Can You Identify All of These Wonders of the Natural World?

By: Beth Hendricks
Estimated Completion Time
6 min
Can You Identify All of These Wonders of the Natural World?
Image: © Marco Bottigelli / Moment / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Many people make bucket lists; that is, lists of things they want to accomplish before they kick, well, the proverbial bucket. Some want to do crazy activities such as BASE jumping or kitesurfing. Others aim to learn new hobbies, like learning to play an instrument or taking up archery. Still, others choose to populate their bucket list with a list of “must-see” attractions the world over. 

Hike the to top of Pike’s Peak? Check! Swim in the world’s largest swimming pool? (It’s in Chile, by the way.) Check! Go over Niagara Falls in a barrel? OK, maybe not that one so much. But this world is full of amazing natural wonders from the sky to the sea and everywhere in between that are worthy of any bucket list: The Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, the super salty Dead Sea in the Jordan Rift Valley.

So, allow us to help you compile your personal travel bucket list! We’ve put together roughly 40 of the world’s most iconic natural wonders, sights and places that are just begging for you to explore. From the high elevations of the North Pole to way “Down Under,” see if you can pinpoint these wondrous locations on a map (or maybe just this quiz). Bon voyage!

1-Yellowstone-NEW
Image Source / Image Source / Getty Images
You’ll find “Old Faithful” here and if you time it right, you’ll get to see it erupt. Where would you find it?
Yellowstone National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Zion National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yellowstone National Park in parts of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana contains a number of significant sites, including the geyser known as “Old Faithful” and an active supervolcano known as the Yellowstone Caldera, situated beneath Yellowstone Lake.

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2-Grand-Canyon
Matteo Colombo / Moment / Getty Images
It's a natural wonder bigger than the entire state of Rhode Island. Which of these are we talking about?
The Grand Canyon
Death Valley National Park
Red Rock
Sahara Desert
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It’s not named the “Grand” Canyon for nothing! Spanning 277 miles long and up to one mile deep, this natural wonder is a perennial favorite on bucket lists everywhere. It’s hard to imagine it being larger than a state, but at more than 1,900 square miles, it eclipses Rhode Island’s 1,200 square miles.

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3-Great-Barrier-reef
Felix Martinez / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these breathtaking sights has been captured on satellite images from space?
The Statue of Liberty
The Missouri River
Sydney Opera House
Great Barrier Reef
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

No, it’s not the Great Wall of China, but the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, Australia’s, coastline. It is notable for being both the world’s largest coral reef and the world’s largest living structure.

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4-Pulpit-Rock
Morten Falch Sortland / Moment / Getty Images
Compressed air from this Norwegian wonder is being sold to other countries. What religious-sounding spot is it?
Stonehenge
The Grand Canyon
Pulpit Rock
The Great Wall of China
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Located in Preikestolen, Norway, Preikestolen, or “Pulpit Rock” as it’s known in English, is a tourist destination visited by more than 200,000 people annually. At almost 2,000 feet high, it is a popular site for BASE jumpers who like to fling themselves off tall objects.

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5-Cliffs-Of-Moher
George Karbus Photography / Cultura / Getty Images
No autographs, please. Which of these natural wonders has been featured in movies like “The Princess Bride” and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”?
Carlsbad Caverns
Taj Mahal
Cliffs of Moher
Golden Gate Bridge
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thanks to their striking appearance, the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland have served as a backdrop for many movies, including “The Princess Bride” in 1987 and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” 20 years later. At its highest point, the cliffs are 700 feet high.

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6-Dead-Sea
Artur Debat / Moment / Getty Images
You may not be able to walk on water, but if you visit this natural wonder, you probably can float on top of it without much effort. What are we talking about?
The Dead Sea
The Atlantic Ocean
Lake Michigan
The Mississippi River
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Dead Sea is known as one of the saltiest bodies of water on earth, with salinity reaching near 34%. This causes the water to be more dense than typical bodies of water. Because of that, and the fact our bodies are less dense than the water, it becomes easier to float atop this sea.

