God sure did bless the United States with natural beauty!
It will hardly come as a surprise to any of you that the United States
is full of impressive famous natural marvels, but here we'll show you
the lesser known hidden gems in America that are sure to intrigue and
fascinate you. Enjoy! :)
Thor's Well, Cape Perpetua, Oregon. This enormous, seemingly bottomless
sinkhole is one of the most spectacular and simultaneously dangerous sights
you could encounter in Oregon. Thor's Well, as the pit is known, swallows
enormous quantities of seawater when the tide starts to rise, attracting
all the objects that surround it with great force and speed. Despite being
quite a risky endeavor, Thor's Well is a magnificent and unique phenomenon
that attracts countless photographers and visitors on a daily basis.
Image Source.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan. Apart from offering breathtaking
views on the shores of Lake Superior, Pictured Rocks is an excellent destination
for tourists year-round. The protected lakeshore stretches for 15 miles, and you
will be able to admire some of the most beautiful rock formations you've ever
seen, no matter if you're on a boat in the summer or on a snowmobile. Tourists
can also go fishing, rock climbing, and bird watching in the area. Some of the
most famous locations are Miners Castle (seen in the picture above), Chapel Rock,
and Indian Head.
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.
If you think that this looks just like an ordinary forest, take a closer look
at the glistening puddles of water visible here and there, and you will realize
that this national park is a mangrove swamp. The water surface of the park is
densely covered by a green carpet of greenery, creating an illusion of an
ordinary forest.
The park offers a look at uniquely southern plants and wildlife,
such as alligators, and abundance of Spanish moss, and mangrove trees. The park
is located only a 45-minute drive away from New Orleans, and it protects the ?
Louisiana Mississippi River Delta.
Image Source.
Slide Rock State Park, Sedona, Arizona. The area around Sedona, Arizona, is
world-famous for its characteristic red rock formations, but if you're
looking for a change in setting while visiting one of the Arizona desert
locations, try looking at them in the winter. One excellent place near Sedona
you can visit year-round is the Slide Rock State Park, which is located in
the Coconino National Forest.
Apart from having a natural water slide created from eroded red rock and
being a beautiful swimming location in the summer, the snow-covered trees
sprinkled with white snow contrasting the red rocks offer a one-of-a-kind view.
Image Source.
Pelindaba Lavender Farm, San Juan County, Washington. All of the items on this
list are based in nature, but not all were created by it. These lush lavender
fields located on the San Juan Islands off the coast of the state of Washington,
for example, are a man-made creation, but it's absolutely breathtaking
nevertheless. The lovely aroma, the beautiful soft purple and green hues, and
the neat rows of flowers are so aesthetically pleasing and photogenic! You will
instantly feel as though you've been teleported into one of the exquisite
flower fields of France or Japan.
Image Source.
Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico. The Taos pueblo is one of the oldest Native
American settlements in the United States and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Excavations suggest that the settlement has existed over 1,000 years, but
was suddenly abandoned for unknown reasons in the 13th century.
The pueblo is situated within a Native American reservation and the buildings
are made completely of natural materials, such as straw, water, and mudbrick.
The multistory building seen in the image above, in particular, has walls
that are several feet thick and is believed to have served as a fortification
structure.
Taggart Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. One of the more remote walking
trails in Wyoming takes you to the marvelous Taggart Lake, the crystal clear
waters of which multiply the surrounding beauty of the forests and the Teton
Range of the Rocky Mountains. The stunning views, the silence and serenity of
nature, as well as the wildlife you'll be able to observe on this trail are
everything an avid hiker could ever ask for, and more.
Image Source.
Abiqua Falls, Marion County, Oregon. Another remote hiking destination is the
Abiqua Falls - a gorgeous waterfall climbing down a steep basalt rock cliff
in the midst of a dense forest. Located not far from Scotts Mills, Oregon, the
road to the waterfall is a difficult one, as you'll have to descend down the
rocks to the pool of the waterfall, but it's definitely worth the extra trouble
because nothing beats a swim in a picturesque location like this.
Image Source.
Fly Geyser, Gerlach, Nevada. Before being bought out by Burning Man Project
organization in 2016, the geysers were located on the Fly Ranch and, unlike
many naturally-occurring geysers, these are a product of human activity.
The beginnings of the Fly Geyser date back to 1916 when the owners of the
ranch decided to drill a well on their property. Unexpectedly, the workers
stumbled upon an extremely hot underground geothermal spring, and the digging
of the well was halted and the well was sealed.
Evidently, the seal eventually broke, and the thermal water rich in minerals started leaving
calcium deposits that grew into large, bizarrely shaped bulbous rocks, which
eventually became the home of thermophilic algae that give the geysers a
bright green and red coloring. Visitors are allowed to view the geyser between
April and October.
To see more photos of the magnificent Fly Geyser, click the
link here: Nevada's Fly Geyser Image Source.
Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington. This unique beach offers
some of the best views of the Pacific Coast you will ever be able to catch.
Located on the edge of the Olympic National Park, the beach features
incredible, huge eroded rock formations just off the coastline, as well as
ancient tree logs and large stones scattered throughout the beach.
The small pools of water that can be found all across the beach and are also 'occupied'
by the most unique inhabitants - vibrant orange and purple starfish. Like
the ones here: Beautiful Starfish! Source.
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