Sometimes it feels like we’re all in our own little bubble, going about our days and our lives without seeing the bigger picture. It’s easy to forget about the beauty in the world, but there are breathtaking moments all around us.
Nature is a rich tapestry. Flora and fauna are interweaved into the landscape and locked in a magnificent dance for survival. Although nature can sometimes be brutal, it is always awe-inspiring and astoundingly beautiful.
Sit back and have a look at 56 times nature was unbelievably awesome.
Bright Colors
Gouldian finch chicks have luminous nodules on the sides of their mouths to help get the attention of their parents when they are hungry. The bright colors act as a kind of ‘beacon’ so that their parents can see them in the dark. When the chicks are old enough to feed themselves, the markings gradually disappear.
A Wolf and a Bear Working Together
“It’s very unusual to see a bear and a wolf getting on like this,” Finnish photographer Lassi Rautiainen said. Every night for ten days, this female grey wolf and the male brown bear were spotted together. They would even share their food with one another.
A Volcanic Eruption
This image of a volcano in Iceland was taken by a drone. The stunning photo captures something so dangerous that few have seen it before. This particular eruption in Geldingadalur may still last for months.
Sparring Narwhals
Narwhals may be some of the strangest creatures on the planet. The ‘horn’ is actually a tooth, and the tusk is mainly observed in male narwhals. Narwhals use their tusks to break through ice to give them access to the surface so they can breathe.
A Toothy Goose
The protrusions or “teeth” on a goose’s tongue are called tomia. Made of cartilage, these tomia are attached to the tongue and beak and are not separate body parts. They function much as our teeth do.
Osprey Double-Deal
This osprey really just lucked out. Attached to the fish it just caught is a large crab, who probably wasn’t happy about its meal being snatched from above. Redditors are jokingly calling the situation a BOGO (buy one, get one free) deal.
Frozen Bamboo Forest
This strangely beautiful photo was taken in the Arashimaya bamboo forest in Kyoto, Japan. It is otherworldly – like it’s straight from a fairytale. In the spring, the ice melts but the bamboo forest is just as magical.
The ‘Old Lady’ Mountains
The serenity of this photograph is a bit misleading — this mountain in Kerlingafjöll, Iceland, is actually an ancient volcano. The volcano was formed during the last ice age and covers over 140 square kilometers. It is estimated to be between 336,000 and 79,000 years old.
A Monarch Caterpillar
This photo by Redditor RichardMcNixon is humorously titled ‘Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar Sloppily Eats Leaf.” The monarch caterpillar eats an enormous amount to get as big as it can before spinning a cocoon. Then, it becomes a chrysalis and emerges as a monarch butterfly.
Surreal Lightning
This photograph was taken at the exact moment a lightning strike coincided with a volcanic eruption. This phenomenon is called a ‘dirty thunderstorm.’ The phenomenon is not actually that uncommon, but such a clear image of one happening is very rare indeed.
Gorgeous Duckling
This is so wholesome you can’t help but smile. This photograph beautifully captures the moment a tiny little duckling walks across some lily pads. Images like these are why we keep browsing the internet.
Where Lake Meets Sky
This is Lake Sørvágsvatn, the largest lake in the Faroe Islands. From above, the lake seems to hang in the sky. Although it looks like it’s hundreds of feet above sea level, this is actually a spectacular optical illusion. In actuality, the elevation difference between the lake and the ocean is only about 30 meters.
Absolute Perfection
This white camellia flower is so perfect that it looks a little unreal – there is not a single flaw. The soft petals follow a perfect Fibonacci sequence and the soft gradient color blushes gorgeously from the center. Nature is truly beautiful.
Serenity
This photo captured the view from inside Cathedral Gorge Canyon as the moon reached a perfect position. Although the Redditor who posted the picture claimed that it’s waxing, it’s actually waning. Nevertheless, this picture is breathtaking.
Balance
The Asiatic Ibex seeks refuge from land predators by climbing the sheer cliffs of the surrounding mountains. These gravity-defying creatures have evolved to find the tiniest purchase on the rockface with their hooves. Don’t worry about him – he is perfectly at home here.
Poppy Hills
In Northern California you’ll find fields splotched with vibrant orange that stretch as far as the eye can see. These are wild poppy fields. Incidentally, it is illegal to pick flowers that grow on land you don’t own in California, so Instagrammers are advised to leave them be. What a dreamy landscape!
Watermelon Avenue
Believe it or not, this photo was taken without a filter. These surreal colors occur in a salt lake in Australia called Lake Macdonnell. The pink hue is caused by salt-loving algae and bacteria. On sunny days, the lake goes from turquoise to a striking pink. We can see why this area is called ‘Watermelon Avenue’ – simply stunning.
