Are you familiar with the “Wonders of the World” list? We bet the answer is yes, even if you can’t really list them all. But have you ever given any thought to the process through which those places are selected? Who gets to pitch ideas for it anyway? And what kind of places sadly never made the cut? We’re here today for that last question. The following three locations may have been left on the editing room floor, but they are still fantastic to visit if you can.
Pamukkale, Turkey
Pamukkale, also known as “Cotton Castle” is not an actual castle, but rather a geological wonder. The beautiful natural landscape is essentially a group of striking turquoise water pools stacked on top of one another like rice terraces, surrounded by bright white travertine. The phenomenon was created thanks to mineral springs that are rich in calcium. Located in the Denizli Province in Turkey, the place is also home to the Greco-Roman Hierapolis ruins, which overlook the dazzling pools. Not including this place on the list is unfathomable to us.
The Wave, Arizona
The Wave at the Arizona-Utah border doesn’t offer much water. Instead, it’s a geological phenomenon that was created by water and wind. Those two elements eroded the sandstone for centuries, leaving behind a mesmerizing formation that looks like the biggest, coolest brushstrokes. Depending on the time of day when you’re visiting, the rich variety of colors can appear slightly different, making this location worth visiting more than once. Seeing as this site would appeal to both nature lovers and art lovers, we really can’t see why it was left out of the list.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
While researching for this article, we were incredibly surprised to see this site. We have heard about it and we know the social media popularity of this immense salt flat as the place where you can create the coolest optical illusions. As the largest salt flat in the world, it is at its most mesmerizing after it rains. The water collected on the salt turns the ground into one giant mirror that reflects the sky and throws you into an otherwordly fantasy. It may not have made the cut to the final list of world wonders but we feel like it has enough wonder for us.
