Earth is a wonderful planet. The life that has evolved here has transformed a huge, inanimate rock into a veritable cornucopia of ecosystems, supporting millions of interesting and unusual creatures. In addition, the thermal engine inside our planet drives the surface plates (our continents and oceans) hither and yon, creating a geological masterpiece of mountains, oceans, volcanoes, etc. What a place!
As custodians of this elaborate work of art, world citizens have united to preserve some of the earth’s most fantastic places, locations that offer the very best of nature’s creations. Here is my Bucket List of Natural Places around the World (the few that I have seen are asterisked).
Africa
Madagascar
Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Asia
Bali, Indonesia
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Li River, China*
Mount Everest, Nepal
Mount Fugi, Japan
Pammukkale, Turkey
Stone Forest, Kunming, China
Europe
Bernese Oberland, Switzerland*
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
Connemara National Park, Ireland
Fjordland, Norway
Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
Golden Circle, Iceland
Highlands, Scotland*
Lake District, England*
Lakes Region, Italy*
Plitvice National Park, Croatia
North America
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada*
Bay of Fundy National Park, New Brunswick*
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia*
Copper Canyon, Mexico
Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick*
Jasper National Park, Alberta*
Morne Trois Piton National Park, Dominica*
Pitons Area, St Lucia
Yoho National Park, British Columbia*
Oceania
Blue Mountains, Australia
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Fiji
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Kangaroo Island, Australia
The Kimberley, Australia
Rotorua Thermal Area, New Zealand
Tahiti, French Polynesia
Tasmania, Australia
Tongariro National Park, New Zealand
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia
South America
Amazon River & Pantanal, Brazil
Angel Falls & Grand Sabana, Venezuela
Dunn’s River Falls, Jamaica*
Falkland Islands
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina
Torres del Paine, Chile
Total = 47 (I have seen only 13 — a long way to go!).