarán and (White Mountain range), comprising of the Reserve of the Biósfera of the Huascarán. In the borders of the first lagoon, Chinancocha (lagoon female), are leafy forests of queñual. The second lagoon, Orconcocha (male lagoon), is at the end of the valley and is smaller.

228. Loango National Park (GABON)

Loango National Park is a national park in western Gabon covering an area of 1550 square km. It comprises savannah, pristine beach, forest and mangroves and also protects diverse coastal habitats, including part of the 220 square km Iguéla Lagoon, the only significant example of a typical western African lagoon system that is protected within a national park. 229. Loch Ness, Lake in Scotland (UNITED KINGDOM)

Loch Ness is a large, deep freshwater lake in the Scottish Highlands extending for approximately 37 km southwest of Inverness. Its surface is 15.8 meters above sea level. Loch Ness is best known for the alleged sightings of the legendary Loch Ness Monster, also known as "Nessie".

230. Lomas de Lachay, National Park (PERU)

The Lomas de Lachay is a national reserve in the foothills of the Huaral Province in Lima. The reserve is located 105 km north from the capital Lima and features a unique mist-fed ecosystem of wild plant and animal species. The National Reserve of Lachay expands across an area of 520.7 square kilometres. Its main purpose is to restore and protect the ecosystem of the Lomas de Lachay. 231. Lonar Crater and Lake (INDIA)

Lonar crater is an impact crater (created by the hypervelocity impact of either a comet or meteorite) situated in the Buldgana district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The crater is 1.83 km (6,000 ft) in diameter and 170 metres in depth, and its age is estimated to be 52,000 years. It is the largest impact crater in basaltic rock and is partially filled by a salt water lake.

232. Long Point Sand Spit (CANADA)

The Long Point Peninsula, a 19.8 mile sand spit jutting into Lake Erie, is one of Canada’s most fragile ecosystems. It is located on the north shore of Lake Erie in Norfolk Country, situated in the Canadian province of Ontario. 233. Los Roques, Archipelago (VENEZUELA)

The Los Roques islands are a federal dependency of Venezuela, consisting of about 50 islands, cays or islets. The archipelago is an atoll located some 145 km directly north of the port of La Guaira, close to Caracas. Being almost an untouched coral reef, it attracts many visitors, especially from Europe, some of which come in their own yachts and anchor in the inner, protected shallow waters. Because of the wide variety of seabirds and rich aquatic life, the Venezuelan government declared Los Roques a National Park in 1972.

234. , Ecological Reserve (PERU)

The Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu not only preserves geological formations and archaeological remains within the Sanctuary, but also the unique flora and fauna and spectacular landscape of the surrounding woods. The Sanctuary of Machu Picchu has an extension of 32.592 hectares, in which 372 native species of orchids, 108 species of butterflies, 184 species of birds, 92 species of and a great variety of other flora and fauna exist. 235. Madang Lagoon (PAPUA NEW GUINEA)

Madang Lagoon on the north Coast of Papua New Guinea is an area approximately 15 km long and 4 km wide, and is considered one of the most biologically diverse marine sites in the Asian Pacific. Some 700 species of coral and over 1000 species of reef fishes live in the lagoon. The outer perimeter consists of a series of islands connected by coral reef.

236. Madidi, National Park (BOLIVIA)

Madidi is a national park in the upper Amazon river basin in Bolivia. Established in 1995,it has an area of 18,958 square kilometres, and along with nearby protected (though not necessarily contiguous) areas Manuripi-Heath, Apolobamba, and (across the border in Peru) the Manu Biosphere Reserve, Madidi is part of one of the largest protected areas in the world. 237. Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley (ANDORRA)

The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley is a glacial valley in the southeast of Andorra. It covers an area of 42.47 square km, approximately 9% of the total area of Andorra, and is part of the second largest watershed basin in Andorra. The isolated valley is recognised as a haven for rare or endangered wildlife, and the undeveloped valley has recently been considered to be the "spiritual heart" of Andorra. The valley is a glacial landscape, with high pastures, craggy cliffs and steep wooded valleys.

238. (MALDIVES)

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The Maldive Islands make up an island nation consisting of 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean. They are located south of India’s Lakshadweep islands, about 700 kilometers south-west of . The Maldives encompass 1,192 small islands, roughly two hundred of which are inhabited.

239. Maletsunyane Falls ()

Nestled in the Lesotho highlands Maletsunyane Falls at 192 m is Southern Africa's highest single-drop waterfall

240. Malolotja Nature Reserve (SWAZILAND)

Malolotja Nature Reserve is situated in the western mountains of Swaziland. The Malolotja River rises in the east of the reserve and meanders its way through some fragile high-end bog systems before tumbling over numerous waterfalls, including Swaziland's highest waterfall, the Malolotja Falls, and cutting its way through a steep sided gorge to meet the Nkomati River, some 900 m below. 241. Malpelo, Island (COLOMBIA)

Malpelo Island is an island located 500 km off Colombia's Pacific coast. The island consists of a sheer and barren rock with three high peaks, the highest being Cerro de la Mona with a height of 300 m. The island is surrounded by a number of offshore rocks. Malpelo has been interpreted as a portion of oceanic crust, probably a local manifestation of a "hot spot".

242. Mammoth Cave National Park (UNITED STATES)

Mammoth Cave National Park is in central Kentucky, USA, encompassing portions of Mammoth Cave, the most elongated cave system known in the world. The official name of the system is the Mammoth Cave System for the ridge under which the cave has formed. 243. Manglares de Tumbes, National Park (PERU)

The Manglares de Tumbes National Sanctuary is a national park located in Peru. It is similar to the Everglades National Park in Florida, USA while it is known to be less saturated by tourism. They contain many different spieces of flora and fauna from many different animal groups. During the summer months from December to March, the swamp dries up to become a large canyon encompassed by the surrounging brush.

244. Manovo-Gounda Saint Floris National Parks (CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC)

The Manovo-Gounda Saint Floris National Park is some 650 km northeast of Bangui. The 17 400 square km reserve houses the 'big four' of traditional African wildlife (elephants, lions, leopards and rhinos), as well as giraffes, buffalos, hippos, monkeys, baboons, cheetahs, crocodiles, warthogs, pelicans and many kinds of buck. 245. Manu National Park (PERU)

Manú National Park is a biosphere reserve located in Madre de Dios and Paucartambo, . The park remains fairly inaccessible by road to this day. It is the largest National Park in Peru, covering an area of 15,328 km². The park protects all of the ecological zones that exist in the Amazon Basin, covering an altitudinal gradient between 150 and 4200 meters above sea level.

246. Mariana Trench, Submarine Trench (UNITED STATES)

The Mariana Trench is the deepest known ocean trench, with a maximum depth of about 11 kilometers, and the deepest location on the surface of the Earth. It is 2,542 kilometers long and 69 kilometers wide. It is located in the floor of the western North Pacific Ocean, to the east and south of the Mariana Islands, near Guam. The trench forms the boundary between two tectonic plates, where the Pacific Plate goes below the Philippine Plate. The bottom of the trench is farther below sea level than is above it, and the water pressure at this depth is over 8 tons per square inch, more than 1,000 times the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level. 247. , Mountain Peak (ITALY)

Marmolada is a mountain in northeastern Italy and the highest mountain of the Dolomites (a section of the Alps). The mountain consists of a ridge running west to east. Towards the south it breaks suddenly into sheer cliffs, forming a rock face several kilometres long. On the north side there is a flat glacier, the only large glacier in the Dolomites (the Marmolada Glacier).

248. Marovo Lagoon (SOLOMON ISLANDS)

Marovo Lagoon is the largest saltwater lagoon in the world. It is on the New Georgia Islands, which are part of the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. 249. Marrah Mountains (SUDAN)

The Marrah Mountains are a range of volcanic peaks created by a massif that rises up to 3,000 m. It is located in the center of the Darfur region of Sudan. The highest point is Deriba Crater. The upper reaches of the massif is a small area of temperate climate with high rainfall and permanent springs of water.

250. Masurian Lake District (POLAND)

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The Masurian Lake District or Masurian Lakeland is a lake district in northeastern Poland containing more than 2,000 lakes. It extends roughly 290 km eastwards from the lower Vistula River to the Poland-Lithuania border and occupies an area of roughly 52,000 square kilometers. The lake district was shaped by the ice age. Many of its hills are parts of moraines and many of its lakes are moraine-dammed lakes.

251. Matterhorn/Cervino (ITALY, SWITZERLAND)

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The Matterhorn/Cervino is perhaps the most familiar mountain in the European Alps. On the border between Switzerland and Italy, it towers over the Swiss village of Zermatt and the Italian village Breuil-Cervinia in the Val Tournanche. The mountain has four faces, facing the four compass points, respectively, with the north and south faces meeting to form a short east-west summit ridge. The faces are steep, and only small patches of snow and ice cling to them; regular avalanches send the snow down to accumulate on the glaciers at the base of each face.

252. Mauna Kea (Hawaii), Volcano (UNITED STATES)

Hawaii’s tallest mountain, Mauna Kea stands over 4,000 m and is taller than Mount Everest if followed to its base at the floor of the Pacific Ocean. All of the Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanoes arising from the sea floor from a source described in geological theory as a hotspot. 253. Mayon Volcano (PHILIPPINES)

Mayon Volcano is an active volcano on the Filipino island of Luzon, 15 km northwest of Legazpi City.It is classified by volcanologists as a stratovolcano (composite volcano). Its symmetric cone was formed through alternate pyroclastic and lava flows. Mayon is the most active volcano in the country, having erupted over 47 times in the past 400 years, and is a part of what is called the Pacific Ring of Fire.

254. McKenzie Falls (AUSTRALIA)

MacKenzie Falls is one of the largest and most spectacular waterfalls in Australia, one of four falls in the MacKenzie River Gorge. It flows all year round, and the water cascades over huge cliffs into a deep pool, sending mist high into the air. 255. Mekong River (VIET NAM, THAILAND, , LAO, CHINA, )

The Mekong is considered one of the world’s major rivers. It is the 11th-longest river in the world, and the 12th-largest by volume. Its estimated length is 4,880 km. From the Tibetan Plateau, it runs through China's Yunnan province, Burma, Thailand, , Cambodia and Vietnam. The extreme seasonal variations in flow and the presence of rapids and waterfalls have made navigation on the Mekong extremely difficult.