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8-Matterhorn
thipjang / Moment / Getty Images
You can find this natural landmark on the packaging of a popular type of chocolate. What is this landmark’s name?
Mount Everest
The Matterhorn
Mount Bear
Pike's Peak
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You may know of The Matterhorn from the ride at Disneyland, but the real Matterhorn soars more than 14,000 feet above sea level in Zermatt, Switzerland. It has become synonymous with the Swiss chocolatier, Toblerone, appearing on the candy’s packaging dating back to 1960.

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9-Mt-Kilimanjaro
1001slide / E+ / Getty Images
It’s the highest freestanding mountain in the world and boasts three volcanic cones, one of which is still active. What is its name?
Fitz Roy
Mount Olympus
Denali
Mount Kilimanjaro
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the most well-known mountains in the world, attracting visitors and would-be climbers from all over the world. Of its three volcanic cones – Shira, Mawenzi and Kibo – only Kibo is currently dormant (meaning it could still erupt).

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10-Ulurusunrise_SteveStrike_08
Wiki Commons by Steve Strike
This popular Australian landmark doesn’t change colors (not really), but it does give that appearance. What is its name?
Stone Mountain
Pike's Peak
Ayers Rock
42 Wallaby Way
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ayers Rock, known also as Uluru, is a sandstone rock formation that rises more than 1,140 feet into the air in central Australia. It is noted by those who’ve seen it for appearing to change colors, although that is simply a result of shifts in lighting during the day and at different points during the year.

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11-Guanabara-Bay
Flavio Veloso / Moment / Getty Images
Jesus Christ overlooks this breathtaking locale in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. What is the area called?
Green Bay
Manila Bay
Guanabara Bay
Bay of Biscay
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Many people are familiar with the site of the towering Christ the Redeemer statue, but few know the name of the area this religion monument overlooks. Guanabara Bay is made up of more than 130 different islands, but its ecosystem has taken a major hit in recent years due to urbanization and pollution.

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12-Victoria-Falls
WR Mekwi / Moment / Getty Images
This natural wonder was named by an explorer for a member of the English monarchy. Which “falls” is it?
Blackwater Falls
Angel Falls
Niagara Falls
Victoria Falls
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you guessed Victoria Fall, named for none other than Queen Victoria, you might be part British (or at least history savvy). Queen Victoria was the reigning monarch when explorer David Livingstone stumbled upon the falls near the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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13-Monument-Valley
Basic Elements Photography / Moment / Getty Images
If you travel to this site, you can check out “The Mittens,” but you can’t wear them. Where is this landmark located?
Monument Valley
Winter Park
The Arctic Circle
Cold Stone
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Located inside of Monument Valley on the border of Utah and Arizona, “The Mittens” aren’t mittens at all but sandstone buttes in the shape of a pair of mittens. The remainder of Monument Valley, all 92,000 acres of it, comprises other buttes jutting from the ground like, well, monuments.

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15-Trango-Towers
Nadeem Khawar / Moment / Getty Images
One of this site’s peaks was named after a song by the Bangles known as “Eternal Flame.” Where can you find it?
Sears Tower
Trango Towers
Mount Rushmore
Rocky Mountains
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A route to climbing Trango Tower’s “Nameless” peak was discovered in 1989 and subsequently named for the Bangles' song, “Eternal Flame,” released one year prior. The song rose to No. 1 in eight countries, while the nameless peak rises more than 20,000 feet into the Pakistani skyline.

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16-Marble-Caves
Adria Photography / Moment / Getty Images
You better have a boat if you want to travel to this wonder located in Lake General Carrera, spanning the Chile-Argentina border. What is it called?
Carlsbad Caverns
The Alamo
The Space Needle
Marble Caves
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thank centuries of erosion for this breathtaking sight. The Marble Caves, also known as the Marble Cathedral, have been carved out of a peninsula of solid marble thanks to the movement of the water around it. The inside of these caves is marbled, just as their name portrays.