🔥 Lake Macdonnell—a salt lake in Australia that’s also known as the Watermelon Avenue. from r/NatureIsFuckingLit
Sparkling Sunset
This photo manages to capture the last rays of the sun as it sets over a herd of sheep in Galiza, Spain. The simple beauty of the natural landscape is absolutely incredible. The way the sun’s rays shatter into tiny rainbows as they hit the valley is a sight to behold.
Baby Octopuses
Now here’s something most people have never seen before: baby octopuses. What a rare sight! One of nature’s weirder marvels, octopuses have three hearts, blue blood, and a sophisticated memory. They are also known to be highly intelligent.
Picture-Perfect
This photograph was taken in Alberta, Canada. The scene is so breathtaking that it looks like an oil painting. I could look at this picture all day and feel my worries melt away.
Croatia National Park
Visiting the unreal landscapes in Croatia’s national parks is on many a bucket list. Teeming with wildlife and dreamy waterfalls, there are eight national parks in Croatia worth visiting. Most of these attractions are also preserved heritage sights.
Golden Horse
This majestic horse is the Golden horse of Turkmenistan. The breed is also known as Akhal Teke. This regal horse looks like it’s straight out of a fairytale!
Saturniidae Caterpillar
This caterpillar could have come straight out of Alice in Wonderland. Its psychedelic coloring seems unreal. Although Redditors are skeptical and say that the image has been doctored to be more vibrant than it really is, its shape is still beautifully unique.
Aurora Australis
This is the aurora borealis’ lesser-known counterpart from the south, the aurora australis. Equally beautiful, the northern and southern lights are a well-documented phenomenon. Captured in all its vivid glory, this photograph was taken in Tazmania – the most southern landmass.
🔥 The Aurora Australis. Image captured in Southern Tasmania by Ryan Shan 🔥 from r/NatureIsFuckingLit
Geometry Tree
This peculiar pattern of branching in the geometry tree resembles a molecule. Its scientific name is Bucida buceras, and it’s native to Florida. It can grow to 50 feet in height.
Marble Alligator
Although it is a predatory disadvantage for their environment (their prey can spot them easily), the albino alligator looks just like a marble statue. If you’d like to see a living albino alligator up close, you can visit Claude at the S.F. Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park.
A Spider’s ‘Paw’
This image gives everyone who sees it a new perspective on spiders. Netizens everywhere are beside themselves at the fact that spiders have adorable ‘paws.’ “It’s like one fuzzy toe bean,” one Redditor observed, and we couldn’t agree more!
Spectacular Cloudscape
This is another rarely-seen image – it was taken from a plane. The clouds that scud below the plane resemble a stunning cloudscape. The clouds seem to roil and form a tangible barrier between the plane and the earth – the result is magical.
Shooting Deer
While the caption for this image is alarming, the Redditor who posted it was quick to reassure us that they were only ‘shooting’ deer with their Nikon camera. This photo depicts two deer locked in a battle over a mate – not an uncommon sight. But the shot is so crisp and clear that it feels like we are watching them close up.
The Tip of the Iceberg
This photograph perfectly encapsulates the old adage “just the tip of the iceberg.” Only now we can actually see what that really means. Lurking above the surface are icebergs as big as mountains.
1,400-Year-Old Ginko Tree
A Redditor wrote: “According to legend this ginkgo tree was planted for Emperor Li Shimin, the second imperial ruler of the Tang Dynasty, around 629- 649.” And what a spectacular sight it is! But, apparently, ginko trees have a very pungent smell, so their presence is not always welcomed.
Haleakala Silversword
This breathtaking tree is found only in one place on earth: Maui’s tallest summit in Hawaii, USA. The shot is perfectly transposed with a time-lapse of the stars above, giving the impression that the sky is living and breathing. The photo is absolutely soul-soothing.
🔥 The Haleakala Silversword grows high up on Maui’s tallest summit — and nowhere else on Earth – Maui, Hawaii, USA from r/NatureIsFuckingLit
Lightning Over The Grand Canyon
This spectacular image of lightning flickering over the Grand Canyon is weirdly beautiful. The shot was made by using a long exposure setting – the lightning was exposed for a fraction of a second, but the canyon was exposed for a few minutes. This enabled the photographer to capture such a striking moment.
Alien Landscape
This is Socotra Island, also known as the most alien-looking place on earth. The tree in this shot is the Socotra Dragon tree, also known as the dragon’s blood tree due to its red sap.
Poison Dart Frog
This is a blue poison arrow frog or blue poison dart frog. This frog is found in the forests surrounded by the Sipaliwini Savanna in southern Suriname and also in northern Brazil. This frog is poisonous and can be fatal to humans.
Kelp Forest
There are kelp forests in the ocean that are otherworldly and beautiful. Seals and fish swim through the fronds, creating a strange illusion of fish ‘flying’ through the dense canopy. They are a hub of marine activity and have an incredibly diverse ecosystem.