256. Mergui Archipelago (MYANMAR)

Mergui Archipelago, located in southernmost part of Myanmar, comprises over 200 islands. Due to its virtual isolation, the islands and surrounding seas are alive with an amazing diversity of flora & fauna. 257. Mesopotamian Marshes, Wetlands ()

The Mesopotamian Marshes are a wetland area located in Southern Iraq bordering Iran. Historically, the marshlands were the largest wetland ecosystem of Western Eurasia. This rare aquatic landscape in the desert provides a habitat for important populations of wildlife. As the name suggests, the Mesopotamian Marshes are located in the larger region which used to be called Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia, literally meaning ''in between rivers'', is now occupied by modern Iraq, eastern Syria, south-eastern Turkey and Southwest Iran.

258. Meteora Rocks ()

In the middle of northern Greece, these sandstone rocks rise abruptly from the ground. The rocks are composed of a mixture of sandstone and conglomerate. They were formed about 60 million years ago. The first people to inhabit Meteora were hermits, who lived in hollows and fissures in the rock towers, some of which soar 550 m above the plain. Today the Meteora is one of the largest and most important complex of monasteries in Greece, second only to . 259. Milford Sound (NEW ZEALAND)

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Milford Sound, located in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island, is located within the Fiordland National Park. It runs 15 km inland from the Tasman Sea and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 1200 m or more on either side. Among its most striking features are Mitre Peak, rising 1,692 m above the sound, the Elephant at 1,517 m and resembling an elephant’s's head, and Lion Mountain, 1,302 m, in the shape of a crouching lion. Lush rain forests cling precariously to these cliffs, while seals, penguins and dolphins populate the water.

260. Milodon, Cave (CHILE)

Milodon Cave is a Natural Monument located in the Chilean Patagonia, 24 km northwest of Puerto Natales and 270 km north of Punta Arenas. It comprises three caves and a rocky formation called Silla de Diablo (Devil's Chair). The monument is notable for the discovery in 1896 of skin, bones and other parts of a giant ground sloth called Mylodon. 261. Mississippi, River (UNITED STATES)

The Mississippi River, whose name is derived from the Ojibwe word for “great river”, is the second longest river in the United States, with a length of 3,734 km. The river starts in Minnesota and then empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

262. Mont Blanc/Monte Bianco (ITALY, FRANCE)

Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco also known as "La Dame Blanche" (French for "") is a mountain in the Alps. With its 4,808 m summit, it is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe. The mountain lies between the regions of Aosta Valley, Italy, and Haute-Savoie, France. The location of the summit itself is a subject of controversy between the two countries, as each tends to place it within its own boundaries on maps. 263. Monte San Giorgio, Mountain peak (SWITZERLAND)

Monte San Giorgio is a wooded mountain (1,096 m above sea level) located in the south of canton Ticino in Switzerland. Monte San Giorgio became a UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2003, because it "is the single best known record of marine life in the Triassic period, and records important remains of life on land as well."

264. ()

San Marino is an enclave in Italy, on the border between the regions of Emilia Romagna and Marche. It is is the third-smallest country in Europe, with only Vatican City and Monaco smaller. Monte Titano is the highest peak in San Marino, in the Apennines. It stands at 749 m and is located immediately to the east of the capital, San Marino. According to legend, founded San Marino as a village on the limestone mountain. The mountain has three peaks - on each are one of The Three Towers of San Marino. 265. (TURKEY)

Mount Ararat is the tallest peak in Turkey, measuring 5,137 m. This snow-capped, dormant volcano in the northeast of Turkey, close to the Iranian and the Armenian borders, is a stratovolcano, formed of lava flows and pyroclastic and without a volcanic crater.

266. Mount Bromo (INDONESIA)

Mount Bromo (2,392m) is an active volcano in the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park of East Java, Indonesia. Bromo is not the highest mountain in Java - that honor goes to nearby Mount Semeru at 3,676m - but it is probably the most famous one. Bromo is in fact only one of many peaks inside the massive Tengger Caldera, but it's easily recognized as the entire top has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white sulphurous smoke. The inside of the caldera, aptly dubbed the Laut Pasir (Sea of Sand) is coated with fine volcanic sand and the overall effect is unsettlingly unearthly, especially when compared to the lush green valleys all around the caldera. 267. (IRAN)

Mount Damavand, a dormant volcano, is the highest volcano in all of Asia, the highest mountain in the Middle East and the highest elevation within Iran. It is located in the middle of the Range about 66 km northeast of .

268. , Volcano (ITALY)

Mount Etna is an active volcano on the east coast of , close to Messina and Catania. It is the largest active volcano in Europe, currently standing about 3,326 m high, though it should be noted that this varies with summit eruptions. It is the highest mountain in Italy south of the Alps. Etna covers an area of 1,190 km² with a basal circumference of 140 km. This makes it by far the largest of the three active volcanoes in Italy. Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and is in an almost constant state of eruption. 269. Mount Everest (NEPAL, CHINA)

Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth, with the summit 8,848 meters above sea level. The mountain, which is part of the Himalaya range in High Asia, is located on the border between Nepal and Tibet, China.

270. Mount Fogo (CAPE VERDE)

Mount Fogo is the highest peak of Cape Verde, the archipelago off the western coast of Africa. Mount Fogo rises to 2,829 meters above sea level, and is an active stratovolcano lying on the island of Fogo. 271. ()

Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 meters, and has an exceptionally symmetrical cone. A dormant volcano that last erupted in 1707, it is surrounded by five lakes: Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, Lake Sai, Lake Motosu and Lake Shoji. It is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

272. Mount Karthala (COMOROS)

Mount Karthala is an active volcano and the highest point of the Comoros at 2,361 m (7,746 ft) above sea level. It is the southernmost and largest of the two shield volcanoes forming Grande Comore island, the largest island in the nation of Comoros. The Karthala volcano is notoriously active, having erupted more than 20 times since the 19th century. Frequent eruptions have shaped the volcano’s 3 x 4-km summit caldera. 273. (GEORGIA)

Mount Kazbek, a dormant stratovolcano, is one of the dominant mountains of the . It is located in Georgia near the border between Georgia and Russia, towering over the town of . It is the third-highest mountain in Georgia (after Mount and ) and the seventh-highest peak in the . The name in Georgian is Mqinvari, which translates to "glacier" or "Ice Mountain." Mount Kazbek is associated in Georgian folklore with Amirani, the Georgian version of , who was chained on the mountain in punishment for having stolen fire from the gods and given it to mortals.

274. Mount Kenya (KENYA)

Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second highest in Africa (after Mount Kilimanjaro). It's highest peak measures 5,199 m. It is located in central Kenya, just south of the equator, around 150 km north-northeast of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. 275. (MALAYSIA)

Mount Kinabalu is a prominent mountain in Southeast Asia, located in Kinabalu National Park on the island of . The mountain is the fourth tallest in Southeast Asia and the tallest in Malaysia. Mount Kinabalu is also the 20th highest peak in the world in terms of prominence.The mountain and its surroundings feature a huge variety of flora, and is one of the world’s most important biosheres.

276. (KOREA (NORTH))

Kumgangsan or Mount Kumgang is the best-known mountain in North Korea. It has a height of 1638 m and is located on the east coast of the country, in Kumgangsan Tourist Region, formerly part of Kangwon Province. Kumgangsan is part of the Taebaek mountain range which runs along the east of the Korean peninsula. The name means Diamond Mountain. Kumgangsan has been known for its scenic beauty since antiquity. It is covered in forest and the area around Kŭmgangsan is one of the wettest in Korea.The mountain consists almost entirely of granite and diorite, weathered over centuries into a great variety of shapes, including over 12,000 picturesque stone formations, ravines, cliffs, stone pillars and peaks. 277. Mount McKinley (UNITED STATES)

Mount McKinley, also called Denali, in Alaska is the highest mountain peak in North America, at a height of approximately 6,194 m. It has a larger bulk and rise than Mount Everest.

278. Mount Nimba, Mountain (CÔTE D'IVOIRE)

Mount Nimba is a mountain along the border of Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia and Guinea in West Africa. At 1,752 m it is the highest point in all three nations. It is part of the Nimba Massif. Since 1944 the area is a "strict" reserve, where tourism is absolutely forbidden. 279. Mount Nyangani ()

Mount Nyangani is the highest mountain in Zimbabwe, at 2,592 m. The mountain is located in the Nyanga District, about 275 km southeast of Harare. The mountain vegetation is largely composed of heath around the summit plateau with evergreen forest along the wetter eastern slopes and grassland to the western side. Annual rainfall totals are high (around 2,200 mm), but long spells of dry weather occur during the winter period of May to August. Due to its relatively low altitude and tropical location, snow falls at most once a century.

280. (GREECE)

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Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece at 2,919 m high. Since its base is located at sea level, it is one of the highest mountains in Europe, in real absolute altitude from base to top. It is situated in mainland Greece and is noted for its very rich flora with several endemic species. In the Greek mythology, Mount Olympus is the home of the Olympians, the principal gods in the Greek pantheon.

281. Mount Pinatubo (PHILIPPINES)

Mount Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, at the intersection of the borders of the provinces of Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga. Pinatubo's original structure was made of andesite and dacite. The volcano's eruption in June 1991 produced the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century and its effects were felt around the world. It ejected roughly 10 billion metric tons of magma, and 20 million tons of SO2, bringing vast quantities of minerals and metals to the surface environment. It injected large amounts of aerosols into the stratosphere—more than any eruption since that of Krakatoa in 1883.

282. Mount Roraima (VENEZUELA, GUYANA, BRAZIL)

With a peak at 2,810 meters Mount Roraima is the highest of Venezuela's distinctive table-top mountains, known as tepuis. The mountain marks the border between Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana. The tabletop mountains of the park are considered some of the oldest geological formations on Earth, dating back to the Precambrian Era, some two billion years ago. The average height of the plateau is about 2,500 meters. 283. Mount Scenery (NETHERLANDS ANTILLES)

Mount Scenery is a which forms the summit of the island stratovolcano, in the Dutch Antilles. At an elevation of 877 m, it is the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Saba volcano is potentially dangerous; the latest eruption was in or around the year 1640 and included explosions and pyroclastic flows.

