Massive glaciers, staggering mountains, plains dotted with wild animals: We

sure live in a big, beautiful world. And while pinpointing all of Mother
Nature's greatest hits could take a lifetime, we think these 50 out-of-this-
world landscapes and awe-inspiring wonders—from Arizona to Antarctica—
need to move to the very top of your travel list.

This piece was originally published in 2015 and has been updated.

Chris Linder

Angel Falls, Venezuela

Venezuela overflows with natural wonders, including the world's highest
waterfall—the 3,212-foot cascades of Angel Falls, located in the UNESCO-
protected Canaima National Park. Canaima is by far the country's most
popular attraction, and the falls stretch an astounding 19 times higher than
Niagara Falls. Bonus: Pixar animators used the location as inspiration for
Paradise Falls in Up—so you know it's good.

Holger Leue
Antarctica
That's right, we put an entire continent on here. Although 99 percent
of Antarctica is covered with ice, the landscape still manages to be
stunningly diverse—surreal blue glaciers, active volcanoes, the rough
waterways of the Drake Passage, and 360-degree views of untouched snow.
And those views are made even better when an emperor penguin or humpback
whale makes an appearance.

Brian Baril Photography

Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon (and serious Instagram darling) in the
American Southwest. Its Navajo name translates to “the place where water
runs through rocks”—an allusion to the canyon’s creation through erosion.
The narrow, undulating spaces between rock formations allow for vivid
patterns when sunlight filters through the striated stone.
Getty

Atacama Desert, Chile

Have you ever dreamed of exploring the moon? A trip to Valle de la Luna in
Chile’s Atacama Desert is a much shorter flight. Years of erosion have left
behind jagged peaks, dry riverbeds, and a landscape startlingly similar to that
of our favorite celestial body's.

TerenceLeezy

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Japan

Every traveler should experience the ethereal glow and seemingly endless
heights of this bamboo grove on the outskirts of Kyoto. The experience even
extends beyond the visual realm: In 1996, Japan's Ministry of the
Environment included the sounds here—wood creaking, leaves rustling—as
one of the top 100 Soundscapes of Japan.