References

1) Bryant, B. (2013). Underwater River Is A Scuba Diver's Dream - Cenote Angelita, Mexico. The             Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/04/roman-polanski-begins-hou_n_379892.html

2) Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast. (n.d.) UNESCO. Retrieved from http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/369

3) Giant’s Causeway, Antrim Northern Ireland. (n.d.). Retrieve from.                                                       http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Giants-Causeway-Antrim-Northern-Ireland-Bushmills-P2800

4) Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim. (n.d.). BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbcattic.org/blueprint/media/giants_causeway.shtml

5) Glass Beach, from Trash to Treasure. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.fortbragg.com/explore/glass-beach/

6) Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, Mendocino Coast. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mendocino.com/?id=3721

7) Hidden Underwater River Flowing Under the Ocean in Mexico. Boredpanda. Retrieved from     http://www.boredpanda.com/cenote-angelita-underwater-river-mexico/

8) History of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.waitomo.com/glowworm-caves-history.aspx

9) Incredible Red Beach in Panjin, China. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.boredpanda.com/panjin-red-beach-in-china/

10) Incredible Red Sea Beach in China. (n.d.). Retrieve from http://www.placestoseeinyourlifetime.com/incredible-red-seabeach-in-china-1968/

11) Johnson, T. (2013). Sea Glass Beaches Show Off ‘Jewels’ of the Ocean. Retrieved from                     http://www.weather.com/news/science/environment/see-californias-glass-beach-its-gone-20130909

12) Kalki, K. (2012). Wonderful Huge Pool- Pumpkin, Depths of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Retrieved from http://www.ashtarcommandcrew.net/forum/topics/wonderful-huge-pool-pumpkin-depths-of-the-grand-canyon-in-arizona?xg_source=activity

13) Kaushik. (2010). Curious Rock Formation of Giant’s Causeway in Ireland. Retrieved from                   http://www.amusingplanet.com/2010/10/curious-rock-formation-of-giant.html

14) Kaushik. (2011). Lencois Maranhenses National Park: The Flooded Desert. Retrieved from                 http://www.amusingplanet.com/2011/10/lencois-maranhenses-national-park.html

15) Kaushik. (2013). Pink Lake Hillier in Australia. Retrieved from http://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/03/pink-lake-hillier-in-australia.html

16) Kaushik. (2013) Waitomo Glowworm Caves. http://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/05/waitomo-glowworm-caves-new-zealand.html

17) Lavinia. (2012). Soothing Baths in Pamukkale Hot Springs, Turkey. Retrieved from                             http://www.tourismontheedge.com/places/asia/soothing-baths-in-pamukkale-hot-springs-turkey.html

18) Mark. (2012). An Arsenic Pumpkin Spring Pool in the Grand Canyon. Retrieved from                           http://funsterz.com/2012/06/05/an-arsenic-pumpkin-spring-pool-in-the-grand-canyon-8-photos/

19) McGuire, C. (n.d.). Pamukkale. Retrieved from
http://www.greecetravel.com/turkey/pamukkale/index.htm

20) Paria Canyon-Coyote Buttes. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.zionnational-park.com/coyote-buttes-paria.htm

21) Paria Canyon Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/wildView?WID=444

22) Quinion, G. (2013). The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/destinations/the-philippines-chocolate-hills-too-perfect-to-be-real/article15214998/

23) Rachel. (n.d.). Pumpkin Spring Pool. Retrieved from
http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pumpkin-spring-pool

24) Ramos, P. (2013). Absolutely Stunning Illusion of an Underwater Waterfall. Retrieved from                   http://www.exposureguide.com/inspiration/absolutely-stunning-illusion-of-an-underwater-waterfall/

25) Rock on at Paria Canyon. (2013). Indipendendent.co.uk Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/americas/rock-on-at-paria-canyon-8545567.html

26) Siegel, E. (2013). Weekend diversion: Underwater Waterfall?. Science Blogs. Retrieved from                 http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2013/09/22/weekend-diversion-an-underwater-waterfall/

27)Stone forest. (n.d). Retrieved from
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/yunnan/kunming/stone_forest.htm

28) Stone Forest (Shilin): A national grade scenic and tourist spot. (n.d.). Retrieved from                             http://www.travelchinayunnan.com/city/kunming/attraction/stoneforest.htm

