Nature Wonders

Are there miracles outside of fantasy novels and movies?

These are the natural wonders of planet Earth. Nature has a unique ability to impress, inspire, and attract us with its vast beauty and mystery. There are such natural sights and interesting species of animals and plants all over the world. Everyone has seen or read about some of them. In this lesson, you will learn about more interesting species and realize the importance of preserving natural diversity for our lives.

What are the wonders of nature? Now you will learn about some of them!

We will start our journey in Canada. Here, we will visit Spotted Lake.

In Canada’s Okanagan Valley, there is a lake unlike any other in the world. Large spots form on the water surface due to the high concentration of minerals in these spots. For centuries, the speckled lake has been a sacred place for the indigenous Indian population, who also revere the healing qualities of the mineral-rich water.

Spotted Lake – source: geofacts.in

We continue to Turkmenistan. Here we will see the “Gates of Hell.”

More than 40 years ago, in the deserts of northern Turkmenistan, workers drilling for natural gas were very frightened when a huge hole gaped before their eyes. The fiery crater has not stopped burning to this day, and local people call it the ‘Gates of Hell’.

Source: traveldigg.com

We head to the Chinese city of Danxia. Here, we will see a rainbow of rocks.

This beautiful rocky landscape is due to the naturally red sand hills formed millions of years ago, with colourful belts of different minerals and deposits woven into them.

Source: silkroadtravel.com

We continue to the USA.
Here we will meet a killer plant.

Source: science.org

There are more than 500 species of carnivorous plants on our planet, but the most famous is the carnivorous Venus flytrap. Its predatory “jaws” stalk defenseless insects and when the trap clicks, there is no escape. The Venus flytrap has a lightning reflex that has not been fully explored by scientists. It is probably due to something like an electrical impulse.
The video, available at https://youtu.be/glToiJA4OgY, shows how the Venus flytrap hunts.

We will meet an extraordinary animal – Chameleon, that inhabits different continents.

Source: www.familius.com

Welcome to the world of chameleons—mysterious, amazing, and unique creatures! These wonderful animals are the inspiration for many fantastic stories and have amazing abilities. Chameleons are small to medium-sized reptiles with a unique ability to change colour. Their ability to adapt to their environment makes them masters of camouflage and disguise. This means that chameleons can blend into their surroundings by mimicking the colors of objects around them. For example, if they are on a green leaf, they turn green, and if they are on a red flower, they turn red. This helps them hide from predators and hunt their prey without being noticed. But how do chameleons do this color-changing magic? The answer lies in their cells, called chromatophores. Chromatophores are cells that contain special pigments and are located in the chameleon’s skin. These pigments can be distributed in different ways, enabling the chameleon to display a wide range of colors. When distributed evenly, the chameleon becomes darker, and when distributed unevenly, bright and striking colors appear.
But this is just one of the amazing talents of chameleons. They can also mimic the movements of various objects around them, such as the leaves of trees, when moved by the wind. This impressive ability makes them incredible hunters and helps them avoid danger.
Watch a video about chameleons at https://youtu.be/wlPdeiB2Jig.

The next place we will visit is the depths of the Pacific Ocean.
Here we will meet the octopus impersonator.

Source: https://depositphotos.com/photo/mimic-octopus-thaumoctopus-mimicus-crawls-black-sand-seafloor-lembeh-strait-209947058.html

The Octopus imitator is one of the most interesting and amazing inhabitants of the deep sea. This clever creature belongs to the family Octopoda (Octopodidae) and is known for its amazing abilities to mimic and imitate other marine organisms. Its ability to transform and mimic other creatures makes it one of nature’s most remarkable masters. The Octopus Imitator can mimic over 10 different creatures. He can change shape and color. In the video https://youtu.be/Wos8kouz810 you will see some of the octopus imitations.

Check out the photos of a few more bizarre animals: a birdfish, an armadillo, a fish with a transparent head, and a saber-toothed fish: