The earth is full of wonders, whether you’re talking about historical or modern marvels, technical and architectural achievements, or breathtakingly beautiful geological and natural wonders.
Surprisingly enough, people rarely pay attention to the tiny yet intricate things around us, unless you’re talking about the world’s new seven wonders, that is.
The ‘World Beauties and Wonders’ Facebook group, created by a Turkey-based Anatolian Leo, has a collection of natural wonders compiled into one place, and today we are sharing some of the best images taken across the globe with you as well. If you’d love to see the previous post on Bored Panda too, then make sure to click here for part 1.
The remarkable shot was taken by Martin Le-May while he was walking with his wife through Hornchurch Country Park in Havering, London.
“No one is quite sure how the tree ended up there or how it survived, but year after year it continues to grow downwards and bear figs.”
He opened the bottle 12 years later in 1972 to add some water and then sealed it for good. The self contained ecosystem has flourished for nearly 60 years.
For those who are wondering how this is even possible: the garden is a perfectly balanced and self-sufficient ecosystem. The bacteria in the compost eats the dead plants and breaks down the oxygen that is released by the plants, turning it into carbon dioxide, which is needed for photosynthesis. The bottle is essentially a microcosm of earth.
The lagoons, which can reach a depth of 3 meters and a length of 90 meters, are re-formed every year. Rainfall between January and June fills the sand dunes with water, and sometimes lagoons can be connected to each other by small streams.
But Archeologists believe this area of Cadiz, Spain to have been inhabited for the past 20,000 years. Today the cliffs overlooking this river is home to the town of Setenil de las Bodegas and is famous for its dwellings built into the massive rock overhangs. Modern Setenil evolved from a Moorish fortification constructed over the gorge and gave a defensive view along the river during the 12th Century…
The paratrooper, Luigi Cani, brought 100 million seeds to a remote deforested area of the Amazon region.
They were transported in a biodegradable wooden box of more than 1m³ and 300 kg. Luigi dived at 300 km/h. He also held the world record for the shortest parachute jump on the planet in 2020.
The seeds collected for the project have a germination rate of over 95% and do not require any human intervention to germinate.
Captured using revolutionary four-dimensional imaging technology and anatomically accurate models, scientists have managed to shed light on the world of mammals inside the womb.
As diverse a bunch as they are – elephant, dog, dolphin and penguin are all shown united by their similar stages of development.
Scientists captured the images for a National Geographic Documentary called ‘Animals in the Womb’.
The images were also used on a Channel 4 documentary ‘Animals in the Womb’ which aired in 2009.
They were created by using a combination of ultrasound scans, computer graphics and small cameras -as well as some carefully created models- to document the animals’ development from conception to birth, and give an unparalleled glimpse into a world that few of us would ever expect to see.
Cave in the Rhodope mountains, Bulgaria, carved by hand more than 3000 years ago (?), it was rediscovered in 2001. Archeologists hypothesize that an altar built at the end of the cave, which is about 22 m deep, represents either the cervix or the uterus. At midday, light seeps into the temple through an opening in the ceiling, projecting an image of a phallus on to the floor. When the sun is at the right angle, in late February or early March, the phallus grows longer and reaches the alter, symbolically fertilizing the womb before the sowing of the spring crops.
In the 1970s, archaeological excavations in Bulgaria, near the modern city of Varna, identified a large Copper Age necropolis, dating back to the 5th millennium BC, which featured the oldest gold artifacts ever discovered until that time.
The most prestigious burial was tomb , inside which the remains of a man of the highest rank were found… the first elite male burial known in Europe.
Built by the people of the Pandya Dynasty, the unfinished rock-cut temple was carved in the 8th Century CE. It is unique in that it is the only Pandya era monolithic templeto be carved out in three dimensions from solid rock. Vettuvan Koil has two literal meanings in Tamil: one is Heaven of Sculptors and the other is Temple of the Slayer.
Considering they used only saws and axes, it was impressive how they managed to bring down those giant trees. Furthermore, it is even more impressive how they managed to transport them using just horses and oxen, as well as further process them. But, it was the peak time for logging and nothing could stop the progress in the expanding America.
A black seedless grape with one unusual characteristic. They are long. … look more like a log in shape than a grape. These types of grapes have been grown in the Middle East. This picture is from Syria.
It was discovered in 1980 during the maintenance of a drainage canal. The vessel was loaded with amphorae, lead ingots, and boxwood logs. It dates to the 1st century BC.
Photo: Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici of the Emilia Romagna
