3 Must-See Natural Wonders In Asia
Listed below are some of our favourite natural wonders in Asia:
Living Root Bridges, India
The living bridges of Cherrapunji, India are made from the roots of the Ficus elastica tree. This tree produces a series of secondary roots from higher up its trunk and can comfortably perch atop huge boulders along the riverbanks, or even in the middle of the rivers themselves.
A living root bridge is formed by guiding the pliable roots of the Ficus elastica tree across a stream or river, and then allowing the roots to grow and strengthen over time until they can hold the weight of a human being.
As long as the tree from which it is formed remains healthy, the roots in the bridge can naturally grow thick and strengthen. New roots can grow throughout the tree’s life and must be pruned or manipulated to strengthen the bridge.
Hang Son Doong Cave, Vietnam
Hang Son Doong Cave is considered the largest cave in the world, based on volume. According to Oxalis, the only company licensed to bring tourists into the cave, it is so big that you could fit a New York City block with 40-story skyscrapers inside it.
Set within Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam, it was first discovered in 1991 by a local named Ho Khanh and was only explored by the British Cave Research Association in 2009.
Its name, Hang Sơn Đoòng, is variously translated from Vietnamese as ‘cave of the mountain river’ or ‘cave of mountains behind Đoòng [village].’
Zhangye Danxia Landform, China
Also known as the Rainbow Mountains, the Zhangye Danxia Landform is a geological wonder of the world as the rock formations and rolling hills almost look as if they were painted.
The Zhangye Danxia National Park is located in the Gansu province in China’s northwest covering 200 square miles. The site was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.
The colorful landscapes were created by sandstone and minerals being layered atop each other over the years with the tectonic plates shifting creating angled painted layers across the rock formation and sandstone rolling hills.