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17-Lauterbrunen
AaronChenPs / Moment / Getty Images
The meaning of this locale’s name is appropriate, given its 72 waterfalls. Which wonder are we referencing?
Lauterbrunnen Valley
Hidden Valley
Lily of the Valley
Valley of the Dolls
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

“Lauter Brunnen,” which means “many fountains,” is appropriate for this Swiss valley. Its 72 waterfalls include the most famous, Staubbach Falls. Noted poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was said to have been inspired in his writing by this lush area.

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18-Fairy-Chimneys
Michele D'Amico supersky77 / Moment / Getty Images
Rock formations here were caused by volcanic eruptions – no pixie dust required. What are these structures known as?
Neverland Flowers
Fairy Chimneys
Giza Pyramids
Shilin Stone Forest
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Fairy Chimneys at Cappadocia in Turkey were formed by volcanic eruptions that were later molded and shaped by wind and weather to give them their unique towering shape. Today, these rock formations are the site of homes and boutique hotels for travelers who want a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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Mud volcanoes, Azerbaijan
Simon Tonge / Moment Open / Getty Images
Bathe in a volcanic eruption? Why not! Where can you find this opportunity?
Mud Volcanoes
Lava Mountain
Loch Ness
Niagara Falls
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Mud Volcanoes in Azerbaijan are live, small volcanoes that emit mud dollops on a consistent basis. Because locals and travelers familiar with the area have come to associate healing properties with the mud, you can find people visiting here just to slather themselves in the material. Mud bath anyone?

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20-Northern-Lights
Nutexzles / Moment / Getty Images
Legend has it this natural feature was a lighted pathway to guide people to heaven. What do we know it as?
Victoria Falls
Fairy Lights
Northern Lights
Aurora Channel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Scientists say that the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are around all the time – even during the day. (You just can’t see them well then.) Many legends have surrounded the Northern Lights over the centuries, including the belief among some that the lights were a pathway for the souls of the dead to find their way to heaven.

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21-ParicutinMichoacan001
Wiki Commons by AlejandroLinaresGarcia
Oh, when natural wonders grow up! Which of these were scientists able to observe from formation through extinction?
The Great Lakes
The Gulf of Mexico
Rocky Mountains
Parícutin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Parícutin got its start in a farmer’s cornfield, springing up out of nowhere to spew ash and fumes into the air. It marks one of the only times that scientists have been able to watch the formation of a natural landmark, from its birth to its eventual extinction in the early 1950s.

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22-Amazon-Rainforest
by Kim Schandorff / Moment / Getty Images
It’s home to 10% of known species on the planet, akin to its online namesake that boasts more than 12 million products. What is this natural wonder?
Eiffel Tower
Victoria Falls
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
Amazon Rainforest
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If the Amazon Rainforest were a country, it would be the world’s ninth largest, which explains why it has plenty of space for 10% of the known species on the planet. Fun fact: Amazon.com (which is not connected to the rainforest) is just as massive, boasting 12 million products, not including the ones its Marketplace sellers list.

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23-Ngorogoro
Walter Stein / Moment Open / Getty Images
This covers more than 100 square miles of surface area in Tanzania. What is it known as?
Gulf of Mexico
The St. Louis Arch
Ngorongoro Crater
Stonehenge
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

That’s some crater! It wasn’t caused by a giant meteor or an alien spaceship hurtling to Earth (although that would be a cool story). Instead, it came as a result of a volcano exploding in on itself, leaving a massive crater, now known as the Ngorongoro Crater, in its wake.

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24-Lake-Baikal
Punnawit Suwuttananun / Moment / Getty Images
It’s the world’s deepest and largest lake, but you’ll have to travel to Siberia to see it. What is its name?
Lake Baikal
Lake Erie
Lake Tahoe
Lake Superior
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lake Baikal in the Siberia region of Russia is so large, it accounts for roughly 20 percent of all of the fresh water in the world. Of course, no good giant-sized lake would be complete without its own legend; Lake Baikal is said to boast the Baikal Monster.