284. Mount Sinai ()

Mount Sinai is the name of a mountain in the Sinai Peninsula. It is about 2.285 m high. It is surrounded on all sides by higher peaks of the mountain range. According to Bedouins, this is the mountain where God gave laws to the Israelites. 285. Mud Volcanoes ()

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The term mud volcano or mud dome is used to refer to formations created by geo-excreted liquids and gases, although there are several different processes which may cause such activity. It is estimated that 300 of the planet's estimated 700 mud volcanoes are found in Gobustan, Azerbaijan and the Caspian Sea. In Azerbaijan, eruptions are driven from a deep mud reservoir which is connected to the surface even during dormant periods, when seeping water still shows a deep origin. Seeps have temperatures up to 2– 3 °C above the ambient temperature. In 2001, one mud volcano 15 kilometers from Baku made world headlines when it suddenly started spewing flames 15 m high.

286. Mulu Caves (MALAYSIA)

Gunung Mulu National Park in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, encompasses an array of caves and karst limestone formations in a mountaininous equatorial rainforest setting. Within Gunung Mulu National Park is the world's biggest natural enclosed space, Sarawak chamber, in Gua Nasib Bagus. It is 700 m long, 396 m wide and at least 70 m high. Other notable caves are Benarat Cavern, , Wind Cave and Clearwater Cave, which exposes parts of a long underground river going through the park. 287. Musandam Peninsula (OMAN)

The Musandam peninsula is an exclave of Oman, separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates. The Peninsula has an area of 1,800 square km.

288. Nahuel Huapi, Lake (ARGENTINA)

Nahuel Huapi Lake is a lake of the lake region of northern Patagonia between the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén, in Argentina. is a Moraine-dammed lake. Nahuel Huapi lake, located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park, is of Glacial origin, and has a surface of 529 km². It rests 2,510 feet (765m) over the sea level, and has a maximum measured depth (as of 2007) of 1,437 feet (438m). 289. Nam Ha National Park (LAO)

The Nam Ha National Park is situated in the extreme northwest of the Laos, in Luang Namtha Province, and comprises 222,400 hectares of land ranging from the lowlands of the Luang Namtha Plain to the 2,000-m-high peaks of its northern highlands. The altitude ranges from 560 m on the plain to 2,094 m at the highest peak and thus, supports a wide variety of flora.

290. Nanga Parbat (PAKISTAN)

At 8,126 m, the Nanga Parbat is the ninth-highest mountain on Earth. It is the western anchor of the Himalayas, as well as the westernmost so-called "eight-thousander." The Naga Parbat lies just south of the Indus River in the Astore District of Pakistan. 291. National Park of Upper Niger (GUINEA)

The National Park of Upper Niger covers around 6000 square km in the north-eastern area of the Guinea, of which 600 square km represent the core area. The park covers several ecological zones, the dominant is that of savannah, comprising of woodland and bushland. A smaller area of the park consists of riparian forests along the Niger and Mafou Rivers.

292. Nevado Huaguruncho, Mountain Peak (PERU)

The Nevado Huaguruncho (5723 m) surrounded by some smaller glaciated peaks is the major mountain of the Cordillera Huaguruncho situated on the edge of the East Andes in Peru. Located above the Amazon rainforest, 40 kilometers to the East of Cerro de Pasco near the town of Huachon, the region is renowned for its wild and astonishing beauty. 293. Barrier Reef (NEW CALEDONIA)

The New Caledonia Barrier Reef is located in New Caledonia in the South Pacific, and is the second-longest coral reef in the world, after Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The reef encloses a lagoon of 24,000 square km, which has an average depth of 25 m. The reefs lie up to 30 km from the shore, but extend almost 200 km to the Entrecasteaux reefs to the northwest. The reef has great species diversity with a high level of endemism, and is home to endangered dugongs, and is an important nesting site for Green Sea Turtle.

294. Ngorongoro Crater (TANZANIA)

Ngorongoro Crater, which is the world's largest unbroken, unflooded volcanic caldera, is located in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Crater, which formed when a giant volcano exploded and collapsed on itself some two to three million years ago, is 610m deep and the floor is 260km². Estimates of the height of the original volcano range from fifteen to nineteen thousand feet high 295. Niagara Falls (CANADA, UNITED STATES)

Niagara Falls is a set of massive waterfalls located on the Niagara River, separating the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. While not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls are very wide. The falls were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the last ice age, and water from the then newly-formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment on its way to the Atlantic Ocean.

296. Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (BOLIVIA)

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park is a national park in the northeastern portion of Bolivia, on the border with Brazil. The park spans 15,234 square km in one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. 297. Norfolk Island National Park (NORFOLK ISLAND)

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Norfolk Island National Park is a protected area of 6.5 square km. It is made up of two sections: the Mt. Pitt section on Norfolk Island in the South Pacific Ocean, with an area of 4.6 square km, and the neighboring 1.9-square-km Phillip Island, plus the much smaller Nepean Island. The Norfolk Island group is an Australian territory. It is the only place in the world where the Norfolk Island Parakeet and the White-chested White-eye occur.

298. ()

Noshaq (or Nowshak) is the highest mountain in Afghanistan and the second highest independent peak of the after (7,690 m). Noshaq is located in the northeastern corner of the country along the Durand line which marks the border with Pakistan. It is the westernmost 7,000-m peak in the world. 299. Obo Natural Park (SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE)

The Obo national park is a national reserve in the south-west part of the volcanic island of Sao Tomé, a mountain which culminates in Pico de São Tomé (2,024 m) The park offers dramatic landscapes with torrents and waterfalls on its slopes, white and black sand beaches, sheer cliffs over the sea, as well as tropical forest.The native flora (700 species including a hundred orchids) and fauna (birds and marine turtles) are of particular interest as many species are endemic. From October to February, turtles can be observed laying their eggs at Praja de Micolo.

300. Odzala National Park (CONGO)

Located in the heart of the great Congo basin rainforest, the Odzala National Park covers 13.600 square km, and is one of Africa's least-known and most extraordinary tropical forest ecosystems. Climatic fluctuations in Central Africa over the past several thousand years have caused a succession of transitions from forest to savannah and back to forest. The resulting patchwork of savannahs and forests that we see today in the Odzala National Park explains the exceptional diversity of plants and animals found here. 301. Oesling ()

The Oesling or Ösling is a region covering the northern part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, within the greater Ardennes area. The Oesling covers 32% of the territory of Luxembourg. To the south of the Oesling lies the Gutland, which makes up the remaining 68% of the country. The region is characterized by hills and large deciduous forests. Almost all of Luxembourg's tallest hills are in the Oesling, particularly in the north and north-west. Its main hill chains are cut by scenic river valleys, most notable those of the Clerve, Our, upper Sauer and Wiltz.

302. Okawango Delta, National Park (BOTSWANA)

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is the world’s largest inland delta. It has no outlet to the sea and empties onto the sands of the Kalahari Desert. The water entering the delta is unusually pure, on account of a lack of agriculture and industry along the river. It passes through the sand aquifers of the numerous delta islands and evaporates by leaving enormous quantities of salt behind. These precipitation processes are so strong that the vegetation disappears in the center of the islands. 303. Ombú Forest (URUGUAY)

The ombú is the national tree of Uruguay. Generally, the tree stands alone on the grasslands, so Ombú Forest, on the banks of the Castillos Lake, is one of the few areas where the trees form a large forest.The ombú tree forest has an extension of 20 km. Each ombú tree has an umbrella-like canopy that spreads to a girth of between 12 and 15 m and can attain a height of 12 to 18 m. Since the sap is poisonous, the ombú is not grazed on by cattle and is immune to locusts and other pests.

304. Ometepe Island (NICARAGUA)

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The Island of Ometepe was formed by two volcanoes rising from Lake Nicaragua in the Republic of Nicaragua. The volcanoes, Concepcion and Maderas, are joined by a low isthmus to form a single island, giving it the form of an hourglass. Ometepe has an area of 276 km². It is 31 km long and 5 to 10 km wide. 305. One Hundred Trees Oasis (CHINA)

One Hundred Trees is the name of a small oasis on the northern edge of the Gobi desert. It provides food and drinking water for herders and their livestock.

306. Orona Atoll (KIRIBATI)

Orona Atoll is one of the Phoenix Islands in the Republic of Kiribati, an island nation in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. 307. Osorno, Volcano (CHILE)

Osorno is a 2,652 m tall conical stratovolcano lying in Los Lagos, a region of Chile. It stands on the southeastern shore of Lake Llanquihue, and is known worldwide as a symbol of the local landscape. It is noted for its similar appearance to Mount Fuji. Osorno is one of the most active volcanoes of the southern Chilean Andes, with 11 historical eruptions recorded between 1575 and 1869. The upper slopes of the volcano are almost entirely covered in glaciers.

308. Ouzoud Falls (MOROCCO)

The 110-m high Ouzoud Waterfalls are located in the Grand Atlas village of Tanaghmeilt, in the province of Azilal, 150 km north- east of Marrakech, in Morocco. 309. Pacaya Samiria, National Park (PERU)

The Pacaya–Samiria National Reservation is located in Loreto, Peru. It’s one of the widest protected areas in Peru, with an extension of more than 12,000 square kilometers characterized by an high biodiversity level. The reserve is delimited by two big rivers, Marañon in the North and Ucayaly in the South, just a little before their junction that originates Amazon River.

310. Pacaya, Volcano (GUATEMALA)

Pacaya is an active complex volcano in Guatemala, which first erupted approximately 23,000 years ago, and has erupted at least 23 times since the Spanish conquest of Guatemala. After being dormant for a century, it erupted violently in 1965, and has been erupting continuously since then. Much of its activity is Strombolian, but occasional Plinian eruptions also occur, sometimes showering the nearby city of Antigua with ash. It lies approximately 25 to 30 km south of Guatemala City. 311. Paine Towers, Mountain (CHILE)

Paine Towers is a small but spectacular mountain group in Paine Towers National Park in Chilean, Patagonia. They are gigantic granite monoliths shaped by the forces of glacial ice, with peaks of over 2,600 meters.

312. Pamukkale, Springs (TURKEY)

The hot springs at Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, are in south-western Turkey. It is some 2,700 meters long and 160 meters high and can be seen from a great distance. Every second, 250 liters of hot water rises from the spring. The water contains large amounts of hydrogen carbonate and calcium, which merge to form calcium bi-carbonate. This natural phenomenon leaves thick white layers of limestone and travertine cascading down the mountain slope, which resemble a frozen waterfall. 313. Pangong Lake (CHINA, INDIA)

Pangong Lake is a lake in the Himalayas at a height of some 4,250 m. It is 134 km long and extends across the Indian-Chinese border. Two thirds of the length of the lake lies in China. The lake is 5 km wide at its broadest point. In winter, the lake surface freezes completely despite being salt water. The lake acts as an important breeding ground for a variety of birds, including a number of migratory ones. The region around the lake supports a number of species of wildlife, including the kiang and the marmot.

314. Pantanal National Park (BRAZIL, BOLIVIA, PARAGUAY)

The Pantanal is the world’s largest wetland area, a flat landscape, with gently sloping and meandering rivers. The region is situated mostly within the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. In total, the Pantanal covers about 150,000 square kilometers. The Pantanal floods during the wet season, submerging over 80% of the area, and nurturing the world's richest collection of aquatic plants. 315. Paracas, Beach (PERU)

Paracas Beach belongs to the desert peninsula Paracas on the south coast of Peru. Most of the Peninsula is part of the Paracas National Reservation.

316. Peak of the Furnace (RÉUNION)

Peak of the Furnace (Piton de la Fournaise) is a shield volcano on the eastern side of Reunion island in the Indian Ocean. It is currently one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

317. Pelister’s Eyes, Lakes (MACEDONIA (FYROM))

The two glacier lakes on top of Mount Pelister are known as Pelister’s Eyes. The big lake and the small lake are situated repectively at 2218m and 2180m above sea level. Mount Pelister, which is a part of the mountain range, at 2601 m, is the third highest peak in Macedonia situated on the Balkan peninsula.

318. Pendjari National Park (BENIN)

The Pendjari National Park lies in north western Benin. Named for the Pendjari River, the national park is known for its wildlife, including elephants, monkeys, lions, hippopotami, buffalo and various antelopes and birds. The park has an area of 2755 square kilometers. The hills and cliffs of the Atakora range make its north-west section one the most scenic of Benin. 319. Peneda-Gerês National Park (PORTUGAL)

The Peneda-Gerês National Park, also known simply as Gerês, is the only national park in Portugal, although many natural parks, protected landscapes and reserves exist across the nation. It is located in the Norte region, in the northwest of Portugal. The park was established on May 8, 1971 due to its national and international scientific interest, to protect the soil, water, flora, fauna, and landscape.

320. Perito Moreno, Glacier (ARGENTINA)

The Perito Moreno Glacier is a glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park in the south west of Santa Cruz province, Argentina. The 250 km² ice formation, of 30 km in length, is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field located in the Andes system shared with Chile. This icefield is the world's third largest reserve of fresh water. 321. Petrified Forest of Lesvos (GREECE)

The Petrified Forest of Lesvos is located on Lesvos Island in Greece. It is a petrified forest ecosystem made up of hundreds of lying and standing fossilized tree trunks which were covered by volcanic material and petrified in place 20 million years ago. Layers of volcanic ash have revealed pieces of trunks, branches, roots, seeds and leaves as well as fossilized animal bones. Important concentrations of fossilized remains can also be found in the marine and seashore zones of western Lesvos. The region of the Petrified Forest is further characterized by impressive volcanic geotopes, witnesses of the intense volcanic activity in the past.

322. Phang Nga Bay (THAILAND)

Phang Nga Bay is a 400 square kilometer bay in the Andaman Sea between the island of Phuket and the mainland of the of southern Thailand. A large part of the bay is protected as the Ao Phang Nga National Park. The most famous of the many islands in the bay is what is referred to as the James Bond Island, a needle-shaped limestone rock jutting out of the sea, seen in The Man with the Golden Gun. 323. Phong Nha - Ke Bang, National Park (VIET NAM)

Phong Nha - Ke Bang is a national park in the center of Quang Binh province in north-central Vietnam. It protects one of the world's two largest karst regions with several hundred caves and grottoes. The park deprives it name from Phong Nha cave, the most beautiful of all, containing many fascinating rock formations, and Ke Bang forest. The plateau is probably one of the finest and most distinctive examples of a complex karst landform in Southeast Asia.

324. Pico Basilé (EQUATORIAL GUINEA)

Pico Basilé is the highest mountain on the island of Bioko, which is part of Equatorial Guinea. With an altitude of 3,011 m, it is the summit of the largest and highest of three overlapping basaltic shield volcanoes which form the island. Pico Basilé lies close to the capital of Equatorial Guinea, Malabo. 325. Pico Bolivar, Mountain Peak (VENEZUELA)

The Pico Bolívar is the highest mountain in Venezuela, at 4,981 meters. Its top is permanently covered with snow and three small glaciers. It can be reached by means of the Mérida Cable Car, the highest cable car in the world. Pico Bolívar is named after the Venezuelan independence hero Simon Bolívar.

326. Pico Cristóbal Colón (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta), Mountain Peak (COLOMBIA)

Pico Cristobal Colon is the highest mountain in Colombia and the fifth most prominent in the world. There is a permanent snowcap on this peak and on the nearby mountains. It is part of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta range, along with Pico Simon Bolivar. 327. Picos de Europa (SPAIN)

Picos de Europa (Peaks of Europe) is a range of mountains some 20 km inland from the northern coast of Spain, located in the Autonomous Communities of Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla-Leon. They form part of the Cantabrian Mountains, and consist of three major massifs: The Central and Western massifs are separated by the plunging, 1.5-km deep Cares Canyon, with the village of Cain at its head.

328. Pikes Peak, Mountain Peak (UNITED STATES)

Pikes Peak is a mountain in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, 10 miles (16 km) west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in El Paso County. The mountain is made of a characteristic pink granite, called Pikes Peak granite. The upper portion serves as a visible landmark. 329. Pink Sand Beach (Harbour Island) (BAHAMAS)

Pink Sand Beach or Pink beach on Harbour Island, Bahamas, is some 5 km long and 15 to 30 meters wide. The sand is a composition of bits of coral, broken shells, minute rocks and calcium carbonate from tiny marine invertebrates. The pink color comes from tiny microscopic shelled animals known as Foraminifera. They are washed up on shore as a result of waves or fish that knock them loose as they feed on them. Foraminifera are among the most abundant single cell organisms in the ocean and play a significant role in the environment.

330. Pinnacles Desert (AUSTRALIA)

The Pinnacles Desert, with its striking limestone pillars, is in Namburg National Park, in Western Australia. The Pinnacles are limestone formations. Emus and kangaroos are frequently seen here. 331. Pinnacles of Sindou (BURKINA FASO)

The Pinnacles of Sindou are located in western Burkina Faso, about 45 kilometers from the town of Sindo. The 3-km-long sandstone massif presents tall and slim rock towers occasionally crowned or hatted by more erosion-resistant pieces of rock.

332. Platano Forest (HONDURAS)

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The Platano Forest is located on the Río Plátano on the Caribbean coast of Honduras. The tropical rainforest is full of diverse wildlife and plant life, in which at least 2000 indigenous people continue traditional ways of life. Its environmental and cultural value is threatened by agriculture, colonization, and poor resource management. 333. Plitvice Lakes (CROATIA)

The Plitvice Lakes are a national park in Croatia, situated in the Plitvice Lakes municipality, near the border with . The sixteen lakes are separated into an upper and lower cluster formed by runoff from the mountains, descending from an altitude of 636 m to 503 m over a distance of some 8 km. The lakes are renowned for their distinctive colors, ranging from azure to green, grey or darker blue. The colors change constantly depending on the quantity of minerals or organisms in the water and the angle of the sunlight hitting it.

334. Podilski Tovtry National Nature Park (UKRAINE)

The Podilski Tovtry National Nature Park is the largest national park in Ukraine. It has an area of 261.316 ha. The Tovtry Ridge is a unique landscape and constitutes a remainder of the barrier-reef from the Sarmatian Sea (15-20 million years ago) and contains canyons of the Dnister River and its inflows, wich were formed by the sediments of the Ancient epochs (500-300 million years ago). The Podilski Tovtry National Nature Park was establishedin 1996. 335. Popocatepetl, Volcano (MEXICO)

Popocatepetl active volcano and the second highest peak in Mexico. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico, having had more than 20 major eruptions since the arrival of the Spanish in 1519. Popocatepetl is currently active.

336. Pravcice Gate, Rock Formation ()

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Pravcice Gate, the best known attraction of the Bohemian Switzerland, is situated on the Czech-Germany border (415 meters above sea level) about 20 km north from Decin. It provides a wide magnificent surrounding view. The arch is the biggest natural handstone formation in Europe. 337. Puerto Princesa Underground River (PHILIPPINES)

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The Puerto Princesa National Park is located about 50 km north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. It features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 km. navigable underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it winds through a cave before flowing directly into the . It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. The lower portion of the river is subject to tidal influences. The underground river is reputed to be the world's longest. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water's edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave.

338. Puy-de-Dôme (FRANCE)

Puy-de-Dôme is a large lava dome and one of the youngest volcanoes in the Chaîne des Puys region of Massif Central in south-central France. Curiously, this chain of volcanoes including numerous cinder cones, lava domes and maars is located far from the edge of any tectonic plate. 339. Rapa Nui, National Park (CHILE)

Rapa Nui National Park is located on Easter Island, Chile. The park is divided into seven sections. Chile first declared the island to be a National Park in 1935. Park boundaries have since varied on several occasions in order to return land to the islanders.

340. Rara Lake (NEPAL)

Rara Lake, the largest lake in Nepal, is five kilometers long and two kilometers wide and its water reaches a depth of 170 meters. It is in Western Nepal, part of the Rara National Park. The lake lies at an altitude of 2,900 meters above sea level and spans an area of 10 square kilometers. The clear waters, which reflect the snow-capped Himalayas, is surrounded by blue pine, black juniper forest and Himalayan cypress. 341. Red Sea Reef (ERITREA, DJIBOUTI, YEMEN, SUDAN, SAUDI ARABIA, JORDAN, ISRAEL, EGYPT)

The Red Sea is a rich and diverse ecosystem. More than 1,100 species of fish have been recorded in the Red Sea, and around 10% of these are found nowhere else. The rich diversity is in part due to the 1,240 miles of coral reef extending along its coastline; these fringing reefs are 5,000-7,000 years old and are largely formed of stony acropora and porites corals. The reefs form platforms and lagoons along the coast and, occasionally, other features such as cylinders.

