Natural Wonders

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GeographySpecial Education

This lesson contains 29 slides, with interactive quizzes, text slides and 1 video.

Lesson duration is: 40 min

Items in this lesson

Natural Wonders

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Why are they natural wonders?

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Grand Canyon

Although not the steepest nor the longest canyon in the world, the Grand Canyon is recognized as a natural wonder because of the collective scale and size combined with the beautifully colored landscape. It is historically recognized as the largest canyon in the world.

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Harbour of Rio de Janeiro

The Harbour of Rio de Janeiro is located in Brazil and was created by erosion from the Atlantic Ocean and is also known as Guanabara Bay. The Harbour is surrounded by gorgeous granite monolith mountains that include the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain at 1,296 feet (395 m), Corcovado Peak at 2,310 feet (704 m), and the hills of Tijuca at 3,350 feet (1021 m). Visitors will also experience numerous islands including Governor’s island, Fundao and Snakes Island.

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The Great Barrier Reef

The great barrier reef is the world’s largest individual formation created by living organisms. As the largest coral reef in the world, the Great Barrier Reef includes over 900 islands, over 2,900 separate reefs, and supports one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.

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Aurora Borealis

The auroras, also known as the Northern Lights, are naturally occurring lights that create intriguing and spectacular displays in the sky. The aurora lights frequently appear as diffused glow lighting up the horizon. The most amazing sight is when the northern lights appears as waves across the sky; it is almost as if the lights are dancing.

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Mount Everest

Mount Everest represents the highest spot on earth, but it is not the tallest mountain in the world. Mount McKinley in Alaska is the tallest mountain based on measurements taken from the base of the mountain, which is above sea level, to the peak. However, Mauna Kea in Hawaii is the actual tallest mountain in the world measured from its base, of which most of it is under water. Collectively, it rises 6.3 miles (10,200 m) from the base beneath the sea to the peak at 13,796 feet (4,205 m).

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Paricutin

Paricutin is a cinder cone volcano in Michoacán, Mexico. Paricutin was named one of the seven natural wonders as an active volcano. The volcano has been dormant since the last eruption in 1952. It was established as a natural wonder because mankind witnessed its birth. The volcano was also fast growing reaching three-fourths of its size within the first year.

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Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Statistically speaking, it is the largest waterfall in the world. This recognition comes from combining the height and width together to create the largest single sheet of flowing water.

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Slide 10 - Video

Grand Canyon

Great Barrier Reef

Aurora Borrealis

Victoria Falls

Paricutin volcano

Slide 11 - Drag question

Which natural wonder is
more impressive for you?

Slide 12 - Mind map

Which natural wonder would you like to visit and why?

Slide 13 - Open question

The Best way to see the Aurora Borealis is by seeking the Northern Lights in one of remote places in northern Europe, Canada, or the United States. Although there is an aurora borealis that occurs in both the northern and southern hemispheres, the southern hemisphere locations are much more challenging.

The name Victoria Falls was given to the falls by the Scottish explorer Dr. David Livingstone. He named the falls after the reining queen at the time. The locals called the falls Mosi-oa-Tunya meaning “smoke that thunders.” Many people still refer to this nickname, which accurately defines the power of the falls crashing into the canyon floor.

Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world with the summit reaching a peak of 29,029 feet (8,848 m). It is located in the Himalayan mountain range on the border between Nepal and Tibet, China. Although there are mountains with great vertical rise, Mount Everest has the distinction of having the highest point in the world.

quick facts

Largest coral reef system in the world

Consists of over 2,900 separate reefs

Stretches over 1,600 miles (2,600 km)

Can be seen from outer space

The 133,000 square miles (344,000 km) includes 900 islands

The Harbor of Rio de Janeiro is located in Brazil and was created by erosion from the Atlantic Ocean and is also known as Guanabara Bay. The Harbour is surrounded by gorgeous granite monolith mountains that include the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain at 1,296 feet (395 m), Corcovado Peak at 2,310 feet (704 m), and the hills of Tijuca at 3,350 feet (1021 m). Visitors will also experience numerous islands including Governor’s island, Fundao and Snakes Island.

Slide 14 - Drag question

Slide 15 - Slide

Zimbabwe, Africa

Australia

Mexico

Greenland

Brazil

China

USA