29) Swim in Lake Hillier, Australia. (n.d.). When on Earth. Retrieved from
http://whenonearth.net/swim-in-lake-hillier-pink-lake-australia/

30) Yoo, A. (2013). Hidden Underwater River Flows Along Mexico’s Ocean Floor. Retrieved from           http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/anatoly-beloshchin-mexico-yucatan-cenote-angelita

Say Hello to Goodbye

Hi readers! Have your done exploring my blog? If yes, well done and thank you for spending your time reading my entries. The journey of writing this blog came to the end.  It's been a joyful time of writing and sharing the unique natural wonders around the world with you guys. Besides, this assignment really enhance my knowledge in this blogging world. I can see the improvement as before this I'm not really used with this 'bloggy' thingy.

Really a happy person :D. Picture from Google images.

Special thanks to my subject's lecturer, Madam Hawinda Karmon for her kindness and guidance all this while. Not to forget, my classmates who are very supportive and very generous to share their knowledge on this blogging world. Lastly, lots of love to my parents who always give me encouragements to finish this task.

Our earth is full with unique natural wonders either have been discovered or not discovered yet. There are many other places in this world that are still waiting for us to reveal its secrets. In previous entries, I already shared about unique places of natural wonders that we sometimes doesn't realized at all. I really enjoy writing about this topic and hoping that if I have the chance in future, I will visit these places.

I am still waiting for more discovery of unique natural wonders out there. Our earth is full with surprises but we sometimes take granted of it. Hopefully after this I can be a grateful person when it comes to cherish our natural wonders.

There're so much to see yet so much to discover! Au revoir!

The Wave Rock in Paria Canyon

Looks like layered cake. Simply amazing. Picture from www.independent.co.uk

Have you ever been to any place where the surrounding full with waves rocks? Here in Arizona, Paria Canyon, is the location where we can see the wave rocks. Paria means 'muddy water' where there's a location of chocolatey river. The research proved that this canyon was inhabited by the ancestors 10,000 years ago. So this place is quite historic.

People walking between the wave rock. Picture from flowboard.com

What make this wave rock unique is that there are many colours that combine together creating a dramatic rainbow of pastel yellow, chocolate and red. This place is suitable for hiking and it is one of the ways for visitors to getting know about this place even better and also experience the unique colours of wave rock. Visitors need to choose and follow the tracks given. To those people who doesn't know the existence of this wave rock will often mistaken the picture with paintings. This place is too perfect to become a painting. Visitors need to be very careful during rainy days as flash flood can occurs at this canyon.

Hollow stone from the sandstone. Picture from flowboard.com

Paria Canyon, the location of this wave rock is considered as the best location for hiking. For nature lovers, do come to this place and experience yourself with the wilderness. Those rock can be vary in terms of its spiral. That add up the uniqueness. The rock formation actually existed during Jurassic age. The Jurassic Navajo Sandstone is the most prominent in this formation. As time flies, it is believe that wind and water eroded the sandstone and thus we can see the formation right now.

Amazing formation of wave done by the nature. Picture from Google image.

The wave rock is one of the natural wonders in this world that need to be taken care off. Without all this things, we don't know about what happened to our earth million years ago. This rock is like a time-traveller rock that exposed us with its wonders and secrets.

A Snow Alike, Pamukkale Hot Springs, Turkey

The first thing that came into my mind when I saw the picture is that 'Is it somewhere in Siberian or Arctic area?' The answer is nope. It is one of the unique natural wonders located in Pamukkale, Turkey. Wow, I felt so impressed when looking at the picture. This place is really beautiful, thanks to the tectonic fault that created this hot springs.

Layered pools. Siberia or Turkey? :D Picture from tourismontheedge.com

Pamukkale means 'cotton castle' in Turkish. This name suits with its surroundings as it was covered with white and fluffy looks. This place really give a snow illusion to everybody who see it. The illusion were originally comes from travertine, as according to McGuire, (n.d.) " a limestone created by a rapid precipitation of calcium bicarbonate, originating from hot springs." So that's why this hot springs seems like a snow lake. There were 17 hot springs in this place and being heated by the plateau. 

People can swim in this hot spring. Picture from Colleen McGuire.

