8 national parks that are home to the most iconic natural landmarks

From towering mountains that pierce the sky to colossal waterfalls, ancient monoliths, and vast canyons carved over millions of years, these landmarks draw travellers from across the world. While the famous feature may be the star attraction, the surrounding national park often protects an entire ecosystem of forests, wildlife, rivers, and geological wonders. Here are some national parks around the world that are home to globally recognised natural landmarks.

One of the most visually striking natural features on Earth, the Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. Located in Yellowstone National Park’s Midway Geyser Basin, the spring is famous for its extraordinary rainbow-like colours, deep blue at the centre, surrounded by rings of green, yellow, orange, and red created by heat-loving microorganisms. It measures around 112 metres across and more than 30 metres deep. It has become one of Yellowstone’s most photographed attractions.

Few landscapes on Earth are as instantly recognisable as the Grand Canyon. This is a gorge carved over millions of years by the Colorado River, stretching over 446 kilometers in length and over 1,800 meters deep at its deepest points. The canyon is contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, and the multicolored rock strata show geological history stretching back nearly two billion years. The viewpoints from the South Rim and North Rim offer some of the most spectacular scenery in North America.

The highest mountain in the world is located in the Himalayas, in the Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal. Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, stands tall at a height of 8,848.86 metres. The park is also home to glaciers, deep valleys, and villages of the Sherpa people, apart from the majestic mountain. Trekking enthusiasts visit the park to visit the Everest Base Camp and see the majestic mountain.

Located in the heart of the Australian desert, Uluru is one of the most famous landmarks in the Southern Hemisphere. This massive sandstone rock structure is about 348 metres tall and has a circumference of about 9 kilometres at its base. This majestic landmark is situated within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which is a significant religious site for the indigenous Anangu people of the region.

Victoria Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in the world, situated at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. This magnificent waterfall is also called ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya,’ which means ‘The Smoke That Thunders.’ This waterfall site stretches to a distance of more than 1.7 kilometers, with a drop of more than 100 meters into a spectacular gorge.

Half Dome is one of the most famous rock formations in the world, and one of the most famous features of the park. Rising 1,500 metres above the valley, the granite dome looks like the half of the mountain has been sliced off. It has become a symbol of American wilderness and attracts thousands of hikers every year who attempt the famous cable-assisted climb to its summit.

Hidden within the dramatic table-top mountains of Canaima National Park, Angel Falls is the tallest waterfall on Earth. Water plunges from a height of about 979 metres from the summit of the Auyán-tepui plateau. The isolated jungle surroundings and the cliffs that surround the waterfalls make the waterfalls seem like a mythical place, and they are one of the most spectacular landmarks in South America.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, rising 5,895 meters above the plains of Tanzania. Situated in the heart of the Kilimanjaro National Park, the mountain is a dormant volcano with snow-capped peaks rising high into the tropical plains. Its unique zones of rainforests, alpine meadows, and desert are some of the most spectacular trekking routes in the world.