I found a copy of 501 Must-Visit Natural Wonders today, and began flipping through it.  Eco-tourism has me torn between wanting to experience natural beauties for myself, and not wanting to be yet another person burdening and altering the environment that they are found in.  Consider this the start of a bucket list; of places that I’m going to visit eventually, preferably before I’m too old to have the physical stamina to fully appreciate them.

1. The Giant’s Causeway, Ireland

On the Northern coast of Ireland, you’ll find the Giant’s Causeway, also known as QBert IRL.  Beyond being on the Emerald Isle, a place that I’d like to explore in depth, the Basalt prisms and stacks look too cool to pass up seeing in person. Yes, there are others out there, and many closer, but a trip to see this can knock out a bunch of birds with one tall, pillar shaped stone.

2. Mount Ararat, Turkey

If only for the chance of finding Noah’s Ark at the peak, I’d like to scale Mount Ararat.  The tallest point in Turkey, it is almost like the four corners in the US, where within a 5 mile walk you can be situated in Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran (though I’d probably avoid the last one personally).  My experience with mountain climbing is fairly limited, so I’m sure I’d get winded pretty quickly, but if I’m going to give it a shot, I’m going to go for a good story while I’m at it.

3. Palau Archipelago, Micronesia

I can’t even figure out how you’d get onto these tree covered bumps on the water, as they look completely choked with vegetation.  Apparently they are a hot honeymoon destination though, so I’m sure somebody’s got that figured out.  I could imagine spending the time swimming from island to island, walking and exploring, keeping my eyes open for polar bears and sentient smoke plumes.

4. Lake Titicaca, Peru

Soon I’ll talk about archaeological sites that I’d like to visit, and Late Titicaca will feature there as well.  The highest altitude lake used for commercial navigation in the world, this was in the heartlands of the Incan Empire.  While it’s a busy place, comparably, I imagine that there are plenty of spots to quietly relax near the water.

5. Popocateptl, Mexico

Rising imposingly over Mexico City, Popocateptl is the final stop on this trip.  A portmanteau of the Nahuatl words meaning “smoking mountain”, the active volcano was an important geographical feature for Central American civilization.  Between Popocateptl and it’s neighbor, Iztaccihuatl, is El Paso de Cortes, named for the route taken by Hernan Cortes and his men while travelling to the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.  As I’ve got a separate goal of doing the best I can to follow his trail from the coast to Mexico City one day (because I’m a big nerd), this is a must.