Our planet is full of miraculous and man-made wonders, but nothing compares in beauty to the living performances that nature plays out before the viewer or without it – from the dances of microscopic organisms to the movement of celestial bodies. Today we will tell you about amazing natural phenomena that are worth traveling for.
Luminescent plankton, Maldives
At different times, in different latitudes of the ocean, there is a surge in the population of plankton, which shines with a neon blue light, but not constantly, but only when moving sharply – so it is clearly visible in the surf and the foam from the crashing waves. A truly fantastic sight awaits those who are not afraid to dive with a mask into the night ocean: the feeling that you are floating in space and every movement of your body leaves a trail of hundreds of stars. There are no exact dates when you can see luminous plankton, but the highest probability of catching it is in May on the Southern Atolls of the Maldives.
Shining Cave, New Zealand
In the suburb of Waitomo on the North Island of New Zealand, there is a cave system with underground rivers and lakes, which is home to a unique species of worms – the glowing Arachnocampa luminosa. Visitors can enjoy a truly fabulous boat ride under the glowing green patterns of the cave’s ornate vaults.
Butterfly migration, USA
March butterflies are the most famous butterflies in North America. Twice a year they make a long migration journey, leaving the southern border of Canada in the fall to spend the winter in Mexico and returning to northern latitudes in the spring. During their migration, these large bright orange butterflies gather in flocks of tens of thousands of individuals and literally fill the sky. From the beginning of September to the end of October, their path runs through the national reserves of the states of Florida, Virginia, Texas and Kansas.
Sardine migration, South Africa
At the beginning of June, the ocean off the coast of the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal literally boils: millions of sardines swim here. At this point, their migration route passes as close as possible to the shore; the fish gather in huge schools and linger in coastal waters for about a month, gaining strength before the next long forced march. For those who are into diving, this is a chance to dive into surreal moving clouds of silver fish.
Lightning of Catatumbo, Venezuela
In Venezuela, where the Catatumbo River flows into Lake Maracaibo, thunderstorms last 300 days a year. This place is even included in the Guinness Book of Records: the peak of atmospheric activity occurs at night, with an average of 28 lightning flashes per minute from 7 pm to 4 am. At the same time, a thunderstorm can be seen even from a distance of 400 km, where thunder is no longer heard. Sailors once used the light of these lightning bolts for navigation, calling them the “Maracaibo Lighthouse.” The most powerful thunderstorms can be observed in May and October.
Northern lights, Arctic
Everyone who has seen the Northern Lights says that this is the most stunning, indescribably beautiful sight. A three-dimensional performance unfolds in the sky – a dance of charged cosmic particles in the Earth’s atmosphere. In order to see this, you will have to climb to the ends of the world in the coldest months – beyond the Arctic Circle from October to March, but at any longitude: the Northern Lights can be seen in Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia or Russia.
Lunar halo, tropics
In the region of the equator, the night sky has something to answer: every full moon is accompanied here by a bright optical effect – rings of light around the moon. This phenomenon is called a halo, and in fact such rings appear around the sun and moon at different latitudes, but for this to happen a number of conditions must be present. The glowing circles around a space object are caused by dispersion in ice crystals in the upper atmosphere, but the viewing angle is also important. On a full moon in the tropics, when around midnight the moon passes its zenith exactly above the observer’s head, the rings are visible very clearly.