342. Redwood, Forest (UNITED STATES)

The Redwood National and State Parks are located in the United States, along the Pacific Ocean coast of northern California. The parks protect 45% of all remaining Coastal Redwood old-growth forests. These trees are the tallest and one of the most massive tree species on Earth. 343. Retezat National Park (ROMANIA)

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Retezat National Park, located in Hunedoara county, Romania, was founded in 1935 and has an area of 380 km². Containing more than 60 peaks over 7,500 feet and over 100 crystal clear deep glacier lakes, the Retezat Mountains are some of the most beautiful in the Carpathians and include Romania's first national park. The area shelters one of Europe's last remaining, unaffected natural primary forest and the largest single area of pristine mixed forest. , brown bear, , lynx, wildcat, chamois, roe and red deer, as well as small species such as and otter populate the area.

344. Rhine Gorge (GERMANY)

The Rhine Gorge is a popular name for the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a 65 km section of the River Rhine between Koblenz and Bingen in Germany. The rocks underwent considerable folding during the Carboniferous period. The gorge was carved out during a much more recent uplifting to leave the river contained within steep walls 200 m high, the most famous feature being the Loreley. The gorge produces its own microclimate and has acted as a corridor for species not otherwise found in the region. 345. Ria de Aveiro, Lagoon (PORTUGAL)

The Ria de Aveiro is the most extensive shallow coastal lagoon in Portugal. It is located on the Western Atlantic coast of Portugal, between Espinho and Cabo Mondego, The area covered by the lagoon corresponds approximately to a minimum of 66 km2, at low spring tides, and a maximum of 83 km2, at high spring tides. An extensive sand barrier exists along the coast, protecting and separating the enclosed lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean.

346. (PERU)

The Rio Abiseo National Park is located in the San Martín department of Peru between the Marañón and Huallaga rivers, covering an area of approximately 2,745.2 square kilometres. Elevations reach as high as 4,200 meters (13,780 ft) above sea level and as low as 350 m (1,150 ft).There are at least seven climate zones in the park, including montaneforest, tropical alpine forest, montane rainforest, high Andean grasslands(puna), and dry forest. The montane , composing most of the park area, is a high-altitude rainforest with short trees, moss and lichen. This ecosystem occurs above the altitude of about 2,300 meters (7,550 ft). High humidity is constant and rain falls throughout the year, particularly at the higher elevations. 347. River Gambia National Park (GAMBIA)

The River Gambia National Park is made up of five islands in the Central River Division, about 300 km upstream, to the southwest of Kuntaur and downstream of Janjangbureh, Georgetown. The island are collectively known as Baboon Islands, which cover an area of approximately 1,445 acres. Their ecological systems range from lush jungle rainforest to reeds, savannah and mangrove swamps.

348. Rocher Perce, Rock formation (CANADA)

Rocher Perce ("pierced rock") is one of the largest and most spectacular natural arches in the world. It rises sheer from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and it is a massive limestone stack 433 metres long, 90 metres wide and 88 metres at its highest point. The rock gets its name from a large 15 metre high arch near its seaward end. 349. Rock Forest of Huayllay (PERU)

The Huayllay National Sanctuary is a park in Peru located in the Meseta of Bombon, Huayhuash Cordillera in the Pasco region. The sanctuary is noted for the large scenic rock formations of the Rock Forest of Huayllay, and its native plants and animals.

350. Rock Of Aphrodite ( )

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The Rock Of Aphrodite (Petra Tou Romiou) is a scenic place, located off the old Pafos-Lemesos road, with a breathtaking view of the sea, and, more famously, it is considered to be the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite. Ancient myths tell us that this is where Aphrodite arose from the sea foam. 351. Rock of (GIBRALTAR)

The is a monolithic limestone promontory located in Gibraltar, off the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is 426 metres high. The Rock is Crown property of the United Kingdom, and borders Spain. Most of the Rock's upper area is covered by a nature reserve, which is home to around 250 Barbary Macaques; they are the only wild monkeys found in Europe. These macaques, as well as a labyrinthine network of tunnels, attract a large number of tourists each year.

352. Rosh Hanikra, Rock Formation (ISRAEL)

Rosh HaNikra is a geological formation in Israel, located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea near the border with Lebanon. It is a white chalk cliff face which opens up into spectacular grottos that were created by the sea eroding the soft rock. The Rosh HaNikra grottos are cavernous tunnels with a total length of about 200 meters. They branch off in various directions with some interconnecting segments. 353. Ross Ice Shelf (NEW ZEALAND)

The Ross Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf on Antarctica. Ice shelves are permanent, floating ice sheets that are attached to a land mass and are constantly fed by glaciers. Ross Ice Shelf covers an area of roughly 472,000 km2.

354. Ruvubu National Park (BURUNDI)

Ruvubu National Park is the largest of Burundi's four national Parks. It is located in the northeast, adjacent to the Ruvubu River. Animals there include wildlife such as elephants, hippopotami, crocodiles, wild boars, lions, antelopes and flying lemurs and birds like guinea fowl, partridge, duck, geese, quail and snipe. 355. Rwenzori Mountains (UGANDA)

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers nearly 1,000 sq km in western Uganda, including the main part of the Rwenzori mountain chain, which has Africa's third-highest peak (Mount Margherita, at 5,109 m). The region's glaciers, waterfalls and lakes make it one of Africa's most beautiful alpine areas. The park boasts many natural habitats of endangered species and a rich and unusual flora comprising, among other species, the giant heather. (Source: Wikipedia)

356. Saanapu and Sataoa Mangroves (SAMOA)

The site referred to as Saanapu and Sataoa Mangroves of Samoa is located on Upolu Island. The 30-hectare site is considered to be the least degraded wetland in Samoa. An area of coastal rain forest separates the mangroves at Saanapu and Sataoa, and a tidal channel runs through both mangrove forests. 357. Sage Mountain National Park (VIRGIN ISLANDS, BRITISH )

The British Virgin Islands largest island, Tortola, is home to Sage Mountain National Park. This 92-acre reserve includes the 1,780- foot Mt. Sage and a forest with 15- to 20-foot tall trees, bulletwood trees, West Indian and broadleaf mahogany trees and white cedars. The British Virgin Islands comprise around sixty tropical Caribbean islands, located in the Virgin Islands archipelago.

358. Salar de Uyuni, Salt Flat (BOLIVIA)

Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 km². It is located in the southwest of Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, 3,650 meters high. The major minerals found in the salar are halite and gypsum. 359. San Rafael Lagoon (CHILE)

San Rafael Lagoon is an arc-shaped coastal lake located in the Aisén Region of Chile, within the national park that bears its name. The lagoon was formed by the retreat of the San Rafael Glacier in the Northern Patagonian Ice Field. Today, it is popular tourism destination, with ships sailing from Puerto Chacabuco and Puerto Montt nearly every day to see ice falling from the glacier into the lagoon.

360. , Archipelago (GREECE )

Santorini is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km south-east from Greece's mainland. Santorini is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion, destroying the earliest settlements on what was formerly a single island, and leading to the creation of the current geological caldera. A giant central lagoon, measuring about 12 km by 7 km (8 mi by 4 mi), is surrounded by 300 m (984 ft) high steep cliffs on three sides. The island slopes downward from the cliffs to the surrounding Aegean Sea. 361. Sapo National Park (LIBERIA)

Sapo National Park is a national park in Sinoe County, Liberia that covers an area of 1,800 square km. It is the country's largest protected area of rainforest and contains the second-largest area of primary tropical rainforest in western Africa. Sapo National Park is located in the Upper Guinean forest ecosystem, a biodiversity hotspot with very high mammal species diversity.

362. Sarek National Park (SWEDEN)

The Sarek National Park is in Jokkmokk Municipality, in the northern Swedish province of Lapland. The national park is roughly circle shaped, with an average diameter of some 50 km. There are no marked trails in it, no accommodations and only two bridges. About 100 glaciers are found in the park, which is one of the oldest national parks in Europe. 363. Sarisarinama, Mountain (VENEZUELA)

The Sarisarinama tepui (2,300 meters) is a mountain in the Jaua-Sarisarinama National Park at the far south-west of Bolívar State, Venezuela. The most distinctive feature of this tepui are its nearly-circular sink holes, which are still a mystery to geologists and biologists. The holes have a diameter of 350 meters and go down from the flat top of the mountain straight down for 350 meters. The vertical walls have created an isolated ecosystem at the bottom, with some species of plants and animals not found anywhere else in the world.

364. Savage Islands, Archipelago (PORTUGAL)

The Savage Islands are part of the Macaronesian island groups of the North Atlantic Ocean, near Europe and off Morocco, North Africa. The archipelago lies about 230 km from Madeira, and 165 km from the Canary Islands. The total land area of the Savage Islands is 2.73 km². The islands are surrounded by dangerous reefs, rendering access difficult and limited to few places; there are no fresh water sources. 365. Scarisoara Cave (ROMANIA)

Scarisoara Cave is one of the biggest ice caves in the Romanian part of Carpathians. The ice cave was born 3500 years ago, during the glaciations, when these mountains were covered by snow and ice.

366. Semuc Champey (GUATEMALA)

Semuc Champey is a natural monument in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, near the Q'eqchi' Maya town of Lanquin. It consists of a natural 300-m limestone bridge, under which passes the Cahabon River. Atop the bridge is a series of stepped turquoise pools, a popular swimming attraction. 367. Mountain (KOREA (SOUTH))

Seoraksan is the highest mountain in the Taebaek mountain range in the Gangwon province in eastern South Korea. It is located in a national park near the city of Sokcho. The Daechongbong Peak of Seoraksan reaches 1,708 metres (5,603 feet). The Taebaek mountain chain is often considered the backbone of the Korean peninsula. The main season for Seoraksan national park is autumn. The autumn colours in the area are considered amongst the most beautiful in Korea. The red and yellow forest is interrupted by rocks and small mountain streams flow amidst this.

368. Serengeti, National Park (TANZANIA)

The Serengeti National Park is a large national park in Serengeti area, Tanzania. It is most famous for its annual migration of over one million white bearded or brindled wildebeest and 200,000 zebras. 369. Seven Mile Beach (CAYMAN ISLANDS)

Seven Mile Beach is a long crescent of coral-sand beach on the western shore of Grand Cayman island. Despite the name, the beach is only about 5.5 miles long.The Cayman Islands are located in the western Caribbean Sea. They are the peaks of a massive underwater ridge, known as the Cayman Trench, standing 2,400 m from the sea floor, so barely poking above the surface.

