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1Have you ever taken notice of those round indentations on the bottom of wine bottles? They are called punts and were historically added by glassblowers to make bottles stronger. They also help with keeping bottles upright and keeping them from tipping over. In sparkling wines, like champagne, the punt helps distribute the pressure inside more evenly, ensuring a nicer taste and a better pop. And even before the wine is poured into the bottle, a punt helps to sanitize the bottle with steam more easily.
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4The loop on the back of button-down shirts
5If you look at some of the nicer button-down shirts in your collection, chances are you will find a small fabric loop on the back. Located near the place your shoulder blades meet, this little fashion detail has its origin with sailors in the Navy. Not having any closet space aboard ships, they added the loops so that they could easily hang their shirts off any hook in the walls. Later, this detail was also useful to college students from prestigious Ivy League schools, so it came to symbolize the quality and high-status fashion.
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8A lot of brands of toothpaste have a strange detail in common. That detail is a colored rectangle or square at the very bottom. The color stands out, most often it is blue, black or sometimes green. The answer to this lies in the manufacturing and packaging process of toothpaste. This little square is called an eye mark. When being assembled by machines on an industrial line, this little square lets the machine know where to divide, cut or fold. Thanks to this, we can buy small, single packages of toothpaste.
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12Next time you sit in the driver’s seat, take notice of this little detail. On most cars manufactured in the last decade, you can find a small arrow on the gas gauge. Pointing either left or right, its purpose is to indicate on which side of the car the gas cap is located. We’re not too sure if anyone who drives needs to be reminded of that, but it could be useful next time you need to rent a car – so remember this handy fact.
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15Buttons around jean pockets
16If you’re wearing a pair of jeans while reading this list and put your hand in your pockets, chances are you will feel a few cold buttons like objects there. If you think back, most jeans have this, but these little metal pieces called rivets actually serve an important purpose. They reinforce the jeans in strategic places so that they are harder to tear and wear out. Jean rivets were invented by the legendary founder of Levi’s jeans, Levi Strauss. When miners, who often wore jeans because they were cheap and durable, complained about jeans ripping apart, Levi Strauss found the solution in rivets. Thanks to them, as we all know, a good pair of jeans is almost indestructible.
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19Electrical outlets being used as HDTV antennas
20Cable TV is on its way out. With many new options such as streaming services and consuming media online, paying for cable is becoming too expensive. A few crafty and tech-savvy people have begun to circumvent this by rigging up old-school antennas to electrical outlets. These newly made devices are much cheaper than paying hundreds of dollars per month for the usual set of TV channels. If you want to save a good amount of money on a monthly basis, this innovative solution may just be the right choice for you.
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23Prepackaged extra fabric with clothing
24When you buy a piece of clothing, you’ll sometimes find a small Ziploc bag with some of the fabric inside. The logical explanation is that we can use it to patch up a hole or tear – but this is not the purpose of this little item. The little package is meant to be used in a washing machine, to see if it will shrink or bleed colors using your machine or washing settings. A neat way to save your new piece of clothing from being ruined in the first wash.
25Holes in pot handles
26A lot of pots and pans have a hole or hollow part along the handle. Except for feeling the difference when holding them, most people don’t notice this little element. It has a dual purpose. One, it makes it easier to hang these items up while drying, and two, it can be used to hold in place a spoon or ladle. That way, after mixing or cooking, instead of putting it down on the counter or leaving it in the pot, you can leave any utensil to drip back into the pot.
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28Extra shoelace holes
29Next time you find yourself tying your shoelaces, take notice of the extra holes on the top. These are there to help people get a better fit. If your feet move around in footwear, or if you blister easily, this can help you. Thread the shoelace through these holes in the opposite direction to get what they call a lace lock or heel lock. It will help you get a firm, tighter grip for walking or running. For some people, this can be a more comfortable solution than the usual way of tying shoelaces.
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31Padlock holes
32Padlocks are very useful for keeping various things safe. If you take a closer look at one, you will see that it has one or two holes on the bottom side. They actually have a very important purpose. Firstly, they allow any water that gets inside to drip out of the lock, preventing rust, helping the lock to stay durable in outside weather conditions. If this were not the case, the water would freeze and damage the lock. Secondly, these holes can be used to pour lubricant, oil or WD 40 inside if the lock gets jammed up. 
