# What part of the Natural Earth puts you in Awe? Poll **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 21, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096 "2003-03-21T14:51:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/1 "2003-03-21T14:51:29Z")
Inspired by a MPSIMS thread about the Appalachian trail I wondered about natural places that just make you go - **WOW!! THAT IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!** In this time of war, I find myself looking at old photo’s of the Grand Canyon, Sedona, AZ, Mogollon Rim, Shenandoah National Park, Glacier National Park and Castine, Maine… Places untouched by humans, showing the raw beauty of nature. There is nothing like standing [here](http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/webpictures/grand%20canyon.jpg) or [here](http://www.vvsedonare.com/images/sedona.jpg) or [here](http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/bell_lookout.jpg) … And just listening to the wind, and smelling the clean fresh air…Anyone want to take a virtual trip with me? ---
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/2 "2003-03-21T15:09:17Z")
All of it! (To directly answer the title of the OP.) But for now, I’m going to pass on the virtual trip: in a couple of hours, I’m heading out to the Outer Banks–a rather awesome part of the Earth–to spend the weekend with the beach to myself before the tourists come and start spoiling it! ---
**Author:** ![radar\_ralf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@radar\_ralf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radar_ralf)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/3 "2003-03-21T15:12:13Z")
the arctic desert and northern lights ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/4 "2003-03-21T15:12:43Z")
By virtual trip I just meant posting your favorIte places, with pics if you have them or can find them. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/5 "2003-03-21T15:37:29Z")
I agree with you on the Grand Canyon and Sedona. [Here’s a real virtual trip.](http://www.mountaindiver.com/road01.html) But I would say Yosemite National Park trumps both of them; it’s one of the very few places I have been which has literally brought tears to my eyes. Unfortunately, I have just noticed that my entire Yosemite virtual trip is completely missing! And it’s not on my local backup either! :eek: I’ll add pictures later tonight. (Hmmm… Half my trip folder is empty! WTF? 😕 ) One or two other spots… [Lake Lure, North Carolina](http://www.mountaindiver.com/photo05.html) [Lighthouse Reef, Belize](http://www.mountaindiver.com/photo04.html) [How about this sunset in St Maarten](http://www.mountaindiver.com/images/dive2203.jpg) And, I have to include [url=“[http://www.mountaindiver.com/images/dive2613.jpg](http://www.mountaindiver.com/images/dive2613.jpg)”]this guy[/url.] (Tortola, BVIs) ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/6 "2003-03-21T15:39:10Z")
Oops… [Let’s try that last link again…](http://www.mountaindiver.com/images/dive2613.jpg) :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/7 "2003-03-21T15:41:30Z")
The mountains of Lappland (the northernmost region of Sweden). Huge, majestic, surrounded by spectacular clouds. I come from a relatively flat part of the world and can stand staring at the Lappland skyline for hours on end. The view out to sea underwater in the Mediterranean. White sand, pure blue water. An occasional school of silver-coloured fish darting by. You just want to walk out there, into the depths, and never look back. And people say skeptics have it boring since they don’t believe in magic. Guys, I say… Nature is magic. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/8 "2003-03-21T16:07:31Z")
I never feel more connected to the Universe than when I’m near, or even better _in_, the ocean. Snokeling (and probably diving if I ever learn how) is practically a religious experience for me. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/9 "2003-03-21T16:09:27Z")
**tanstaafl** - that was awesome!!! I am going out to AZ for easter and am planning on a trip up to Sedona. **Priceguy** - I’m see’in it. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/10 "2003-03-21T16:12:22Z")
**Homebrew** - gett’in my diving lisence was the best $99 I ever spent… Granted the 1500 for everything else was a bite, but now it only costs my wife and I $3 to fill our tanks. ---
**Author:** ![NutMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/11 "2003-03-21T16:37:08Z")
Lake Louise/Banff Alberta [http://listingsca.com/Alberta/Rockies/Lake-Louise/gallery/](http://listingsca.com/Alberta/Rockies/Lake-Louise/gallery/) or [http://www.msoft.it/pages/casulini/mc88.htm](http://www.msoft.it/pages/casulini/mc88.htm) Somehow these photos don’t do it justice. ---
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/12 "2003-03-21T17:39:04Z")
Well, in that case I’ve always been a big fan of [Big Bend National Park](http://www.nps.gov/bibe/photogallery/photogallery.htm). But _the_ best place I’ve ever worked (as in, I gotta get back there fast!) has got to the the Eolian islands. Examples: [http://www-xray.ast.cam.ac.uk/~gmorris/vulcano.html](http://www-xray.ast.cam.ac.uk/~gmorris/vulcano.html) [http://www.geocities.com/angelafoto/lipari.jpg](http://www.geocities.com/angelafoto/lipari.jpg) [http://www.tuttocampeggio.it/itinerarioeolie/itinerarioeolie.asp](http://www.tuttocampeggio.it/itinerarioeolie/itinerarioeolie.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/13 "2003-03-21T17:43:41Z")
