Travel

[World Traveler]

In a recent article written by Sarah Schmalbruch for Insider, 12/5/17, she shared beautiful photos of mountains throughout the world. Please enjoy the pictures, courtesy of Shutterstock and iStock.

Whether you're skiing, hiking, or just sightseeing, mountains are natural wonders that are worth traveling for. From the majestic Mount Fuji in Japan to Peru's colorful Rainbow Mountain, we've rounded up photos and surprising facts about some of the world's most picturesque peaks. Keep scrolling for some serious wanderlust.

VINICUNCA, CUSCO REGION, PERU

Also known as the Rainbow Mountain, Vinicunca translates to "seven-colored mountain" in the local language spoken in the Cusco region of Peru. The mountain's colors come from mineral deposits, but they weren't always easy to see. For years, Vinicunca was hidden under a thick layer of ice.

MU CANG CHAI, VIETNAM

A hidden gem in a small, rural province in Northern Vietnam, Mu Cang Chai is home to terraced rice fields that are a shade of green so deep, you'll feel like you've stepped into a painting. Depending on the month you're there, the fields' colors can vary from emerald green to golden yellow to light brown. Carved right into the Hoang Lien Son mountain range by the local Hmong people in the 1400’s, the rice fields are still harvested by them today.

KIRKJUFELL, GRUNDARFJÖRÐUR, ICELAND

Known as the most photographed mountain in all of Iceland, Kirkjufell has a unique location on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The peak seems to rise out of the ocean, and the waterfalls that precede it only add to its majestic look. Kirkjufell was even used as a filming location for seasons six and seven of the popular TV show “Game of Thrones.”

THREE SISTERS, BLUE MOUNTAINS, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA

Hordes of visitors make their way to Echo Point every year to catch a glimpse of the Three Sisters, a fascinating rock formation in the Blue Mountains, a region that's home to eucalyptus forests, steep cliffs, and waterfalls.

Several legends surround the sandstone rock formation. One tells the story of three sisters who were part of the Katoomba tribe and fell in love with three brothers from the Nepean tribe. According to tribal law, they weren't allowed to marry, so the brothers captured the sisters and started a tribal battle. In an effort to protect the sisters, a witch doctor from their tribe cast a spell that turned them into rocks. He planned to reverse the spell after the battle ended, but he was killed, leaving the sisters forever as rocks.

THE DOLOMITES, ITALY

The Dolomites include 18 peaks that are part of the northern Italian alps, some reaching close to 10,000 feet in height. The mountain range is known to have some of the highest limestone walls in the world.

Lake Braies or Lake Prags (pictured below) is often called the Pearl among Dolomite Lakes. In the summer, its jewel-toned waters come from reflections of the scenery that surrounds it. One of the largest and deepest of the natural lakes found in the Dolomites, the lake stretches down as far as 118 feet.

THE ANDES, BOLIVIAN ALTIPLANO

At 4,500 miles in length, the Andes is the longest continental mountain range in the world. Sitting on Bolivia's altiplano plateau, backed by the majestic Andes, is the Laguna Colorado, a lake that is commonly referred to as the red lagoon. Its shallow, salty waters attract Andean flamingos, the rarest flamingo species in the world. The lake owes its blood red color to the algae and red sediments that are found in the water.

MOUNT RAINIER, WASHINGTON

Not only is Mount Rainier an active volcano, it also spans a total of six rivers. The peak is the most frozen in the country, which is why hikers should be prepared for any type of Mountain Rainier weather no matter when they visit. You'll still find snow in July at elevations between 5,000 and 8,000 feet.

ZHANGYE DANXIA LANDFORM GEOLOGICAL PARK, GANSU, CHINA

Danxia refers to a special type of landscape found in southwestern China. The colorful, striped mountains are made up of layers of minerals and rock, which were disrupted when tectonic plates caused the island that is now India to collide with the rest of the Eurasia continent.

Now a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, the once little-known wonder is a popular tourist draw - and for good reason. Chances are you've never seen anything like it before.

MOUNT FITZ ROY, PATAGONIA

While many know this cloud-encased mountain as Fitz Roy, its first name was Chalten, which means "smoking mountain" in the dialect spoken by the Tehuelche Tribe. The name Fitz Roy is a nod to Sir Robert FitzRoy, a sailor who helped guide Charles Darwin into South America.

Situated on the border of Argentina and Chile in the southern Patagonian Ice Field, the mountain also served as the inspiration behind the logo for the clothing company Patagonia. Patagonia's founder, Yvon Chouinard, climbed the mountain in 1968.

MOUNT SNOWDON, SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK, GWYNEDD, WALES

Chances are you haven't heard of Mount Snowdon, but it actually has a rather significant claim to fame - besides being the highest mountain in Wales. Edmund Hillary, who was the first climber (along with Sherpa Tenzing) to reach the summit of Mount Everest, used this mountain as a training ground.

