America is a country of big skies, canyons on a grand scale and cavernous underground chambers. While its manmade buildings and achievements are impressive, it is its natural beauty that surpasses these by a mile. If you are taking a flight to the United States to experience the great outdoors what are the top natural attractions you should visit?
Death Valley, in the Mojave Desert
Death Valley, in the Mojave Desert, CA is one of the lowest, hottest and driest places in North America. It sits 282 ft below sea level and in 1913 reached a record temperature of 56.7?C. Famous locations in this dry arid landscape include Furnace Creek, with its golf course, the Tecopa Hot Springs and the evocatively named Stovepipe Wells. You could e.g. fly to Vegas to visit this great place.
Mount Kilauea, Hawaii
Mount Kilauea, Hawaii is a large shield volcano that makes up part of the Big Island in the Hawaiian chain and has had continuous non-violent eruptions since 1983. Rising from the depths of the Pacific Ocean, Mount Kilauea stands 4,169 miles tall and is a very shallow sided, wide volcano.
Monument Valley, UT
Monument Valley, UT rises up from the floor of the Colorado Plateau and is the classic skyline of many a western movie. The iconic pillars form an integral part of the Navajo Tribal Park and visitors can take a scenic drive through the landscape or more magical is a horseback ride with a local guide. Check out the best flights to Albuquerque.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, NY and ON borders the US and Canada and comprises three cascades, the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the smaller Bridal Veil Falls. Together they are the most powerful waterfalls in North America and have a drop of 173 feet at the highest point. One of the most rewarding trips in the USA is a cruise on the “Maid of the Mist” to within a few hundred yards of the waterfalls.
Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon, AZ, considered one of the Wonders of the Natural World; the canyon is 277 miles long and in parts over a mile deep. Along with sightseeing the area is also popular for its extreme sports such as rafting and ultra-marathons, there are a number of flights across the scenery where visitors can get a spectacular view.
Other Natural Wonders
Other fashionable natural wonders around the United States include:
- Old Faithful, MT, in Yellowstone National Park is a very active cone geyser that ejects boiling water up to 185 feet into the air every 65 minutes.
- Mammoth Cave, KY, longest known cave system in the world.
- Mississippi River, which has a catchment area that covers 31 American States, travelling over 2,530 miles and is the fourth longest river in the world.
- Crater Lake, OR, was created 7,700 years ago with the collapse of the volcanic cone, Mount Mazama. The lake measures 5 –6 miles across and is 1,949 feet deep and contains some of America’s most pure water due to its lack of inlets or tributaries.
- Carlsbad Caverns, NM, the “Big Room” is one of the largest cavern spaces in North America and contains some of the world’s largest stalactites.