The beautiful and terrifying power of Mother Nature in 29 incredible photos
Nature at its most thrilling
While many of Mother Nature's creations can be staggeringly gorgeous (think rainbows, gushing geysers and technicolour coral), she also has the capacity to wreak havoc. From pink lakes and stunning natural light shows to humongous waves and lava flows, we take a look at the beautiful and terrifying power of Mother Nature.
Northern Lights, Norway
The Aurora Borealis – otherwise known as the Northern Lights – is an elusive yet beautiful natural display created by charged particles from the sun combining with the Earth’s magnetic fields. This powerful combination can result in a technicolour display which can even be seen from space. Key places to spot them include Iceland, Norway and Canada.
Perito Moreno Glacier, Santa Cruz, Argentina
Situated in the Los Glaciares National Park in the Santa Cruz province of Patagonia, this imposing ice formation measures a staggering 30km (18.6 miles) in length and perfectly demonstrates just how majestic some of Mother Nature’s creations can be.
Strokkur geyser erupts, Haukadalsvegur, Iceland
Iceland’s most-visited active geyser is as terrifying as it is beautiful. It blasts water to heights of up to 40m (131ft) every five to 10 minutes. It’s caused by magma close to the Earth’s surface which boils melted water from nearby glaciers – quite the natural phenomenon.
Mount Etna erupts, Sicily, Italy
Sicily’s Mount Etna is the largest active volcano in Europe and has been erupting regularly for thousands of years. Eruptions can create lava flows which measure hundreds of metres high.
Hurricane Ophelia, Ireland
One of the worst storms to hit Ireland in recent times, Hurricane Ophelia wreaked havoc across Ireland and beyond in 2017, causing three deaths, power failures and road closures. Gusts of up to 119 miles per hour were recorded.
Hurricane Ophelia, Porthcawl Lighthouse, Wales
Here, Hurricane Ophelia hits Porthcawl Lighthouse in Wales, causing gigantic waves. The storm also carried Saharan dust to the UK, resulting in hazy orange skies and a visibly red sun.
Vatnajökull glacier ice caves, Iceland
Mother Nature exerts her power and influence across all of the elements and in all terrains. In Iceland’s Vatnajökull region, giant ice caves are formed each winter, made from meltwater running underneath giant glaciers.
Lenticular clouds, Kamchatka, Russia
While these spherical floating shapes could be mistaken for UFOs, they’re actually lenticular clouds which are created when winds blow across and over hills and mountains. If there's enough moisture in the air, the clouds will form as the wind rises. Here, they float above the mountain ranges of Russia’s Far East.
Eyjafjallajökull erupts, Iceland
The 2010 volcanic eruptions at Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland, saw volcanic ash being ejected into the atmosphere. As a result, it caused significant air travel disruption across northern Europe for close to a week, as well as a number of evacuations across Iceland.
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef system and comprises more than 900 islands. It’s so expansive it stretches more than 2,500 km (1,553 miles) and can be seen from space. It’s home to more than 1,500 species of fish.
Snowstorm, Umnugobi, Mongolia
Located in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia's Umnugobi province is home to many a nomadic herder and their cattle. When snowstorms hit in May 2019, thousands of animals froze to death and six people died.
Lightning, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
One of the most dazzling ways to observe Mother Nature’s beautiful yet terrifying power is in the eye of a storm. This photo captures a bolt of lightning through the window of a plane over Kuala Lumpur.
Tornado devastation, Kaiyuan, China
Tornadoes can cause widespread devastation and this picture documents the destruction from a rare tornado hitting Kaiyuan in northeastern China, in July 2019. As well as upturning cars, knocking out power, and destroying buildings and factories, this turbulent twister killed at least six people and injured at least 190.
Darvaza gas crater, Turkmenistan
Otherwise known as the Gates of Hell, Turkmenistan’s Darvaza gas crater is a burning, terrifying natural gas field, and you can see why it has earned such a name. It’s at least 20m (65.6 ft) deep and has been burning since the 1970s after scientists set it alight in a bid to get rid of what they thought was a small amount of natural gas escaping from the crater.
