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The North Star stays put in one place because the Earth is round.

The ancient Greeks , especially Aristotle, knew this and were the first to state this. Nowadays we say Copernicus discovered the earth was round, for example, but the Greeks had that figured out almost two thousand years earlier!

How Did They Know it?

Greeks had many different arguments for why the earth is round.

One of the best arguments came from Aristotle, who wrote a book called On the Heavens back in 340 B.C. The Greeks were a sea-faring culture, and sailed all over the Mediterranean. And they had noticed, Aristotle tells us, that the north star isn’t always in the same spot overhead.

The North Star

Now remember that all the stars seem to move in a big circle over our heads because the earth itself is spinning. The north star is the center of the circle, and stays put.

However, Aristotle noticed that when you are down south in Egypt, the north star is close to the horizon. When you are up north in Greece again, it’s high in the sky.

How Is That Possible, Since The North Star Is Supposed To Stay Put?

It’s possible, Aristotle concluded, only because the earth is round.

When you are standing at the north pole, where is the north star? Directly overhead. Now place yourself at the equator. Where is the north star? Yep–it’s down on the horizon, because you are now traveling along a curve. Go even farther south and you will not be able to see it at all; the earth will hide the north star. Go farther north and it seems to rise higher and higher and the star will just be a small dot.

Coprenicus

Commonly known by his Latin name, Nicholas Copernicus, was  falsely regarded as “The Father of Astronomy” – it should have been Aristotle. Nicholas Copernicus, born February 19, 1473, was the first astronomer to formulate a scientifically based heliocentric cosmology that displaced the Earth from the center of the universe. While a student at the University of Kraków, he discovered several logical contradictions in the existing astronomical system taught at that time, which put the earth at the center of the universe. Later when studying medicine and religious law at Bologna University, Coprenicus pursued further investigations of the movements of celestial bodies, especially the moon. His direct observations, coupled with his studies based on various Greek and Latin astronomical writings, prompted him to originate the Copernican system of the structure of the universe. This theory placed the sun at the center of the solar system and the earth in orbit around it. Kopernik’s most famous written work, De Revolutionibus, which laid the foundation for modern astronomy, was completed in 1530, after fifteen years of painstaking observations and calculations, often with instruments of the astronomer’s own making. Although deeply convinced of the truth of his heliocentric system, Kopernik did not actively seek to publish this work because of its controversial nature. He did, however, manage to catch a dimmed glance at the first printed copy moments before his death on May 24, 1543.

Galileo and Bruno

Two other Italian scientists of the time, Galileo and Bruno, embraced the Copernican theory unreservedly and as a result suffered much personal injury at the hands of the powerful church inquisitors. Giordano Bruno had the audacity to even go beyond Copernicus, and, dared to suggest, that space was boundless and that the sun was and its planets were but one of any number of similar systems: Why! — there even might be other inhabited worlds with rational beings equal or possibly superior to ourselves. For such blasphemy, Bruno was tried before the Inquisition, condemned and burned at the stake in 1600. Galileo was brought forward in 1633, and, there, in front of his “betters,” he was, under the threat of torture and death, forced to his knees to renounce all belief in Copernican theories, and was thereafter sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of his days.

The most important aspect of Copernicus’ work is that it forever changed the place of man in the cosmos; no longer could man legitimately think his significance greater than his fellow creatures; with Copernicus’ work, man could now take his place among that which exists all about him, and not of necessity take that premier position which had been assigned immodestly to him by the theologians.

“Of all discoveries and opinions, none may have exerted a greater effect on the human spirit than the doctrine of Copernicus. The world had scarcely become known as round and complete in itself when it was asked to waive the tremendous privilege of being the center of the universe. Never, perhaps, was a greater demand made on mankind – for by this admission so many things vanished in mist and smoke! What became of our Eden, our world of innocence, piety and poetry; the testimony of the senses; the conviction of a poetic – religious faith? No wonder his contemporaries did not wish to let all this go and offered every possible resistance to a doctrine which in its converts authorized and demanded a freedom of view and greatness of thought so far unknown, indeed not even dreamed of.” [Goethe.]

Nuclear winter better known as the atomic winter is a theoretical climatic effect of nuclear war. It is hypothesized that exploding large numbers of nuclear weapons has a weighty and severe effect on the climate and results in cold winter weather and reduced sunlight for a period of months or even years, especially inflammable targets such as cities, where large amounts of smoke and dirt would be expelled into the Earth’s stratosphere.

