17 of the World’s Most Beautifully Broken Places

Wind, rain, and retreating glaciers left this gorgeous destruction behind.

17 Places

Around the globe, the land still bears the scars of the long-ago past. Retreating glaciers carved caves and ravines in their wakes. Landslides spawned tapestries of pits and peaks. Wind and rain continue to nibble at rocks, sculpting strange geological formations and causing large chunks of the ground to buckle and bend. These 17 places show that some of the planet’s most blemished areas are also its most beautiful.

Bloomfield, New Mexico

Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area

The land is full of geologic eye candy, such as otherworldly spires, mushroom-shaped hoodoos, and prehistoric fossils.

Added by syabek

Isle of Skye, Scotland

The Quiraing

Islanders once used this dramatic, otherworldly landscape to hide their cattle from Viking raiders.

Kerry Wolfe

Added by Kerry Wolfe

Eaglehawk Neck, Australia

Eaglehawk Neck Tessellated Pavement

This extraordinary geological oddity resembles human-made pavement.

Annetta Black

Added by Annetta Black

The Caves of Hocking Hills State Park

Rare recess caves fill this unbelievably beautiful Ohio park.

Added by ericheis

Fjaðrárgljúfur

Strange rock formations tower above the river that snakes through this enchanting Icelandic canyon.

Added by gabebk101

Isle of Skye, Scotland

The Old Man of Storr

An ancient Scottish rock formation said to be the gravesite of a giant remains ensconced in legend and intrigue.

Added by Rachel Gould

Malham, England

Gordale Scar

A long, winding trek rewards you with a gorge so captivating it inspired a painting in the Tate.

decmurray

Added by decmurray

Stazzema, Italy

Monte Forato

A massive natural rock arch gives the Tuscan mountain its own window to the sky.

grazianolenci

Added by grazianolenci

Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Brazil

Vale da Lua

After millennia of erosion by sand and churning water this Brazilian valley now looks like a lunar fantasy.

Added by rejanesm

Municipiul Sebeș, Romania

Râpa Roșie

Romania's "Red Ravine" is a little-known natural wonder that bears a resemblance to the Grand Canyon.

poppyoana

Added by poppyoana

Ehlanzeni, South Africa

Bourke's Luck Potholes

Raging waters have created a strange geological site that looks like something off of a progressive rock album cover.

johnsongeographic

Added by johnsongeographic

Musfur Sinkhole

Climb down into the largest sinkhole in Qatar.

Max Cortesi

Added by Max Cortesi

Xcalacoop, Mexico

Cenote Ik-Kil

A magical sinkhole on the Yucatán Peninsula is adorned with mini waterfalls and hanging vines.

Added by bljohnson

Bimmah Sinkhole

A sinkhole and now a swimming hole, too, full of dazzling turquoise water.

tyler

Zhangjiajie, China

Avatar Hallelujah Mountain

This vertical pinnacle in China was the inspiration for the floating mountains in the movie “Avatar.”

lewblank

Added by lewblank

Zhangye Shi, China

Zhangye National Geopark

These layered sandstone mountains in China look like they are made of pressed crayons.

hannahlund252

Added by hannahlund252

Puerto Río Tranquilo, Chile

Marble Caves of Chile Chico

Mother Nature outdoes herself with this stunningly beautiful set of caves carved into marble.

TrevorShawnElia

Added by TrevorShawnElia

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