A fairy wonderland. Limestone have done its best. Picture from tourismontheedge.com

Tourist can take a bath in this hot springs water. Many people take this advantage to relax themselves in the warm water of hot springs. However visitors need to be careful when walking in the pools so that they won't fell down and being covered with white mud. Mud here is very unique as it is in white colour and not chocolatey like usual volcano mud. Maybe you can try to do mud bath here. Fairy wonderland and mystical kingdom is the best to describe this place as it is in all white surrounding. So relaxing and breathtaking.

Now let's watch the video!

'Pumpkin' Spring Pool, Arizona

Giant Pumpkin in Arizona. Picture from Flickr user, Roger Steeb

Pumpkin is really famous during Halloween, but this 'pumpkin' is also famous during ordinary days. This amazing limestone formation of pumpkin is located at the Grand Canyon, Arizona. We can't find this exact formation at any parts of the world. Water pours into this large and round pumpkin thus it explains why there were green water inside. The green mossy water then runs into the river below the pumpkin.

A man having a sneak peek into the pumpkin. Picture from Flickr user Roger Steeb.

This pumpkin might attracts people to jump in but someone need to think twice as this water is very poisonous. This is the most poisonous water in this canyon. Recent studies prove that every 1 liter of this water contain 1100 miligrams of arsenic. According to Rachel (n.d.), "While the pool may appear to be full of mineral rich, hot springs goodness, and the pumpkin-shaped bowl seems hypnotically inviting, the warm waters are the witch brew of lead, zinc, copper and very high level of arsenic." So this explains why the water from this pumpkin is very hazardous for people.

A man touch the surface of the water. Picture from Flickr user Ben Kimball

This water is very warm and really seduces people to touch it. A quick touch to this water won't cause anything as long as the person wash his/her back under running water. However, it is advised not to touch the water as prevention is better than cure. Bathing and drinking the water are highly prohibited as it will cause arsenic poisoning. This is really dangerous as it will cause coma and worst, death. People who are poisoned need to seek the doctor if the symptoms like headache, poisoning and drowsiness occurs to them. 

This pumpkin is really nice to see but hazardous to touch. Well, that's nature. It's unique!  This  Pumpkin Spring Pool is really one of the natural wonders. 

Red Sea Beach, China

China never fails to amazed us. Next unique natural wonder in China is in Panjin, the location of peaceful Red Sea Beach. This amazing place is located at the Southwest Panjin City and 30 kilometers from the city center. Beach in Panjin is unique as it is not like an ordinary beach but it is red in colour as the result of the sea weed and the beach does not covered with sand at all. 

Amazing! Picture from placestoseeinyourlifetime.com

What are the cause of this condition? Well actually the red colour comes from the plant which is actually the sea weed that called as 'Sueda.' This plant grows every April or May and at the beginning it is green and gradually become red during autumn. This amazing beach's plant only grows at  muddy area near Liaohe River of Panjin which is just behind the sea and it is really a suitable area for this plant to grow.

No sand at all. Just red. Picture from placetoseeinyourlifetime.com

The Red Sea Beach is also the home to various species of birds. 260 species of birds have been recorded until this date. Some rare and endangered species can also be found here like Crown Cranes and Black Beaked Gulls. This place is also one of the pit stop for migrating birds while they were travelling from Asia to Australia. Most of the Red Sea Beach is restricted for public but there's also a small area that open for public to see this spectacular place. There are bridges being built and designed just for the tourists to visit this place. 

Unique zig-zag bridges for tourist to explore this Red Sea beach.
Picture from placestoseeinyourlifetime.com

From far, this place just looks like a red-comfy clouds that welcome its visitors . I really admire this place and really hoping that one day I will visit this natural wonder. 

The Flooded Desert in Brazil

When we think about desert, what came to our mind is that it must be hot, dry and very little plant and animal that can survive there. However in Brazil there's is a unique desert that attracts many visitors every year to come and experience the desert uniqueness. It is called the Flooded Desert where the desert store cool turquoise lakes.

