16 Times Nature Did Whatever It Felt Like Doing

By Editorial Staff in Nature On 22nd September 2017

#1 Lake Hillier:

This startling bubblegum lake, hidden away in the forests of Middle Island, Australia, looks almost unreal. Scientists still aren’t entirely sure what causes the lake’s distinctive color, although minerals and microorganisms are the top contenders.

#2 The Rainbow Mountains:

China’s Zhangye Danxia National Geologic Park boasts a set of mountains that look like they were chalked in by some enterprising artist with a lot of time on their hands. But the startling colors are all natural, due to the different mineralogical compositions in the layers of rocks.

advertisement
Follow On Google News

#3 The Portuguese Man O’ War:

This delightful siphonophore (often mistaken for a jellyfish) is made up of a colony of microorganisms working together, and its tentacles can reach up to 165 feet long. Oh, and it’s also venomous!

advertisement

#4 Spotted Lake:

No, it’s not the world’s biggest game of Twister. This alkali lake in Canada dries up over the summer, leaving little pools colored by different minerals.

Follow On Twitter

#5 This Little Guy:

Proof that nature’s wonders come in the incomprehensibly large and the adorably small, this three-tailed lizard is unfazed by its new celeb status.

#6 Fairy Rings:

Our ancestors thought these circles of mushrooms were the homes of supernatural beings who would curse those who stepped inside them. The truth is far more benign: they’re the result of mushrooms growing out of an old tree stump or another big piece of organic matter buried under the soil. When they’re surrounded by a circle of dead grass, it’s because the mushrooms invade and kill the grass’ root cells. Wait, that’s still pretty creepy…

advertisement

#7 Basalt Columns:

When basaltic lava pours and cools slowly from the bottom up, fractures shoot through it, dividing it up into hexagons. These cool rock formations are found all around the world, from Ireland to Israel.

#8 Bioluminescent Waves:

If you’ve ever wanted to swim among the stars, this is the next best thing. These glowing waves happen when vast groups of bioluminescent phytoplankton (microscopic ocean creatures) are washed up on shore together. It’s easiest to see on tropical beaches, right after dark.

#9 Red Tide:

On the other hand, you probably don’t want to swim in a red tide. This phenomenon, where the water appears to be filled with blood, is the result of an algal bloom (a vast group of tiny ocean plants). As if this phenomenon wasn’t ominous enough already, some of these occurrences are toxic, killing hundreds of marine animals.

advertisement

#10 Sailing Rocks:

When big, shallow sheets of ice star to break up while rocks are still covered in slippery ice, the wind can drive these rocks along the ground surface, leaving a trail after them to puzzle researchers.

#11 Coral Reefs:

Everyone knows what a coral reef is, but few people know exactly how old they are. Currently, the oldest discovered coral is estimated to be 4000 years old; in other words, this single, living coral is older than the Iron Age.

#12 Fire Tornadoes:

Sharknados aren’t real, but this terrifying phenomenon is. Fire whirls happen when rising heat from fires meets turbulent wind conditions, and they can suck in organic matter and flammable gases. I think I’ll stick with the sharks, thanks.

advertisement

#13 Blood Falls:

In case you thirsted for more blood, Antarctica’s Taylor Glacier features a tomato-red waterfall. The water comes from a salty sub-glacial lake trapped millions of years ago, and when it reacts with air, the ancient microbes turn the water red.

#14 Dirty Thunderstorms:

On rare occasions, plumes of volcanic ash can produce lightning, and that’s what we call a “dirty thunderstorm.” It happens because of the electrostatic charge created by fragments of ash, ice, and rock colliding up in the clouds.

#15 Pele’s Hair Lava:

And speaking of volcanoes, what about Pele’s Hair, the long-thin strands of volcanic glass that form when molten basalt glass blows out of lava, droplets drying in thin strands. It may look like it has an intriguing texture, but don’t touch — it’s incredibly brittle, and broken-off pieces can go easily into skin.

advertisement

#16 Salar de Uyuni:

This Bolivian salt flat, the world’s largest, is perfectly poised to become the world’s largest mirror in the rainy season. When covered with a shallow layer of water, the huge, flat surface reflects the sky perfectly.