Since the environment is such a beautiful and delicate thing, we might want to take better care of it than we do now. Many of us do not realize it because we spend so much time in our homes, in our hometowns, and our worlds begin to shrink, they become where we live. Many of us don’t understand that what we do in our homes has an effect on the entire world around us until we actually see it. If we saw the things that make this world beautiful more often, perhaps we would take the time out of our day to realize that the small things can make a big difference in some of nature’s most fascinating places.
I’ve compiled a list of what I think are some of our country’s most intriguing landscapes, ranging from valleys to mountain peaks, these places are sure to excite:
1. Surrounded by valleys of dazzling flowers that cover the entire spectrum of the rainbow. Outlined by purple and red and orange skies as the sun rises and falls, clouds protecting it from the harsh world around it, Mount Rainier is considered one of the most dangerous, yet most beautiful volcanoes in the U.S. The state park is a popular tourist attraction in the state of Washington, where people come for a variety of activities such as hiking, camping, and mountain climbing.
2. Utah’s Island in the Sky is a wonder no matter where you are standing. From above you can see the valleys and rivers below as if they are in the palm of your hand, in your control, as if you rule the world from the sky. Or, from down below, where the rivers are running and the waterfalls are wondrous. Hikers and climbers visit from all locations to get a peek of the wonder that is the Island in the Sky.
3. What would a National Park post be without the Grand Canyon on it. A favorite for honeymooners, this canyon is one of our nation’s most prized Natural Parks. The magnificence of this canyon is brought on by its overwhelming size, at a mile deep, 18 miles wide, and nearly 277 miles long, its massiveness alone is breathtaking. Not to mention the colors of the rocks when the sun is hitting them just right, and the hiking potential, this canyon is not for the faint of heart.
4. The John Hopkins glacier greets the rush of the ocean in Glacier Bay is a glacier that can get up to four thousand feet thick and 20 miles wide in places. Imagine it melting, that would be four thousand feet and 20 miles worth of extra water that could help in drowning our nation. The sea was once described as a five mile indent in a glacier, but has now receded up to 60 miles to form what is now known as glacier bay.
5. Bordering between Canada and the United States is the lush, wild, and memorizing Niagara Falls. Formed at the end of the last ice age, Niagara falls looms at about 167 feet, with more than 4 million cubic feet of water dropping every second. This wonder is also a favorite for honeymooners and travelers. Truly, it is one of the most jaw-dropping places on the continent of North America and I’m sure many would hate to see it defiled. The sad part is that many, however, wouldn’t even care.
So there you have it, a list of some of the most beautiful and interesting places in the U.S. alone – imagine the rest of the world – and then try to imagine a world without these wonders. Like Glacier Bay, much of our natural landforms are being destroyed and/or altered by pollution worldwide, and we have the chance to stop it, so long as we learn the facts and do what we can to stop the pollution that consumes our planet.