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35Fluffy balls on top of winter hats
36Nothing beats a warm, snug hat on a cold winter day. Many designs of winter hats incorporate a fluffy ball or pom-pom on top. This strange fashion choice originates in snowy Scandinavia. The assumption is that the fluffy top was useful back when knitting was more common, as a way to gather the seams. Since that time, many types of hats have incorporated this element. Nowadays, knitting is much less common, but the design element has stayed relevant – it seems people like it.
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38Holes in airplane windows
39If you’ve ever noticed these little holes in airplane windows, you must have felt strange and a bit worried. It seems counterintuitive, but it doesn’t pose any risk to the plane. These are called breather holes, and their purpose is to help manage pressure differences. When planes climb up to higher altitudes, air pressure outside drops, but the cabin is safely pressurized at a constant level. If there were no breather holes, the panes of the airplane wouldn’t be able to deal with the different pressures from either side.
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42Holes in airplane windows
43If you’ve ever noticed these little holes in airplane windows, you must have felt strange and a bit worried. It seems counterintuitive, but it doesn’t pose any risk to the plane. These are called breather holes, and their purpose is to help manage pressure differences. When planes climb up to higher altitudes, air pressure outside drops, but the cabin is safely pressurized at a constant level. If there were no breather holes, the panes of the airplane wouldn’t be able to deal with the different pressures from either side.
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46Dimples on golf balls
47Anyone who has seen a golf ball up close will have noticed that it is dotted with small dimples. This is in fact due to aerodynamics. In the past, golf players noticed that older, worn out balls that were not perfectly round could achieve more distance. These bumps help create turbulence around the ball while in flight, which helps to negate the effect of drag. Eventually, this became the standard for making golf balls, and now players can send the ball flying quite a way further than their predecessors.
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49Long neck glass bottles
50Hardly anything is better than having a nice, ice cold drink on a warm day. Most bottles have the iconic long neck shape, and that is no accident. This shape makes it easier to comfortably hold a bottle for a longer period of time. It makes pouring your drink of choice into a glass much easier and helps distribute the heat from your hands better. Easier to pour, easier to hold, and it stays cold for longer – do we even need more reasons for this simple stroke of genius?
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52Soda can tab
53All soda cans have a small tab on the top that we use to open the can. After the satisfying popping sound it makes, the tab sort of just stays there and does nothing – except occasionally falling into your drink. But the original intent behind the little hole on the tab is for it to be used as a straw holder. Rarely anyone drinks with a straw from soda cans nowadays, but this explains this seemingly purposeless detail.
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55Flat takeout food boxes
56Those of us who eat takeout Chinese food on the regular are well acquainted with the signature boxes that the food arrives in. Most of us just open the top or transfer the food to a plate. But that’s completely unnecessary. The carton boxes are designed the way they are so they can be their own plate. Just carefully pull the sides apart and set it flat out. If you did it the way it’s supposed to be done, the carton would now be in the shape of a regular plate. Once you start doing it this way, there’s no going back.
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58Keyboard bumps
59Take a look at your keyboard. You can notice that the F and J keys each have a small bump on them. These bumps are placed to help you find your way around a keyboard without looking away from the screen while typing. In fact, the most natural hand position for working is with the left index finger on the F key, and your right on the J key. It’s really interesting how this small change subconsciously allows all of us to type better and work more efficiently.
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61Metal end of measuring tape
62If you’ve ever measured something with a regular measuring tape or helped someone do that, you will have noticed the angular metal end. This addition is very useful for a couple of reasons. If you don’t have anyone to help to hold the other end, you can place the metal part behind a nail to keep it fixed. Secondly, the edge of the metal end is slightly serrated – this is useful when you need to mark a wall or any other surface but find yourself without a pen.
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65The hole in the cap of a ballpoint pen
66When you first see a hole in the cap of a pen, the natural reaction is to think that a part has broken or fallen off. You would also think that this would dry out the pen quicker – but you would be wrong. This hole is put here on purpose by manufacturers to help in case the cap is swallowed. If a child or an adult accidentally swallow the cap, this allows air to flow through it and prevents suffocation. Although it may look less than useful, this safety measure has surely saved a lot of lives.
