Here Are 30+ Photos to Remind Us How Crazy the World We Live In Really Is

The natural world is an incredible place, but it’s also absolutely terrifying. The Earth is simultaneously beautiful and destructive, and there are so many things that we can’t predict, explain, or influence. Many of the greatest natural phenomena can’t feasibly or safely be traveled to, but they still need to be seen! So, we’ve unpacked several photos of the craziest naturally occurring spectacles below.

Underwater Crop Circles in Japan

Crop circles are already a massive conspiracy, but how do we even begin to theorize about those found underwater? Seven feet deep and intricately patterned, these circles have been a source of fascination for scientists since divers first noticed them back in 1995.

Science Focus // Nature Production

In 2011, scientists actually discovered the answer, and it wasn't underwater aliens. These underwater crop circles are created by male pufferfish who are searching for mates. The female puffer fish will lay eggs in the circles to be fertilized before the circles are swept away.

Snow Chimneys in Antarctica

A snow chimney sounds like something out of a Christmas song, but it's a real phenomenon that occurs in Antarctica. Also called 'fumaroles,' snow chimneys are volcanic vents in the Earth's surface that allow steam to escape. In extremely cold arctic climates, this steam freezes.

Photo Courtesy of PBS

The result is a tall, chimney-shaped ice sheet that bends and leans as it grows. The layers of frozen steam pile up and can reach 60 feet. They're breathtaking to behold and show us how incredible the Earth is to be able to freeze steam.

Catatumbo Lightning in Venezuela

Lightning is a terrifying enough phenomenon when it happens occasionally. Now imagine mass storm clouds gathering to unleash thunder and lightning for up to 160 nights a year! This is what happens at the mouth of the Catatumbo - which means house of thunder - River in Venezuela.

Wikimedia Commons // Fernando Flores // CC BY-SA 3.0

The lightning occurs for around nine hours per day around the area where the Catatumbo River joins Lake Maracaibo, with up to 40 flashes per minute. Sometimes, it even occurs without accompanying rainfall. For centuries, people have called this spectacular phenomenon the 'Lighthouse of Maracaibo.'

Fairy Circles in Namibia

Namibia is a stunning country, but it has even more to offer than its broad landscapes and gorgeous scenery. The Namib Desert is littered with unique fairy circles that form with a ring of grass around them. This phenomenon can happen independently or en masse.

Photo Courtesy of The Guardian

What's even more interesting is that we don't know how they are formed. It could be due to competing vegetation patterns, but the entire fairy circle is left bare, while the grass only grows around the outside. They can stretch as wide as 39 feet.