Hypersaline lakes beneath the Devon Ice Cap

Two very unusual lakes under the thick ice of Devon Island. These lakes, most likely, are hypersaline and not freezing at the temperature that is constantly below -10.5°C.

Blue garnets of Bekily

The only commercial find of blue garnets in the world, a pyrope-spessartine with vanadium content. Some of these stones have a color change effect – from blue in daylight to red in artificial light.

Chocolate Hills

Unique geomorphological phenomenon – 1,200 – 1,700 similar grass-covered conical hills that form a unique landscape. The height of each hill – 40 – 120 m. During the dry periods, hills turn brown. Formed from coral limestone that has been uplifted and eroded. Hills contain numerous caves.

Cenote Angelita or… “The Nightmare”

Unique water-filled sinkhole with a ghostly layer of hydrogen sulfate at the depth of some 30 m and seawater below it.

Goualougo Triangle – the realm of chimpanzees

Large tract of pristine lowland rainforest, dubbed "The Last Eden" or "The Last Place on Earth" due to its virgin wildlife. Local chimpanzees, as well as other animals, have never met humans – it seems that humans have never lived here.

Kitum Cave – salt mine of elephants

Unique caves in pyroclastic rocks, up to 250 meters long. Possibly created by elephants and other animals digging the salt in caves up to this day. Kitum cave became known worldwide after two people caught the extremely dangerous and deadly Marburg virus disease in this cave.

Lord Howe Island – refuge of unique species

This remote, 56 km² large Australian island has its own ecoregion where half of the plants and some birds and other animals are endemic. Unique characteristics are diverse glowing mushrooms in the forest, some bright enough to be used for reading at night. Endemic kentia palms are popular, beautiful houseplants.

Aldabra – realm of giant tortoises

Second largest coral atoll by land area in the world, with a unique ecosystem. Contains the world’s largest population of giant tortoises – 100,000 endemic Aldabra Giant Tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) that dominate the ecosystem. Numerous other endemic species of animals and plants, including the flightless Aldabra rail (Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus).

Modjadji cycad forest

Largest cycad (Encephalartos transvenosus) forest in the world (530 ha), resembles a prehistoric world, area of unusual beauty. Some cycads reach the height of 12 – 12.2 meters. Closely linked to the history of local, legendary Rain Queens.

Kelimutu – volcano with differently colored crater lakes

System of three closely located crater lakes. Each of the lakes has a different, changing color – from bright red to green and blue.