370. Shoal Bay-Island Harbour Marine Area (ANGUILLA)

The Shoal Bay-Island Harbour marine area seeks to protect the extensive patch reef system that extends from the western end of Shoal Bay East to just past the eastern end of Island Harbour. As a reef system, the area provides a much-needed habitat for the endangered hawksbill and green sea turtles. At the same time, the reef system, itself, protects the shoreline from powerful wave action and strong storm systems and also helps to replenish the fine white sand that is found on Anguilla’s beaches. 371. Sierra Nevada, National Park (SPAIN)

The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in the region of Andalusia in Spain. It contains the highest point of continental Spain, Mulhacén at 3,479 metres. The Sierra Nevada were formed during the Alpine Orogeny, a mountain-building event that also formed the European Alps to the east and the Atlas Mountains of northern Africa across the Mediterranean Sea to the south.

372. Sigatoka Sand Dunes (FIJI)

The Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park is located at the mouth of the Sigatoka River on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. They are the product of erosion in the coastal hinterland and coastal dune forming processes. The extensive dune system covers an area of 650 hectares and comprises a series of parabolic sand dunes of various ages and activities. The dunes range from around 20 to an impressive 60 m tall. 373. Singing Dunes (KAZAKHSTAN)

The Singing Dunes are in the Altyn-Emel State National Park, Kazakhstan's largest national park. The crescent-shaped sand dunes, called barchans, produce a sound described as roaring, booming, squeaking, or simply as the "Song of the Dunes." This low-pitch rumble, a natural sound phenomenon, can be as loud as 105 decibels and can last several minutes. The sound accompanies a slumping or avalanching movement of the sand, usually triggered by wind passing over the dune. Collisions between grains of sand emit surface elastic waves that, in turn, cause the motions of the grains to become synchronized. The surface of the sand acts as a loudspeaker, transmitting it through the air.

374. Sinharaja Rainforest (SRI LANKA)

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Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a national park in Sri Lanka. The densely forested reserve, home to an incredible number of different trees and animal species, including amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and insects, is 21 kilometers from east to west and 7 kilometers from north to south. The hilly virgin rainforest was saved from the worst of commercial logging by its inaccessibility. 375. Island (MALAYSIA)

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Sipadan is the only oceanic island in Malaysia, rising 600 m from the seabed. It is in the Celebes Sea, east of the town of and off the coast of eastern Malaysia. It was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct volcanic cone, and took thousands of years to develop. Sipadan is located at the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, the center of one of the richest marine habitats in the world. More than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this ecosystem.

376. Siwa Oasis (Sahara) (EGYPT)

The Siwa Oasis, in Egypt, is located between the Qattara Depression and the Egyptian Sand Sea in the Libyan Desert, nearly 49 km east of the Libyan border and 560 km from Cairo. About 80 km in length and 32 km wide, Siwa Oasis is one of Egypt's most isolated settlements. 377. Skocjan Caves (SLOVENIA)

Skocjan Caves is a system of limestone caves in the Kras region in southwestern Slovenia, containing collapsed dolines, about 5 kilometres of underground passages, caves more than 200 metres deep and many waterfalls. This is one of the most famous sites in the world for the study of karstic (limestone) phenomena.

378. Slovak Paradise National Park (SLOVAKIA)

Slovak Paradise National Park is one of the nine national parks in Slovakia, situated in East Slovakia, which contains the Slovak Paradise mountain range. Eleven national nature reserves and eight nature reserves are situated in the park. It covers an area of 327.74 sq. km, boasts some 350 caves, amongst others the Dobsinska Ice Cave, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 379. Socotra Archipelago (YEMEN)

Socotra is a small Yemeni archipelago of four islands and islets in the Indian Ocean off the coast of the Horn of Africa, about 350 kilometers south of the Arabian peninsula. Socotra is one of the most isolated landforms on Earth of continental origin. The archipelago features narrow coastal plains, a limestone plateau with caves, and mountains which rise to 1,525 meters above sea level.

380. Soignes Forest (BELGIUM)

The Soignes Forest is a 4,421-hectare (10,920-acre) forest that is situated across the south-eastern part of Brussels, Belgium. The forest lies in the Flemish municipalities of Sint-Genesius-Rode, Hoeilaart, Overijse and Tervuren, in Uccle, Watermael-Boitsfort, Auderghem and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre in the Brussels-Capital Region and in the Walloon towns of La Hulpe and Waterloo. Thus it stretches out over all three Belgian Regions. Today the forest consists mainly of European beeches and oaks. Several trees are more than 200 years old. 381. Somali Montane Xeric Woodland (SOMALIA)

This ecoregion stretches along the coast of Somalia, through the regions of and Puntland, from the Shimbiris Mountain east of Hargeysa through the northern mountains of Somalia to Raas Caseyr, covering the very tip of the Horn of Africa, and continuing some 300 kilometers south along the Somali coastal plain. Elevations range from sea level to the summit of Shimbiris at 2,416 m, the highest point in Somalia. There are also extensive coastal plains and sizeable mountain escarpments with areas higher than 1,500 m.

382. Sossusvlei (NAMIBIA)

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Sossusvlei is a salt pan in the central Namib Desert, lying within the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Fed by the Tsauchab River, it is known for the high, red sand dunes which surround it, forming a huge sand sea. 383. Soufriere Hills (MONTSERRAT)

The Soufriere Hills volcano (French for "Sulphur" Hills) is an active complex stratovolcano with many lava domes forming its summit on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. After a long period of dormancy, it became active in 1995 and has continued to erupt ever since. The volcano is andesitic in nature and the current pattern of activity includes periods of dome growth punctuated by brief episodes of dome collapse which result in pyroclastic flows, ash venting and explosive eruption.

384. South China Karst (CHINA)

The South China Karst spreads across a surface of half a million square km lying mainly in Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi provinces. The stone forests of Shilin are considered a natural phenomena and a world reference with a wider range of pinnacle shapes than other karst landscapes with pinnacles, also with a higher diversity of shapes and changing colors. The site comprises three clusters: Libo Karst, Shilin Karst and Wulong Karst. 385. Srebarna, Lake (BULGARIA)

Srebarna lake is located in the Srebarna Nature Reserve in northeastern Bulgaria, on the Via Pontica, a bird migration route between Europe and Africa. The lake's depth varies from 1 to 3 m.

386. Strbske Pleso Lake (SLOVAKIA)

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Strbske Pleso is a picturesque mountain lake of glacial origin in the High Tatras, in the settlement of Strbske Pleso in Slovakia. The lake is covered by ice about 155 days per year. 387. Sugar Loaf (BRAZIL)

Sugar Loaf Mountain is a peak situated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from the mouth of Guanabara Bay on a peninsula that sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean. Rising 396 meters above sea-level, its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated refined loaf sugar. The mountain is only one of several monolithic morros of granite and quartz that rise straight from the water's edge around Rio de Janeiro.

388. Sumidero Canyon (MEXICO)

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Sumidero Canyon is a canyon located about 40 km from Tuxtla Gutiérrez, capital of the Mexican state of Chiapas. Its cliffs are 900 meters above sea level and overlook the Grijalva River, which extends across the states of Chiapas and Tabasco and flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Sumidero Canyon is a result of a geological fault during the Pleistocene. 389. Sundarbans (BANGLADESH, INDIA)

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The Sundarbans delta, at the mouth of the Ganges river, is the largest mangrove forest in the world, spreading across parts of Bangladesh and West Bengal, India. The Sundarbans features a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests. The area is known for its wide range of fauna, with the Royal Bengal tiger being the most famous, but also including many birds, spotted deer, crocodiles and snakes.

390. Surtsey Island (ICELAND)

Surtsey (Icelandic: "Surtur's island") is a volcanic island off the southern coast of Iceland. It is also the southernmost point of Iceland and was formed in a volcanic eruption which began 130 m below sea level, and reached the surface on 14 November, 1963. The new island was named after the fire god Surtr from Norse mythology, and was intensively studied by volcanologists during its creation and, since the end of the eruption, has been of great interest to botanists and biologists as life has gradually colonized the originally barren island. 391. Taal Volcano (PHILIPPINES)

Taal Volcano is an active volcano on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It is situated between the towns of Talisay and San Nicolas in Batangas. It consists of an island in Lake Taal, which is itself within a caldera formed by an earlier, very powerful eruption. It is located about 50 km from Manila. A small island, Vulcan Point, in Taal Volcano also has the distinction of being home to the "largest island in a lake on an island in a lake on an island."

392. (SOUTH AFRICA)

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Table Mountain is a South African icon and the only natural site on the planet to have a constellation of stars named after it - Mensa, meaning “the table.” The flat-topped mountain has withstood six million years of erosion and hosts the richest, yet smallest floral kingdom on earth with over 1,470 floral species. Table Mountain boasts numerous rare and endangered species. It is the most recognized site in Cape Town, the gateway to Africa, owing to its unique flat-topped peaks which reach 1,086 m above sea level.

393. Tai National Park (CÔTE D'IVOIRE)

Taï National Park contains one of the last areas of primary tropical forest in West Africa. It covers an area of 3,300 km² and offers living space for several species, for instance the endangered pygmy hippotamus.

394. Tara River Canyon (MONTENEGRO)

The Tara River Canyon (Serbian: Kanjon Tare), also known as the Tara River Gorge, is the longest canyon in Europe and the second- longest in the world. It is 82 km long and plunges to 1,300 meters at its deepest. The canyon is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is a part of Durmitor national park. The Tara River cuts through the canyon. There are rocky and pebbly terraces, sandy beaches, high cliffs, and more than 80 large caves along the canyon. 395. Tasek Merimbun (BRUNEI DARUSSALAM)

The unique black water lake known as Tasek Merimbun is the largest lake in Brunei. Two rivers, Sungai Meluncur and Sungai Bang Oncom, flow into the lake. The waters from the two rivers are almost black because they flow through swamp forests full of peat on their way to the lake. Tasek Merimbun naturally has an unusual S-shape. There is a small island in the center, which is accessible by way of a timber walkway.

