Places to see incredible natural phenomena

Penitentes, in the Dry Andes above 13,120 feet: Penitentes can range in size from less than an inch to more than 16 feet high. These high-altitude snow formations resemble tall, thin blades that reach toward the sun. Charles Darwin first described penitents in 1839, when he was forced to squeeze his way through a field of the formations near Piuquenes Pass on his way to Mendoza, Argentina.

Monarch Butterfly Migration, California, Colorado and Mexico: Every year, hundreds of millions of monarchs migrate from Canada to Mexico and Baja California—a trip that spans the lifetime of three to four generations of the butterflies. Some of the best places to spot the monarchs are in Pacific Grove, Santa Cruz and Grover Beach, Calif., where the western population overwinters. The ultimate place to go, however, is the Mariposa Monarca Biosphere Reserve, about 62 miles northwest of Mexico City. The area is home to the majority of wintering monarchs.

Moonbows; you’ll have the best luck with spray moonbows in Yosemite National Park, Victoria Falls in Africa and at Cumberland Falls in Kentucky: Moonbows are fainter than rainbows and so dim that they normally appear white to the human eye. Long exposure photographs will reveal the full spectrum of color. It’s easiest to see a moonbow when the moon is full. For a true moonbow (not the ones produced by waterfalls or sprays), the moon must be low in the sky (42 degrees or lower) and the sky must be very dark. For this reason, moonbows are most common in the two to three hours before sunrise.

Sailing Stones, Death Valley, Calif.: Death Valley’s famous sailing stones are found on the Racetrack Playa Lakebed. These stones, including some weighing several hundred pounds, slide across the playa, leaving a trail of sediment as they go. For years, scientists were stumped on how these rocks traveled across the playa, however a viable hypothesis recently emerged: High winds after a rain can push even the heaviest rocks across the slick lakebed.

Aurora Borealis and the Aurora Australis, areas in high southern and northern latitudes: Aurora light displays can glow numerous colors, including green and red, and often appear as curtain-like waves in the sky. In the north, the lights are called aurora borealis. In the south, they are known as aurora australis. The two phenomena have almost identical features.

Synchronized Fireflies, Great Smoky Mountains National Park: For two weeks in the summer, thousands of fireflies congregate and blink in perfect unison to attract mates. Each species of firefly has a unique flash pattern that leads males and females to one other. Although there are 19 species of fireflies that live within the national park, only synchronous fireflies can coordinate their glow.

Glowworm Caves, Waitomo, New Zealand: First explored by Maori Chief Tane Tinorau and English surveyor Fred Mace in 1887, the Waitomo Gloworm Caves now attract many visitors each year who come to see the pinpoints of lights created by thousands of glow worm larvae. The glow worms responsible for the light, Arachnocampa luminosa, live only in New Zealand.

Morning Glory Clouds, Burketown, Australia (from September to November): The Gulf of Carpentaria is the only place Morning Glory clouds can be predicted and observed on a regular basis. Many glider pilots travel to this area to ride the currents that create these incredible formations. Up to 620 miles long and 1.2 miles high, these clouds sit low to the ground and can move up to 37 miles per hours. There may be up to eight consecutive roll clouds, depending on weather conditions.

Pororoca Waves, the Amazon River: Twice each year, tides in the Atlantic Ocean converge at the mouth of the Amazon River and create the world's longest wave. Pororoca waves occur once in February and once in March, and can be up to 12 feet high. In 2003, Picuruta Salazar completed the longest distance ever surfed when he rode the wave 10 miles over the course of 37 minutes. Surfing pororoca waves is not recommended, however, due to debris and dangerous animals in the river.

Bioluminescent Plankton, San Juan Island or the Hood Canal in Washington state: While bioluminescence occurs at many places throughout the world, the waters around Washington State are some of the most incredible places to see this phenomenon. Strong currents bring a plethora of nutrients to the area, attracting an abundance of bioluminescent plankton. As you kayak the Hood Canal or the waters around the San Juan Islands, watch the water turn to a glowing silvery-blue as your paddle and boat agitate the tiny organisms.

Lluvia de Peces (Rain of Fish), Yoro, Honduras: While fish raining from the sky may sound like a fairy tale, it's a fact of life for locals in Yoro, Honduras. The phenomenon occurs each summer, and no one is sure how it happens. A popular myth describes how Father Jose Manuel Subiranaa—a Spanish Catholic missionary considered by many to be a saint—prayed for three days and three nights after seeing the extreme poverty in the area. The rain of fish, many believe, was a miracle from God that continues to this day. The phenomenon has not been investigated by scientists; however, there are a couple of theories around the event. The fish may come from the Atlantic Ocean, where they are sucked up by water spouts and then dropped on the town. Another theory suggests the fish are from subterranean rivers, and are washed into the meadows through spouts after sudden downpours.

Catatumbo lightning, Catatumbo River, Venezuela: In this northwest corner of Venezuela, the rate of lightning strikes is higher than anywhere else on Earth. The jaw-dropping light show occurs up to 300 nights a year at the mouth of the Catatumbo River where the water empties into Lake Maracaibo.

The Great Migration, Serengeti National Park (Tanzania), Maasai Mara Game Reserve (Kenya): Every year, a massive herd of approximately 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras chase the rains from Kenya to Tanzania. The incredible trek attracts tourists from all over the world who come to see the huge herds and watch them take on the dangers of the African savanna, including crocodiles, lions and cheetahs.