50 awe-inspiring natural wonders for your bucket list

By Bija Knowles, CNN
Updated 8:49 AM EDT, Thu August 17, 2017
<strong>Jiuzhaigou National Park, Sichuan Province, China: </strong>You can enjoy all the vibrant colors of nature at China's Jiuzhaigou National Park. Look out for the ancient tree trunks under the clear waters of Five Flower Lake.
Jiuzhaigou National Park, Sichuan Province, China: You can enjoy all the vibrant colors of nature at China's Jiuzhaigou National Park. Look out for the ancient tree trunks under the clear waters of Five Flower Lake.
Jason Kwok/CNN
<strong>Gran Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia:</strong> The largest salt flat in the world, the Gran Salar de Uyuni in southern Bolivia feels more like a desert than a lake.
Gran Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia: The largest salt flat in the world, the Gran Salar de Uyuni in southern Bolivia feels more like a desert than a lake.
Courtesy Neal Piper
<strong>Pangong Tso Lake, India-China: </strong>This saltwater lake sits high in the Himalayas at an altitude of 4,350 meters. It's a natural -- and disputed -- border between India and China-governed Tibet.
Pangong Tso Lake, India-China: This saltwater lake sits high in the Himalayas at an altitude of 4,350 meters. It's a natural -- and disputed -- border between India and China-governed Tibet.
Flickr Alosh Bennett/Creative Commons
<strong>Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland: </strong>Deep in the Swiss Alps, Lauterbrunnen Valley is a deep, and scenic, cleft cut in the topography running between steep limestone precipices.
Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland: Deep in the Swiss Alps, Lauterbrunnen Valley is a deep, and scenic, cleft cut in the topography running between steep limestone precipices.
Courtesy Kosala Bandara/Creative Commons/Flickr
<strong>Perito Moreno Glacier, Patagonia, Argentina: </strong> This 30-kilometer glacier in Patagonia's Los Glaciares National Park grows and contracts, with the force of the trapped water causing a spectacular rupture every four to five years.
Perito Moreno Glacier, Patagonia, Argentina: This 30-kilometer glacier in Patagonia's Los Glaciares National Park grows and contracts, with the force of the trapped water causing a spectacular rupture every four to five years.
Mario Tama/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
<strong>Halong Bay, Vietnam: </strong>Riding on a traditional Chinese junk ship is the most popular way to explore Halong Bay and its thousands of small islands and standing karsts.
Halong Bay, Vietnam: Riding on a traditional Chinese junk ship is the most popular way to explore Halong Bay and its thousands of small islands and standing karsts.
Genting
<strong>Uluru/Ayers Rock, Australia:</strong> Australia's favorite giant sandstone mass is 350 meters high and more than nine kilometers in circumference.
Uluru/Ayers Rock, Australia: Australia's favorite giant sandstone mass is 350 meters high and more than nine kilometers in circumference.
Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
<strong>Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Iceland:</strong> Seljalandsfoss Waterfall may not be biggest or highest waterfall in Iceland, but not many falls have a path where you can walk directly behind the cascade.
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Iceland: Seljalandsfoss Waterfall may not be biggest or highest waterfall in Iceland, but not many falls have a path where you can walk directly behind the cascade.
Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images
<strong>4. Paria Canyon, Arizona: </strong>A smaller version of the Grand Canyon, the Paria River's rock formations are just as impressive as its neighbor.
4. Paria Canyon, Arizona: A smaller version of the Grand Canyon, the Paria River's rock formations are just as impressive as its neighbor.
Jeff Topping/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
<strong>Geirangerfjord and Naeroyfjord, Norway: </strong>Boasting high cliffs, deep waters and stunning waterfalls, Geirangerfjord and Naeroyfjord are among the world's longest and deepest fjords.
Geirangerfjord and Naeroyfjord, Norway: Boasting high cliffs, deep waters and stunning waterfalls, Geirangerfjord and Naeroyfjord are among the world's longest and deepest fjords.
Courtesy Kamil Porembiński/Creative Commons/Flickr
<strong>Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia: </strong>The world's largest structure made of living organisms, the Great Barrier Reef is even visible from space.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia: The world's largest structure made of living organisms, the Great Barrier Reef is even visible from space.
Tourism & Events Queensland
<strong>Fox Glacier, South Island, New Zealand:</strong> The 13-kilometer Fox Glacier in New Zealand is one of the most easily accessible ice masses in the world.
Fox Glacier, South Island, New Zealand: The 13-kilometer Fox Glacier in New Zealand is one of the most easily accessible ice masses in the world.
Courtesy Bernard Spragg. NZ/Creative Commons/Flickr
<strong>Plitvice Lakes, Croatia: </strong>Plitvice Lakes is a series of clear lakes in between rocky canyons and dramatic waterfalls.
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia: Plitvice Lakes is a series of clear lakes in between rocky canyons and dramatic waterfalls.
Courtesy Damir Fabijanić
<strong>Lake Nakuru, Kenya: </strong>Lake Nakuru National Park is home to hippos, white and black rhino, giraffe and buffalo. But the star residents are its thousands of pink flamingos.
Lake Nakuru, Kenya: Lake Nakuru National Park is home to hippos, white and black rhino, giraffe and buffalo. But the star residents are its thousands of pink flamingos.
Wild Horizon/Universal Images Group Editorial/UIG via Getty Images
<strong>Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls, Zambia, Zimbabwe: </strong>The local name for Victoria Falls<strong> </strong>accurately captures the most stunning feature of the waterfall: Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning smoke that thunders.
Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls, Zambia, Zimbabwe: The local name for Victoria Falls accurately captures the most stunning feature of the waterfall: Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning smoke that thunders.
courtesy nap
<strong>Mount Bromo, Indonesia: </strong>Mount Bromo is a small active volcano inside the much larger caldera of an ancient extinct volcano.
Mount Bromo, Indonesia: Mount Bromo is a small active volcano inside the much larger caldera of an ancient extinct volcano.
Courtesy sara marlowe/Creative Commons/Flickr
<strong>Lake Baikal, Russia: </strong>Frozen for at least four months a year, the shockingly vivid blue ice of Lake Baikal is one of winter's most incredible sights. <br />