10 Rare Phenomena You Can Witness Only in America
America is a land of wonders, where nature puts on unusual features in amazing ways. A number of events are so rare that they occur in only a few special places throughout the country. Such moments leave you amazed and reminded of the Earth’s great power and beauty.
From deserts aglow like neon to lakes disappearing before your very eyes, these events are as singular as the landscapes that host them. Let’s explore the incredible spectacles that can be found only in the United States.
Synchronous Fireflies – Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
The Smokies host every summer one of the most astonishing shows: thousands of fireflies flashing in unison. This unusual light display, called bioluminescence, brings visitors from everywhere. It’s a stunning sight, like fireworks made by nature.
Sailing Stones – Death Valley, California
At Racetrack Playa in Death Valley, rocks seem to move by themselves across the desert floor, leaving long trails behind them. This has been a mystery to scientists for many years, but a recent theory is that thin layers of ice and wind make the rocks “sail.”
Monarch Butterfly Migration – California and Mexico Border
Every year, thousands of monarch butterflies undertake their long flight from Canada to their overwintering sites in California and Mexico. It’s a sight like seeing a beautiful work of art take flight when these bright orange butterflies cluster in trees.
Morning Glory Clouds – Florida Keys
These long, tube-shaped clouds roll across the sky like waves, an effect of pure visual brilliance. They’re most commonly seen in late summer to early fall over the Florida Keys and are the delight of many gliders and photographers.
The Northern Lights – Alaska
The aurora borealis can be seen in many countries, but Alaska has some of the most accessible spots to see it in the U.S. On a clear winter’s night, the sky is lit by green, purple, and pink waves undulating above. Fairbanks is one of the best places to see this natural light show.
The Everglades River of Grass – Florida
The Everglades is different from the usual rivers because this is a very slow-moving sheet of water over grasslands. Hence, it creates its unique ecosystem wherein alligators and manatees live together along with very rare orchids.
Frozen Methane Bubbles – Lake Abraham, Colorado
When methane gas is trapped beneath frozen lakes, it creates bizarre bubble patterns beneath the ice. The bubbles can be dangerous to ignite but create a spectacular sight for those brave enough to venture out in winter to see them.
Catatumbo Lightning – Lake Maracaibo, U.S. Gulf Coast Influence
The phenomenon is well known in Venezuela, but there are also similar “super lightning storms” in the U.S. Gulf Coast. The number of lightning strikes during these storms is an exciting experience that you can’t find in many places.
Painted Hills – Oregon
The Painted Hills are part of the John Day Fossil Beds. They look like something out of this world. The layers of bright red, gold, and black soil change color with the time of day and how wet it is. This stunning natural scene tells a story that took millions of years to form.
The Wave — Arizona Border, Utah
This sandstone rock formation looks like someone painted it by hand, with wavy patterns of red, orange, and pink. The wave is very delicate and rare, so only a limited number of permits are given out each day for people to be able to visit it.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Read More:
