Coconino Lava River Cave, Arizona

The Coconino Lava River Cave in the Coconino National Forest, near Flagstaff, Arizona is huge big enough for an individual to walk through with dozens of feet overhead. Coconino’s Lava River Cave is striking, telltale circumference of a lave tube which is more than mile long through solid rocks. Therefore, potholers won’t find stalactites or stalagmites beautifying this hall of echoes just the even arch formed by liquid-hot rock as it traveled through. The cave can range in height from 30 feet and no light sources inside.

The all of a sudden smooth surface area can actually be dangerous, due to difference in temperature between the cool subterranean cave and the hot desert above ground, condensation frequently forms and makes the walls and floors of the Lava River Cave very slick. Coconino’s Lava River Cave isn’t the only lava river cave in the world, nor is it the largest even though it fascinating visitors and geologists alike a unique (Y-intersection) deep within the tunnel. Here is two enormous tubes combines into one, forming an exclusive Y-shape out of three indistinguishable tubes. So, this leads to a dizzying mirror effect that can occasionally be disorienting to inexpert explorers.

The Coconino’s lave river cave was unearthed in 1915 by some lumbermen and named it “Government Cave”. The cave was historically been referred to as “Government Cave” due to its location on the eastern edge of Government Prairie and southeast of Government Peak. Lava River Cave is freely accessible to the general public. Many peoples in the area still call its historic name. The cave is very close to the surface above ground, with holes punctuating the ceiling at times, creating a surface treacherous for walking, but providing beautiful pillars of light from outside while traveling within it. This makes the Lava River Cave one of the most striking subterranean sites in the western United States.

It is believed that cave was formed sometime between 600,000 to 700,000 years ago. The molten lava erupted from a volcanic vent in adjacent Hart Prairie. Therefore, the top sides and bottom of the flow cooled and solidified. Whereas lava in the middle flowed out, leaving a hollow space to form the cave. Of all these intriguing curiosities, most interesting for adventurers is surely the lava tube long, cave like passages underground, arching in a near-perfect circle so ideal for traveling through, one might think they were man-made. These caves were formed millennia ago as the outside of a giant lava flow hardened, but a still-liquid center traveled through it like an underground river. Until the river stopped, leaving behind a circular tube unlike any other naturally-formed subterranean cave.

Thus due to the temperature change, there is a lot of condensation on the walls, ceiling and floor near the entrance, which makes it slippery. The temperatures inside cave are around 40 °F during the summer, and it is not rare for some of the rocks to be covered with ice. The cave is mostly dry so, bring water and at least two to three sources of light, wear warm clothes and sturdy hiking boots with ankle support and protection. Please keep in mind that this is a remote wilderness site with no services.

The entrance to the cave is around 14 miles (23 km) west of Flagstaff, Arizona. The cave one portions was once defaced by graffiti have been cleaned up. These days more environmentally aware visitors take better care of such a distinctive resource and even report vandals when they see them. The beautiful lava tube cave has a sky-fall entrance, where section of the cave roof collapses creating a skylight and pile rocks on the cave floor, only one-half of the entrance is used, the other may be seen as a very short section. Whereas the cave is open year-round, the dirt roads which lead there may be impassable to cars in winter months or during wet weather conditions. There are no entrance or use fees. Moreover for overnight camping, visitors have to camp at least 1 mile from the entrance of the cave. Source: CP

Graffiti Mesa, Valley of Names, California

During World War II, soldiers training in the desert north of Yuma, Arizona, started decorating a site they called “Graffiti Mesa,” using rocks to write out their names in the white sand. They expressed their feelings by placing stones on a piece of deserted land. They hoped that, even if they may never return home, their loved ones would get to see their message. The different sizes and shapes of rocks have taken many years to take in 10,000 names embedded in the desert floor maintained by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management). The Valley of the Names is covered in beautiful white sand, which creates a strong contrast against the dark-colored rocks. Due to the fact, that the land is barren for miles, each person must bring their rocks from the outlying desert.

The tradition treasure continued on after the war and the graffitied area bigger and bigger. Nowadays over 1,200 acres of land are decorated with signatures, messages, dates, initials, and drawings. The mesa, commonly known as the “Valley of the Names,” located in Winterhaven, Calfornia. It is made up of hard-packed white sand, and the earliest names are arranged using black lava rocks that stand in sharp contrast. It is well preserved land filled area, where you can express your feelings by placing stones on a piece of deserted land. The land is barren for miles around, which means the rocks must be brought in from the outlying desert.