I am absolutely fascinated by the Florida Everglades. It’s such a complex ecosystem. I love how you can drive down the highway and see crocs along the sides of the road. I’ll dig up a link here in a sec. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/14 "2003-03-21T19:39:02Z")
I agree with **Indygrrl** about the Everglades; although I’m getting itchy remembering the mosquitoes. Three years ago, I was just returning from [this trip,](http://wisetrader.tripod.com/vegastrip1.html) where my wife and I got to see a large chunk of the US by driving from PA to Vegas and back for a convention. I’ve been dying to repeat the trip. Most of the pics are in Vegas, but I have a few of the crossing in there, and I should add more. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/15 "2003-03-21T23:21:49Z")
Yosemite Valley is an excellent choice. Whenever I go, I feel like a hick tourist in New York City–I just stand staring upwards, spinning slowly in circles, in slack-jawed wonder…it’s so goddammed purty. Lake Tahoe has a little more accessible, less show-offy, gorgeousness about it. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/16 "2003-03-22T02:17:06Z")
Mt. Hood, the area around Mt. Hood, and the drive between Mt. Hood and Hood River, Or. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/17 "2003-03-22T03:18:58Z")
I really love nature, some of the ones in my area, that stickout in my mind and make me think about things. The Majesty of the Grand Tetons. The power of Yellowstone falls.(Yeah it’s not as big as Niagara) It’s just so intoxicating to close your eyes and just feel the thundering power. The agelessness and natural art of the Moab/Canyonlands area. The the remote-ness of a few of my secret mountain fishing holes. It’s just amazing that possibly less than 5 people a year walk that land, and it’s just possible I’m looking at a tree that has never been seen by anyone else ever. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/18 "2003-03-22T03:49:43Z")
From: Kattawagami Untouched > [@](#): > > \*\* > . . . > Days merged into each other as Martina and I made our way down the granite and gneiss of the Canadian Shield: Precambrian rock formed a few billion years ago; hard rock as old as life itself. Through the eons it has been eroded by water, wind, glaciation and vegetation, but it remains a formidable terrain. The river had to fight its way through: blind channels, mazes, switchbacks, sudden drops and falls; no clear course to be found. > . . . > What I could not have been prepared for was the sheer intensity of life I was to find on the Kattawagami: coral lichen on the rock; Labrador tea, naked mitrewort and a variety of sphagnum in the bogs; creeping snowberry on rotting logs; velvetleaf blueberry on the exposed hills, sedge and dogwood in the low meadows, northern honeysuckle and goldthread poking up in the margins, endless Schreiber’s moss, and eclipsing above, the over story of black spruce and jack pine. All never touched by resource extraction or development. Seldom visited by first peoples in the past, and today only seen by very few, very fortunate paddlers. The experience was wondrous. Each day by mid-afternoon, when we would set camp, we would be exhausted, partly from the exertion of moving ourselves down the shield, but also from the potency of discovery as we passed through the land. > . . . > As the river widened and joined others, we emptied out one of our barrel packs and filled it with fresh water, for soon we would be tasting salt from the tide pushing up the river. As we approached the river delta, the trees dropped away, replaced first by grasses, and then sea grasses. We could smell the change, and taste the salt on our lips when the wind picked up. We were awed by the ocean as it opened up before us, for upriver there had been no open spaces. To us the water and the sky seemed huge and inviting. The tide was running as we left the Kattawagami, so rather than set camp, we continued out into the sea, cooking our dinner on board, and paddling well into the evening. The slow sunset over the water was a brilliant ending to our day. > . . . > As we made our way along the coast we grew used to the marvellous openness of the ocean. We would take the tide out for kilometre after kilometre, far out of sight of land, and then return on it many hours later. Every hour we would stop to take a fix, set our next bearing, and lie back in the boat, surrounded by nothing but water and sky and each other. Hour after hour, day after day, we paddled and sang and slept under the hot sun on the northern ocean, wanting never to return. \*\* Cheers, Richard Culpeper ---
**Author:** ![The\_Bad\_Astronomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@The\_Bad\_Astronomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bad_Astronomer)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/19 "2003-03-22T03:57:27Z")
After a day trip to the Grand Canyon, we stopped at Meteor Crater near Winslow, Arizona. I stood on the rim of the crater, looking at the vast hole in the ground (it’s odd, being amazed by something that isn’t there). My wife came up to me and said, “It’s a bit of a letdown after the canyon.” I turned to her and said, “It took the Colorado river a hundred million years to carve the Grand Canyon. This crater was formed in about three seconds.” That is awe. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096/20 "2003-03-22T04:52:08Z")
Mount Rushmore. It’s incredible what nature can do! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-the-natural-earth-puts-you-in-awe-poll/163096.md?page=2)