67The hole next to the iPhone Camera
68Conspiracy theories are becoming increasingly popular in today’s world. One of the most popular theories in recent years revolved around the tiny hole next to the camera in every iPhone. Opinions have spanned from secret cameras allowing the CIA and NSA to spy on you from radiation detectors in case of a nuclear apocalypse. Unfortunately, nothing of the sort is true. The tiny hole is in fact – a powerful microphone! Ever since the iPhone 5, every iPhone has three mics, two in the front and one in the back. It allows for better voice recognition.
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70ZigZag sides on bobby pins
71Ladies, you probably know this one already. Guys, when you’re looking at bobby pins, doesn’t it seem odd that one side of the pin is normal and the other one is wavy? This isn’t without reason, believe it or not. The side with the wavy pattern is meant to catch a bigger chunk of hair and to hold it in place in the wavy indents. When ladies wear their bobby pins, we only see the way side. Some have speculated that this detail exists because it looks cooler. It does look cool, but the zigzag part also makes it easier to pick the pin up once it falls on the floor.
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73Cylinder part at the end of cable cords
74When you’re plugging in your laptop’s cable, do you ever notice that cylindric part at the end of the cord? If so, have you ever wondered what purpose does it serve? This thing is called a choker, or more technically – a ferrite cole. It’s made out of magnetic iron oxide and is there to prevent any electromagnetic interference. Remember when you used to bring an old phone close to your speakers and there is that weird noise? The choker prevents any waves from interfering with the cable and the laptop. Not a bad idea
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77Wings on the MacBook power cord
78If you possess a MacBook, you’ve probably seen those strange wins that you can put on or take off of your power cord. Most MacBook users are confused by the existence of these wings, but there is a perfectly logical explanation that can justify the presence of these strange thingies. The wings are there so that you can flip them up and wrap the entire cord around the power block. It turns out that they can be a lifesaver, especially if there is a risk of damage to the cord. If you have a lot of items in the bag, the wings can be very helpful. 
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80The blue part of the eraser
81Everyone has a strange experience with this other side of the eraser. In middle school, we all knew a friend who swore on his mother’s life that the blue part is to erase pen ink. Unfortunately, that part is entirely not true. The blue part of the pen is meant for thick and strong types of paper mostly used by architects, painters and other specialized artists. Papers they use are generally more sensitive to friction and need a special eraser to remove a mistake. If they use a regular eraser, the paper can easily rip. Makes sense, doesn’t it?
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83The square patch found on backpacks
84Every modern backpack has these square patches with two holes within them. But what purpose they serve? They may look cool, but they’re put on backpacks for two separate reasons. The first one is an extra hanging space for gear when you go camping. It’s difficult to put on two backpacks at the same time. The patch gives you an option of putting a string through the hole and hanging a backpack on your existing one. What about the second purpose? It’s funnily simple – if you can’t carry your phone in your pockets, you can just put it in the backpack and put headphones through the whole to listen to music. 
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86Different-colored ice cream scoops 
87If you ever went to an ice cream shop, you probably noticed that all the scoops used to pick up ice cream are in different colors. Most parents tell their kids that this is to make the color scheme cheerful because kids like ice cream. However, this is not the case. The real reason why ice cream scoops are made in different colors is that they’re all in different sizes! That’s right. Ice cream shop employees have to use different size scoops to fill your container, depending on the amount of ice cream you want. It’s too hard to remember dozens of different sizes! 
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90Brass doorknobs
91While nobody pays attention to handles, you might have realized that a majority of old doorknobs are made of brass. Even some newer models are made out of brass alloys. What is the reasoning behind this exactly? The answer lies in chemistry, of all places! Brass as a material is much less prone to bacteria building up. Ever since the old days, doorknobs were built to be germ-free. Since they’re the thing we touch the most during the day, it’s no wonder that people want to be protected from germs as much as possible. Chemistry can help prevent diseases, it seems. 
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93Discs under bottle caps
94Were you ever so bored that you looked at what’s under a bottle cap? If you did, one thing catches your eye first – the little plastic disc right in the center. The role of this small disc is to help with carbonization. Basically, it prevents carbon dioxide from escaping the bottle. When a fizzy drink evaporates, it tastes much sweeter and it isn’t that pleasant to drink it anymore. The science behind carbonation is complicated, but what you need to know is that without these discs – there would be flat soda everywhere. Imagine living in a world like that? Scary!
