15 incredible photos of natural wonders that look Photoshopped but aren't
The hot spring was originally just a deep blue, but tourists throwing coins and rocks into the pool caused it to cool down, sprout new microorganisms, and change colors, Smithsonian magazine reported.
The saline lake's bubblegum-pink color likely comes from microorganisms living inside of it.
The rock formation became famous when Microsoft included it in its desktop wallpaper options in 2009, skyrocketing what was once a little-known local gem into a worldwide phenomenon. The site now requires a permit to visit, according to The Wave's official website.
Colorful bacteria and microbes flourish inside the pool, giving it its rainbow rings, Atlas Obscura reported.
Also known as aurora borealis, the Northern Lights can most often be seen near the Arctic Circle in Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
The world's largest salt flat offers an expansive surface perfect for creating optical illusions that play with perspective. It also contains about 15% of the world's lithium, according to the US Geological Survey.
The geothermal pool gets its color from sulfur deposits.
The Quebrada de Humahuaca valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The stripes are a product of weathering, mineralogy, and environmental conditions.
The river's red color comes from a plant called Macarenia clavigera that blooms from September through November, Atlas Obscura reported. Yellow and green sands also give the Cano Cristales its rainbow color scheme.
Deadvlei is a white clay pan in Namibia. When the sun hits sand dunes, the dried remains of camel thorn trees look like they're up against a painted backdrop.
It became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010.
The 133,000-square-mile reef is home to over 1,500 kinds of fish, 400 types of coral, and 4,000 species of mollusk. While increasing temperatures have led to mass coral bleaching — making the reef's bright hues turn white — some areas remain unaffected.
The delicate ecosystem is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The canyon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, dates back 70 million years and stretches for 277 miles.
Every spring, Keukenhof Park in the Netherlands blooms with millions of tulips, as well as hyacinths, daffodils, and other flowers.