Background Info: During the Cold War a nuclear exchange between the two superpowers—the United States and the former Soviet Union—was projected to result in a “nuclear winter.”

In the worst case scenario, hundreds of nuclear explosions spark huge fires, whose smoke, dust, and ash blot out the sun for weeks amongst a milieu of perilous radiation levels. Much of humanity ultimately would dies of starvation and disease.

Today, with the United States the only standing superpower, nuclear winter is little more than a nightmare that it saw during the Cold War. A nuclear war remains a very real threat—for between developing-world nuclear powers, including Indian and Pakistan and between newly developing countries like Iran and the United States,

To test the effects of nuclear fallout, scientists from NASA and other institutions modeled a war involving a hundred Hiroshima-level bombs, each packing the equivalent of 15,000 tons of TNT. Researchers forecast horrifying resulting, including fires which would kick up roughly five million metric tons of black carbon into the upper part of the troposphere – the lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere.

This top 10 list examines 10 places to escape to in case there is a nuclear winter.

1. Pitcairn Islands, Madagascar:

Madagascar Islands are a great escape for pathogenic disasters. There are no airports or seaports and is removed enough to survive just about any apocalypse. There is an added bonus: fertile lands, bananas, papayas, breadfruit and sweet potato are plentiful and edible fish are abound. The population right now is just at 50 people.

If you are a history major, you would remember reading about Hitler analyzing and weighing the Madagascar Plan, which sought to send Jews to Madagascar.

2. Moscow, Russia:

The Underground Command Post. Built in 1951, this very secret bunker served as the main artery for communication for the Soviet Union in the event of a nuclear war with the United States. It was built to survive direct hits and ensure that normal telecommunications in the worst case scenario is still active.

It’s so well cloaked that anyone can pass by this building many times and would never guess that such a place exists. Upon entry you are issued an id with a picture of yourself in a gas mask. This is just the beginning. You pass by an incredible 6 ton concrete door which slide open to reveal a small set of stairs, which go down. And down. And down further there is the Command Post.

3. Bugarach, France:

If the legend is true and the southern French town of Bugarach is the only place to hide then by all means go there to save yourselves. Conspiracy theorists believe that the upside down mountain offers protection against end of the world. You never know what will happen, especially after the failed doomsday theories.

4. Mt. Rtanj, Serbia:

This is supposedly the place to be according to some cult weirdoes. A local legend has it that the mountain once swallowed an evil sorcerer who was supposed to be released on doomsday in a ball of fire. This makes it one of the ideal locations for cult weirdos to survive a nuclear winter.

5. Svalbard, Norway:

If there were to be a Nuclear War, you may want to hang out near Svalbard Global Seed Vault in the Arctic Svalbard archipelago. The plant life was designed to be protected from a global catastrophe. You may, however, want to start with plants that are native to Svalbard.

Following the Industrial Revolution, the world started to change at a rather quick pace. In fact, if in the past century the outlook of the world was somewhat still predictable, nowadays the future of mankind and of the planet are very hazy. Considering the population’s constant state of tension and the scarcity of resources nowadays, some experts even go so far as to state that a third world war that has the potential to destroy our civilization can begin at any moment.

Nonetheless, most people prefer to see the future in a positive light and some of them even dare to dream about prospect accomplishments that will solve the world’s current problems once and for all. So, what will be world be like in the future?

1. Earth’s imminent destruction

From nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands to giant asteroids hitting the Earth at any moment, it is clear now the planet is exposed to several major risks that can bring its destruction. While you can surely blame this pessimistic view on all gloomy realities present these days, it is important to note that all religious holy books foresee a dark future for Earth and its inhabitants.

2. Effective and environmental friendly energy solutions

At this point, most people and governments are aware that our hectic consumption behavior has a negative impact on the environment and is possibly the main cause of the extreme climate changes. However, even as we speak efforts are being made in indentifying a renewable, less polluting source of energy to meet the entire globe’s needs. Take the European Union for instance, whose experts are working diligently on finding a method to employ wind and solar power throughout all member states.

3. The population’s incredible growth will not be a problem anymore

As the population on Earth hit 7 billion inhabitants, more and more analysts claim that there is literarily not enough food to support such a high number of people. Given the latest rumors on the limited natural resources and fresh water supply, you have to admit that they make a good point. On the other hand, the good news is that numerous scientists have already started experimenting with engineered food, an invention that might just solve the world’s biggest issue, if it will prove effective.