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96Tab on the rear view mirror 
97Driving is a big responsibility and most of us can do it without even knowing what the majority of things in the car even do. Surely, some people are experts but even some of them don’t have an idea about the mysterious tab on the bottom of the rearview mirror. What is it for exactly? The answer is surprisingly simple. This small tab is used to adjust the mirror so that you won’t be blinded by the headlights of the cars behind you. Adjusting it properly may cause you to avoid any accidents or drunk drivers behind you. Most drivers overlook this safety featur
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99Coin ridges
100Those interesting coin ridges you can find on dimes and quarters have a purpose. Back in the middle ages, people had a smart, but an illegal way of getting money. Coins were stamped in different weights so that it was easier to determine the weight. People used to get special cutting tools and shave off the edges of coins. They collected the metal until they would melt it down to make even more coins. In Britain, they started putting ridges on coins so that people wouldn’t shave off the sides. This is an old tradition that withstood the test of time.
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103Loops on grocery carts
104Isn’t the whole point of grocery carts to be as big as possible to carry all the groceries you need? Yes. Okay, why the retractable loop when it takes up space? The whole purpose of the grocery cart loop is to store your “vulnerable” groceries such as bread or eggs. Putting them with the other groceries might end up causing a disaster with squished bread and broken eggs. The next time you go to your local convenience store, try putting eggs in the loop. You will be able to throw in other groceries without worrying about breaking something. Amazing!
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107Margins on lined paper
108Have you ever wondered about the purpose of margins? Their story goes back to the old times. When people used to store books in libraries and storage units, rats used to eat the edges of the pages. This ruined many ancient and valuable books. Someone was smart enough to insert margins to the mix, especially in notebooks and other sources of valuable written information. There is also a second purpose – it’s so that the teachers could correct your writing without scribbling all over your own sentences. 
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110Paper condiment cups
111When you order something at KFC or McDonald’s, the most annoying thing ever is having to dip in large french fries or chicken wings into these small cups. Why are restaurants purposely selling these small cups that we can’t use properly? Well, it’s simple – we don’t use them properly. Condiment cups are supposed to be unfolded to resemble a plate. It doesn’t only give you more room for dipping, but you’ll also reach all the ketchup in the corners much more easily. 
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114Pockets in women’s underwear
115Some, not all, models of women’s underwear have pockets sewn into the front side. This particular addition has confused both men and women, as they’ve never been able to realize what’s the deal with these pockets. The answer is simple. When women get their period, they need to have a tampon or a sanitary towel. Although it’s uncomfortable, this pocket allows any woman to have a tampon to quickly use when they feel their period beginning
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118Plastic lids on cups
119Drinking coffee through the cup can get a little annoying, so we always throw them out. In rare moments, we stop to think – why are they even there when we always through them into the trash? This one will blow your mind. Those lids are supposed to be used as coasters when you’re putting the cup on a surface of any kind. Plastic is good in absorbing heat, plus you won’t leave coffee stains on a table or on clothes. The top of the lid hugs the bottom of the cup and they fit together perfectly. The next time you order takeout coffee, try this – it works! 
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121Detachable headrest
122During those long road trips as kids, we’ve all played with our headrests in the car. It seemed funny at that time, but the question still remains – why do we need detachable headrests in cars? Is it for situations when really short people sit in the seat and they don’t need it? The answer will surprise you – detachable headrests exist for safety purposes. Ever notice the long metal bars coming out of them? They are used to break glass in case of an emergency. If you’re trapped with no way to get out, just smash the glass with these metal bars. This common item can save your life one day!
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124Lines on red cups
125If you never had a party with red solo cups, did you even live? Just kidding, you never know. What we want to talk about is the presence of those horizontal lines on each cup. These ridges have puzzled partygoers for decades. We finally have the answer – they are for measuring how much alcohol you’re pouring in. There are three lines. The first one is for one ounce, which one shot of spirit. If you reach the second line, it’s about five ounces. The top is 12 ounces, which is enough for one cup of beer. It’s a safety measure, so that you don’t get smashed. 
