Cono de Arita in Argentina

Near the south border of Salar de Arizaro, the 6th largest salt flat on earth and the 2nd largest in Argentina, 70 kilometers from the village of Tolar Grande, lies a strange volcanic pyramid. An almost faultless cone, it rises suddenly in the middle of the salt pan. This is Cono de Arita and it looms splendidly 122 meters above the Salar. Its name comes from the Aymara language where Arita means “Sharp”. In the early 20th century it was supposed that such a perfect cone could only have been built by man. However Cono de Arita is natural and assumed to be a minor volcano which lacked strength to burst through the curst and so never threw lava or developed a crater. The entire thing around the cone is black salt brought to the surface by ancient magma flows underground. As per archaeological remains found in the cone, the place was a ceremonial center earlier to the arrival of the Incas.

“Badab-e Surt” A Natural Wonder Contains Step Terraced Made of Travertine

There’s a natural wonder in Iran, called Badab-e Surt situated in Mazandaran Province in northern Iran, 95 KM south of the city of Sari. The Iranian site comprises of wide range of stepped terraces made of travertine, a sedimentary rock shaped more than thousands of years by deposition of carbonate minerals dissolved in water flowing from mineral hot springs. The beautiful Badab-e Surt's terraces are made happed due to two distinctive mineral springs with dissimilar natural characteristics, situated at 1,840 meters above sea level. Badab-e-Surt is considered one of the most incredible sights in this region that attracts millions of Iranian and international tourists to its eye-catching nature scenery and fine weather.

Therefore; the first spring encompasses very salty water that gathers in a small natural pool, which water is believed to have medicinal properties, particularly as a cure for rheumatism and certain types of skin diseases and skin conditions. The 2^nd spring has a sour taste and is predominately orange. Stepped travertine terraces are present on numerous places on earth.

But the other examples include the Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, the White Water Terraces and Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area both in China, US & New Zealand, but the most renowned of them all is “Pamukkale in Turkey which is tourism hub”. Nevertheless, different the aforementioned hot spring terraces, which are mostly shades of whites and blues, the travertine terraces of Badab-e Surt are bright orange and red. This is due to the presence of large amounts of iron oxide sediments.

The Orost village and Badab-e-Surt Spring are easily accessible via Semnan with paved way and vehicles being capable of utilizing the dirt roads leading up to the spring. The best time to visit this place is during either sunrise or sunset when the sun’s orange reflection blends in perfectly with the colored spring. The Badab Soort Spring has been registered as a national heritage site. Due to its natural and artificial landmarks in Iran, the Badab-e-Surt Spring was in danger of continuing erosion and eventual demise. But many thanks to the efforts of Lavasan’s Hiking Committee, and Nader Zarrabian, who’re working and has been done their job in order to restore the natural atmosphere of the Spring. However; countless people visit Mazandaran to shed their exhaustion of city life relaxing on the beaches of the Caspian Sea or staying in the jungle cottages, off the track sites such as Badab–e-Surt springs can also create a lovely memory in the minds of nature lovers who visit northern Iran.

 Source: Charismatic Planet

Dry Falls: The Largest Waterfall That's No Longer Exist in Washington United States

Dry Falls located in central Washington, on the opposite side of the Upper Grand Coulee from the Columbia River, which is a 3.5-mile long and 400-foot high scalloped precipice. The Dry Falls tells the story of amazing geological phenomenon. From lava flows to the Ice Age floods, and from the Native American legacy to the recent discovery of how Dry Falls was created, the Dry Falls story is revealed to tens of thousands of visitors each year.  As the name suggests that Dry Falls is no longer carries water, but at one time, it was once the largest waterfall that is famous to have existed on earth. In it heydays Dry Falls is five times the width of the Niagara Falls and more than twice its height. Dry Falls is said to be a remarkable example of "headward erosion". The Dry falls are on an ancient course of the Columbia River.

It is guessed that during the last ice age, disastrous flooding channeled water at 65 miles per hour through the Upper Grand Coulee and over this 400-foot rock face. At this time, it is projected that the flow of the falls was 10 times the current flow of all the rivers in the world combined. Almost 20,000 years ago, as the glaciers moved south through North America, a big ice sheet dammed the Clark Fork River near Sandpoint, Idaho. As a result, a substantial portion of western Montana flooded, forming the enormous Lake Missoula. The water covering 3,000 square miles of northwest Montana, about the volume of Lake Ontario, was locked behind this glacial dam.

Finally, rising water in Lake Missoula broke through the ice dam generating a catastrophic flood that spilled into Glacial Lake Columbia, and then down the Grand Coulee. The huge torrent (recognized as the Missoula Flood) ran wild through the Idaho panhandle, the Spokane River Valley, much of eastern Washington and into Oregon, flooding the huge area that is now the city of Portland under 400 feet of water. The great force of the Dry falls eroded away so much earth and rock, that the precipice fell back by 15 miles to its current position. Dry Falls is one of the great geological wonders carved by Ice Age floods is now a stark cliff, 400 feet high and 3.5 miles wide. Today, it overlooks a desert oasis filled with lakes and abundant wildlife.

Once the ice sheet that clogged the Columbia melted, the river reverted to its normal course, leaving the Grand Coulee and the falls dry. Nowadays, this gigantic cliff can be viewed from the Dry Falls Interpretive Center, part of Sun Lakes State Park, and located on Route 17 near the town of Coulee City. It is usually accepted that this process of ice-damming of the Clark Fork, replenishing of Lake Missoula and following catastrophic flooding happened dozens of times over the years of the last Ice Age.

Source: Charismatic Planet 

Gardens of Marqueyssac at Vezac France

The Château de Marqueyssac is a 17th-century gardens located at Vézac, in the Dordogne Department of France. The château was built at the end of the 17th century by Bertrand Vernet de Marqueyssac, Counselor to Louis XIV, on cliffs overlooking the Dordogne Valley. The boxwood trees plantation works started way back in 1860’s which have been carved in magnificent shape, and several in groups of rounded shapes like flocks of sheep. Therefore; with the passage of time several new plants added in the gardens, like linden trees, cypress trees, and stone pine from Italy, and the cyclamen from Naples. 

Unfortunately after 1950’s the gardens were not well maintained. But in the 1996, the gardens was restored to their old character and added some new features including an alley of santolina and rosemary and, in the romantic spirit of the 19th century, a course of water descending from the belvedere and ending in a cascade. The gardens were opened to the public in 1996. Since then gardens have been classified amongst the Distinguished Gardens of France by the Committee of Parks and Gardens of the French Ministry of Culture. It is well believed by nature lovers that The Gardens of Marqueyssac is one of the world's most magnificent gardens. 

The Gardens of Marqueyssac is the greatest Gardens of the Périgord. The beautiful romantic and attractive gardens of Marqueyssac provides over 6 KM of shaded paths bordered by 150000 hand-pruned box trees a hundred years old, the whole embellished with belvederes, waterways, rockeries and grassy clearings. The Belvedere, at 130 meters above the river, gives an exceptional view of the Dordogne valley with its castles and some of the most beautiful villages of France. The Gardens of Marqueyssac also offers splendid views of the Dordogne valley between Beynac and La Roque-Gageache. The garden is attractively decorated with belvederes, rocks, grass glades, water, dry-stone huts, roundabout, a Gothic chapel, and playgrounds for children. The sparkling, rounded forms of the garden are cautiously manicured by active attendants, maintaining a design that was first developed over 300 years ago.

Source: Charismatic Planet