4. Contact with alien civilizations

Even with the currently limited technology, NASA experts have managed to create a space shuttle that has recently left the solar system. Going beyond the familiar neighborhood opens up a real possibility to explore other planets and find life. In fact, the topic of coming into contact with other races and alien civilizations has received a lot of hype after Curiosity reached Mars. Several of the photos sent home by Curiosity really sparkled people’s imagination as they keep finding Egyptian statues, footprints and mummified fingers in the pictures.

5. Living among robots

Irrespective of whether we will encounter other life forms beyond the solar system, a vast percentage of people believe that in the future we will be living among intelligent robots. Furthermore, it is commonly accepted that these robots will surely be more intelligent than people and the only way we can coexist with them is to keep up the pace with the technology we create. The bottom line is that people will shift the paradigm in the evolution of life by creating such intelligent machines.

According to Maslow’s pyramid, the need of security is crucial to our survival. In the absence of security, people will live in constant stress that affects both their physical and mental health. However, safety nowadays is a relative term, considering that some people never manage to feel safe regardless of how many precautions they take.

At the opposite end, you have those of us who are overcautious and who will do anything in their power to ensure their personal safety. In the latter category, we can include military bases, intelligence centers and other facilities that are essential for mankind’s survival. Following is a top 10 list of the most guarded places on Earth.

1. Doomsday Seed Vault

As world leaders and scientists have come to realize that science fiction scenarios can very well become apocalyptic realities, the idea of building a vault to help humankind get back on its feet following a catastrophe was born. Located on a secluded island in the North Sea, the Doomsday Seed Vault is home to over 250 million crop seeds and one of the most guarded places on the planet. The vault is not only impossible to reach by man, but is also protected against a disaster involving the melting of the icecaps.

2. Fort Knox

The US Bullion Depository – most commonly known as Fort Knox due to the nearby military base – is one of the most famous highly secured areas on earth. Currently, it is estimated that it stores not only thousands of tons of gold, but it is also the presumed that the Bullion Depository is home to important historical artifacts such as the Magna Carte and the US Declaration of Independence. What makes these resources unreachable is the gold vault located underneath the facility, where the access is done via a 22 ton blast proof door that requires the introduction of a secret code combination (divided between 10 people).

3. Cheyenne Mountain

Built during the cold war, the Cheyenne Mountain complex hosts the commanding center of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Even though NORAD moved the operations to another location, it is still one of the most guarded places on Earth. In order for you to get an idea about the security levels here, it is sufficient to mention the fact that the tunnel is protected by solid granite and reinforced so that any shock waves are felt on the other side of the mountain. On a side note, the Cheyenne Mountain complex also incorporates several free standing buildings with walls able to absorb an electromagnetic pulse attack, which would otherwise “kill” the computer system.

4. Area 51

Even if you are not a fan of UFO and alien conspiracy theories, it is very likely that you heard of Area 51. Perhaps the mystery regarding this US Air Force base in Nevada comes from the fact that nobody can get in and even navigating to the airspace around the area is strictly forbidden. However, even though the base does not exist on maps or papers, some people managed to catch a glimpse of it from above via the Google Earth app.

5. The Secret Vaults of the Mormon Church

What is interesting about the vaults of the Mormon Church is that they are so secret that few people have actually heard of them. According to the representatives of the Mormon Church, the Vault is home to genealogic and historical records. On the other hand, rumor has it that special care is taken regarding the temperature control inside the vault and it includes motion and heat sensors able to withstand powerful earthquakes.

There are a number of places that should be visited. These are exquisite, hardly found in other parts of the world. They are also weird as many historians and geologists still do not understand the origins. If you ever have the chance, go visit these places and experience the diversity of the earth we are living on.

1. Salar de Uyuni:

This Bolivian desert is quite different than the other deserts we have been to. The area is defined by its impressive salt structures, active volcanoes and tall cacti islands and geyser flats. The area is 10, 582 square km. The salted crust serves as a source of salt and is rich in lithium. 50% to 70% of the world’s lithium reserves are here.

2. Guanajuato Mummy Museum:

This museum features mummified bodies interred during a cholera outbreak in Guanajuato, Mexico in 1833. The mummies were exhumed in a cemetery between 1865 and 1958 when a law required relatives to pay for burial.

These mummies are unique in many ways. Unlike in Egypt, these mummies were not mummified intentionally. Dry conditions and overcrowded cemeteries caused the mummification. They also inspired legends surrounding a woman who was believed to be buried alive. Legend says she was buried faced down with arms over her facce. No truth has ever been uncovered.

3. Nine Hells of Beppu

Beppu is a city in Japan with 2,800 springs that gush out hot thermal water every day. The city has thus been named the hot-springs capital of Japan. Given their extreme temperatures and unique colors, nine of these springs have been labeled as the hells of Beppu.

The writers in the Edo Period described this as an apocalyptic place where torture through boiling took place. Now it has become an attraction for tourists.

4. McMurdo Dry Valleys:

This is one of few areas in the Antarctica that is not covered by snow or sheets of ice. Summer temperatures are so warm that  glacial ice melt, creating streams that feed freshwater lakes that lie at the bottom of the valleys. Unlike Antarctica as a whole, the lakes never freeze and have colonies of bacteria and phytoplankton.

5. Rio Tinto:

The Spanish city is heavily acidic and rich in heavy metals. The deep red color of the water is attributed to the mining population for over 5000 years. The presence of iron-oxidating bacteria and sulfur-oxidating material are thought to be the culprits. This place is still significant as it is the birthplace of the Copper Age and the Bronze Age. The first mines were developed in 3000 B.C. by Iberians and Tartessans.

Man has revealed earth’s many secrets with the help of machines, vehicles, research and development. Most of the places on earth are accessible now with improvement in infrastructure and technology.

1. Caves

Deep, winding, dark, slippery and uninhabitable; caves also remain one of the least explored and documented places on earth. Caving is very popular in France, Italy, Australia, UK, United States etc. hence most of the caves currently documented are from Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. However, China which has the highest limestone deposits in the world has very few explored caves. South America, Africa, Antarctica have not been explored to its maximum. The exact number of caves on Earth is still not known. Voronya Cave, Georgia the deepest known cave in the world too has not been completely explored due to its extremely inhospitable environment.

2. Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon rainforest contains 50% of the world’s rainforests. Its biodiversity is extremely vast as it supports numerous types of plant species and over 2,000 birds and mammals. Its climate and surroundings have invoked the interests of many large expeditions for explorations; however, its habitat has impeded thorough exploration of this region. About 2.5 million insect species and 438,000 species of plants have been officially documented with many left to be discovered.

3. Antarctica

No one knows what exactly lies beneath the icy terrain of Antarctica, with ice sheets 2 miles thick, it is also the coldest place on earth. Scientists believe there is a network of rivers, streams and stony land makes up its geography. Recently, the discovery of sub-glacial lakes has opened a new chapter in Antarctica’s exploration. There are possibilities of these lakes harboring life forms which can be studied thus providing useful answers to scientists about life in outer space. The ocean floor below the Antarctic has not yet been explored.

4. Mariana Trench & Deep Sea Ocean

The deepest and darkest place in the ocean is the 35,800 feet deep Mariana Trench which is one of the least explored places on earth.  Due to its depth and pressure of up to 1,000 atmospheres, the deep is completely hostile to humans. Even though scientific development has increased man’s knowledge about deep sea life with discovery of many new varieties of deep-sea creatures on the ocean floor only 2% of the ocean floor has been explored, leaving a lot more to be discovered. A study of the deep-ocean life will help scientists to understand deep-sea creatures’ unique living patterns in harsh ocean conditions.

5. Deserts

Though we know of all the deserts on earth, very few explorations have been conducted as they have the least hospitable environments to sustain human life. Explorations have almost always been marked with tragedy and loss of life due to the harsh desert conditions.  Scientists and extreme adventurers venture into deserts for research and thrill.

6. Gangkhar Puensum, Bhutan

At an elevation of 7570 meters above sea level the Gangkhar Puensum has the distinction of being the highest unclimbed mountain on earth. Four unsuccessful expeditions have been carried out till date. Currently the government of Bhutan has prohibited climbing the mountain due to religious beliefs, and is unlikely to be conquered in the near future.

7. Icecap; Greenland

81% of Greenland is covered in ice, and hence it is also the least populated country in the world with major settlements situated on the ice-free coast.  Greenland has only been explored up to a point as the climate and ice is unsuitable for human life. However, scientists carry out expeditions for research and development purposes in the Northern part of Greenland.

