8 Breathtaking Beautiful Places In The World

The world is a beautiful place, and its beauty is often celebrated in famous lists like the 7 Wonders of the World or the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. UNESCO World Heritage Sites are another way to recognize and bring attention to amazing places.

However, there are many other wonderful places on the globe that are sometimes missed on popular lists. Narrowing these beautiful places down to just 8 is a difficult task, but this list presents a compelling overview of awe-inspiring scenes from near and far.

# Svartifoss

Could we make it through this list without mention of an Icelandic attraction? Although there are many sights in the Land of Fire and Ice that are worth noting, there is something especially beautiful about the Svartifoss waterfall.

Found in the island's southern region, Svartifoss, or "Black Falls", is one of the most photographed places on the island. Its distinctive dark rocks, which are actually columns of dark lava, are reminiscent in the rocks found in other famous places such as the Giant's Causeway or Devil's Tower.

# The Twelve Apostles

Though technically now more aptly called the "Eight Apostles" - the most recent apostle collapsed in 2005 - Victoria, Australia's Twelve Apostles landmark is still impressive indeed.

Formed from erosion at the hands of the Southern Ocean, the Twelve Apostles are found off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park. They can be seen as a part of the famous Great Ocean Road journey.

# Moraine Lake

Canada's Moraine Lake is found in the world-famous Banff National Park in the country's western province of Alberta. Although arguably less famous than its nearby neighbor Lake Louise, Moraine Lake offers visitors the same beautiful blue hue water.

The mountains behind the lake are known as the Valley of the Ten Peaks. It is possible to canoe or kayak on the lake, but due to extremely cold temperatures year-round swimming is not recommended.

# Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is one of the world's most famous examples of funerary art. The construction of the temple was commissioned in 1632, and it was completed in 1643. The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, in northern India, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.

# Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu, which means “old Mountain”, is an Inca fortress built in the 15th century in the Machupicchu District of Peru above the Sacred Valley. The fortress has three unique structures: the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana, and the Room of the Three Windows. During the winter solstice, the Intihuatana ritual stone points directly to the sun.

One of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site, the architecture fits seamlessly with the mountains, and has close to 200 buildings built parallel to the terraces. Being some of the best masons of their time, the Incas mostly used dry stones that weighed over 50 tons.

# Borobudur

Borobudur is a Buddhist temple in Java, Indonesia. It dates back to the 9th century. The site is well known for its beautiful design, which hosts more than 500 Buddha statues within it.

# Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls, locally called Mosi-oa-Tunya for "The Smoke that Thunders", is on River Zambezi along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Two national parks lie within the area around the falls.

As one of the largest waterfalls in the world, the falls spray River Zambezi forest thus giving it 'rainfall' 24 hours a day. During the full moon at sunset, the moon’s reflection on the water forms a rainbow (“moonbow”).

# Torres Del Paine National Park

Torres Del Paine National Park is a national park in Chile consisting of diverse ecosystems and landscapes. The park covers over half a million acres. The park is found in a greater region known as Patagonia.