Cool view of flooded desert. Picture form www.amusing planet.com

This desert is located at Lencois Maranhenses National Park, in Maranhao. This place is quite isolated and only can be accessed by 4 wheel drive trucks. As the government want to preserve the area, this method can help to maintain the area from any pollution. How actually the lakes emerged in the desert? Actually the water being restored during regular rainy season started at the early of the year and reached it spectacular view during July to September. Between these months, it is the best time to visit this place and enjoy the beautiful scenery. However in October, the water begin to dry and the cycle starts again in next year.

People enjoy doing their activities here. Picture from amusing planet.com

White sand dunes and turquoise water attracts many people to visit experience the lakes in the middle of the desert. Don't be surprise if you see a fish swim beside you as fish also live in this desert pools. The water is very fresh thus it is not surprise to see other living thing like fish in this pools. This pools has become home to various fishes. It is believe that birds accidentally brought the fish eggs from the sea behind so that's how the fishes ended up in this flooded desert. The park's residents also work as a fisherman and got their source of income from the desert lakes. Somehow during the dry season, they have to become  farmers to support their lives.

Like private pools. Just choose yours! Picture from amusingplanet.com

This place really excites me. The national park consist of many flora and fauna that are unique and can't be seen in other places in the world. It is nice to have a vacation here and experience what nature offers to us.

Giant's Causeway, the Unique Lava Plateau, Ireland

Now let's discover about the unique lava plateau which is The Giant Causeway where it  is a remarkable geological features located at Antrim, Northern Ireland. This place was formed in 50-60 million ago. It has been made up of some hexagonal basalt stones, that emerge from the sea and created such outstanding view. It attracts visitors from all around the world and it is one of The World Heritage Sites.

Amazing yet tranquil view of the plateau. Picture from vault.sierraclub.org

This unique lava plateau was formed in the early of Paleogene period during the mass volcanic activity. The geological activity created this magnificent place and considered as one of the natural wonders in the world.

From research that has been made, the lava plateau was formed by the intense magma in the earth crust that erupted on the earth surface. The lava that form this lava plateau was a molten rock which was about 1100 degrees centigrade. The lava then cooled and formed the black colour lava plateau. So this is how The Giant's Causeway formed.

Different height of lava plateau. Picture from www.amusingplanet.com

There were also a myth and legend of a giant on how this place was created. As according to discovernorthernireland.com, "Some say it was carved from the coast by a mighty giant, Finn McCool who left behind an ancient home full of folklore."

The Giant Causeway emerged from the sea. Picture from opentravel.com

It was really incredible on how the lava plateau reformed in a hexagonal shape. Definitely this unique place is one of dream place to visit.

The Glass Beach, California

Glass stone that sparkle in the water. Picture from Google images

Glass Beach is located at Fort Bragg. California. Though its name we can guess that this its shore is full with glass stone. Most people find it's best to stroll along the beach and don't have to worry if their foot get wounded. This is because, the glass stone have been rounded by the waves. The shore seems so nice during day as the  glass stone sparkle. Tourist who come to this beach will collect the shiny stones although it is not allowed to doing so in order to preserve the area.

Tiny piece of stone. Picture from Google images

People might be amazed if they knew that actually the Glass Beach was reformed from the dumping ground near the beach since 1940.  At that time, citizen nearby Fort Bragg will go to this place and throw away the rubbish from the cliffs. Awareness to save the environment was still lacking at that time. There are various type of rubbish that have been thrown away such as garbage, kitchen utensils, old cars and of course, glass. In 1960, the beach has been cleaned up and and in 2000 the beach was declared as California State Park.

Various sizes and colours of glass stone. Picture from Google image

Before this, nobody realized that the rubbish will create these 'Jewels of the Ocean'. Mother Nature plays a big role where it changed the shagged glass into a round and shiny stone. According to Johnson (2013), "It can take anywhere from 10-30 years to make sea glass, the name for any piece of glass that finds its way to the ocean and tumbles around in the water long enough to frost and smooth its surface."

This beach is so amazing! How I wish I could stroll along the beach. Sometimes we never knew that our nature can create amazing things like this. So save our environment.

Now let's watch the video!

Waitomo Glow Worm Caves

Glow worm cave that's looks like a witch castle.
Picture from machprinciple.wordpress.com

Usually when we entered any caves in this world, the condition is cold, dark and wet. But have you seen any caves that glow? In Otorohanga, New Zealand, this kind of cave exist as one of the country's natural wonders and it is in the vacation wishlist. What makes the cave illuminates is that there were tiny creatures called glow worm or in scientific name 'Arachnocampa luminosa' that give an insight spectacular view of the cave.

