Nature

A Rare Beauty: The Pongapong Flower Blooms in the Masungi Georeserve

During the rainy season, a captivating sight emerges in the Masungi Georeserve, Philippines: a 2-foot-tall specimen of the Pongapong flower (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius) in full bloom. This fascinating flower, resembling a witch’s hat, is one of the rarest plants found within the georeserve’s diverse ecosystem. The Pongapong’s unique appearance is sure to capture the attention of any

The Largest Cashew Tree in the World: A 1,000-Year-Old Marvel Covering an Area of About 8,000 Square Meters

In the enchanting northeastern region of Brazil, nestled in the town of Pirangi do Norte near Natal, lies a breathtaking marvel known as the Cashew of Pirangi. This extraordinary cashew tree has captured the hearts and imaginations of both locals and tourists alike, standing as a symbol of resilience and natural splendor. Its colossal size and unparalleled beauty make it a true treasure of the Bra

Photo of the Day: Magical mini mushroom spotted in Taipei

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Photos of a tiny, otherworldly mushroom collected in Taipei have gone viral. On Nov. 17, 2022, 32-year-old Eric Cho (卓霆宇), who works as a pharmacist, spotted this species of mushroom near 150, Section 3, Zhishan Road, in Taipei City's Shilin District. The mysterious mushroom is believed to be Mycena subcyanocephala (近藍蓋小菇). When asked how he found t

There is this tale of two Himalayan Snow Lotuses

There is this tale of two Himalayan Snow Lotuses: the heavily harvested Saussurea laniceps, left, and the seldom collected Saussurea medusa. Both are native to the eastern Himalayas where they grow in rocky habitats above 13,000 feet (4,000 meters). S laniceps S medusa S. laniceps is prized by tourists who pick the strange-looking, rare flowers for souve

Amazing Place: Castel Meur – The House Between The Rocks

In a quiet little village of Plougrescant, France, tourists can visit this quirky and extraodrinary Castel Meur, also known as "The House Between The Rocks", which has become an attraction for many years. MAÃ«LICK/CC BY-SA 2.0 Castel Meur, also known as La Maison du Gouffre or “the house between the rocks”, is a charming cottage wedged between two huge jagged rocks that h

Mexico’s Tule Tree Has the World’s Thickest Trunk, And It’s Still Growing

Located a church courtyard, in the picturesque town of Santa Maria del Tule, the Tree of Tule is a 2,000-year-old Montezuma cypress famous for having the world’s thickest trunk. So just how thick is Mexico’s Tule Tree? Well, it takes thirty people with arms extended joining hands to fully encircle it, so that should give you an idea. Officially, it has a circumference of 42 meters, which so

Welcome To Setenil De Las Bodegas: The City Built Beneath A Rock!

Setenil De Las Bodegas Was Built Into & Beneath A Stunning Spanish Cliffside Image: @earthbestshots on InstagramSetenil de las Bodegas in Spain brings a whole new meaning to the term “living under a rock”. While this town of 3,000 may literally be under a rock, the town itself is inspiring, full of history, and very current on many tourist directories. The reason for settling under

How an unusual ice pattern formed in the Northumberland Strait

Pilot Paul Tymstra took this photo of a rare ice formation as he flew over the Confederation Bridge on Wednesday. (Paul Tymstra) A picture of an ice formation in the Northumberland Strait is fascinating viewers on social media — and for good reason, according to the Atlantic Canadian Coast Guard. The picture was taken by a P.E.I. pilot flying over the Confederation Bridge. It shows the

This 2,400 Year Old Mushroom Is The Largest Living Organism On The Planet

That's one giant mushroom, folks! It’s not the Blue Whale. In fact, it has a total weight of more than 20 Blue Whales, and here’s a hint: Alice would be proud. Located in the Blue Mountains within the Malheur National Forest in Eastern Oregon, armillaria ostoyae is an enormous organism dubbed the “Humongous Fungus” by scientists. More commonly known as the Honey Mushroom or Shoe

These ‘Monkey Face Orchid Flowers’ Are Fascinating (And Very Appropriately Named!)

The Monkey Faced Dracula Orchid May Be The Most Appropriately Named Plant In The World First of all, I had no idea that there was an entire sub-culture of the internet dedicated to orchids. Second, how does this monkey face orchid look so much like a monkey? Nature is so incredible. However, my cynicism popped up on this one… was this flower crafted in a lab? Did men in white coats d