Lightning, Calbuco volcano, Chile
Active volcanoes are rather scary in themselves but did you know they can also be accompanied by lightning? This image shows volcanic lightning and lava spewing from Calbuco, a volcano in southern Chile, in 2015.
Plane flying by a rainbow, Sydney, Australia
Given their majestic, multicoloured beauty, rainbows could be considered the calm after the storm. These incredible arcs are caused by a combination of reflection, refraction and light dispersion in water droplets, and they never cease to amaze and inspire. Here, a plane is captured flying past one on its approach to Sydney airport, Australia.
Tsunami, Carita, Indonesia
This aerial photo captures just part of the wreckage in Carita, Indonesia, in December 2018 when a tsunami killed more than 200 people and injured more than 800. It was thought to have been caused by the eruption of Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano.
Rainbow, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Zambia
Classed as the largest waterfall in the world, based on its width – 1.7km (5,604 feet) – Victoria Falls, located on the Zambia and Zimbabwe border, is overwhelming in size. The sight is made even more majestic in this stunning photo by a rainbow which has formed above the cascade. Discover more incredible photos of the world's most impressive waterfalls here.
Fire tornado, Malibu, California, USA
In November 2018, the Woolsey Fire, a destructive wildfire, whipped through Malibu in California, USA. This photo shows a fire tornado, also commonly known as a fire whirl. They may only last a couple of minutes but these flaming whirlwinds can pick up burning embers, debris and gas.
Cyclone Kenneth destruction, Pemba, Mozambique
Cyclone Kenneth, which hit Mozambique in April 2019, was the one of the strongest tropical cyclones to hit Mozambique since modern records began. It destroyed more than 3,500 homes, killed more than 52 people and saw more than 30,000 people being evacuated.
Monsoon floods, Kerala, India
While making vegetation that bit greener, heavier-than-usual monsoon rains can cause life-threatening and devastating floods, landslides and even droughts. The floods that hit Kerala in 2018 battered homes, displaced more than one million people and killed more than 400.
Milky Way and Perseids, Black Sea, Bulgaria
Want to really feel small? The Milky Way (of which the Earth is a part of) contains several hundred billion stars. It’s possible to observe the Milky Way with the naked eye, given the right conditions. Here, it's captured over the Black Sea and framed by the jaw-dropping Perseids meteor shower.
Natural pools, Pamukkale, Turkey
Turkey’s mineral-rich thermal pools are a stunning natural phenomena. This natural spa in the town of Pamukkale features 17 hot water springs and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
Lava flows, Pacific Ocean, Hawaii
When fire meets water: this photo captures fresh lava from Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano flowing into the Pacific Ocean. While lava flows can help to create new land, they can destroy anything – or anyone – caught in their wake.
Sunset, Horseshoe Bend, Arizona, USA
Located in the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, USA, the Horseshoe Bend is a beautiful natural wonder. So-named after the horseshoe-shaped meander in the Colorado River, it's particularly stunning when captured at sunset.
Mount Everest, Nepal
Formed by tectonic plates pushing against each other more than 60 million years ago, Mount Everest is the world’s highest mountain above sea level, measuring a staggering 8,848m (29,029 ft). People are still dazzled by the formation, with more adventurers than ever risking their lives to conquer the mountain.
Lake Hillier, Middle Island, Australia
If you need reminding of nature’s inherent beauty, head to Australia’s Lake Hillier, a vibrantly pink saline lake located off the south coast of Western Australia. It’s safe to swim in and is often considered to be one of Australia’s most amazing natural wonders.
Read more: The world's most dramatic weather photos since 1900
Supercell thunderstorm, Kansas, USA
While supercell storms are impressive to look at, they can cause heavy hail, flooding, thunderstorms and tornadoes. Commonly known as rotating thunderstorms, they can wreak havoc in their wake. This photo of one was taken in Kansas, USA.
Read more: The most significant weather event in every state and DC
Waves, Felgueiras Lighthouse, Porto, Portugal
If the thought and sound of crashing waves fills you with awe, head to Portugal’s Felgueiras Lighthouse in Porto. As a gateway to both the River Douro and the Atlantic Ocean, this dainty lighthouse gets its fair share of swell and flotsam, especially on windy days.
Read more: Amazing ruins where Mother Nature ran riot
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