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25-Maldives
Abllo Ameer / Moment / Getty Images
Scientists say this breathtaking locale will be completely underwater by the end of the century. Where do you need to travel to see it before it happens?
California
The Maldives
The Galapagos Islands
Newfoundland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A tropical country located in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a resort retreat for many. It is made up almost entirely of water, a fact that scientists say will be its undoing. Unless something changes, the more than 1,000 coral islands that make up the nation will be underwater by the end of the century.

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26-Blue-Lagoon
Samuli Vainionpää / Moment / Getty Images
It may feel hot to you, but this site’s water actually cools from more than 460 degrees underground to a comfortable 100 degrees by the time it reaches you. What wonder are we talking about?
Blue Lagoon
Gulf of Mexico
Strait of Gibraltar
Pacific Ocean
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa in Keflavik, Iceland, may seem hot, but it’s nothing compared to the temperature of the water underground – a steamy 460 degrees. The water cools to approximately 100 degrees at the surface, where travelers choose to bathe and relax.

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27-Jeju-Island
Tuomas Lehtinen / Moment / Getty Images
Have you ever heard of lateral volcanoes? You can find them in which of these locations?
Jeju Island Lava Tubes
Iowa
Mount Rushmore National Park
The Everglades
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lava tubes seem appropriate for a volcanic island, this one located in South Korea. The tube-type channels used to have magma running through them, which helped develop a series of caves formed by the petrified lava.

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28-Mt-Everest
Nicole Kucera / Moment / Getty Images
If you’ve ever thought about climbing this site, just wait. Scientists say it grows by a quarter-inch every year. What is it?
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Everest
The Eiffel Tower
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It’s the world’s highest point and doesn’t seem likely to be eclipsed, thanks to its quarter-inch of growth every year. Scientists believe that the rock upon which it sits is always moving, accounting for its yearly growth spurt.

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29-Verdon-Gorge
© Allard Schager / Moment / Getty Images
The sun seldom shines at this deep spot in France, so be sure to bring a coat. What is its name?
Indian Ocean
Verdon Gorge
Lake Titicaca
Lake Erie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Verdon Gorge in Provence, France, is noted for its turquoise-tinted water and title as Europe’s deepest gorge. As such, the sun seldom shines all the way to the bottom, which leads to cooler conditions near the bottom compared to its higher points.

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30-Table-Mountain
Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography / Moment / Getty Images
This mountain is famous for appearing on the Cape Town’s flag. What is it called?
Mount Olympus
The Colosseum
Table Mountain
Appalachian Mountains
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Cape Town flag boasts imagery of Table Mountain, one of South Africa’s most notable landmarks and tourist attractions. Table Mountain is flat at the top, but it’ll be a significant journey (3,558 feet) to get there.

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7-zhangjiajie
MediaProduction / E+ / Getty Images
The sights at this site are said to have been the inspiration behind the blockbuster, “Avatar.” Which natural setting are we referencing?
Yellowstone National Park
Antarctica National Park
Yosemite National Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park In China makes up 102 square miles in the Hunan Province. It is said to have inspired “Avatar” director James Cameron, who used its mountains and stone pillars as a model for the setting in the 2009 blockbuster.

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31-Crater-Lake
Posnov / Moment / Getty Images
If you put the Empire State Building in this body of water, it would still be covered by almost 500 feet of water. Which place are we referencing?
Lake George
The Dead Sea
Crater Lake
Lake Como
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Of course, a place named Crater Lake would have deep waters, more than 1,990 feet deep, to be exact. By contrast, the Empire State Building, including its antenna, stands at roughly 1,450 feet, leaving you 500 feet to spare if you were trying to hide it.

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32-Lake-Titicaca
Stefan Tomic / E+ / Getty Images
Have you ever noticed shapes in clouds? What about bodies of water? Which of these is believed to be in the shape of a puma chasing a rabbit?
Lake Titicaca
The Atlantic Ocean
The Mediterranean Sea
Hudson River
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Locals believe that Lake Titicaca in South America is formed in the shape of a puma chasing a rabbit.That shape is partly to thank for its name. In a local indigenous language, the name is “Titi Khar’ka,” which means “Rock of the Puma.”

