Top 10 Places to See

Hey Guys,

Sorry i havent written in a long time. I have had so many tests and essays to hand in at school. But im here now to tell you my personal top 10 places to go. These are all geological site, some historical, and completely worth seeing.

#10. Socotra Island

Located in the Indian ocean, this island is the largest island in a four part achipelago. But what is special about this place is it's biodiversity. Socotra is home to more than 700 species that can only be found there. The most impressive, in my opinion, is the Socotra Dragon tree. A type of tree that Produces a red sap used for incense, forms of medicine, or red dye.

Geological features that can be found, are the karstic caves that formed from the dissolved limestone plateau.

#9. The Eye of the Sahara

This is one of the world's great mysteries. When you're standing on the ground, it looks like any other part of Mauritania's Sahara, but photos taken from space show a giant looking circular feature resembeling an eye (hence the name) that is 48 km (30 miles) in diameter. The rings around it are made of quartzite, which doesn't eroded as easily as the sedimentery rocks also found. As to how it was created had been talked alot throughout the geological world. Some speculate that it was made from a impact crater, But the more likely explanation is that it was once a geological formation that had worn down to what it is today.

#8. Door to Hell

The name speaks for itself. This giant flaming crater literally looks like the entrance to the underworld. It came around in 1971, When Soviet scientists claimed this land, near Derweze, Turkmenistan, enable to access the oil underneath. So they set up a oil rig and started drilling. But unfortunatley for them, it collapsed and made a gigantic crater, 20 meters deep, and 70 meters wide. Natural gases started escaping, that would let the poisinous gases threaten the nearby villages. So the Soviets decided to set it a light expecting the fire to die aout in less than a week.

Well i guess they were wrong, because 43 years later the crater is still burning strong. And that wonderful sulpher can be smelt from miles away.

#7. Guilin, China

In the South of China lies the serene province of Guilin. This place is absolutely magical with it's mountains and little city sitting on the Li river. Alot like the caves in Socotra, the caves here are also made from Karst. But what makes this landscape exceptionally special are the peaks made od Limestone.

One of the ost unique caves, is the Reed Flute cave. An underground lake mirrors the huge Stalactites and multicolored lighting illuminates the cave to give a magical expierence. But one of the coolest parts about this cave, are the insciptions writen in stone that can be traced back to the Tang dynasty.

#6. Great Blue Hole, Belize

Blue holes are a kind of underwater sinkhole. They were made like every other kind of sinkhole millions of years ago, when sea level was lower. And then over time, they become submerged. In most blue holes, there is sea water mixed with freah water, which causes corrosion. This is what makes horizontal caves that go out from the main, vertical one. Becuase of different conditions in blue hole, most are only inhabited by small organisms.

So what makes the one in Belize so special? It is located in Lighthouse Reef, with an outstanding diameter of around 300 meters and a 124 meter depth. It isnt just the sinkhole that is amazing though. Scuba diving around the entrance has amazing species of marine life. In 1971, Jacques Cousteau the famous filmmaker, explorer, author, and scientist led an expedition to the cave and concluded from the stalactites, that the karts limestone cave had once been part of a geological shift.

#5. The Wave, USA

This colorful sedimentary landscape located in Arizona was formed in the Jurassic period. It started erroding when surface run-off occured after raining. But nowadays, it is mainly erroded by wind, giving the unique trough shaped landscape. It's sandstone formations make beautiful photos, as well as an interesting look into the different layers of sediment deposits.

If you are in Arizona, the other places which are also part of the Coyote Buttes area are Melody Arch, Fatili's boneyard,and Top rock arch.

#4. The Crack of Silfra,

As most know, Iceland is a volcanic country on the mid atlantic ridge. Meaning that when the North-American and Eurasian plates diverge, the whole island is put under tension, which is relieved in earthquakes. these earthquakes are what make cracks in the earth and seep lava to the surface. Silfra is unique though, because when it was opened up, a spring filled it up leaving it a clear color. It is located in Thingvallir National park and is one of the most popular diving spots in the world. From about it doesnt look like much, but can get up to 60 meters in depth.

#3. The Reflecting Desert, Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni, is the biggest salt pan worldwide. Salt pans are usually found in deserts where lakes and ponds have evaporated leaving ions like salt behind. and when it is reflected off by the sun it can look like a mirror.

Salar de Uyuni is on the Altiplano plateau, and is more than 10 thousand square kilometers. In the center of the salt pan is Isla Incahuasi. Becuase in prehistoric times, this was a large lake, Incahuasi was the island in the middle. so even to today, there are still beaches and plant life on it.

When it rains, the salt creates a reflective surface, which makes it look like and enormous mirror.

#2. Death Valley, USA

Being one of the lowest, hottest, and driest places on Earth, Death Valley National park has sounds like, well, a death valley. But this area has some of the most interesting geology in the world. So, i am just going to focus on one. (I'll probably write a post later on in further depth.)

The sliding rocks of Racetack Playa. One of the world's great mysteries are these rocks thta weigh up to 318 kg have scraped paths throughout this area. It has nothing to do with gravity, because many slide more uphill. The most realistic theory though, is that during night-time, the strong winds and occasionaly muddy surface give these rocks a push over the ground. though this is not confirmed, because no one has actually seen it in action.

#1. Yellowstone National Park, USA

Okay, i went there last Summer and i started crying when i saw the geysers and hot springs and scenery. Not only does it have an amazing geological history, but its biodiversity is so amazing. Yellowstone is on top of a gigantic caldera. the magma beneath heats groundwater, creating amazing features. The yellowsone river is so worth seeing as well. the lower course is so steady that you can see reflections of everything. It is also an interesting biological expierence. Seeing how the bison, bears, and elk all have used the heat from the caldera as a habitat is astouding. Probably the second most famous attraction, after Old Faithful, is the Grand Prismatic Spring. The hot water mixed with the heat loving micro-organisms gives the amazing colors you wouldnt even believe exsisted in the natural world.

If you're ever there, you should also check out the Grand Tetons.

Quick, go before it erupts and wipes out the entire Western world! :)