Dwarf Gecko
This cute little guy is so small that Redditors are calling it “illegally smol.” This microgecko is actually called a Latifi’s dwarf gecko (there’s a typo in the Reddit title). Found in Iran, it is also known as a Zagros tiny gecko. How sweet!
Lightning-Struck Flag
The distinctive fern-like pattern that lightning causes when it strikes a person or grass is called a Lichtenberg figure. These branching tree-like patterns are commonly found on golf courses and grassy meadows. Lichtenberg figures are created by the high voltage of an electrical discharge along a surface or inside electrically insulating materials.
Sleepy Fox
Here’s another wholesome picture. This fox was taking a nap on a tree branch in the woods of Vosges, France. It’s just too adorable.
Colorful Crab
The Sally Lightfoot or Red Rock crab is commonly found along the western coast of America. Although these crabs are brightly-colored scavengers, they are absolutely beautiful.
Shining Like Diamonds
This macro shot of water droplets is just beautiful. The way the droplets catch the light makes them look like clear crystals or diamonds. Nature is amazing.
Flying Ray
It’s a little-known fact that rays can breach the water just like dolphins do. Scientists still don’t know why they do it, but they think that it may be to get rid of parasites. It’s a rare and majestic sight.
Grey Peacock
You’ve probably seen many pictures of brightly-colored peacocks throughout your life, but have you ever seen a grey one? This one is actually a ‘pied’ peacock and has a genetic defect. This defect would be detrimental in the wild, but in captivity, it’s beautiful and unusual.
Majestic Kudu
This kudu is so handsome and majestic that it’s hard to stop looking at him. The male kudus have massive, long, spiral horns that can reach lengths of up to 1.8 m. Kudus are the second biggest antelope, reaching an impressive weight of 315 kg.
Blue Snail
This snail is a glass snail with a striking blue body. surprisingly, glass snails are carnivorous. They’ll eat anything from other snails to slugs and earthworms. They are identified by their relatively smooth and translucent shells.
Emerald Beetle
This macro shot of an emerald ash borer beetle really showcases its shimmering emerald wings. it is a jewel beetle found in north-eastern Asia. It feeds on ash trees.
Baobab Magic
Native to Madagascar, mainland Africa, and Australia, baobab trees make for a very alien-looking landscape. Did you know that baobab trees are actually a type of succulent plant? They can grow to enormous size and are thought to live for 3,000 years.
Glow Worms
The Waitomo caves in New Zealand are home to hundreds of glow worms. The Arachnocampa Luminosa is a glowworm species found exclusively in New Zealand, so to see them lighting up a dark cave is a rare sight indeed.
Spotted Tortoise Beetle
Found throughout Southeast Asia and India, these tiny spotted tortoise beetles look like they are made from blown glass. It measures only 1.5 cm. The spotted tortoise beetle voraciously eats plants of the Ipomoea family, which includes the sweet potato.
Nicobar Pigeon
Who would have thought that not all pigeons are drab? This guy has the most beautiful and colorful plumage and is the only living member of the genus Caloenus. You can find them in the Islands of Nicobar, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Solomans, and Palau.
Northern Tamandua
Such an alien-looking creature walking through the rain makes for an incredible shot. The northern tamandua is a type of anteater. They live in forests in southern Mexico, Central America, and the northern Andes.
Cavernas do Peruaçu National Park
Visiting the Cavernas do Peruaçu National Park is definitely one for the bucket list. Famous for its huge limestone caves, the park is a protected area, consisting of eight caves that are open to the public. This particular shot was taken inside the Janelão cave.
Royal Starfish
The royal starfish is a deep purple color and named for its regal appearance. The striking purple color extends over all five arms and the edges of the entire starfish are a vibrant orange-gold color. Unlike other starfish, the tube feet of the royal starfish do not have suckers.
Quiver Tree
This is one of the strangest looking trees on earth. Surprisingly, it is a part of the aloe family. Quiver trees are endemic to South Africa and Namibia. Like the equally alien-looking baobab tree, it is also a succulent. They can reach a height of nine meters.
🔥 Aloe dichotoma, also known as the Quiver Tree. This strange-looking tree, which belongs to the aloe family, is primarily found along South Africa’s Northern Cape region as well as in select parts of southern Namibia. from r/NatureIsFuckingLit
Mouse in a Tulip
This gorgeous picture has a ‘squeee’ factor of 10. The adorable little guy found shelter inside a bright yellow tulip. The cute photo looks like it belongs in a children’s book!
Arctic Fox
This adorably fuzzy little guy is an Arctic fox, also known as a white fox, polar fox, or snow fox. Its thick white fur is the perfect camouflage because it blends into the snow. Don’t worry about him out in the cold, his coat is unbelievably warm!
We hope you found these rare images as awe-inspiring as we did. Idyllic landscapes, beautiful creatures, and natural phenomena prove that nature is absolutely astounding. Life is a beautiful masterpiece, and every tree and animal has its place in it.
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