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33-Angel-Falls
apomares / E+ / Getty Images
Known as the highest waterfall in the world, the water from this landmark mostly turns to mist before it hits the ground. What is its name?
Crater Falls
High Falls
Top Falls
Angel Falls
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The water that rushes over Angel Falls in Venezuela has to travel 3,212 feet from the top to reach the ground. With such a long way to travel, what starts as water evaporates into a mist along the journey, resulting in very little actual rushing water reaching the ground.

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34-Crystal-Cave
Wiki Commons by Alexander Van Driessche
The main chamber of this natural wonder in Mexico boasts formations up to 36 feet tall. Where is it located?
Garden of the Gods
Cave of Crystals
Denali
Manot Caves
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Cave of Crystals, or Cueva de los Cristales, in Chihuahua, Mexico, was only just discovered in 2000 by miners in the area looking for silver. What they found were massive crystals of selenite that have measured as tall as nearly 40 feet.

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35-Shilin-Stone-Forrest
Mandy Hong Photography / Moment Open / Getty Images
Giant limestone formations here earned this site the designation as the first natural wonder of the world. What is it called?
Bamboo Forest
Shilin Stone Forest
North Dakota Woods
Redwood National Park
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One look around the Shilin Stone Forest and you’ll get the feeling of being in a wooded area, but there are no trees. The stone formations in the forest spring up from the ground like trees, however. Erosion over thousands of years is believed to have given the stone forest its shape.

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36-Halong-Bay
Copyright by 8Creative.vn / Moment / Getty Images
Legend says this natural wonder was formed by dragons sent to protect indigenous people. What is this area called?
The Arctic Ocean
Halong Bay
Black Mountains
Green Bay
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Halong Bay in Vietnam is made up of some 1,600 islands, which legend says were created from jewels dropped from the mouths of dragons to protect the local people. The placement of the islands was meant to serve as a protection against invaders by sea.

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37-Perito-Moreno-Glacier
© Marco Bottigelli / Moment / Getty Images
This glacial body operates on a schedule. Which of these formations ruptures roughly every five years?
Mount Saint Helens
Old Faithful
Antarctica
Perito Moreno Glacier
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Perito Moreno Glacier (which, oddly enough, is not in Perito Moreno, but in Patagonia, Argentina) goes through a rupturing process roughly every five years. This is caused by the movement of the glacier and a natural damming as it reaches Lago Argentino.

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38-Jiuzhaigou
Copyright. Sasipa Muennuch. / Moment / Getty Images
Nine Tibetan villages dot this natural wonder, giving significance to its name origins, “Nine Village Valley.” What is this Chinese attraction?
Yellowstone National Park
Jiuzhaigou National Park
The Sahara Desert
Carlsbad Caverns
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jiuzhaigou National Park Is not only home to nine different Tibetan villages, but also scores of endangered species, including the giant panda and the Sichuan golden monkey. In 1992, it earned a designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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39-Mt-Fuji
DoctorEgg / Moment / Getty Images
Despite its 60-mile distance from Tokyo, you can see this landmark from Japan’s capital city on a clear day. What is its name?
Mount Fuji
Mount Emei
Aconcagua
Mount Hua
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mount Fuji is one of Japan’s most prominent symbols, notable for its identifiable snow-capped top. Locals consider it one of Japan’s most sacred spiritual sites, a beacon for practicers of Japan’s native religion of Shinto.

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40-Bu-Tinah-Shoals
Wiki Commons by Aenaon
You’ll have a hard time finding pictures of this natural wonder and an even less likely opportunity to see it in person. What is this mysterious site?
Greenland
The Caribbean Sea
Bu Tinah Shoals
The Great Barrier Reef
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bu Tinah Shoals in the waters of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is an unspoiled coral archipelago that is protected as a private nature preserve. Access to the area is generally by invitation only, and it is mostly limited to scientists and researchers studying its vast biodiversity.

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© Marco Bottigelli / Moment / Getty Images