Some people have cheated by bringing bricks and spray-painted rocks from home. If you have a message or name then you require a 4-wheel drive vehicle to access the area. Once there, it’s likely to drive down, around, and through the hills and valleys covered by this exclusive rock art. Hence, you have to bring your own rocks; there are plenty of black rocks on the road leading in. People still leave their distinctive note to loved ones nowadays.

This unique desert has scheduled a clean-up day, when people go out there to clear away debris from the desert winds and replace rocks that might have been washed away in a storm. People are coming here on trips in Trackers, Jeeps or Rangers to fresh their memories which they have written even 20 years ago. Today they use the technology of GPS and record the coordinates so they can remember where it’s at, even find their name without that. Source: CP

Wai-o-Tapu, Thermal Wonderland

Wai-o-Tapu means “sacred waters”, also spelt Waioyapu is an active geothermal area north of the Reporoa caldera, in New Zealand's. The geothermal area covers 18 square kilometers. Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is one of the most surreal places on earth so naturally it’s high on the list of Rotorua’s must-see attractions. The Taupo Volcanic Zone has dramatic geothermal conditions beneath the earth; the area has several hot springs noteworthy for their colorful appearance. This is a place to marvel at nature’s artistic splendor, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is also committed to providing a safe visitor experience.

There are many hot springs, like Lady Knox Geyser, Champagne Pool, Artist's Palette, Primrose Terrace and boiling mud pools. So, by foot, you can view the curated experience naturally forming hot springs appear around the area. Moreover, earlier to European occupation the area was the homeland of the Ngati Whaoa tribe who descended from those on the Arawa waka (canoe). Since 1931, the area has rich history of tourist attraction; well protected the scenic reserve occupies part of the reserve under a concession.

It operates under the name "Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland crosses Kaingaroa Forest, passes Murupara, and then continues as an unsealed road through the mountains of Te Urewera, along Lake Waikaremoana to Wairoa on the border of Hawke Bay. Wai-O-Tapu mud Pools are completely unforgettable experience was originally the site of a large mud volcano which was destroyed through erosion in the 1920’s. Moreover, the area in which the landscape has been sculptured by geothermal activity and where unique volcanic features can be viewed from well defined tracks.

Santa Rosa Blue Hole, New Mexico

On the east of Santa Rosa, there’s bell-shaped pool called Blue Hole located off Route 66 in New Mexico. Like several other natural pools of its similar types, the Santa Rosa Blue Hole is a small body of water that seems to fill a surprisingly deep hole in the ground with shockingly clear waters. The circular blue hole is one of most popular dive destination in the US for SCUBA diving and training session. The arid climes is a natural swimming hole that has a hidden system of underwater caves which were unexplored until 2013. The famous Blue Hole is an artesian well that was once used as a fish hatchery. The blue hole has clear water with a persistent 62 °F temperature and persistent inflow of 3,000 US gallons per minute.

Though the surface is only 80 feet in diameter, it expands to a diameter of 130 feet at the bottom. The site elevation is 4,616 ft, it is necessary for divers to use high-altitude dive tables to compute the dive profile and decompression stops when diving in the Blue Hole. The Santa Rosa deep hole was an ideal spot for scuba divers until two young divers became trapped in the pool’s tight underwater caves. After their deaths in 1976, the entrance to the caves was covered with a metal grate and all but forgotten.

In 2013, a group of adventurous divers were allowed to past the grate with the intention of mapping the system of unexplored caves. Therefore, their early probing was stymied by decades of debris and too tight passages but the excavation continues with a watchful eye towards safety lest further deaths close off the secretive caverns for decades to come. It’s still unclear how far back the caves go. The pool is open for public use with no lifeguards on duty, however another sad incident took place on March 26, 2016 when 43 year old California diver was exploring passageways where he became trapped and drowned.

In fact Santa Rosa Blue hole is a wonderful stop, where divers can jump off the rock or enter via the stairs across from the jumping rock. Santa Rosa is known as the "City of Natural Lakes," is overflowing with pristine bodies of water that provide an invigorating blue splash in an otherwise arid landscape. The Blue Hole, fed from an underwater aquifer, about 8,000 diving permits are issued per year from around the world. A super place particularly in a hot day, as water is cold and refreshing and if you get there earlier in the day before it gets churned up it is crystal clear. It is like a slice of the Caribbean in the middle of New Mexico.