8. Northwest Siberia

Siberia constitutes almost all of Northern Asia, of which western Siberia is covered in ice while eastern and central Siberia consists of mountain ranges. Recently many research expeditions are conducted by scientists and geologists to study its environment and ecology, as most of the population is concentrated in western Siberia.

9. Mountains of Northern Colombia

The mountains of Northern Colombia have been unexplored until recently when a group of scientists embarked on a biological expedition. The Yariguies Mountains are home to a recently discovered species known as ‘Brush-Finch’.

10. Central Range, New Guinea

The central range of high mountainous forest area is has been under protection due to its inclusion in New Guinea’s national parks. These forests are support lifestyles varied species of birds and animals. However, mining activities are posing threats to its fragile ecosystem.

A movie was made recently which informed its viewers that life on Earth would end in 2012. Everything we have ever known would deteriorate in front of our eyes and life would start all over again from the very beginning. While this movie blames it on global warming, let us list some other ways that life on our planet can end.

1. Giant Meteor

If a giant meteor was to fall through the sky and onto the Earth, life as we know it would end pretty quickly. It would result in the formation of a massive dust cloud and the rubble that would be created would prevent the sun rays from entering the Earth’s atmosphere. The vegetation would die within a short period of time and a brand new ice age would begin.

2. Global Epidemic

There is a new strain of flu that is discovered every year. If not chicken flu, it’s bird flu and if not that, it’s swine flu- it’s never ending. It is not difficult to predict that a strain may be discovered in the near future that may kill the human race altogether because a vaccine for it would not have been created yet.

3. Super Volcano

Super volcanoes calderas like the Yellowstone National Park are potentially very dangerous. This super volcano erupts after 600,000 years and according to statistics, it erupted last 640,000 years back. Therefore, it goes without saying that the next eruption is long overdue.

4. Human Error

Humans are far from perfect and they make mistakes quite often. They also have urges to do bend and break rules and do what they are told not to. Let us take the example of military or nuclear weapons of mass destruction. These weapons either have codes or buttons that instruct humans not to press them. One mistake and a long chain of disasters will be unleashed onto the world and life on Earth would end.

5. Earth’s Magnetic Field

The Earth’s Magnetic field protects the Earth from harmful solar winds. However, this shield will soon deteriorate completely. According to research, this magnetic field reverses after every 250,000 years and the last time it reversed was 780,000 years ago. Therefore, this too is overdue. Naturally, without this shield, life on Earth would end quite rapidly.

Ever wondered how the earth would be if there was a Tyrannosaurus Rex still roaming the earth or the Cave Lion terrifying all the animals in the forests. Alas! We can only let our imagination run wild since all these amazing animals became extinct sometime back. Read on to know more about the top 10 extinct animals.

1. Tyrannosaurus Rex

The largest carnivores of all time, this huge animal had staggering measurements of 43.3 feet in length, a height of 16.6 feet and weighing heavily over several tons. The Tyrannosaurus Rex was like other tyrannosaurids: a Bipedal Carnivore, having a huge skull and supported by long and strong tail. This animal had big and massive hind limbs and forelimbs were small and had just two digits. There have been findings of the fossils of Tyrannosaurus Rex in North American Rock formations dating back to periods 68.5 million years ago.

2. Quagga (Half Horse, Half Zebra)

The extinct Quagga, famous in Africa, is a subspecies of the Zebra. It was found in large numbers in South Africa’s Cape Province and even the Southern part of the Orange Free State.

3. Thylacine: The Tasmanian Tiger

The largest carnivorous marsupial in recent times was found in Australia and New Guinea. This animal probably became extinct only during the 20^th century and large fossils were found of other related species dating to early Miocene. Hunting was the prime reason for the extinction of the Thylacine: The Tasmanian Tiger.

4. Steller’s Sea Cow: The Defenseless Beast

Was first discovered in 1741 on the Asiatic Coast of Bering Sea by Georg Steller a naturalist who was traveling in the explorer Vitus Bering. The Sea Cow was much larger than the Manatee or Dugong and measured 25.9 feet in length and weighed more than 3 tons. With the appearance of a seal and a whale-like tale, this creature had two fore limbs that were rather huge and lived only in the water. The Sea Cow had no teeth just two bones one above and below in the mouth and the head was smaller in comparison to the body.

