The Caribbean is an amazing place with so many differing encounters with nature. Whether you love mountains, beaches, ocean waves, rivers, waterfalls, or wildlife, the Caribbean has something for everybody. It is fair to say, that ocean blues and sandy beaches top the opportunities for enjoying the wonders of nature the Caribbean has to offer.
On this resource page, you will find a variety of connections to videos, organizations, and sites that help make engaging and exploring the natural wonders of the Caribbean easier and more enjoyable.
7 NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD
The Caribbean is not from Paricutin which is one of the 7 Wonders of Nature. Paricutin volcano is located in Mexico which, although not an island, is often considered one of the gems of the Caribbean. Many Caribbean cruises make stops in Mexico. If your Caribbean travels give you the opportunity, you out to check out Paricutin.
- Northern Lights – The northern lights are experienced in both Canada and the United States.
- You Tube on the Lights – A fascinating you tube video which captures the northern lights as they dance across the sky.
- Grand Canyon – Traditionally recognized as the largest Grand Canyon in the world, the wonder of nature is located in Arizona.
- National Park Service – Official national park site for the Grand Canyon.
- Victoria Falls – The largest waterfall in the world based on a single sheet of falling water.
- GC Association – A nonprofit focused on protecting the Grand Canyon.
- Paricutin Volcano – The youngest volcano in the world and the birth was witness by modern man.
- Global Volcanism Program – Another view of Paricutin with additional insights and facts.
- Great Barrier Reef – For those who love the natural wonders of the Caribbean, then this should be atop your bucket list.
- Rio de Janeiro – Home to the largest harbor in the world which is also known as Guanabara Bay.
- Iguazu Falls – is a national park in Argentina that represents one of the most beautiful falls in the world.
UNESCO: WORLD HERITAGE
UNESCO represents the World Heritage sites from around the world as determined by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Here is a list of 10 world heritage sites located found in North America:
- UNESCO – Dinosaur Provicial Park: In addition to its particularly beautiful scenery, Dinosaur Provincial Park – located at the heart of the province of Alberta’s badlands – contains some of the most important fossil discoveries ever made from the ‘Age of Reptiles’, in particular about 35 species of dinosaur, dating back some 75 million years.
- UNESCO – Grand Canyon: Carved out by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon (nearly 1,500 m deep) is the most spectacular gorge in the world. One of the 7 Wonders of Nature.
- UNESCO – Yellowstone NP: Yellowstone contains half of all the world’s known geothermal features, with more than 10,000 examples. A leading candidate for the 7 Natural Wonders of North America.
- UNESCO – Redwoods NP: Redwood National Park comprises a region of coastal mountains bordering the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. It is covered with a magnificent forest of coastal redwood trees, the tallest and most impressive trees in the world.
- UNESCO – Everglades NP: The exceptional variety of its water habitats has made it a sanctuary for a large number of birds and reptiles, as well as for threatened species such as the manatee.
- UNESCO – Yosemite NP: Yosemite National Park lies in the heart of California. With its ‘hanging’ valleys, many waterfalls, cirque lakes, polished domes, moraines and U-shaped valleys, it provides an excellent overview of all kinds of granite relief fashioned by glaciation.
- UNESCO – Volcanoes NP: This site contains two of the most active volcanoes in the world, Mauna Loa (4,170 m high) and Kilauea (1,250 m high), both of which tower over the Pacific Ocean.
- UNESCO – Islands of Gulf of California: The site comprises 244 islands, islets and coastal areas that are located in the Gulf of California in north-eastern Mexico.
- UNESCO – Mammoth Cave: Mammoth Cave National Park, located in the state of Kentucky, has the world’s largest network of natural caves and underground passageways, which are characteristic examples of limestone formations.
- UNESCO – Mount Olympic NP: Located in the north-west of Washington State, Olympic National Park is renowned for the diversity of its ecosystems.
Conservation and Professional Organizations
- EPA: Environmental Protection Agency of the United States.
- NWF: National Wildlife Federation
- Global Alliance of National Parks
- UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
- WWF: World Wildlife Fund
- Conservation International: Committed to protecting our environment.
- Nature Conservancy: Working to protecting wildlife and the places they call home.
Supports, Causes and Key Resources
- American Cancer Society: Helping eradicate cancer.
- Travel Tracker: A unique and one of a kind travel app that features pre-populated travel wish lists. Tracks your travel and interfaces with Facebook and Twitter. An excellent tool for learning about new bucket list ideas.
- Christian Adoptions: Adoption is one loving option for people to explore facing an unplanned pregnancy.
- Travel Tracker: Takes you straight to iTunes for the Travel Tracker app.
- American Heart: Helping eradicate heart disease.