Unalaska, The Town of Violent Bald Eagles

The magnificent bald eagle is the national bird of America, but most Americans are lucky to see one first-hand during their lifetimes. The Unalaska town offers classic examples of the striking nature you'll find throughout Alaska, but seems otherwise unremarkable. Then there's the unnatural amount of eagles here is due to Unalaska simply being a great place for the birds to score food. Unalaska is located on Unalaska Island and neighboring Amaknak Island in the Aleutian Islands off mainland Alaska. The small town of Unalaska, bald eagles are as common as pigeons are in other human settlements. The Unalaska is home of about 5,000 inhabitants, normally spare the space for bald eagles, who lurk above telephone poles, and stop lights watching for potential victims to sweep down upon, litter through trash, and steal grocery bags.

The view looks like out of a fairytale. Bald Eagles naturally built their nest up in trees, but Unalaska doesn’t have too many trees. So, Bald eagles find the other way to build their nests on cliffs, on the edge of town, and in manmade structures. The seven-foot wingspans, flesh-ripping beaks and vice-like talons, eagles rule the island. But why are there annual eagle attacks in Unalaska when raptors and humans peacefully coexist elsewhere in the state?

Therefore, it’s so easy to get a closer look of an eagle nest without even knowing it. The bald eagles get attacked anytime, which is why local law enforcement puts up warning signs all over the nesting season. The nesting season for America’s national bird runs from early June to the end of the summer. When going near their nests, they may be get angry and dislike it. So, local people constantly have a keep an eye out of the birds. There are almost ten cases every year, when people required medical attention after encounters with eagles with lacerated wounds. 

Moreover, fish is the favorite food of bald eagles, so during fishing season myriad eagles comes to scavenge and nest in the fishing town, creating lot of irritation to locals.  When fresh fish isn’t available, the birds will anything with meat, seagulls, ducks, squirrels, mice, the occasional raven, and human leftovers. Despite of all aspects, Unalaska is an excellent place to watch where you can take marvelous photographs. The bald eagles are called Dutch Harbor pigeons by locals. The bald eagles swarm every boat that comes into port, festooning the rigging by the dozen like baleful New Year ornaments.

Source: Charismatic Planet

Crystal Mountain, Egypt

With the name of Crystal Mountain, one can imagine of seeing a massive mountain rising up out of the desert. However, the Crystal Mountain is a ridge located between Bahariya Oasis and Farafra Oasis northern of the White Desert, Egypt. The unique structure of ridge is made entirely of calcite crystal that combines altogether to create a striking ridge standing up out of the desert. The hill is a subvolcanic vault, which was emerged during the Oligocene age. The crystals themselves are quartz. The actual name is Crystal Formation, although that is not the common name the ridge is known by. The sun rays make the big rock with its arch to spark even more. The crystal mountain stands on the very edge of the of the White Desert , and soon the black iron and basalt pebbles give way to the sand-blown chalk formations which loom on either side of the road.

The Crystals are perhaps Barite, and Calcite with columnar-shaped stalagmites. The coal seam and hydrothermal impregnated reddish to brownish ferruginous layers, strata are broken or brecciated and intensely with each other folded. The ascertained intense heat of coal seam was transformed to anthracite. Actually Crystal Mountain Egypt is an ancient Paleo that has been pushed to the earth’s surface, and is now in the process of being eroded away by the elements. The Crystal Mountain has almost an oblong or square-like shape. The natural crystal arch, has formed in the ridge, that spring up in the desert all around the mountain. According to the geologists, this structure is a cave made from limestone and completed with stalactites and stalagmites. This cave was shook by the earth movements and the roof was destroyed by erosion while the time passed by. The arch is natural and small and is situated in the center of the structure.

The crystals have increased out of climbed hydrovolcanic solutions. The visible layers are White Desert limestone of the Khoman Fm. Moreover the Barite veins are extensively distributed to the south of Gebel El Hafhuf which is composed of a rock sequence with sandstone, shale, limestone, phosphatic limestone and phosphatic calcareous sandstone. You should never try to break off the crystals on the mountain, as these have been taken thousands  of years to form, and breaking them would be ruining a piece of history. Yes, one can collect pieces of crystal that scatter around the landscape and ridge. Crystal Mountain is one of favorite place of the tourists who want to make pictures here. The Crystal Mountain is an important touristic objective, many of the tourists who come to visit the Farafra Oasis or/and the Baharyia Oasis come to see the Crystal Mountain too.