The visitors enjoy a boat ride in the glow worm cave. Picture from www.waitomo.com

People from around the world come to this cave in order to experience the unique boat ride with glow worms illuminate the cave's wall. The glow worm simply look like a galaxy of stars shining in the sky. This cave was first being discovered by Tane Tiroau the Maori Chief and Fred Mace, an English surveyor back in 1887. The tiny bright light in the ceiling attracts Fred Mace to explore this cave. Until now, the glow worm still illuminates the cave. 

Tiny dots at the ceiling makes this cave quite similar scene in Avatar movie.
Picture from Google images

The concrete reason why this cave glows in the dark is that the tiny creatures which are the glow worm produce blue light and this can only be found in New Zealand. Waitomo Glow Worm Cave got its name from Maori word which is 'Wai' means water and 'Tomo' means entrance. So this name really reflects the surrounding of this cave. 

This spectacular creatures can be seen only in Waitomo. Picture from travelblor.com

This is the most extraordinary cave that I've ever seen. Whenever we were, don't forget to have a sneak peek into an unusual place as there might live the unique and shining creatures that we've never met.

Now let's watch the video of this unique Glow Worm Cave!

It's Pinky! Lake Hillier

To those who love pink colour, this might fascinates you. Lake Hillier is a pink-coloured lake located at Middle Island, Western Australia. This place really suits with the lovers who came to this place to stroll along the lake. It's equally looks like strawberry-milk reservoir. Until this date, there's no scientific research on how the water turns into pink.

Contrast colour between the ocean behind. Picture from Google images.

To be exact, Lake Hillier is located at Middle Island in Recherche Archipelago, Western Australia. However the colour is not a trick or fraud in order to attract people to visit this place, but it is natural. Scientists are totally not sure why the lake is in pink. But one of the assumption is that Lake Hillier is 10 times saltier than the ocean. This attracts salt loving algae named Dunaliella Salina that later produce Caretenoids a pigment compounds that absorb sunlight and gives colour to this lake, which is the same thing like Beta-Carotene that gives colour to carrot. 

Dunaliella Salina. Picture from www.aquaticbiosystems.org

As the water is too salty, there is not fish or any other animals that can bear with its saltiness. So there's no local people who are fishing in this lake. However, this lake is safe for people to swim. There will be no harm to them. People who swim in this lake will found out that they will never drowning.They were actually floating in this pink lake. Maybe this is the right place for Barbie haha. How cool is that!

This fellow enjoying himself  'floating' in the water. Picture from sevenholidayspot.com

Ain't it wonderful? Picture from foundtheworld.com

This place is really amazing as a pink lake is very rare to me. How I wish I could have a vacation here. Hope someday I can visit Lake Hillier and see it with my own eyes on its unique lake colour. Till then.

Underwater Waterfall in Mauritius Island

In the previous entry, I've talked about Underwater River in Mexico and it is quite similar with  Underwater waterfall that is located in an isolated island in Mauritius. This place can be considered as one of the unique natural wonder as the sea creates an optical illusion that emerges as underwater waterfall.

Spectacular shot of underwater waterfall. Just in Mauritius. Picture from indulgd.com

Underwater waterfall is located in Indian Ocean. The illusion of waterfall is obviously visible during the day and can be seen while cruising on a boat or the satellite that orbiting the earth. Mauritius is an island nation so that is why the view is quite incredible. The island is also near to Madagascar. The underwater waterfall view can be seen in the Southwest part of the island.

Southwest of Mauritius Island as seen in the Google Maps.

People must be questioning how this incredible waterfall emerges. Thanks to the nature that attract people with its illusion. The white sand plays a big part in this 'magic'. According to the researchers, the sea-floor around this ocean is only 80-150 meter depth but there's a huge plunge off that drops into the ocean where the depth reach thousands of meters. Ocean currents bring the sand from the island's shore to the south part where the sand giving impression that it went down into the darker side of the ocean. The nature really doing what it does.

Ain't it amazing? Picture from Google images

If I have the chance to go to this island, definitely I would treasure and enjoy the natural world there. This waterfall really impressed me with its stunning illusion. 

Forest of Stones?

The stones are well blended with the environment.
Picture from Google image

Have you ever imagine to do a jungle trekking in a forest that full with 'stone trees'? Well me either quite surprise with this unique natural landscape. It's not an ordinary forest but a forest made up from stones. It's a truly beauty indeed. This unique forest is located in Kunming, the Capital of Yunnan province, China. Despite that, upon entering this unique area, visitors will be amazed with the natural formation of pre-historic long stone that appeared to be in many shapes like bamboos, pagodas, and other unique formation.

Shilin Stone Forest location. Picture from Google image

Many people may wonder how the stone formed? Well actually I'm quite amazed with the stone too. Based on what I've read, long time ago, the are used to be covered with sea. According to Chinese geologist, "During the Long Geological Period from the late Permian Period between 230 million years ago to 2 million years ago, the ocean subsided and giant rocks appeared." As time goes by, the sea becomes evaporated and unique formation of stones emerges and later become a 'forest'. Because of that reason, we can see various formation of strange stones today.

Camels on Elephant. Picture from Shilin,
Complete Guide to Travel and Tourism

The picture above shows one of the unique formation of the stone. There are many ore formations but this one is quite obvious. People can easily identified 'two camels' standing on an 'elephant'. Besides as we walking through the stone forest, we still can see the remains of pre-historic age where the ancient paintings can be seen on the peaks and cliffs of the stone forest.

Various strange-looking stones. Picture from Google images.

As we can see, this forest offers its own uniqueness as stones are the main attraction to this forest. This forest has been widely known as "The First Wonder of the World" since Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) A.D. Until this date, This place has attract many tourist to experience the natural wonder it offers.

Glowing Stars in the Sea of Vaadhoo Island in Maldives

During my childhood, I love to do star gazing, wondering if I can take one of the stars. So I'm really curious to know about the glowing stars in Maldives's shore. It looks like a magical place in earth. From far, it's seems to be like scattered stars on the shore. To be exact, this unique landscape is located at Vaadhoo Island, Maldives. I've never thought about this kind of place does exist int his world. But the reality it does exist and present its uniqueness.

Striking blue water with sky full of stars as the background.
Picture by Doug Perrine, Alamy.

During sunny day, Vaadhoo Island is just like an ordinary island. But at night, the island reveals its secret. The water sparkles and looks like it reflects the shining stars above. This phenomenon definitely attracts people from all around the world to visit this place. 

Local people of Maldives rafting around. Picture from www.weirdworldfacts.com

But why the water sparkles at night? There must be scientific explanation on it. Well according to the research, the want become blue from bioluminescene, thus making it rare and looks like the water reflects the stars and sky. The blue light cause by the glowing phytoplankton, the marine microbes in the sea that gives the shore amazing scenery during night. This phenomenon is incredibly rare to see on land as the microbes only glow at the sea. 

Waves of blue stars. Picture from Google images

This is the nice place for photographers to capture this great scenery during night. Maybe after this you don't have to worry about your promises of getting a star to your loved one. Just book a plane ticket to Maldives and experience the uniqueness of the glowing stars in the sea in Vaadhoo Island!

Now let's see the video of bioluminescene or the glowing blue stars!

The Unique Landscape of Chocolate Hills

For chocolate lovers out there, you must recognize the shape of Chocolate Hills are quite similar to Kisses chocolate. So this might be the right place for you to visit. No, these hills are no a real chocolate but hills that looks like a huge chocolate. People will also remember its shape as the hills also reminds us of child's drawings. Most people who see the pictures of this lands cape will hardly believe that those hills are not man-made artifacts but it was a natural one.

The Chocolate Hills, too perfect to be real. Picture from Google images.

The Chocolate Hills are located in Bohol. The hills form almost symmetrical shape. It was estimated to be from 1268 to about 1776 of 30-90 meter dome-shape and cone-shape mounds. The unique natural formation of hills scattered sround Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan towns in Bohol. The landscape form was affected by tectonic movement that caused the limestone to be uplifted. Long exposure to water and wind then shaped the hills landscape like what we see now. I realized that our nature are full with surprises.

Shaped amazingly by the nature. Picture from Google images.

