London - The Lonely Planet has published a new book showcasing beauty from across the globe.
From a cityscape of Manhattan, New York to a sprawling aerial shot of the UK’s Lake District, the Lonely Planet’s Beautiful World has a selection of images celebrating the vibrancy and diversity of the world.
The Dolomites in South Tyrol, Italy
Millions of years ago the pale peaks and pinnacles of the Dolomites lay on the seabed; now they are among the world’s most distinctive mountainscapes.
Monument Valley in Tribal Park, Arizona-Utah, US
The sandstone spires of Monument Valley, part of the Colorado Plateau, are the result of millions of years of erosion. Iron oxide gives the rock its reddish tone.
Manhattan in New York
At almost 40 000 people per km2 in 1910, Manhattan’s population density was higher then than in 2010. But at today’s median price of $800 000 (R7.9m) for a flat, the cost of property has soared.
Lyth Valley in the Lake District, Cumbria, England
The unspoilt Lyth Valley is tucked in a hidden corner of Cumbria, where trees are laden with fruit and rolling hills are the most magnificent green.
Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah
The Wall Street Trail of Bryce Canyon has its own skyscrapers: ponderosa pines. Rock chasms are formed when water freezes and expands, creating steep alleys.
The Sardine Run in South Africa
During the annual migration of sardines, millions of the fish head north along the coast of South Africa, creating a feeding frenzy along the way. The migration occurs from May to July.
The aurora borealis in Kiruna, Sweden
When charged particles, which flow from the sun at 1.4 million km/h, hit the Earth’s magnetic field at the planet’s poles, they create curtains of light. Solar storms heighten the effect.
Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia
This Unesco World Heritage-listed park is made up of interlinked and cascading lakes, caves and forest. The colours of the lakes range from azure to green, blue and even grey.
Rufous hummingbird in California
Rufous hummingbirds, here seen feeding on nectar at Huntington Beach, California, are just 8cm long, but the hyperactive birds migrate across North America, following the hummingbird in Beauty of Nature. - The Independent