Aurora borealis, Kiruna, Sweden
Image by Antony Spencer / Getty ImagesThis surreal spectacle is one of the most coveted bucket list experiences out there. The mesmerising display appears when charged particles, which flow from the sun at 1.4 million km/h, hit the Earth’s magnetic field at the planet’s poles. The effect of these curtains of light is heightened by solar storms. There's never been a better time to view the mysterious aurora borealis - the current period of solar maximum activity is at its height - so hunt them out between November and March in northern Scandinavia, Alaska, Canada and even Scotland.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Image by Noppawat / Getty Images.
Yellowstone National Park has an embarrassment of astonishing sights, from the thundering waterfalls of the Grand Canyon to the infamous 'Old Faithful' geyser. But it would be hard to top the dazzling colours of the Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in the USA. The spectrum of shades from aqua to rust derives from different types of bacteria, each of which thrive in a particular water temperature.
Plateau de Valensole, Alpes de Haute-Provence, France
Image by Altrendo Nature / Getty Images.Paris might be for lovers, but one of France's most romantic sights is the rolling plains of Provence blushing purple in summer. Lavender from the fields of the Plateau de Valensole is made into lavender oil, honey, soap and scented sachets. The fragrant fields usually bloom in July.
Strokkur geyser, Iceland
Image by ABG/Getty Images
At the seam between two tectonic plates, Iceland is one of the world's most geologically active regions, a huge draw for travellers with a thirst for adventure. In such an unpredictable landscape, the Strokkur geyser manages to remain surprisingly punctual: it erupts every four to eight minutes, blasting water up to 40m into the air. The word ‘geyser’ itself comes from the Icelandic, ‘geysa’, which means ‘to gush’.
At the seam between two tectonic plates, Iceland is one of the world's most geologically active regions, a huge draw for travellers with a thirst for adventure. In such an unpredictable landscape, the Strokkur geyser manages to remain surprisingly punctual: it erupts every four to eight minutes, blasting water up to 40m into the air. The word ‘geyser’ itself comes from the Icelandic, ‘geysa’, which means ‘to gush’.
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