396. Tassili n'Ajjer (Sahara) (ALGERIA)

The Tassili n'Ajjer is a mountain range in the Sahara desert in southeast Algeria. It extends about 500 km, with its highest point at Adrar Afao at 2,158 m. Much of the range, including the cypresses and archaeological sites, is protected within the Tassili n'Ajjer National Park. 397. , Volcano (SPAIN)

Teide, or Pico del Teide, is a volcano on Tenerife, on the Canary Islands. The volcano and its surroundings make up the Parque Nacional del Teide. At 3,718 m above sea level, and approximately 7,500 m above the adjacent sea bed, Teide is the highest mountain in Spain and the highest mountain on any island in the Atlantic Ocean. The island of Tenerife itself is the third-largest volcano on Earth by volume, making Tenerife the third-largest volcanic island on our planet.

398. Tetiaroa Atoll (FRENCH POLYNESIA)

Tetiaroa, one of the Society Islands, is an atoll 59 km north of Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia on the island of Tahiti. Tetiaroa Atoll has a width of 7.3 km and is made up of 12 small islands called motus. 399. The Arches of Akakus ()

The Akakus Plateau in the far south-west corner of Libya presents an arid scene of dark, barren rocky mountains interspersed with gravel plains and terracotta-colored, sandy wadis. Massive, wind-carved dunes and extraordinary rock formations like the natural arches of Akakus give the area a majestic sense of grandeur.

400. The Azores (PORTUGAL)

The Azores is a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,500 km (950 mi) from Lisbon and about 3,900 km (2,400 mi) from the east coast of North America. The two westernmost Azorean islands (Flores and Corvo) actually lie on the North American plate and are only 1,925 km (1,200 mi) from St. John's in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The nine major Azorean islands and the eight small Formigas extend for more than 600 km (373 mi) and lie in a northwest-southeast direction. All of the islands have volcanic origins, although Santa Maria also has some reef contribution. The mountain of Pico on Pico Island, at 2,351 m (7,713 ft) in altitude, is the highest in all of Portugal. The archipelago forms the Autonomous Region of Azores, one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal. 401. The Barn (SAINT HELENA)

The Barn is a capping of younger upon weaker rocks on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. Spectacularly cliffed on its seaward side, the Barn towers above the deeply dissected pyroclasts and weak flows of Turk's Cap Valley on its southern margins.

402. The Bazaruto Archipelago (MOZAMBIQUE)

The Bazaruto Archipelago is a group of islands off the coast of Vilanculos in Mozambique. It consists of five islands: Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Santa Carolina and Bangue. The area is now protected as a conservation area and national park, including the coral reefs surrounding the islands, making it the only official marine reserve in the country. 403. The Blue Nile (SUDAN, ETHIOPIA)

The Blue Nile is a river originating at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. It joins the White Nile at Khartoum, Sudan and, as the Nile, flows through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. The distance from its source to its confluence is variously reported as 1460 and 1600 km. The uncertainty over its length might partially result from the fact that it flows through virtually impenetrable gorges cut in the Ethiopian highlands to a depth of some 1500 m.

404. The Brooding Hen (NEW CALEDONIA)

In the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean, you find the spectacular Lindéralique Cliffs rising to a height of 60 m. Swallows dart amidst the razor-sharp indigo limestone, and jade-colored water laps gently at the base of the cliffs. On the edge of Hienghène Bay, the cliffs morph into the most famous of the limestone formations, La Poule Couveuse - or The Brooding Hen. 405. The Burren (IRELAND)

The Burren is a unique karst landscape region in northwest County Clare, in Ireland. The region measures approximately 250 km2 and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Galway Bay on the west and north, respectively.

406. The Central Suriname Nature Reserve (SURINAME)

The Central Suriname Nature Reserve comprises more than 1.6 million hectares of primary tropical forest in the upper Coppename River watershed of west-central Suriname. With the creation of the Central Suriname Nature Reserve, Suriname's protected areas system covers 12 percent of the total land surface of the country. 407. The Koi and Chorori Hills (PARAGUAY)

The Koi and Chorori Hills are maded up of horizontal blocks of igneous sandstones. The Koi hill is known for its formations of hexagonal sandstones, similar to a bee's honeycomb. The hills are located close to the city of Areguá. Combined, the two hills have an area of 26 ha.

408. The Macina (MALI)

The Macina, or Inner Niger Delta, is a large 400 km-long area of lakes and floodplains in Mali. It is located in the middle course of the Niger River, between the bifurcated Niger and its tributary, the Bani. During the wet season, the swamp floods into a lake and naturally irrigates the land. When the dry season comes, the Macina turns into a network of lakes and channels. The seasonal wetlands and lakes of the inland delta are also an important stopping place for migratory birds. 409. The Observatory Cave (MONACO)

At the base of the Exotic Garden's cliff, 100 m above the ground, an underground cavity opens into the Observatory Cave. The calcareous rock was hollowed out by water rich in carbon dioxide and the cave is full of caverns complete with amazing structures: stalactites, stalagmites, curtains, columns, spaghetti-like and much more.

410. The Richat Structure (MAURITANIA)

The Richat Structure, a prominent circular feature in the Sahara desert of Mauritania near Ouadane, has attracted attention since the earliest space missions because it forms a conspicuous bull's-eye in an otherwise rather featureless expanse of desert. The structure, which has a diameter of almost 50 kilometers, was intially interpreted as a meteorite impact structure because of its high degree of circularity, but is now thought to be a symmetrical uplift that has been laid bare by erosion. 411. The Twelve Apostles, Rock Formation (AUSTRALIA)

The Twelve Apostles are huge pillars of limestone rock in the ocean offshore from the Port Campbell National Park, along the south- east coast of Australia. Formed by the sea eroding the cliffs, the stacks are of varying heights and thicknesses. There are now eight pillars, with the most recent collapse being that of a 50-m tall column which fell apart on July 3, 2005. However, more are expected to be formed as the cliffs continue to erode.

412. The White Cliffs of Dover in England (UNITED KINGDOM)

The White Cliffs of Dover are cliffs which form part of the British coastline facing the Strait of Dover and France. They are part of the North Downs formation. The cliff face, which reaches up to 350 feet high, owes its striking façade to its composition of chalk accentuated by streaks of black flint. The cliffs spread east and west from the town of Dover in the county of Kent, an ancient and still important English port. 413. The White Nile (UGANDA, SUDAN, EGYPT)

The White Nile is an African river and one of the two main tributaries of the Nile. In wider sense, “White Nile” refers to the approximately 3700 km river draining from Lake Victoria into the Nile proper. It may also, depending on the speaker, refer to the headwaters of Victoria.

414. Thy National Park (DENMARK)

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The Thy National Park covers an area of 24.3 hectares and stretches from Hanstholm to Agger Tange, along the West Jutland coast. This stretch of coastline with its dunes, sand heaths, dune plantations and lakes is also famed for the natural phenomenon of the 10-12 million migratory birds that gather to rest and feed there en route to and from their breeding grounds twice a year, for the spring migration in April and May and the autumn migration in September and October. 415. Tierra del Fuego, Archipelago (ARGENTINA, CHILE)

Tierra del Fuego National Park is located on the Argentine part of the island of Tierra del Fuego. Its 630 square kilometres include parts of the Fagnano and Roca lakes. The park has dramatic scenery, with waterfalls, forests, mountains and glaciers.

416. Tilicho Lake (NEPAL)

Tilicho Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world, nestled at 4,949 m in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas in Nepal. Mountain lakes are known to geographers as tarns when they were caused by glacial activity. Tarns are found mostly in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, above 5,500 m. Due to the extremely inhospitable surrounding terrain and the difficulties associated with reaching the area, this lake is rarely visited by outsiders. 417. Tobago Cays (SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES)

The Tobago Cays are a cluster of four uninhabited islands, protected by a "horseshoe reef"and enclosing a turquoise, sand-bottomed lagoon. Tobago Cays are a national marine park of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

418. Torotoro National Park (BOLIVIA)

Torotoro National Park is a small national park in Bolivia, situated among the eastern mountain ranges of the South American Andes cordilleras.It is located in the Northern Potosí department, 140 km south of Cochabamba and only accessible by gravel roads and riverbeds. Torotoro National Park covers 165 km” and is located in a semi-arid landscape at altitudes between 2000 and 3500 m above sea level, with canyons as deep as 300 meters. The National Park offers scrubby woodland with wildlife like flocks of parakeets and the red-fronted macaw, as well as typical features of karst terrain like caves and dolines ,Paleozoic and calcitic deposits with fossils, and panoramic landscapes eroded by glaciers, wind and waters. 419. Tree of Life (BAHRAIN)

The Tree of Life (Shajarat al-Hayah) is a 400-year old mesquite tree in Bahrain. This unique tree stands alone in the desert about 2 km from the Jebel Dukhan, the highest point in Bahrain. The source of water for this tree remains a mystery because it stands in a place completely free of water supply. Mesquites yield yellowish gums used in making mucilage, candles and dyes.

420. Tsingy de Bemaraha, Nature Conservancy Park (MADAGASCAR)

Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, with an area of about 152 sq km, is known for its impressive 'tsingy' peaks, which are very sharply edged, very high towers of limestone that jut into the sky, a 'forest' of limestone needles and the spectacular canyon of the Manambolo river. The undisturbed forests, lakes and mangrove swamps are the home of rare and endangered lemurs and birds. 421. (PHILIPPINES)

Tubbataha Reef is an atoll coral reef in the Sulu Sea that belongs to the Philippines. It is a marine sanctuary protected as Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. The reef is composed of two atolls, North and South Reefs. Each reef has a single small islet that protrudes from the water. The atolls are separated by a deep channel 8 kilometers wide. Over one thousand species, including many that are endangered, can be found at on the reef. These include manta rays, lionfish, tortoises, clownfish and sharks.

422. Turks Islands Passage (TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS)

The Turks and Caicos Islands are situated in the Atlantic Ocean. The two island groups are separated by a deep ocean trench, the Turks Islands Passage. The trench is 30 miles wide and over 7,000 feet deep. In the springtime, whales migrate through the Turks Islands Passage. 423. Twin Pitons, Mountain Peak (SAINT LUCIA)

St. Lucia’s Pitons are two volcanic plugs, and are a World Heritage Site. The Gros Piton is 770 m hight, the Petit Piton is 743 m high, and they are linked by the Piton Mitan ridge. The Pitons are located near the towns of Soufriere and Choiseul on the southwestern coast of the island.

