Natural Landmarks

In 1962, a landfill site in Centralia, Pennsylvania was set on fire. The rubbish was located in the pit of an abandoned strip mine, and although it was believed to have been extinguished at the time, the fire actually remained…

Scientists working with Kew gardens have today announced their discovery of a massive "self-destructing palm tree" in Madagascar. The tree has a bizarre unusual reproductive cycle, whereby after around 50 years of growth, the process of flowering actually kills the…

On May 29, 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary, who died on Friday, January 11 2008, became the first person, along with sherpa Tenzing Norgay, to climb Mount Everest. At 8,848m (29,029ft), it is the highest mountain in the world. Although not…

As 2007 draws to a close we present our choices for the best posts of the year. Best Mystery There were numerous contenders for the most confusing or bizarre images, but our pick is the Mystery Plane Outline, as even…

The Searles Lake basin, deep within California's desert conservation area, is a dry lake bed featuring more than 500 rock spires known as the Trona Pinnacles. The pinnacles are formed from a rock-like substance known as "tufa", a calcium carbonate…

Off the west coast of the Isle of Wight, England, stand the unmistakable white chalk stacks known as The Needles. Whilst there's not a lot needle-like about them anymore (photo), The Needles were originally named for an actually needle-shaped rock…