Technology has helped mankind invent things that might seem a miracle to someone from the last century. But however advanced technology gets, it still cannot beat nature. The natural world never fails to astonish us with its various landscapes, phenomena, or even disasters. Just when we think we have seen it all, nature throws us a surprise that we probably had no idea about. If the Northern Lights fascinate you and if you are someone who wants to know why Horsetail falls at Yosemite looks like liquid gold at a certain time of the year, we can guarantee you that you will love these three weird phenomena from the world of nature.
Frozen methane bubbles, Canada
In Alberta Canada lies the artificial Lake Abraham, which happens to be the largest water reservoir in the city. Despite being man-made, the extreme blue color of the water and the Canadian Rockies on the background make this place a huge draw among tourists. There is one other phenomenon though that makes this place surreal. There are frozen bubbles under the surface which makes the lake looks like it is studded with stones. In reality, they are trapped methane gas which can be dangerous if the bubbles burst. It happens when dead organic matter falls into the lake to be eaten by the bacteria residing at the bottom. The bacteria then release methane gas which turns into white bubbles when it reaches the frozen surface. However, since methane is worse than carbon dioxide, we hope that scientists are finding out ways to get rid of the gas. Till then, we can enjoy the lovely Lake Abraham and the stunning view.
Blood Falls, Antarctica
The Blood Falls Of Antarctica was first discovered in 1911 by Australian geologist, Griffith Taylor. The glacier from which it flows came to be known as the Taylor glacier. However, it took years for scientists to finally unravel the truth behind the blood-colored falls. Scientists thought initially that there were some algae that were doing this to the water. But turns out it is a lot more complicated than that. A team of scientists found out that the red color comes from oxidized iron. When the iron in the water comes into contact with oxygen, it turns into rust, and in brine water, it takes the color of deep red.
Fairy Circles, Namibia
The fairy circles of Namibia was another natural phenomenon that had puzzled scientists over decades. Found abundantly in the Namib desert, these circular patches are often lined by a dense growth of grass with a barren center. There are two major theories to explain this phenomenon. The first one says that since water is scarce in this area, there is an underground competition between smaller and bigger plants. The latter obviously wins and the death of the smaller ones result to the bare, barren patches. The other theory is that there is a certain kind of termite under the circular patches which don’t allow plants to grow around their nest.
Nature is perhaps the biggest magician in the world, and these three, among many others, are just some of the most fascinating natural phenomena out there.