The green, yellow, and brown polka dots that form on British Columbia’s Spotted Lake each summer make it look like you could. It’s a far cry from the stereotypical landscapes of clear blue lakes, rolling green hills, and white sand beaches that inspire most travelers and that’s part of what makes strange natural wonders like Spotted Lake so thrilling.

Long before scientists were able to offer explanations for the world’s more curious natural achievements locals have been coming up with their ideas. While Irish folklore attributes the creation of the Giant’s Causeway to a quarrel that spanned across the sea to Scotland.

Such bizarre formations are the result of time and pressure working against soil and rock an often slow and methodical process that yields show-stopping results. Others are the result of a sudden dramatic shift in conditions. Together they caution us as author Will Durant wrote in the January 1946 edition of Ladies Home Journal that civilization exists by geological consent subject to change without notice.

Six thousand years of wave erosion created the undulating patterns that give these caves their marbleized effect enhanced by the reflection of the blue and green water of Carrera Lake near Chile’s border with Argentina. Although the area is threatened by a plan to build a dam nearby for now visitors can kayak throughout the caves on days when the waters are calm.

The natural world is full of beauty wonder and weirdness. Some aspects of nature like seemingly impossible land formations or peculiar flora are so bizarre that science is still working to explain exactly what they are and how they came to be. Some things are so strange that researchers believe they could only have been manmade. Despite a complete lack of evidence to explain its existence either way.

There are many spine-chilling caves around the world but Gomantong Caves found on the island of Borneo in Malaysia may be the creepiest of the bunch. These impressive hollows are home to an array of species including more than a million bats. Yes, More than a million. Don’t worry if you’re terrified of bats though because the giant bat-eating cockroaches will save you. And if you’re not a fan of those either there are snakes and centipedes to gobble those up too. Thank goodness for the circle of life.

You’ll find this jungle paradise in the upper Amazon River basin in Bolivia and it’s one of the few largely untouched places on the planet. So what’s the catch. Well first of all it’s a South American jungle and who knows what’s lurking around the corner in there. Secondly, just about everything here is poisonous insect-plant moths even the ticks. This brings the question of why would you dare visit somewhere that is home to some of the most dangerous flora and fauna in the world. Well, plenty of people do although many do so via a guided tour.

The more mundane name of the wonderful Rainbow Mountainsins Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park Central North China. Across 400 kilometers of land, you'll feel like you are in a painting the rocky cliffs are that beautiful and colorful. Their forms are interesting as well, sometimes creating the illusion of being inside a castle. The cliffs themselves were formed after the continuing erosion of red sandstone in the region was quickened by the dedesert-like conditions around them. Movements from the Earth's crust added the finishing touches revealing differently colored layers and molding them into an unforgettable picturesque wonder.

This world is full of beauty wonder and natural splendor. If you live in a densely populated area like me. Then you probably also daydream about going out into the woods. Where there is no responsibility or anything to get in your way. Most people love getting back to nature whether it is hiking camping or canoeing downs a river. Below are seven of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world that will help you clear your mind