Lord Howe Island – refuge of unique species
This remote, 56 km² large Australian island has its own ecoregion where half of the plants and some birds and other animals are endemic. Unique characteristics are diverse glowing mushrooms in the forest, some bright enough to be used for reading at night. Endemic kentia palms are popular, beautiful houseplants.
Aldabra – realm of giant tortoises
Second largest coral atoll by land area in the world, with a unique ecosystem. Contains the world’s largest population of giant tortoises – 100,000 endemic Aldabra Giant Tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) that dominate the ecosystem. Numerous other endemic species of animals and plants, including the flightless Aldabra rail (Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus).
Modjadji cycad forest
Largest cycad (Encephalartos transvenosus) forest in the world (530 ha), resembles a prehistoric world, area of unusual beauty. Some cycads reach the height of 12 – 12.2 meters. Closely linked to the history of local, legendary Rain Queens.
Abanda Caves – caves of unique bat-eating crocodiles
Group of caves in lush rainforest. In these caves lives unique subspecies or, rather, newly developing species of dwarf crocodiles (Osteolamus tetraspis) that feed on bats.
Daikoku Sulfur Cauldron
A unique pool of liquid sulfur at the summit of a submarine volcano, one of the few in the world.
Lake Bonney – lake in Antarctica with laughing gas
Frozen lake with unique geochemistry. The east lobe of the lake is saturated with nitrous oxide – "laughing gas" and dimethylsulfoxide. Another part of lake is rich with dimethylsulfide – possibly produced by microorganisms.
Giant Forest, California
Unique forest with stands of giant sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) – the largest trees in the world. This is the easiest to access sequoia grove but also contains the largest trees – five of the ten largest trees on Earth are located in this grove. Area – 7.6 km2. In California are located several more notable groves of these giant trees.
Lonar crater
A meteorite crater filled with a saltwater lake. The bolide hit the basaltic rock approximately 570,000 years ago. The diameter of the crater is 1.8 km, with a 1.2 km wide lake in it, depth of the crater – around 150 m. Lonar Lake contains rare and unusual microorganisms.
Pozzo del Merro
Extremely deep water-filled sinkhole – a cave with at least 392 m deep waterbody, total measured depth – 472 m.
Daallo Frankincense Forest
Lush forest of frankincense trees (Boswellia frereana) at the base of Cal Madow mountains. Thanks to the trees in the air is a constant, intense fragrance. Other rare plants, including Gabel Elba dragon’s blood tree (Dracaena ombet). Here live also numerous rare animals.