THE MATTERHORN, ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND

Standing at 15,000 feet on the border between Switzerland and Italy, the Matterhorn is perhaps the most recognized peak in the Alps - and maybe one of the most dangerous. Around 500 people have died while trying to climb the mountain, including four out of the seven men who were the first to scale the peak back in 1865.

The Matterhorn is also the site of the world’s first open-air cog railway, the Gornergrat Bahn (pictured below). The train runs between the town of Zermatt (located at the base of the Matterhorn) and the mountain itself, although it doesn't reach the summit.

CRADLE MOUNTAIN, CRADLE MOUNTAIN-LAKE ST. CLAIR NATIONAL PARK, TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA

Cradle Mountain is often cited as the starting point for the popular Overland Track, a 40-mile six-day trek that will take you through Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park and end at Lake St. Clair. Hikers are likely to see wombats, possums, and wallabies while ascending the mountain.

MOUNT FUJI, HONSHU ISLAND JAPAN

Mount Fuji is ingrained into Japan culture and imagery. Literature from as far back as the 8th century includes references to the active volcano whose last eruption was in the early 1700’s. On a clear day, you can see the over 12,000-foot peak - the tallest in the country - from Tokyo. Climbing the mountain can actually be somewhat disappointing, though, as the scenery that leads to the top is mostly barren.

DENALI, DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, ALASKA

The center of a longstanding name debate, Denali was once known as Mount McKinley (named after the 25th president of the US), until it was changed by former president Barack Obama in 2015. Denali means “the great one” in the language of the Koyukon Athabascan people, who are native to the area.

Standing at 20,310 feet, Denali is the tallest mountain in North America. It's part of the Alaskan Range and sits in Denali National Park and Preserve, which covers an astounding six million acres of land.

 

MOUNT COOK (AORAKI), CANTERBURY, NEW ZEALAND

Mount Cook bears the distinction of the tallest mountain in New Zealand, standing over 12,000 feet high. The peak is one of 28 that form the backbone of the country's Southern Alps. It's located in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, 40% of which is covered by glaciers.

AMA DABLAM, HIMALAYAS, NEPAL

When it comes to the Himalayas, Mount Everest usually gets all the attention. And while Ama Dablam isn't as well-known, it's no less impressive. Its name loosely translates to “mother’s necklace,” and refers to the fact that the mountain's ridges extend out like a mother's arms and the hanging glacier can be compared to a pendant on a necklace. Some call the peak the most beautiful in the Himalayas.

THE ALPS, EUROPE

Spanning eight European countries and a total of 745 miles, the Alps are the largest mountain system in Europe. The mountain range touches parts of Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Germany, France, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, and Hungary.

Humans have been inhabiting the Alps for centuries. Otzi the Iceman, the oldest natural mummy of a European man, was discovered on a glacier in the Alps in 1991. He is believed to have been murdered 5,300 years ago, perfectly preserved in ice ever since.

CANADIAN ROCKIES, BANFF NATIONAL PARK, BANFF, CANADA

The Canadian Rockies, which include about 50 peaks that surpass 11,000 feet, are filled with stunning alpine lakes.

Peyto Lake may as well be a real life postcard. It's eye-catchingly bright turquoise waters come from glacial rock "flour," the product of glacial ice moving downhill and grinding rocks and gravel together as it does. The dust that results from this grinding ends up in glacial lakes, where it absorbs light and creates the color we see.

REINEFJORDEN, REINE, NORWAY

Reine may be remote and cold - it's on the Lofoten Archipelago, which sits within the Arctic Circle - but it's breathtaking. The Reinefjorden make for a scenic backdrop, and rorbuer, former cottages used by fishermen that have been converted into tourist accommodations, are scattered throughout the roughly 300-person fishing village.

[Alter Ego]

I need to get out more.  I’ve only seen the Three Sisters, a day trip from Sydney.

[World Traveler]

@Alter Ego I think you get out a lot! ha!

[IMW]

Thanks once again for a fabulous post. The photos are breathtaking, the commentary excellent.

[LexPex]

Wonderful

[SANNA]

Very beautiful! I want to visit Mont Blanc.....

[OKPrincess]

My bucket list has now expanded. So many beautiful places in the world.

[Kachina624]

Beautiful pictures.  Thanks @World Traveler.  I don't think you can beat the beautiful peaks and turquoise lakes of the Canadian Rockies.

Moraine Lake

[World Traveler]

@Kachina624 WOW! Moraine Lake is GORGEOUS! Thanks for posting the photo. So, so beautiful.

Was that just someplace you want to go or have you been there?

[Kachina624]

@World Traveler   I've been to Moraine Lake a couple of times.  It's about a 20 minute drive from the famous Lake Louise, and they're very much alike.  If youre a mountain nut like I am, traveling from New Mexico to the provenical parks in Alberta is a dream trip.  You see mountains almost the entire way.  Its one road trip where the scenery is not boring.