7 Geological Wonders: A Journey to the Incredible Mountains

The Earth is a talented artist, creating great sculptures that no technology can match. Across the continents, there are mountains and geological structures with strange shapes, surreal colors and stories that are millions of years old. These are not only destinations for travel lovers, but also vivid lessons about the constant transformation of the planet.

Zhangye Danxia Geological Park, China

Commonly known as the “Rainbow Mountains,” Zhangye Danxia is a giant canvas created by nature. Over millions of years, sandstone and other minerals have been compressed into layers of vibrant colors like red, yellow, green, and blue. When the sunlight hits, the entire mountain range glows with vibrant colors, a sight that will leave anyone in awe.

Panoramic view of rainbow-striped hills at Zhangye Danxia Geopark, China. — Mineral layers give the Danxia terrain its unique colors.

To fully admire this beauty, visitors should come at dawn or dusk. This is the time when the colors of the rock layers become the most intense and impressive. Wooden paths are built to protect the fragile surface of the mountain, at the same time helping visitors get the best views.

Mount Roraima, South America

Located on the border of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana, Roraima is a majestic tepui mountain that looks like a giant natural fortress in the clouds. With vertical cliffs hundreds of meters high, this vast peak is a completely separate world , possessing a unique ecosystem with many species of plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth. Mount Roraima is said to be the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's novel "The Lost World".

The flat tops of Roraima are shrouded in mist, creating a magical scene. — The surreal beauty of Mount Roraima, a world apart up high.

Devils Tower, USA

Towering over the Wyoming plains, Devil's Tower is a 1,200-foot-tall monolith of basalt whose sides are made up of perfectly hexagonal columns. The structure was formed from cooling and contracting volcanic magma. For many Native American tribes, it is a sacred site, associated with legends and rituals. Its unique shape and imposing presence have made Devil's Tower an icon of the American West, made famous by the film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

Devil's Tower with its distinctive vertical basalt columns rises from the Wyoming plains. — Devil's Tower is a unique geological structure and a sacred site for the indigenous people.

Bungle Bungle Ranges, Australia

Located in Purnululu National Park, the Bungle Bungle Range features giant honeycomb sandstone formations. The alternating orange and dark grey horizontal stripes are created by differences in clay content and the presence of cyanobacteria on the rock surface. Over 350 million years of erosion, nature has carved one of Australia’s most spectacular landscapes. The best way to appreciate the grandeur of the Bungle Bungle Range is to take a helicopter ride and see it from above.

The orange and black striped honeycomb sandstone formations of the Bungle Bungle Range in Australia. — Honeycomb sandstone domes are characteristic of the Bungle Bungle Range.

Chocolate Hills, Philippines

On the island of Bohol, more than 1,200 nearly perfect conical limestone hills stretch as far as the eye can see. They are covered in lush green grass, but in the dry season the grass withers and turns a chocolate brown, giving the place its unique name. The origins of the hills remain a geological mystery, but local legends tell of a battle between two giants that created them.

Thousands of conical hills of the Chocolate Hills turn brown during the dry season in Bohol, Philippines. — During the dry season, the green grassy hills turn a distinctive brown color.

The Wave, USA

Located in Coyote Buttes North, Arizona, The Wave is not a mountain but a masterpiece of wind and water sculpting on sandstone. The soft curves and layers of orange, pink, yellow, and red create a mesmerizing optical illusion. To protect this fragile structure, only a limited number of visitors are allowed to visit each day, making it a truly precious experience.

The colorful undulating veins of The Wave sandstone formation in Arizona. — The Wave is a natural sculpture made from sandstone.

Three Sisters Range, Australia

In the Blue Mountains, the Three Sisters are an eroded sandstone formation that forms three adjacent peaks. According to Aboriginal legend, they are three sisters who were turned to stone. The beauty of the Three Sisters changes dramatically throughout the day, from orange at sunrise to a mystical purple at sunset. It is one of the most famous icons of the Blue Mountains.