5. Irish Deer: the largest deer that ever lived

Also called the Irish elk or Giant Deer, this was the largest that was found in Eurasia from Ireland to the east of Lake Baikal at Pleistocene and the beginning of Holocene. The Irish Deer was as tall as 7 feet with the antlers alone weighing at 90 pounds.

Forget emerging economies and fattening bank balances and open your eyes to a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Think it is difficult? Then read on. Following the list of the greenest cities, here is a list of the ten most polluted metropolitan cities in the world:

1. Beijing, China

Beijing’s smog is a constant reminder of the fact that this city has a serious pollution problem. There are almost 17 million people who live in and around Beijing. Water is a scarce and contaminated commodity, the air pollution levels are five times higher than the WHO standards, and frequent dust storms just add to the problem.

2. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires 13 million inhabitants have to deal with a problem that occurs with alarming regularity. Even slightly heavy rains cause immense flooding in the city and the drainage system comes to a grinding halt. This contaminates the water and leads to serious health and pollution hazards. It is this water pollution and lack of a disaster management strategy which gives this city such a high ranking.

3. Cairo, Egypt

Cairo has air pollution levels which are anything between 10 to 100 times higher than the WHO standards. High vehicle fuel emissions, polluting urban industries and a hot and dry desert climate are causing havoc to the inhabitants of this city and their beautiful ancient monuments. For the 17 million inhabitants of this city, it is equivalent to smoking one packet of cigarette a day.

4. Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Tanzania’s cultural and commercial hub suffers from a total lack of a waste management system.  Sanitation systems are also in a mess, and lack of a good public transportation system, adds to the fuel emission problems. Hazardous and industrial is being dumped in the open, leading to health problems amongst its inhabitants.

5. Dhaka, Bangladesh

Despite being fed by three rivers, and being situated in the Ganges Delta, Dhaka is one of the most unliveable cities in the world. The waters of the rivers are the storehouse of all the human waste and the effluents of the industries. There is no really efficient water treatment system, and when you add the high levels of air pollution this makes it a very toxic city.

Waterfalls are one of the most beautiful natural formations and for this reason, they are often visited by tourists. Most waterfalls are surrounded in lush green forests and a healthy thriving flora and fauna still preserved from man made destruction. Waterfalls are so pleasing to the eye that these days, people are creating their own backyard or indoor waterfalls!
From the tallest waterfall to the widest, this list even has one which is famous for an upward water flow. Not only this but in several countries, waterfalls are responsible for running large hydroelectric power projects, thus supporting their economies. For this reason, man made waterfalls are also a common sight in many places. However, none of the waterfalls in this list are artificial, all of them have been created by Mother Nature and waterfalls are one of her best creations. Some of those included in this list are the famous Angel Falls in Venezuela, the Niagara Falls and the popular Victoria Falls of Africa.

1. Niagara Falls – Canada/USA

Located on the Canada/USA border, Niagara Falls isn’t the tallest or broadest waterfall. But it is widely considered as the most stunning natural fall on Earth and this has made it the most popular tourist destination. In fact, Niagara Falls is also known as the “Honeymoon Capital of the World”.

2. Angel Falls – Venezuela

At a height of 979 m, Angel Falls is world’s tallest permanent waterfall. It offers an out-of-the-world viewing experience to those who have seen it. Reaching the waterfall is difficult because it is unapproachable via road. One can only visit it on a boating or walking expedition.

3. Iguazu Falls – Argentina/Brazil

One of the most beautiful and majestic waterfalls, Iguazu Falls is located on the Argentinean and Brazilian border. Consisting on about 275 disconnected cascades and waterfalls, these cover almost 2.5 miles in width and 269 feet in height. The natural forests surrounding the falls make it an even better sight.

4. Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe/Zambia

Easily Africa’s leading tourist attraction, Victoria Falls is truly the most beautiful waterfall on Earth. Not only are the water soaked green rain forests and lively African wildlife pleasing to the eye, but one can choose to participate in several adventure sports as well.

5. Gullfoss – Iceland

Europe’s largest waterfall and Iceland’s most beautiful, Gullfoss has been the center of several local folk tales and mysteries. The waterfalls also make up a part of the ‘Golden Circle’ – a group of geysers and hot water springs which is the most popular tourist attraction in the country.