Europe beckons with an intoxicating blend of cultivated beauty and natural wonders. Art and architecture dominate in cities, but venture into the wilds and you’ll discover the rock towers, soaring arches, and cathedrals of ice that inspired ancient civilizations.
These natural attractions somehow get lost in the white noise generated by the other historical and artistic wonders of Europe. Yet, they have always retained a steady voice of their own and travelers have always made a beeline to these destinations which possess remarkable beauty and, in many cases, have been inscribed by UNESCO as sites of importance. Here are four incredible natural wonders in Europe worth planning your vacation around.
Swiss Alps, Switzerland – The Alps, divided as per the international boundaries, are better known as Swiss Alps, Italian Alps, French Alps, etc. The Swiss Alps, the part of the Alps falling in Switzerland, are a popular tourist destination for millions of travelers who come either for skiing or hiking. Travelers often choose to rent out cottages to enjoy the rolling fields with cattle grazing across them with snow-capped mountains forming a background. The Glacier Express train which runs between St Moritz and Zermatt provides beautiful views from its glass-roofed coaches, all across its journey. Lucerne and Interlaken are also popular amongst tourists when they are visiting the scenic Alps.
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia – A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Plitvice Lakes National Park is a nature’s wonder which one cannot miss. Surrounded by lush green forests the Plitvice lakes are a series of lakes that are created by naturally occurring dams. The formation of these natural dams, also known as tufa formations, is a marvel of nature. They support an ecosystem of their own. The crystal-clear waters of the lakes make this destination a traveler’s paradise. The forests surrounding these lakes have wildlife consisting of brown bears, grey wolves, and lynxes.
Giant’s Causeway, Ireland – This UNESCO World Heritage Site, located off the coast of Northern Ireland, is a wonder of nature. It is a series of 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns which have interlocked into a formation which is now known as the Giants Causeway. Capturing the imagination of people since forever it remains one of the most popular natural attractions in Europe today. A myth surrounding this destination states that it was an Irish giant who arranged these columns in order to construct a causeway to cross the North Sea to respond to a challenge posed by a rival giant from Scotland.
Fjords of Norway – The fjords of Norway are naturally occurring wonders of nature that have been deemed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
These beautiful formations are inlets of seas that are bordered by tall mountains. Many of the fjords are regular features on many cruise ships’ itineraries. Many trekkers also make a beeline to explore these fjords from the land.
So, these sites and many more like Thingvellir National Park (Iceland) and also the experience of observing the Northern Lights from destinations in Scandinavia reveal how much natural beauty Europe possesses. Fancy a train vacation to Europe’s natural wonders? Contact a travel expert fast so that you can book your trip to the natural wonders of Europe soon!