# What cities have a natural wonder or landmark right in the city or at least adjacent to it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 22, 2022, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476 "2022-03-22T07:34:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/61 "2022-03-23T13:39:01Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > It’s actually not visible from many places in Tokyo because of the various hills, And the sky usually isn’t clear enough, anyway. When I lived in the PNW I read that visibility of Mt. Rainer from Seattle was almost exactly the same as Fujiyama from Tokyo, about 60 days a year. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/62 "2022-03-23T14:13:09Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Cleveland, OH directly borders on a national park (Cuyahoga Valley N. P.). Though, while scenic, it doesn’t really hold a candle to Yellowstone, Yosemite, or Glacier. Cleveland (and Detroit) each have massive salt mines beneath them. Not visible to the passing tourist, but they are very much natural wonders that are only a few hundred feet from the city centers. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/63 "2022-03-23T14:13:21Z")
On one of my two trips to Seattle there was a day it was just sunny enough to see the snow capped part of the mountains, and just cloudy enough to not see the lower part. It looked like the mountain was floating in the air! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/64 "2022-03-23T14:25:24Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Mount Royal is smack dab in the middle of Montreal. > > [https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/welcome-montreal-mighty-mount-royal](https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/welcome-montreal-mighty-mount-royal) I was going to mention that, but you beat me to it! Indeed it’s thought that Montreal got its name from the mountain. It’s a pretty small mountain as such things go, but it’s a pretty area. It contains a large amount of parkland, and quite a sizeable artificial lake. Near the summit is a historic chateau, right beside a lookout that provides a great view of the city skyline. It is also home to St. Joseph’s Oratory; “Oratory” technically means a small chapel, but it’s been transformed over the years into what is basically a cathedral. The mountain area and Old Montreal are part of the city’s great charm. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/65 "2022-03-23T14:38:38Z")
> [@Mesquite-oh](#): > > The only one I can think of in the US is Niagara Falls. Which is also the only one I can think of in Canada. As lot of folks are posting examples of HUMAN MADE wonders, of which there are hundreds, depending on your threshold for wonder; the Great Pyramids, the Colosseum, the CN Tower, the Parthenon, etc. The OP was clearly asking for NATURAL wonders in or immediately adjacent to a city, a much trickier proposition ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/66 "2022-03-23T14:43:00Z")
Oh, if it hasn’t been mentioned, I thought of Ha Long Bay, which is next to the city of Ha Long, unsurprisingly. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/67 "2022-03-23T15:08:08Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The OP was clearly asking for NATURAL wonders in or immediately adjacent to a city, a much trickier proposition I read the OP as a natural wonder _OR_ landmark. Aren’t landmarks both natural and manmade? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/68 "2022-03-23T15:51:02Z")
From reading the whole of the post, not just the three words ‘wonder or landmark’, it seems pretty clear the OP meant ‘Natural [wonder or landmark]’ Emphasis added by me: > [@Mesquite-oh](#): > > What cities have a **natural wonder** or landmark right in the city or at least adjacent to it? **I am talking about a canyon, waterfall, rock arch, mesa, cavern** or something spectacular that people might travel to come see. The only one I can think of in the US is Niagara Falls. It seems that **most natural wonders** are far from population centers. I think that it would be fair to exclude rivers, lakes, and shorelines since so many cities are built next to those (unless you know of a spectacular exception). This question was inspired by my son who asked why we always have to travel so far from “civilization” **to see something _naturally spectacular_**. ---
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/69 "2022-03-23T15:52:28Z")
Las Vegas has Red Rock Canyon right on the west side. Glorious. ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/70 "2022-03-23T16:42:23Z")
The city of Constantine in Algeria is [bisected by a big ravine](https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@36.3659859,6.6155167,3a,75y,18.31h,74.71t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipPt3dI54muE-5bSl6Eb6aUN3iycX_N1U78IqEbH!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipPt3dI54muE-5bSl6Eb6aUN3iycX_N1U78IqEbH%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi2.1071317-ya14.757316-ro-0.24489689-fo100!7i5376!8i2688). ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/71 "2022-03-23T18:02:55Z")
San Antonio does have a landmark natural wonder and it kinda is a basement… > **[Explore the Natural Bridge Caverns | Caverns in Virgina](https://naturalbridgeva.com/caverns/)** > > Open seasonally March through November, the Natural Bridge Caverns descend more than 34 stories deep and provide a magnificent natural display for you to explore. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/72 "2022-03-23T18:29:24Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Twin Falls, Idaho has Shoshone Falls, the impressive Perrine Memorial Bridge over the Snake River Canyon and the site of Evel Knievel’s ill-fated canyon jump launch pad. The parking lot of the Best Buy there literally ends at the Snake River Canyon. The Perrine Bridge is one of the only structures in the US that you can BASE jump from anytime, without permission. We were in town on business, hit the Best Buy, looked out at the canyon and saw someone jump off the bridge. Our hearts stopped for a second until we saw the parachute : ) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/73 "2022-03-23T19:03:52Z")
St. Augustine, Florida, has the original, one and only, Ponce de León **FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH**!! Babies and toddlers litter the streets for miles in every direction! Puppies and kittens too numerous to be apprehended by the local animal control! Come one, come all! 😆 From what I’ve read, the FoY is actually a well dug many years ago and then exploited for tourist business. I’ve seen it up close and it is extremely uninspiring. PdL was told by the natives to go look in Bimini; they sure saw him coming! The entire enterprise reeks of tourist trap. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@Mona\_Lott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lott)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/74 "2022-03-23T22:00:00Z")
Spokane, Washington has the waterfalls on the Spokane River in the downtown area. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/75 "2022-03-24T14:18:24Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > From what I’ve read, the FoY is actually a well dug many years ago and then exploited for tourist business. I’ve seen it up close and it is extremely uninspiring. PdL was told by the natives to go look in Bimini; they sure saw him coming! The entire enterprise reeks of tourist trap. Oh yes. And have you tasted it? Sure smells and, what I imagine tastes, like reclaimed water. A fart cocktail, if you will. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/76 "2022-03-24T15:00:06Z")
“Colloquially expressed, but essentially correct.” – Mr. Spock 😉 ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/77 "2022-03-24T16:19:27Z")
The TV show **Z Nation** was filmed there and showed those falls in one of the later episodes; _très_ picturesque. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/78 "2022-03-24T16:39:11Z")
The falls of the Sioux River are in, umm, Sioux Falls, the largest city in South Dakota. It’s no Niagara but still pretty nice . ---
**Author:** ![InfraBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infrablue/32/6366_2.png) [@InfraBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InfraBlue)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/79 "2022-03-24T16:42:53Z")
And close enough to rain ash on the city every once in a while. This leads the _chilangos_, Mexico City inhabitants, to quip, “we can now have our ash tacos!” ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476/80 "2022-03-24T19:41:01Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > The falls of the Sioux River are in, umm, Sioux Falls, the largest city in South Dakota. It’s no Niagara but still pretty nice . Similar to Tumwater Falls on the border of Washington’s capital, Olympia. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cities-have-a-natural-wonder-or-landmark-right-in-the-city-or-at-least-adjacent-to-it/961476.md?page=5)