The Planet’s most incredible locations were created by nature! These “natural wonders” sustain diverse ecosystems. Today’s featured natural wonder: Wulingyuan Scenic Area!
WULINGYUAN SCENIC AREA
🏞 UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China.
🌅 Huge, covering 690 km2.
🌄 Contains 4 national parks: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, and Yangjiajie Scenic Area.
ECOSYSTEM
🏔 3000+ quartzite sandstone pillars and peaks, many over 1300 ft high, which inspired “Pandora” in the movie Avatar! The 3540 ft Southern Sky Column was officially renamed “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain” in 2010.
💦 Ravines and gorges with streams, pools, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, 40 caves with stalactites and stalagmites, dense forests, and one of the highest natural bridges in the world, Tianqiashengkong (“bridge across the sky”). Frequently shrouded in clouds and mists, enhancing its magical atmosphere.
🐆 Home to 3000+ plant species, 700+ tree types, and 100+ vertebrate species, including rare, vulnerable, and endangered ones like the Lobster Flower, Clouded Leopard, Dhole, Asiatic Black Bear, Chinese Water Deer, Pangolin, and Chinese Giant Salamander.
THREATS
❗️Human pressure, from use by locals and tourists.
WULINGYUAN SCENIC AREA
🏞 UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China.
🌅 Huge, covering 690 km2.
🌄 Contains 4 national parks: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve, Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, and Yangjiajie Scenic Area.
ECOSYSTEM
🏔 3000+ quartzite sandstone pillars and peaks, many over 1300 ft high, which inspired “Pandora” in the movie Avatar! The 3540 ft Southern Sky Column was officially renamed “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain” in 2010.
💦 Ravines and gorges with streams, pools, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, 40 caves with stalactites and stalagmites, dense forests, and one of the highest natural bridges in the world, Tianqiashengkong (“bridge across the sky”). Frequently shrouded in clouds and mists, enhancing its magical atmosphere.
🐆 Home to 3000+ plant species, 700+ tree types, and 100+ vertebrate species, including rare, vulnerable, and endangered ones like the Lobster Flower, Clouded Leopard, Dhole, Asiatic Black Bear, Chinese Water Deer, Pangolin, and Chinese Giant Salamander.
THREATS
❗️Human pressure, from use by locals and tourists.