From: Travel Iafrica
Travellers the world over are spoilt for choice when it comes to fantastic sights and awe-inspiring destinations. There�s the Seven Wonder of the World (both old and new) and now take a look at Flight Centre�s list of the Top Ten Natural Wonders of the World. God-given beauty in unspoilt surroundings� what more could you want.
Uluru (Ayer�s Rock- Australia)
Formerly known as Ayer�s Rock, Uluru rises from the surrounding plains, protected within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, and belongs to the Anangu Aboriginal people for whom it holds a special spiritual significance. In an isolated spot 450km from Alice Springs, the power of the rock draws hundreds of visitors taken on tours by Aboriginal guides who explain the monolith's importance in Aboriginal culture. A visit to this monolithic rock, the world's greatest, is an awesome experience.
Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe/Zambia)
Zambia�s prime attraction is the spectacular, breathtaking Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Falls are one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. Their mile-wide (2km) curtain of water plunges deep into the Zambezi Gorge creating a cloud of mist that can be seen up to 32-kilometres away.
Mount Everest (Nepal)
It is known by many names. Sagarmatha in Nepal, Chomolungma in Tibet or Zhumulangma in China, but to most people the world over it is simply Mount Everest; the highest mountain on Earth. With the summit 8848 meters above sea level this majestic peak has captured the imagination of many climbers and was finally conquered in 1956 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
The Grand Canyon (USA)
A mile deep, 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide the breathtaking grandeur of the Grand Canyon is so impressive that pictures or words simply cannot do it justice. One of the great natural wonders of the world was formed by the cutting action of the Colorado River over millions of years.
The Great Barrier Reef (Australia)
One of the great natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef is as big as the total combined area of the United Kingdom and Ireland, and contains more than 1000 islands, from sandy mounts to rainforest isles. It is home to some endangered species like the green loggerhead turtle, and is a breeding site for humpback whales.
Niagara Falls (USA/Canada)
Straddling the United States and Canadian border, north-west of New York City, the Niagara Falls are one of the most popular natural attractions in the United States. The Niagara River has been flowing for about 12 000 years, but the eroded escarpment over which the falls flow today is much older, having been formed during the ice age. The river plunges over a cliff of dolostone and shale to make it the second largest waterfall on earth, after the Victoria Falls in southern Africa. The mighty torrent is best appreciated from a spray-filled boat tour.
Aurora Borealis (Northern Canada)
The northern polar lights are only visible in the sky from the Northern Hemisphere. The closer you are to the magnetic North Pole, which is currently in the arctic islands of northern Canada, the better your chances of seeing them. Occurring most often from September to October and from March to April, the northern lights have had a number of names throughout history. The Cree people call this phenomenon the "Dance of the Spirits."
Gunung Mulu National Park (Borneo)
Weird and wonderful landscapes, pinnacles rising above treetops, the world�s largest cave passage, lush tropical jungles and fast flowing streams. Gunung Mulu National Park in Borneo is a truly wondrous place to visit. Known for its high biological diversity it contains no less than 17 different vegetation zones.
The limestone caves below the jungle floor contain the world's largest cave passage (Deer Cave), the world's largest natural chamber (Sarawak Chamber), and at 110km, the longest cave in South East Asia (Clearwater Cave). Just for the record, Sarawak Chamber can accommodate 40 Boeing 747 aircraft with room to spare and Deer Cave can hold England's St. Paul's Cathedral five times over. To date, about 195km of cave passage has been surveyed and more is expected to be revealed.
Amazon River and Rainforest (Brazil)
The Amazon is the largest rainforest on the planet and the river (together with tributaries) create nearly 80 000km� of navigable river systems covering at least half of Brazil. Large areas of the Amazon rainforest still remain unexplored, however, and tens of thousands of rare and unknown species of animals, birds, insects, fish and plants are sheltered in and beneath the thick tree canopies.
It is said that one in 10 known species of living plants, animals and insects can be found in the Amazon, while a square kilometre may contain over 75 000 types of trees and 150 000 species of higher plants. It is truly the Earth's lung.
Serengeti Migration (Kenya)
The Mara, Kenya's largest wildlife parks, has the largest population of lion, and large herds of grazers also attract many other predators such as cheetah and hyena. The annual highlight is the Great Wildebeest Migration, creating one of the world's supreme natural spectacles, when an estimated two million animals form one large herd and leave the dry plains of Tanzania to seek greener pastures in the north, arriving in the Mara from late June onwards and returning again in September. Their entrance into the Mara makes a breathtaking spectacle, as they cross the crocodile infested waters of the Mara River.