As these breathtaking European natural wonders show, there's more to the Old Continent than just slanted buildings and outdoor cafes.
When Americans dream of a European vacation, they typically envision Parisian cafes and Roman ruins. But the truth is that Europe has a world of attractions beyond the artifacts of human culture.
Though 700 million members of our species populate the continent, Europe has vast open spaces, towering heights, and brilliant wide skies that will astound even the most snobbish urbanite. The 18 natural wonders below are among the most spectacular Europe has to offer.
1. Cliffs of Moher – Ireland
The western edge of Ireland falls into the Atlantic Ocean like a heavy curtain. These are the Cliffs of Moher. Named after an 18th century fortress that stood on the bluffs, the 300 million-year-old cliffs rise between 120 and 200 meters above the waters below.
One of many legends about the Cliffs of Moher tells of the golden city of Kilstiffen that sank below the waves after its leader lost the key to the city’s spectacular castle.
2. Cairngorms National Park in Scotland – United Kingdom
Want to stride across the Scottish highlands like the Celts and Picts of old? Head to Cairngorms National Park, Britain’s most expansive natural park and home to five out of the six tallest mountains in Scotland. The park contains a grand total of 52 mountain summits, one for every week of the year.
3. The Verdon Gorge – France
The turquoise waters of the Verdon Gorge wind through the region of Provence in southern France like a daydream lost on its way from Paris to the beaches of the Riviera.
The Grand Canyon of France, this 25 kilometer-long ravine runs between limestone walls that rise up 700 meters high in some places. Its gorgeous vistas make it a popular setting for hikers, rock climbers, and kayakers as well as the less sporty visitors who enjoy the views from scenic drives along the rim.
4. Chamonix – France
North from the gorge and near the border with Switzerland and Italy, the villages of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc sit among the awesome summits of the French Alps. A cable car takes visitors to the rocky outcropping of the Aiguille du Midi that rises out of the glacial landscape like a defiant fist.At the peak, travelers can stare straight down the bleak rock face that falls for a 1,000 meters before reuniting with the glacial landscape below.
5. Matterhorn – The Swiss-Italian Border
Matterhorn juts into the sky like a 15,000 foot-tall pyramid. The “Mountain of Mountains,” as some call it, straddles the Swiss-Italian border, though its highest summit stands in Switzerland. It is one of the highest mountains in the Alps and among the deadliest mountains in the world. Around 500 climbers have perished trying to conquer it.
6. The Dolomites – Italy
The Dolomite mountain range crests the north of Italy like a crown of stone. Eighteen of its peaks rise above 3,000 meters. The landscape is both quaint and awe-inspiring, and this juxtaposition is what gives the Dolomites their powerful charm.
7. Douro River Valley – Portugal
For at least two thousand years, humans have been growing wine along the banks of the Douro River. This luscious valley provides fertile ground for vineyards and olive orchards. In these rolling hillsides, human cultivation lives in harmony with natural beauty.
8. Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park – Spain
Home to flamingos, purple herons, eagles, and more than a thousand other bird species, Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park is one of the most important nature reserves in Western Europe.
Far from the revelry of Madrid, this picturesque coastline encompasses the beauty of sand dunes, volcanic formations, and hidden beaches. It is the perfect escape for someone who wants to feel as far away from city life as possible.
9. Melissani Cave – Greece
Hidden away on the Greek isle of Kelafonia in the Ionian Sea, Melissani Cave has waters so clear that boats appear to float in the air. This cave was once sacred to the god Pan, even though it is named after a nymph whose love Pan rejected. In her sorrow, she plunged into a lake and killed herself. The centerpiece of the cave is a wide opening to the sky where the overhanging rocky roof collapsed several thousand years ago.
10. Santorini – Greece
Though known for its white-walled, blue-topped domiciles, Santorini, Greece, is the remnants of a resurrecting volcano that blew its lid in an enormous eruption around 3,500 years ago. What once was a round island became what is seen today, a rim of broken shards. In 1707, a small, smoldering island reemerged from beneath the waters, and volcanic activity has continued to the present day.
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