Natural Phenomena You Have To See To Believe

The world works in magical ways. There’s beauty in the unexplainable. Scientists have worked hard to crack down exactly why and how some of these natural beauties have come to exist.

But alas, some things cannot be proven with the scientific method. Sometimes, you just have to see it to believe it.

Monarch Migration, Mexico

Every fall, this forest in Mexico turns completely orange. We can thank the Monarch Butterflies for that. They fly roughly 2,800 miles south from Canada and the U.S to escape the colder months of the year. This forest in Mexico has been their migratory destination for years. They leave in August, land in November, and stay until early Spring.

Coral Spawning, Bonaire

Coral reefs are living organisms and like other living organisms, they too reproduce. It just so happens that their spawning period is very particular and quite possibly one of the more incredible spectacles in nature. Colonies of coral reefs take their cues from the lunar cycle and the temperature of the water. When it’s time, usually in the months of August through November, multiple colonies release their sperm and eggs, gametes, into the water at the same time. The synching is important because this colorful flurry of gametes makes for a better chance at reproduction.

Aurora Borealis, Norway

The Aurora Borealis is a magnificent light show caused by light particles from the sun interacting with the gases in our atmosphere, like oxygen and nitrogen. Although they’re most closely associated with Alaska, they can actually be seen in both hemispheres. The ones we’re familiar with in the northern hemisphere, the Northern Lights, can be seen in Alaska, northern parts of Canada, Norway, and Sweden. In the southern hemisphere, they’re referred to as Southern Lights.

Frost Flowers

Something amazing happens in a small Finnish lake called Lake Tahkon every winter. While they look like snowy, white flowers, they aren’t. They’re merely ice that has accumulated on a flat ice surface, forming floral patterns. It sure does look incredible, though.