I never had an imagination on this such landscape as it is uncommon to me. However, this landscape really wonderful as there's only one place like this in the universe. One of the famous local folk-tale about this chocolate hills is that long time ago, there was a clash between giants where they threw sand and stones to each other. The two giants then became exhausted after fighting for several days. Thus, they reconciled their relation. However they forgot to clean up the mess during the fight so from that, the Chocolate Hills was created.

Illustration about the two giants having a battle.
Picture from www.choosephilippines.com

If I have the opportunity,definitely I would visit this wonderful yet tranquil place. Well see you in the next entry for another unique natural wonders!

Underwater River in Mexico

Now let's explore another natural wonders that was incredibly amazing. I've never imagined to see a 'river' in a river as it sounds so ridiculous. However my perspective changed as this place is exist in reality. This underwater river lies secretly in Yucatan, Mexico. This under water river also known as "Cenote Angelita", Spanish words for Little Angel.

A scuba diver 'rejuvenate' himself at Cenote Angelita. Picture from Anatoly Beloshchin

This unique place attract many scuba divers around the world. It has become a dream hot spot for them as there is no exact place like Cenote Angelita in this world. The question is how this hidden underwater flows along the ocean's floor? Well there must be a scientific explanation on this bizarre illusion. From what I've read, the illusion of this underwater river happened due to a phenomenon called as "halocline". According to the underwater photographer, Anatoly Beloshchin, halocline is a phenomenon where waters with different levels of dissolved salt form into layers because of a variation in density. However due to the high salt content, there are no fish survive in this 'river'.

A scuba diver 'fishing' in the underwater river. Picture from Anatoly Beloshchin

The fallen trees, leaves and old branches add up the illusion as it is like a real river bank. The cloud forms as the hydrogen sulfate separates the saltwater at the bottom and freshwater above thus this makes the underwater river looks like a flowing river. This place looks like as it is from another mystical forest in a horror movie. Although this underwater river looks spooky however it can't put aside the fact that it is still the sort of inspiration for scuba divers.

Mystical but an amazing place to discover. Picture from Anatoly Beloshchin.

If I have a scuba diving license, Cenote Angelita would be in my must-diving-places. This underwater river really makes me amazed with our natural landscape. I would be very grateful if I can visit this place in future as it is worth to discover.

Now let's watch the video of the uniqueness of underwater river, Cenote Angelita!

Giant Mysterious Eye of the Sahara

Have you ever imagine that there's a huge eye in the middle of a dessert? I'm surprised too with the magnificent view of the blue giant eye of Sahara. Did you know that this huge eye can be seen from space? Yes, it is true that as it is too huge, it can be seen from International Space Station (ISS). From above it seems to be like a real eye, staring at people from the land. Plus, the diameter of this eye is 50 kilometer in a circular shape.

"I see you!" Picture from Lucio Andreetto

This eye is so gigantic that lead to many hypothesis on what really created this awesome and majestic eye formation. There is also a claimed that asteroid's impact had created this huge circle. However, other people believe that a volcano eruption created this eye but after all there is no evidence of the existence of volcanic rock. Somehow both theories have been wiped out as there's a new theory which geological rock had shaped the magnificent circle.

The colour sometimes can changed. Picture from Johnnie Shannon

Despite from various names given by people,  it is known as Richat Structure, the most mysterious geological structure on earth. As the diameter of the eye is so huge, it can't be recognize until the astronaut noticed about this giant natural structure from the space while orbiting over Africa. Only then the public know about the existence of this such wonderful natural formation.

According to Plato in his text Timaeus and Critias, written in 360 BC, this is the location of the lost world of Atlantis.

Some researchers said it is believe that this Giant Eye of Sahara suits with the description from Plato regarding the lost city of Atlantis. Based on Plato's theory regarding the lost world of Atlantis, the island was in circular shape, divided into concentric of lands and water. According to Plato, "there's a mountain covering the area on north and encompassing a great plain of an oblong shape in the south." It is quite same with this giant eye. What a coincidence right?

Magnificent view of this giant eye seeing from above. Picture courtesy of  NASA, Google images.

So, this magnificent yet mysterious blue eye really catch my attention. Before this I never knew that in the middle of the dessert in Mauritania, there's lies a unique secret. This natural landscape is really amazing!