True Natural Water Wonders of Bourke's Luck Potholes

The gorgeous Bourke's Luck Potholes are a true natural water feature located within the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, approximately 35 kilometers north of Graskop on the R532 road. It is found at the beginning of the Blyde River Canyon, these cylindrical potholes on the bedrock have been carved more than thousands of years ago with sand and pebbles swirling around in whirlpools at what time the Treur River plunges into the Blyde River. Originally, water borne pebbles carved out minor depressions, which soon trapped river debris additional accelerating erosion. Therefore hollows grew with the passage of time and got deepened to cylindrical potholes up to quite a lot of meters deep.

The potholes were titled after an ineffective gold prospector called Tom Bourke who revealed signs of alluvial gold in the canyon in the late 1880s. He swiftly staked a claim and originated to pan for gold. Unluckily for him, Bourke never stuck gold, though hundreds of others found riches just south of where he projected the presence of the precious metal. Bourke’s gold mine proved to be totally unproductive but his splendid legacy lives on at Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Unluckily, certain tourists treat Bourke's Luck Potholes as a “wishing well” and several have dropped coins into the potholes. A small visitor’s center is found close that offers information about the canyon’s origins and the flora and fauna found in the area. From there, the viewing point for these potholes is 700 meters away.

Taroko Gorge Taiwan

Taroko Gorge is also famous as “Marble Gorge” due to ample supply of marble in the region. It is an impressive 19-kilometers long canyon, found at north of Hualien on Taiwan's east coast, not far from the Pacific Ocean. Taiwan this part is rising because of the subduction of Philippines Sea Plate under the Eurasian Plate. More than hundred million years ago, the massive pressure lifted the region above the surface of the ocean, which in result the heat and pressure turned the limestone rocks into marble. Ultimately, the erosive power of Liwu River carved a path via the marble to form Taroko Gorge.

The Taroko Gorge is situated approximately 60 kilometers from the coast, which is home to some of the tallest peaks in Taiwan at more than 3,400 meters. Until the 1950s only a trail ran through the gorge. Nowadays the Central Cross-Island Highway runs across the wall of the gorge. Notwithstanding its name, the Central Cross-Island Highway is a slender and winding mountain road with plentiful bends. The Tunnel of Nine Turns is a widespread spot that takes drivers dramatically near to the edge of the gorge. This part is now firmly pedestrians only as vehicular traffic is routed through another tunnel.

Therefore; the Central Cross-Island highway is listed as one of the most treacherous roads because of the rugged and uneven terrain. Heavy rain from typhoons often dislodges soil and rocks onto the highway making sections of it impassable. Flooding happens widely both as a result of the amplified discharge of the river and as a result of water cascading onto the road from the neighboring cliffs. This area is prone to seismic activity. As one drives through the gorge, they will encounter various tourist spots including a Zen monastery, and an old settlement of Truku aboriginals now with museums and handicraft shops. The gorge terminates at a small village of Tiansiang where there is a lovely pagoda and a temple. 

Cerro Dragon Hill Chile

Cerro Dragon or The Dragon Hill is a massive sand dune approximately four kilometers long, situated nearby the coast in the city of Iquique in Chile. Cerro Dragons hill is varying in height from 150 to 500 meters. The hill is the largest urban sand dune in the world; only the dunes of the Sahara are higher. The dune is located on slender rocky ledge above a cliff 500 feet high that forms a natural barrier to the sea. It is thought that the Dragon Hill was created more than 20,000 years ago during the last ice age when the sea was out by a further 100 meters, revealing the shoreline to erosion and deposition by wind. Nowadays, the dune represents one of the most distinguishing landscapes of Iquique, and can be seen from throughout the city. Though, in 2005, Dragon Hill was designated a Nature Sanctuary with the purpose of protecting the geological feature from human encroachment, particularly by urban developers. Unluckily, the designation has had diminutive effect. Unfortunately the city dwellers are using the place to dump their garbage. The place is also frequented particularly by Para-gliders and sand boarding lovers.

Sail Rock, Russia

The natural tall Sail Rock, is also famous as Parus Rock, is a natural sandstone monolith located on the shore of the Black Sea, in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, approximately 17 kilometers from the resort city of Gelendzhik. The rock is unquestionably flat and narrow, similar as the sail of a ship, and henceforth its name. It is approximately 30 meters tall and 20 meters long but only a meter thick. Contributing to its image lies the fact that this rock is upright to the coastline. If you look it from some distance, it looks like a boat with a huge sail has come ashore.

Adjacent to the base of the monolith is an unusual hole of unidentified origin. Some people have faith in that the rock was used as defense during the Caucasian War and the hole was formed to shoot through at the enemy. Though, this is unsure because Sail Rock is thin, and it is still not easy to puncture. Therefore this observation is well supported by an incident described by the Russian writer, essayist and journalist S.Vasyukov, where he saw a Russian battleship shoot four projectiles at the monolith. Though the traces of the cannonballs were observable, but the cliff was nowhere to be destroyed.

He wrote; why a battleship shot at such a remarkable natural wonder is something one will surprise. Appreciatively in 1971, the Sail Rock was declared a natural monument and is now protected, at least, from human’s harm, though as far as sea continues to erode the stack away. Aerial photographs of Sail Rock displays submerged rock extending as much as 90 meters away from the monolith indicating the "sail" was much longer at earlier times.