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128Three handles on Jerry cans
129Camping and Jerry cans are two inseparable things. If you ever went camping with your dad and your friends, someone surely brought these five-gallon beauties. Did you ever notice they had three handles? Most canisters need only one or two handles, so what’s the deal here? The answer lies in the fact that Jerry cans are created for carrying in hands. With the three handles, two people can hold each of the further handles without risking spillage. Also, if you want to hold two at the same time, grab the adjacent handles at the sides. Magic! 
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132Mendenhall Ice Caves, Alaska
133To get to the Mendenhall Ice Caves in Juneau, Alaska is a trek. You can only get there first by kayaking, then by ice climbing over a glacier. It’s worth it, though—the caves, which are in a partially hollow glacier, have water running over rocks under blue ceilings. The scene is otherworldly.
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135Red Beach, Panjin China
136Forget about sandy white beaches here, this incredible beach is sandless and gets its striking red color from a type of seaweed. Known as Sueda, the seaweed grows green before turning red in the fall months. 
137Red Beach isn’t just unusually beautiful, but is also a diverse ecosystem on one of the largest wetlands in the world. Hundreds of different bird species call it home and though most of the area is closed to tourists, there is a small section of the area open to nature lovers. 
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139Cave Of Crystals, Chihuahua, Mexico
140In 2000, two brothers were mining underneath the Naica Mountain in Chihuahua, Mexico when they came upon what has been called the Sistine Chapel of Crystals. Nearly 300 meters under the surface is an awe-inspiring cave home to the largest crystals on the planet. Some of them stand at 36 feet in height and are estimated to way 55 tons!
141Scientists believe the crystals have been growing in the cave for around 500,000 years, thanks to the cave’s incredibly hot temperatures and groundwater plentiful in calcium sulfate. Because temperatures often sore to 136°F, visitors must wear a special cooling suit and spend no more than 45 minutes inside this underground crystal cavern.
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144*Fly Geyser, Nevada, USA
145In 2016, the Burning Man Art Project purchased 3,800-acre parcel of land in northern Nevada home to a relatively young geyser. The Fly Geyser isn’t millions of years old, but was only born in 1964 after a geothermal power company drilled a well to test the area. 
146The well was left uncapped and calcium carbonate-rich water began shooting out of the hole and gradually forming calcium deposits. Over the decades, the deposits grew and now stand at around six feet in height. The beautiful red coloring of the geyser is because of the abundance of thermophilic algae. 
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149*The Cloud Forest, Zhangjiajie Hunan Province, China
150The rocky forests of Zhangjiajie national park look like something from the movie Avatar and are one of China’s most popular national attractions. The forests have been the inspiration for some of China’s most beautiful landscape paintings and are often covered in a dense blanket of fog, hence the name “cloud forest.”
151Gondolas shuttle visitors through the clouded forest and its many mountainous peaks. One of the forest’s most stunning landmarks is the South Celestial Pillar. The a stone peak looks almost like it’s floating on air and was formed by the rock slowly being weathered away over millions of years.
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153Blue Lava Volcano, Ijen Java Indonesia
154There are few things more mesmerizing/terrifying than a mountain spewing orange fire and lave from deep within the earth. The only thing even more bewildering is when that lave isn’t orange, but a cosmic blue. The active Kawah Ijen volcano is part of a complex of volcanoes in Indonesia and has become somewhat of a tourist attraction for its beautiful colors. 
155The volcano has one of the highest levels of sulfur in the world and when it gas is exposed to oxygen, it causes the molten lava to burn blue. The blue lava is only visible at light, making the sight even more mysteriously beautiful. 
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157Underwater Waterfall, Mauritius
158Just off the coast of Mauritius, a beautiful and secluded island near Africa, an incredible and eerie natural illusion resides beneath the surface of the ocean. It appears to be an enormous waterfall existing under the surface of the water. The effect is due to local sand and silt deposits coloring the water. Spooky!
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160Abraham Lake, Canada
161An artificial lake created in 1972, Abraham Lake is home to a rare phenomenon where bubbles of methane gas become frozen under the surface.
162The methane comes from the plants surrounding the lake. When it rises and comes in contact with the much colder surface of the lake, it freezes in bubbles, slowly stacking up as the weather gets colder and colder.
