Top 10 natural phenomena that will take your breath away

Of course, a solar eclipse is cool, but there are other manifestations of natural strength and beauty. Some of them are catastrophic, some are simply beautiful, but all these natural phenomena are breathtaking. In this list, we have collected several diverse natural phenomena and events that demonstrated them most vividly.

10. Earthquake in Valdivia 1960

An earthquake is very difficult to capture on film. Usually we only get pictures of the destruction that it caused. For most, this is enough to estimate the strength of the movement of the earth's plates. The strongest recorded earthquake in history occurred in Valdivia, Chile, in 1960. This seismic shift of a staggering 9.5 magnitude on the Richter scale killed thousands and caused a tsunami that swept across the Pacific Ocean. In addition, numerous landslides have destroyed thousands of homes. The earthquake was so powerful that it caused the eruption of the volcano Cordon Kaule, which lasted for several months. Fortunately, this volcano is located in an almost deserted area. The proliferation of large, modern cities with high-rise buildings led to the more famous earthquake today, but the Earth never shook like it did on that day in Valdivia.

9. Dust (or sand) storms, like the Texas 1935

Drought is often a harbinger of these mythical creatures native to the plains, which suffocate cities with their sediment. They become the cause of death much less often than other natural disasters, but from their very appearance hearts freeze and jaws fall. The wall of darkness approaches and engulfs the world around in a surreal haze. The concomitant effects of disorientation and inhalation lead to numerous health problems, including death. Dust storms happen when wind blows over loose rock. Particles of dust or sand are lifted into the air and hit the ground, knocking more debris out of it. The process continues until the air is filled with dust, dirt and sand. Despite the fact that this process is of natural origin, anthropogenic impacts on the landscape often exacerbate or provoke such storms.

8. Columns of light in cold places

The best thing about these pillars of light is that many people can observe them. There is no need to look far in search of these illusions, which are often mistaken for UFOs. A pillar of light is (sometimes) a natural phenomenon that occurs when light reflects off a mass of ice particles concentrated in the air. Light can come from the sun (solar pillar) or the moon (lunar pillar), but artificial light sources such as street lamps can also cause this phenomenon. This sight is most likely to be seen on the coldest days. The column of light looks different from different angles because you just see the reflection of light entering your eyes. From another angle, it may not appear at all. A pillar of light is a personal natural phenomenon that each person observes in his own way.

7. Great Blue Hole in Belize

The Great Blue Hole in Belize is created by a combination of several natural phenomena. At first, it was formed like any karst cave: underground limestone dissolves under the influence of rainwater and rising groundwater. The result is a large underground cavity covered with a thin layer of soil. Eventually the ground collapses and the crater begins to widen as additional erosion licks off its sides. All this happened with the Great Blue Hole, and then something else happened: the water level rose. The ocean filled the empty space with seawater and living things. Since then, the hole in Belize has been popular for scuba diving with adventurers like Jacques Cousteau. This sinkhole looks amazing, but many of them happen in populated (even urban) areas. Houses, whole city streets and, unfortunately, people sometimes suddenly go underground.

6. Outbreak of a tornado on April 25-28, 2011

Tornadoes compete with volcanoes for the title of the most photogenic natural phenomena. They are very visible, have a large mass and cause a lot of destruction. During the season, they regularly roam the South and Midwest of America, but the tornado outbreak on April 25, 2011 was unexpected. Within three days, tornadoes ravaged Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia. They even appeared in such an unlikely place as the northeastern states. The deaths of 348 people from this impressive tornado gallery have become America's national tragedy. Despite advances in modern technology and architecture, this storm system became the third most deadly tornado outbreak in the United States of America. Tornadoes provide an immediate, intuitive experience - a trait that attracts camera storm catchers across the country. However, they remain one of the most unpredictable natural phenomena and deserve respect for it.

5. The eruption of Vesuvius. A.D. 79

I don’t know which is worse: a tsunami or a volcanic eruption, but the inhabitants of Pompeii and Herculaneum would probably insist on the latter. These two cities were buried under a 4-6 meter layer of ash. The force of the Vesuvius explosion was hundreds of thousands of times greater than the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Many volcanoes erupt every year (about 50-70 on average), but some of the eruptions are echoed in history books. The eruption of Vesuvius remains fresh in the minds of people due to one and a half thousand years of excavation of the city. In place of the voids in the ashes left by decomposed bodies, natural statues arose. These moments of horror, preserved in full growth, serve as a reminder that people have not completely conquered nature. Perhaps wishing to rekindle its prominence, another eruption of Vesuvius occurred during World War II, destroying three villages and a U.S. Air Force base.

4. Lava Lake of Mount Nyiragongo

The pristine structure of the earth is best observed inside the crater of a volcano. The view can often be quite pleasant, especially when looking into a crater full of trees. Mount Nyiragongo in Africa is a pumping up experience: Who needs a simple eruption when you can visit one of the most photogenic lava lakes in the world? Nyiragongo is an active volcano in the Congo, with a lava lake splashing in its crater. The lava level rises and falls, but it is considered, perhaps, the largest lava lake in the world. Lava Lake Nyiragongo is also unique in that, unlike most lava lakes, it is almost completely melted. It is located inside Virunga National Park, full of mountain gorillas and other fauna. By 2008, civil war and poachers had seriously thinned its inhabitants, but recently the park has been experiencing an influx of tourists and environmentalists.

3. Tsunami in Tohoku 2011

Tsunami is the most natural phenomenon that makes headlines. Their scale and power make even people with nerves of steel flinch at the sight of pictures of this monster. Perhaps this is due to the fact that tsunamis more often than all other natural disasters cause massive human casualties. The entire world held its breath in 2011 when an earthquake hurled a tsunami into Japan's Tohoku region, causing the most stunning and macabre sight ever recorded. More than 18,000 people have died or are missing (and are currently presumed dead). animals were forced to leave their homes, an accident occurred at a nuclear power plant (now the infamous Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant) and entire cities were washed off the face of the earth.The Tohoku Tsunami was unprecedented, easily ranked as the most costly disaster in history.

2. Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights

The Northern Lights view is unique and unlike any other. For many centuries, northern peoples and travelers admired the bright colors from the heavens. Aurora occurs when charged particles from the solar wind collide with atoms in the Earth's upper atmosphere. The Earth's magnetic field directs this energy and, as a result, a dance of colors that can be observed with the naked eye. If the visibility of the rays did not vary, this natural phenomenon could become commonplace. Its glimpses can sometimes be seen even during the day. The Cree tribe considers the northern lights to be a "dance of the spirits." In the Middle Ages, Europeans considered it to be God's sign. Its southern sister, Aurora Australis, can be seen in the uplands of New Zealand, South America, Australia and Antarctica.

1. The eruption of the volcano Galunggung and lightning in 1982

Perhaps there is nothing more terrible in the world than a volcanic eruption. A lightning strike is a common natural phenomenon that people around the world regularly observe. However, combine them at one point and the meeting will cause a synergistic reaction that can be seen only once in a lifetime. Mount Galunggun is an active volcano located in West Java province, just 50 miles south of the capital of Indonesia. In 1982, this monster began to erupt. The picture above looks like it was snatched right out of a fantasy world in which elements of nature collide and remind man of his humble place in the natural order of things.