Worldly Wonders
Bored of the same old travel recommendation spots and want something a little more unique? Here is a list of four incredible worldly wonders that should be added to next year's travel bucket list!
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Chocolate Hills
In the Bohol province of the Philippines lies the incredible geologic formation of the Chocolate Hills. These hills span over more than 50 square kilometers and include at least 1,260 individual hills. The hills are made of grass-covered limestone and earned the name “Chocolate Hills” since the grass turns brown in the winter. The hills function as a highly visited tourist attraction due to its very unique and otherworldly landscape.
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Salar de Uyuni
Salar de Uyuni is located in southwest Bolivia in the Daniel Compost Province in Potosi. This worldly wonder is the world’s largest salt flat, spanning across 10,000 square kilometers. It was created around 40,000 years ago when several prehistoric lakes dried up, leaving a large flat area covered in a salt crust multiple meters deep. The perfect time to visit Salar de Uyuni is after it rains because the thin layer of residual water creates a large mirror of the sky, making for some incredible pictures that look like you're walking through the clouds.
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Darvaza gas crater
Located in the middle of the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan, this daunting landmark earned the nicknames “Gates of Hell” and “Door to Hell.” The Darvaza gas crater is a natural gas field that collapsed into a cavern and has been burning since the 1970s. The crater has become a well-known tourist attraction in Turkmenistan, and you can even stay at a yurt camp nearby.
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Lake Hillier
Lastly, Lake Hillier, located on Middle Island on the Recherche Archipelago in Western Australia, is a saltwater lake. Most importantly it is bright pink, starkly standing out from the deep blue of the Indian Ocean right next to it, and it is only separated by a thin shoreline. The reason for the lake’s unique color is still debated today, but many scientists believe it is caused by a type of algae called Dunaliella Salina. Unfortunately, access to the lake is restricted, so you are not allowed to swim or even visit the middle island as a tourist; however, you can still view the lake from the sky in a helicopter or on a boat from the water.
Let us know what you think of these incredible places by messaging us on Instagram @theedgemag.