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Natural Wonders

Volcán Pabellones

Standing 26 feet high and 13 feet in diameter, is this the world’s smallest volcano?

Hinsdale County, Colorado

Lake San Cristobal

Colorado’s second largest natural lake was created by a landslide.

Rock-Splitting Cherry Tree

A 360-year-old cherry tree grows out of a granite boulder.

Samuel Mphepo, Malawi

Elephant Rock

A prodigious pachyderm lurks among Malawi’s inselbergs.

The Explorer’s Guide Wyoming’s Captivating History

Discover a world of hidden history in the Cowboy State.

Sponsored by Travel Wyoming

Old Station, California

Subway Cave

A large lava tube that can be walked through with no special equipment.

Tayma, Saudi Arabia

Al Naslaa

In the Arabian Desert, a surreal rock formation stands cut clean in half.

McMurdo Station, Antarctica

Observation Hill

The steep slope known as “Ob Hill” overlooks an Antarctic research station.

A desk has been sitting at the top of Hancock Hill for the last 40 years, after a group of college students dragged a piece of furniture up to make a secluded study spot.

Our Favorite New Places of 2024

We added nearly 2,000 places to the Atlas this year—these are 24 of our favorites.

Atlas Obscura December 30, 2024

Le Morne, Mauritius

Underwater 'Waterfall'

Dive into an undersea optical illusion off the coast of Mauritius.

Liena, Australia

King Solomon's Cave

A limestone cave filled with impressive formations in Mole Creek Karst National Park.

San Andrés, Colombia

Hoyo Soplador (Blowhole)

This sea-based blowhole releases seawater when waves hit the coastal caves.

Hérémence, Switzerland

Pyramides d'Euseigne

These spindly, stone-capped formations are the product of glacial deposits and thousands of years of erosion.

Altay Prefecture, China

Kanas Lake

A lake that borders Kazakhstan and Russia allegedly harbors the giant "Terror Trout" or "Chinese Nessie."

21 Caves That Offer Otherworldly Experiences

From subterranean haunts filled with glowing larvae to the oldest cave system in the world.

Jonathan Carey May 31, 2024

Nebraska National Forest

From Prairie Grasslands to Man-Made Forests: Discover Nebraska's Natural Wonders

From a subterranean network of hidden tunnels to the largest man-made forest in the country, the wonders of nature are extraordinary.

Sponsored by Nebraska Tourism

A 1960s bunker, built far into the West Virginia hills, still illustrates how the government planned to keep running in the event of a nuclear attack during the Cold War.

How to Explore West Virginia’s Underground Wonders

A field guide to the most invigorating subterranean adventures in the Mountain State

Sponsored by West Virginia Tourism

Petrified Forest of Khorixas

Hundreds of tree trunks and Welwitschia flowers populate this living fossil haven.