424. Ulithi Atoll (MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF)

Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling square 4.5 km, surrounding a lagoon about 30 km long and 15 km wide—at 548 square km, it is the fourth largest in the world. 425. Ulla Ulla National Reserve (BOLIVIA)

The Ulla Ulla National Reserve is a biosphere reserve located in the Franz Tamayo Province in western Bolivia. The Reserve is on the high Andean plain northwest of the city of La Paz, with an average altitude of over 4000 meters about sea level. The park is about 2,000 km² in size, is populated by about 12,000 people, most of them of Aymara origin, and is also the home of the Andean Condor, the largest flying bird in the world.

426. Uluru (AUSTRALIA)

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Uluru (Ayers Rock) is one of Australia's most recognisable natural icons. The world-renowned sandstone formation stands 348 m high above sea level with most of its bulk below the ground, and measures 9.4 km in circumference. Uluru appears to change color as the different light strikes it at different times of the day and year.

427. Uvs Nuur, Lake (RUSSIA)

Uvs Nuur is the largest lake in Mongolia, which, at 753 m above sea level, covers an area of 3,350 km². Its northeastern part is situated in the Tuva Republic of the Russian Federation. This shallow and very saline body of water is the only remainder of a huge saline sea which covered a much larger area several thousand years ago.

428. Valley of Flowers (INDIA)

The Valley of Flowers National Park is a national park in the Himalayan area of Uttarakhand, India. There is no settlement in the national park, and grazing in the area has been banned. The park is open only between June and October, since it is covered by heavy snow during the rest of the year.Over 500 species of flowers, mostly orchids, poppies, primulas, calendulas, daisies and anemones carpet the ground. 429. Vatnajokull Glacier (ICELAND)

Vatnajokull Glacier is the largest glacier in Iceland. It is located in the south-east of the island, covering more than 8% of the country. With a size of 8,100 sq. km, it is the largest glacier in Europe. The average thickness of the ice is 400 m, with it reaching an amazing thickness of 1 km in some parts. Iceland's highest mountain, Oraefajokull (2,110 m), is located on the southern periphery of Vatnajokull, near Skaftafell National Park. It is classified as an ice cap glacier. Under the glacier, as under many of the glaciers of Iceland, there are several volcanoes. Vatnajokull has been shrinking for some years now, possibly because of climatic changes and recent volcanic activity.

430. Vestmanna Birdcliffs, Rock formation (FAROE ISLANDS)

The Vestmanna Birdcliffs are huge cliffs located on Streymoy, the largest island of the Faroe Islands. The renowned Birdcliffs and Grottos north of Vestmanna, the Vestmannabjørgini, are one of the biggest tourist attractions there. Narrow sounds, deep grottoes, carved by the surf through ages, and in the close to the over 1500 feet high-rise cliffs thousands of seabirds are nesting. 431. Vesuvius (ITALY)

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Mount Vesuvius is a volcano east of Naples, Italy. It is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last hundred years, although it is not currently erupting. Vesuvius is best known for its eruption in AD 79 that led to the destruction of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. It has erupted many times since and is today regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world.

432. Victoria Falls (ZIMBABWE, ZAMBIA)

The Victoria Falls is a waterfall situated in southern Africa between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The falls are, by some measures, the largest waterfall in the world. They also seem to be the most unusual in form and have beyond doubt the most diverse and easily-seen wildlife of any major waterfall site. 433. Vinales Valley ()

Vinales Valley is a karstic depression in Cuba, meaning that it is characterized by irregular limestone in which erosion has produced fissures, , underground streams and caverns. The valley has an area of 132 sq. km and is located in the Sierra de los Organos, just north of Vinales in the Pinar del Rio Province. The conspicuous cliffs rising like islands from the bottom of the valley are called mogotes.

434. Virgin Komi Forests (RUSSIA)

The Virgin Komi Forests is situated in the Northern Ural mountains of the Komi Republic, Russia. At 32,800 square kilometers it is the largest virgin forest in Europe. The Virgin Komi Forests belong to the Ural Mountains Taiga ecoregion. Dominant tree species include Siberian Spruce, Siberian Fir and Siberian Larch, while the most prominent mammals are the reindeer, the sable, the mink and the hare. 435. Virunga National Park (RWANDA)

The Virunga National Park stretches from the Virunga to the Rwenzori Mountains in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda. Covering 7,800 sq km, it was established in 1925 as Africa's first national park.

436. Vlašić (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA)

Vlašić is a mountain in the very center of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its peak is called Paljenik and has an elevation of 1,943 m above sea level. The mountain is a major center for winter tourism thanks to its excellent accommodation for skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports. It is also a popular destination for summer visitors and eco-tourists, with many trails and undisturbed wilderness areas. 437. Vredefort Crater (SOUTH AFRICA)

Vredefort Crater is the largest verified impact crater on Earth. It is located in the Free State Province of South Africa, and named after the town of Vredefort, which is situated near its center. The asteroid that hit Vredefort is one of the largest to have ever smashed into the Earth, estimated at over 10 km wide. The crater has a diameter of roughly 250 - 300 km, its age is estimated to be over 2 billion years, impacting during the Paleoproterozoic era. It is the second-oldest known crater on the Earth.

438. Vrelo Cave (MACEDONIA (FYROM))

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Vrelo Cave is located in the Canyon of Matka on the right bank of Treska River near the Macedonian capital of Skopje. Vrelo is a system of two caves, one above and one underneath the water, and a lake. Highlight of the top cave is a three meter high , called the „Pine Cone". The actual depth of the submerged cave has not yet been determined, it seems to lie well over 500 m, therefore some consider Vrelo Cave to be Europe’s deepest underwater cave. 439. Wadden Sea (DENMARK, GERMANY, NETHERLANDS)

The Wadden Sea is the name given to a body of water and its associated coastal wetlands lying between a section of the coast of northwestern continental Europe and the North Sea. Stretching a total length of some 500 km and has a total area of about 10,000 sq. km, it is typified by extensive tidal mud flats, deeper tidal trenches and islands within this region. It is a rugged coastal area that is continually contested by both land and sea. The landscape was formed in a great part by storm tides in the 10th - 14th century, which destroyed peat land behind the coastal dunes. The Wadden Sea is famous for its rich fauna, avifauna and flora.

440. Wadi Rum Desert (JORDAN)

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Wadi Rum is a desert valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in southwest Jordan, full of large and imposing rock formations, all tinted slightly pink. It is the largest valley in Jordan. In the West, Wadi Rum may be best known for its connection with British officer T. E. Lawrence, or Lawrence of Arabia, who based his operations in Wadi Rum during the Arab Revolt of 1917–18. One of the more impressive rock formations in Wadi Rum was named The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by Lawrence. 441. Western Ghats (INDIA)

The Western Ghats is a mountain range in the west of peninsular India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The range starts near the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra, south of the Tapti River, and runs approximately 1600 km through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala ending at Kanyakumari, at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula. About sixty percent of the Western Ghats are located in the state of Karnataka. These hills cover 60,000 square kilometers at an average elevation of around 1,200 meters. The area has over 5000 species of flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species and 179 amphibian species.

442. Wulingyuan, Rock Formation (CHINA)

Wulingyuan is a scenic and historic interest area in Hunan Province, China, famous for its approximately 3,100 tall quartzite sandstone pillars, some over 200 meters in height, and are a kind of karst formation. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. 443. Yak Loum Lake (CAMBODIA)

Yak Loum is a lake in the Ratanakiri province of northeastern Cambodia. Located approximately 4.8 km from the provincial capital, Banlung, the beautiful lake occupies a 4,000-year-old volcanic crater. Due to the lake’s tremendous depth of 48 m, its water is exceptionally clean and clear. The lake is almost perfectly round and measures 0.75 km in diameter. Large trees and rich, lush rainforest, the home of many exotic birds and parrots, surround the lake.

444. Yakushima, Island (JAPAN)

Yakushima is an island of about 500km² and roughly 15 000 islanders to the south of Kyūshū in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The highest point on the island is Miyanoura-dake at 1,935 meters (6,360 feet). It is covered in dense forest noted especially for old growth Cryptomeria trees known as Sugi in Japan and magnificent . 445. Yangtze River (CHINA)

The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world. It is about 6,300 km long and flows from its source in Qinghai Province, eastwards into the East China Sea at Shanghai. The Yangtze has traditionally been considered a dividing line between North and South China.

446. Yasur Volcano (VANUATU)

Vanuatu, an archipelago of 83 islands, is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, where two of the earth's tectonic plates meet and cause significant volcanic and other tectonic activity. Yasur volcano on Tanna Island is one of the most famous volcanoes in the world: Although it is active year-round, it is unusual for it to be too active to approach. Because it has erupted in different ways over the years, Yasur is made up of different types of rocks and is thus called a strato-volcano. 447. Yellowstone, National Park (UNITED STATES)

Yellowstone National Park, located in the U.S. states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, became the world's first national park in 1872. The park is known for its wildlife and geothermal features, especially Old Faithful Geyser, one of the most popular areas in the park.

448. Yosemite National Park (UNITED STATES)

Yosemite National Park is located in California, United States. The park covers an area of 761,266 acres (3,081 km²). It is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, Giant Sequoia groves, and biological diversity. 449. Yushan (CHINESE TAIPEI)

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Yushan, part of Yushan National Park, is a central mountain range in Chinese Taipei and it also the name of the highest point of the range. It is also called Jade Mountain and its height is 3,952 m above sea level. The park is also known for its diverse wildlife and ecology. The environment around Yushan itself spans from sub-tropical forests at its base to alpine conditions at its peak.

450. Zaamin National Park ()

The Zaamin National Park is situated in Jizzakh Province, on the northern slopes of the Turkestan Mountain Range. Its total area comprises 15,600 hectares. The elevations range from 1,700 m (in the Guralash valley) to 3,571 m (Guralash Peak). 451. Zion National Park (UNITED STATES)

Zion National Park is located in the southwestern United States, near Springdale, Utah. A prominent feature of the 593-square-km park is Zion Canyon, 24 km long and up to 800 m deep, cut through the reddish and tan-colored Navajo Sandstone by the North Fork of the Virgin River. The geology of the Zion and Kolob canyons area includes nine formations that together represent 150 million years of mostly Mesozoic-aged sedimentation.

452. Zuma Rock (NIGERIA)

Zuma Rock, located near the main road going north from Abuja to Kaduna in Nigeria, is also referred to as the "Gateway to Abuja." The monolith is also reported to constitute the exact geographical center of Nigeria