Sea Lion Caves

Sea Lion Caves, Oregon

A system of enormous sea caves with up to 38 m tall ceilings. Here lives a group of Steller’s sea lions – during the winter there are hundreds of them. Discovered in 1880.

Borax Lake

Borax Lake

A thermal lake that is fed by hot springs. The temperature of the lake surface is between 16 and 38 degrees C and also higher. Lake water contains much borax, arsenic, and lead. Nevertheless, here lives a unique fish – Borax Lake chub (Gila boraxobius).

Brooks Falls

Brooks Falls with bears, Alaska

Some 1.8-2 m tall and approximately 80 – 100 m wide waterfall that is world-famous thanks to a large group of brown bears catching salmon and other fish. Sometimes up to 50 bears can be seen on this waterfall.

Litchfield magnetic termite mounds

Magnetic termite mounds, Litchfield National Park in Australia

Unique landscape formed by multiple flat termite mound formations oriented in the north-south direction in order to control the temperature inside the mounds. These mounds are built by a specific species of termites – Amitermes meridionalis.

Hamelin Pool and L’haridon Bight

Stromatolites in Shark Bay, Hamelin Pool in Western Australia

Hypersaline shallows with unique biotope – active growth of stromatolites – the oldest known form of life on Earth. Also other unique forms of life.

Hoàn Kiếm Lake and turtles

Rafetus leloii in Hoàn Kiếm Lake

Lake in the historical center of Hanoi. In the lake lives (or lived as it is critically endangered or extinct) unique soft-shell turtles that may belong to separate species Rafetus leloii. The existence of this legendary animal was proved only in 1998.

Látrabjarg

Látrabjarg

Largest bird cliff in Europe, 14 km long and up to 441 m high. Hosts millions of birds including 230,000 razorbills (Alca torda) – 40% of world’s population.

Midges of Mývatn

Midges of Mývatn, Iceland

In some years in summer there is observed massive increase of the population of midge Tanytarsus gracilentus. These algae consuming insects are rising from the lake in giant, dark swarms and after the end of their short life cover the lake like a blanket. These insects do not bite.

Tarpon Hole (King’s Spring)

Tarpon Hole or King's Spring, Florida

One of the best places to see manatees in nature is King’s Spring or Tarpon Hole – a subaquatic spring in King’s Bay. The spring has an output of 1,213 l/s.