Carved out over millions of years, by the elements, canyons are undoubtedly one of the world’s most amazing natural wonders. Featuring extreme landscapes and offering some of the most spectacular sights imaginable, canyons have always fascinated mankind. Here are the five most beautiful canyons in the world:

Antelope Canyon

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Located on Navajo Land, in Arizona, Antelope Canyon is the most visited and photographed canyon in the United States. Its name comes from the pronghorn antelopes that once ran free through the finely carved corridors of the canyon. Once a sacred place of the Navajo people, Antelope canyon was open to the public in 1997, when it became a Navajo National Park.

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This true “jewel” of the Navajo has been dubbed “the ultimate photography challenge” and many photographers from all around the world gather here, to get the best pictures they can. This is not an easy task, due to the brightly colored walls reflecting the light and creating a wide exposure range.

Blyde River Canyon

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The second largest canyon in Africa and one of the largest in the world, Blyde River Canyon is considered one of the great natural wonders on the Black Continent.

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The Three Rondavels, God’s Window and The Pinnacle are the most popular viewing points, but there are several others that offer a glance at the entire 33 km long canyon. Featuring lush vegetation that houses a varied wildlife, Blyde River Canyon is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Africa.

Bryce Canyon

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Bryce Canyon doesn’t look like a typical canyon, but more like a natural amphitheater filled with limestone columns called hoodoo. Now one of Utah’s top tourist attractions, Bryce Canyon first gained popularity at the beginning of the 1900s, when its unearthly landscape was described in magazines and newspapers. But, due to lack of proper accommodations and difficult access to the area, it wasn’t until 1920 that people actually started visiting this natural work of art.

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Nowadays, Bryce Canyon is famous not only as one of the world’s most amazing canyons, but also as a perfect place for stargazing. On a clear night sky, one can spot around 7,400 stars from here.

Wulingyuan

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Stretching over 26,000 ha, the canyon maze of Wulingyuan offers some of the most unbelievable sights in China. With over 3,000 sandstone pillars rising up towards the sky, many of them over 200 meters high, over 40 caves and 2 natural bridges, Wulingyuan Canyons are unique in the world.

For its beauty and the large number of endangered plants and animals that live here, UNESCO has added the Wulingyuan Scenic Area to the World Heritage Site List.

Grand Canyon

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The largest and most famous canyon on Earth, the Grand Canyon welcomes millions of tourists every year. Carved by the Colorado River over a period of 6 million years, the Grand Canyon is considered the most spectacular gorge on Earth.

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This geological wonder was once a sacred pilgrimage site of the Pueblo people, now it is a truly traveling destination for people fascinated by extreme landscapes, hiking or whitewater rafting. Over 446 km long, with a width that varies between 4-18 miles and a depth of up to 1,8 kilometers, the Grand Canyon deserves the title of “most beautiful canyon on Earth” for its immensity alone.

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