Recently updated on January 24th, 2020 at 07:52 pm
While many of the original “Seven Wonders” of the Greeks have tragically fallen victim to time, these incredible natural sites in America have fared much better. Plucked from the 3.8 million square miles of the United States, from the badlands of Monument Valley to the tall pine-forest of Yosemite, these natural wonders in America have stood for millions of years, and will doubtless last millions more.
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
Named after its tendency to erupt (every 74 minutes, on average), Old Faithful can throw anything from 4,000-9,000 gallons of boiling water into the air for several minutes. Indeed, its magnificent 40-metre plume has made this geyser one of the most famous natural sites in the world.
Arches, Arches National Park
Lying on a salt bed that tends to evaporate in the heat (leaving wonderful arches behind), whether visitors head straight for Delicate Arch (a peachy sandstone arc that clings to the edge of a cliff), or any of the other 200 stone arches in Utah’s Arches National Park, the Mars-like landscape of red rock and startlingly blue sky makes this one of the most memorable spots in America.
Monument Valley, Colorado Plateau
A popular filming location for many blockbuster ‘westerns’ (that made the likes of John Wayne famous), Monument Valley is quintessential ‘Wild West’ territory. Mostly flat with vast horizons in every direction, the only obstructions that break the field of vision are the seemingly random castles of stone, or ‘buttes’, which rise vertically out of the ground.
Waterfalls, Yellowstone National Park
At almost 700 miles in length, Yellowstone River winds its way through the park via a series of crashing waterfalls and long, serene passages of calm. If you want explosions of water flowing over precipitous drops (such as the Tower or Gibbon Falls) or prefer daintier, picturesque falls, longer rapids and a little more froth (Lewis Falls and Lower Undine), the river definitely has more than its fair share of America’s water features.
Death Valley, Death Valley National Park
The hottest, driest and lowest of America’s national parks, Death Valley is a wonderland of mudstone, canyons, mountains, wildflowers, sand dunes and oases. Home to unusual animals such as the roadrunner bird, the natural attractions here are many and varied.
Oceanfront at Acadia National Park
Offering the tallest US peak on the Atlantic coast, tracts of woodland, great boulders, shimmering lakes and glacier-scoured coastline, lots of visitors head to Acadia’s beaches in the summer as this is one of the first places in the US to see the sunrise. Others, meanwhile, go to see the wildlife, which includes chipmunks, moose, porcupine, beavers, bears and raccoons.
Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park
Four million people visit Yosemite each year, many of which come to see some of the most impressive natural wonders in America. Whether visitors hike up to Glacier Point for incredible views, or wander around each natural site in turn – from Half Dome to El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall to the Merced River – Yosemite never fails to enthral with its outstanding natural sites.
Discover the magnificence of America’s natural beauty on Trafalgar trip such as Scenic Parks Explorer or National Parks Wonders.
Image Credits: Yellowstone Old Faithful © iStock/yingyang. Pink Sunset at Delicate Arch © iStock/johnnya123. Monument Valley © iStock/wsfurlan. Yellowstone Waterfall with a Rainbow © iStock/UrsulaHoogle. Desert Hills of Death Valley © iStock/LICreate. Maine Coastline © iStock/Ron_Thomas. Yosemite’s Half Dome © iStock/Spondylolithesis.