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164Lake Natron, Tanzania
165In the northern part of Tanzania is a large lake with an eerily crimson colored water. It’s a rather unusual sight that comes about because of microorganisms in the mineral rich waters of the lake that are fed by nearby volcanic springs. 
166As oddly beautiful as the lake is, it also has an incredibly high acidic and salt content. With pH balance as high as 10.5, it can burn the eyes of visitors who aren’t adapted to it. Considering that the hot climate can cause the water of the lake to reach temperatures of 106 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s best to forget about any idea of a swim. 
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168Dallol Volcanic Acid Pool, Ethiopia
169Dallol is a volcanic crate in the centre of the Danokil desert in Ethiopia. It is one of the most remote places on earth, and lies within the hottest inhabited region on the planet.
170Surrounding the volcano are acidic hot springs, mountains of sulphur, pillars of salt, small gas geysers and pools of acid isolated by salt ridges. The beautiful and dazzling colors are due to the strong presence of iron oxide, salt, sulphur, and other minerals.
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172Thor’s Well, Oregon, USA
173Thor’s Well, also known as Sprouting Horn, is a seemingly bottomless sinkhole that looks as though it’s draining the sea. While it looks endless, the hole is about 20 feet deep—but still dangerous for anyone getting close to it. Visit Thor’s Well at high tide to see the water crash into the rocks and funnel into the hole.
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175Cavernas de Mármol, Chile
176On the border of Chile and Argentina lies the Carrera Lake. It’s blue waters line beautiful layers of marble that were exposed from glacier movements. The marble has dissolved faster at the water’s surface and left behind stunning caves, tunnels, and columns. 
177The lights and colors of the various tunnels and caves change with the seasons and visitors can tour the area via boat. Visit in the winter months when ice is feeding the lake and you’ll notice that the water and marble has a particularly vibrant turquoise coloring. 
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179Jellyfish Lake, Indonesia
180Swimming in waters where you’re surrounded by thousands of jellyfish might sound like a terrifying experience, but that’s exactly what attracts snorkelers to the waters of Indonesia’s Derawan Islands. The catch is that these jellyfish are stingless, so there’s no chance of bodily harm.
181The lake was once part of the ocean, but has become surrounded by a dense wall of mangroves. Some scientists believe that because the mangroves isolated the jellyfish, that over time the jellies lost their sting because they were no longer in danger of predators.
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183Iguazu Falls, Argentina
184Photos simply don’t do this South American wonder justice, you need to see it for yourself. The falls are made up of 275 different waterfalls spanning almost three miles. The tallest of the waterfalls is known as Devil’s Throat and has an impressive 260 foot drop that creates a permanent cloud of beautiful mist. 
185To give you some perspective of the size of these impressive waterfalls, Iguazu Falls is twice as wide as Niagara Falls and during the rainy months it dumps enough water to fill five Olympic swimming pools — every second!
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187The Spotted Lake, Canada
188The Spotted Lake is located near the city of Osoyoos, in British Colombia. The body of water is extremely rich in a variety of minerals. In the summer, most of its water evaporates and pools of minerals are left behind.
189The color of the pools will vary depending on which minerals comprise them, which makes for sure a fascinating picture.
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191The Wave, Arizona, USA
192This magnificent rock formation is located in Paria Canyon, Arizona. It is famous among explorers and tourists for its beautiful, undulating patterns, formed by sandstone from the jurassic age that has been eroded first by water, then by wind.
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194Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia
195The largest salt flat on Earth stretches a whopping 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 sq miles), in South West Bolivia.
196Salar De Uyuni was once part of a prehistoric salt lake that dried up and left a number of salt pans. When it rains, the salt flat becomes the Earth’s largest mirror. It is so expansive and reflective that it is even used to calibrate satellites from space!
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198Seljalandsfoss, Iceland
199Seljalandsfoss is one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland and measures nearly 200 feet tall. While the waterfall is spectacular from the front, it’s even more incredible when witnessed from behind. A path leads behind the waterfall, making it incredibly popular with nature photographers both in the winter and summer months. 
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201Pamukkale, Turkey
202Pamukkale, also called the Cotton Palace, features water that cascades from natural springs and traverses down white travertine terraces. Together, they form thermal pools that can be enjoyed while looking over the ancient ruins of Hierapolis. This is another World Heritage Site.
