Parks, canyons, lakes or craters are all natural wonders to discover during a stay in the United States.
Par
Didier Forray
Published
This content is not accessible.
To UNITED STATES, nature loves fantasy, and it is an integral component when preparing for a trip to the other side of the Atlantic. Our selection invites you to discover 10 spectacular natural curiosities, from the plains of Wyoming to the southern tip of the Florida.
You can admire the work of erosion in Monument Valley, slide down the white sand dunes of White Sands and walk in the footsteps of astronauts in Meteor Crater. Geology in all its states.
This content is not accessible.
” READ ALSO – Passport, Esta… What are the travel formalities in the United States?
1. Grand Prismatic Spring (Wyoming): a prism of bubbling water
This content is not accessible.
The Grand Prismatic Spring is the most surprising attraction of the national park of Yellowstone. This pool of quivering water, 112 meters in diameter and 37 meters deep, looks like a giant kaleidoscope. On its surface, an incredible gradient of bright colors stretches in concentric circles. Unprecedented colors caused by microorganisms that proliferate in hot water.
For a bird’s-eye view of Grand Prismatic Spring, take a step back to the headland of the Grand Prismatic Overlook.
” READ ALSO – From Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, which are the most visited American national parks?
2. Devil’s Tower (Wyoming): a mountain of the 3rd type
This content is not accessible.
Devil’s Tower rises in the middle of the plains of Wyoming. This strange rock formation, carved by erosion in the shape of a column, rises to about 386 meters high. The Devil’s Tower is a sacred place for the Sioux and other Native American tribes in the region. It also marks the location of the final scene of the film Encounter of the Third Kind, directed in 1977 by Steven Spielberg.
Follow the Tower Trail, a 2.9 km path that allows you to go completely around the Devil’s Tower and enjoy the panorama of the valley.
3. Crater Lake (Oregon): a lake with a volcanic temperament
This content is not accessible.
Crater Lake is the result of a tremendous cataclysm. This lake in southern Oregon was created about 7,700 years ago by the eruption of Mount Mazama. The volcano is now dormant and its lake is the deepest in the United States, with a maximum depth of 594 meters. A majestic place, to discover in any season. Depending on the light, the lake changes from intense blue to emerald green.
This content is not accessible.
You will discover different points of view on the lake by following the Crater Lake Rim Drive. This road makes a loop of 53 km around the lake.
” READ ALSO – Ten Most Iconic Landmarks in the United States
4. The Mittens of Monument Valley (Arizona): a Western setting
This content is not accessible.
In the heart of Monument Valley National Park, on the territory of the Navajo Indians, the West and East Mitten Buttes immerse you in the setting of a Western. These two large characteristic mounds, of red sandstone and clay, dominate the desert from nearly 200 meters high. A grandiose setting to explore preferably at sunset.
Make your way to John Ford’s Point, Monument Valley’s most impressive lookout point. The venue was named after Westerns director John Ford.
” READ ALSO – Trip to Texas, Western atmosphere
5. Horseshoe Bend (Arizona): the most beautiful loop in Colorado
This content is not accessible.
4.5 hours drive from Las Vegas, Horseshoe Bend stands out as one of the most impressive bends in the Colorado River. Since the uplift of the eponymous plateau 5 million years ago, the river has slowly cut a horseshoe-shaped bend in the sandstone layers. The place, popularized by the arrival of Instagram, offers a breathtaking panorama of the canyon.
The majority of tourists are content with the main point of view. Continue to the Colorado River Viewpoint for an unusual perspective.
This content is not accessible.
6. Meteor Crater (Arizona): encounter with a meteorite
This content is not accessible.
The Meteor crater bears witness to the brutal collision between the earth and a meteorite weighing more than 300,000 tons, 50,000 years ago. The result ? An incredible crater about 1200 meters in diameter for nearly 200 meters deep. The place was used in the 1960s as a NASA training ground for astronauts bound for the moon.
Near the crater, visit the Meteor Crater Discovery Center, which tells the story of its formation, and the Barringer Space Museum, a museum dedicated to space.
7. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona): a petrified forest
This content is not accessible.
Between Phoenix and Albuquerque, the Petrified Forest National Park is a strange forest made up of thousands of fossilized tree trunks. The forest originated about 200 million years ago, when silica from sediments replaced dead plant matter. Don’t miss the Agate Bridge, a natural arch formed by a long petrified trunk that reaches over 30 meters in length.
Explore the northern part of the park and discover the “Painted Desert”, a desert of rocks in ocher and red tones.
” READ ALSO – The ten national parks to see in the United States
8. Delicate Arch (Utah): a challenge to gravity
This content is not accessible.
Between Salt Lake City and Denver, Arches National Park is home to more than 2,000 natural stone arches. But the park has its star: the Delicate Arch. This 20 meter high and 14 meter wide arch is by far the most popular, with its perfect shape and sensational perspective. Its origin goes back more than 70 million years and it bears witness to the patient work of erosion.
Admire Landscape Arch, the longest arch in the park. This real stone bridge reaches 89 meters in length and rises more than 32 meters above the ground.
9. White Sands (New Mexico): a white sand desert
This content is not accessible.
The desert of White Sands stands out as the largest gypsum desert in the world. The wind forms elegant dunes of white sand that cover half the area of the desert. A particularly photogenic place. A 13 km circuit allows you to discover the most spectacular places. The desert is also intended to be fun: a dune has been set up to accommodate a toboggan run!
Get away from the tourists and set off on the Alkali Flat Trailhead, a hiking trail that makes a beautiful 8 km loop in the heart of the desert.
10. Archipelago of the Keys (Florida): the American Caribbean
This content is not accessible.
At the southeastern end of the United States, theKeys archipelago draws a long link between Florida and the Caribbean. The 1700 islands stretch over nearly 200 km from Key Largo to Key West, offering a sublime postcard setting, between white sand beaches, palm trees and turquoise waters. Diving enthusiasts will explore the only barrier reef in the United States.
Visit the home of writer Ernest Hemingway in Key West. The author of Old Man and the Sea and Farewell to Arms lived in the Keys from 1927 to 1939.
See also – What are the most visited monuments in the world?
2023-05-04 05:00:00
#beautiful #natural #sites #USA