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204Fingal’s Cave, Scotland
205Located on the uninhabited island of Staffa in Scotland, Fingal’s Cave is formed entirely of hexagonally jointed basalt columns, which occurred due to the surface cooling of lava during its formation.
206The cave is renowned for its natural acoustics. Due to its shape and enormity, Fingal’s Cave has the atmosphere of a natural cathedral. Stunning!
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209The Giant’s Causeway, Ireland
210The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland features an estimated 37,000 polygon columns interlocking basalt columns, that are the result of a volcano fissure eruption 60 million years ago. The geometrically stacked rock has enticed people for so long that it’s deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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212Deadvlei, Namibia
213This picture of Dead Vlei or “Dead Marsh” may strike you as a vibrant painting at first, when it is in fact a photograph. The breathtaking scene is created by the ancient and sun scorched trees against the enormous red dunes.
214The dunes owe their color to age, where the sand has rusted. The trees that remain in the arid clay pan of Dead Vlei died 600 to 700 years ago, but have not decomposed due to the immense dryness of the area. The heat of the sun has literally scorched them black.
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216The Door To Hell, Turkmenistan
217The Door to Hell is a natural gas field in Derweze, Turkmenistan, that collapsed into an underground cavern in 1971, becoming a natural gas crater. Geologists set it on fire to prevent the spread of deadly methane gas, and it has been burning continuously since then. The diameter of the crater is 69 meters, and its depth 30 meters. Quite a hole.
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219Sentinels of the Arctic, Finland
220In the Finnish Lapland, where temperatures can plummet below -40 degrees Celsius, trees can be completely engulfed by solid ice, creating these otherworldly statues reminiscent of alien life.
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222Underwater River, Cenote Angelita, Mexico
223In Yucatan, Mexico, exists a natural wonder: an underwater river. A cenote is a sinkhole where limestone bedrock has collapsed and exposed groundwater below or accumulated rainwater over large amounts of time. They are known for being incredibly clear because they are filled mostly by rainwater.
224The Cenote Angelita is unique as it has slowly collected both fresh water and salt water from the nearby sea. 100ft deep in the Angelita lies a surreal, seemingly meandering green river. This is caused by the differing densities of the salt and fresh water.
225The saltwater sinks to the bottom, the freshwater floats to the top, and where the two meet is suspended a thin layer of misty hydrogen sulfate, which adds to the eerie effect.
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227Snake Island, Brazil
228For those with a fear of snakes, this place is an island of nightmares. Located 90 miles from São Paulo, Brazil is Ilha de Queimada Grande, or “Snake Island.” These aren’t harmless creatures either—they are venomous reptiles. No wonder it’s been called one of the “world’s deadliest islands.”
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230The Golden Bridge, Vietnam
231Nestled in the Ba Na Hills near Da Nang, Vietnam is the Golden Bridge. It was originally built in 1919, but it recently got an incredible upgrade. An architecture company created two giant hands out of steel mesh and fiber glass that are aged to look like stone. The result makes them appear to be the only thing holding up the passageway.
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233Lake Hillier, Australia
234Lake Hillier in Western Australia is completely pink. Why? It’s never been completely decided. Some people think that it’s due to a special kind of algae and a pink bacteria. Unlike other pink lakes that lose their hue from time to time, Lake Hillier is this color year round—a fact that makes its appearance a head scratcher.
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236Blood Falls, Antartica
237In Victoria Land, East Antartica are the Blood Falls. While it sounds sinister, there’s a reason why the glacier looks as though it’s oozing blood; the salt waterfall has mixed with too much iron oxide, which gives it this deep red appearance.
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239**Socotra Island, Yemen
240Socotra Island looks like it could exist in another world. The remote locale boasts unique biodiversity and features endemic species of plants and trees that give it a strange, alien-like appeal. The dragon’s blood trees are iconic of this island and are more than a century old.
241
242The Mir Mine, Siberia
243The Mir Mine, also called the Mirny mine, is an open pit diamond mine. At 1,722 feet deep and 3,900 feet in diameter, it’s one of the “largest excavated holes in the world.” It comes in behind the now-abandoned Kola Superdeep Borehole, which is also in Russia.