12 Mind-Boggling Natural Formations That’ll Rock Your World (Literally)

12 Mind-Boggling Natural Formations That’ll Rock Your World (Literally)

Mother Nature clearly has a flair for the dramatic—and a rather eccentric imagination. From gravity-defying boulders to deserts that hum lullabies, Earth’s most enigmatic formations leave scientists scratching their heads and travelers wondering if they’ve accidentally wandered into a fantasy novel. Buckle up your hiking boots and prepare to gape: here are 12 of the planet’s most mysterious natural marvels, complete with strange origins, odd facts, and just the right amount of legend.

Here are 12 of the planet’s most mysterious natural marvels:

1. The Moeraki Boulders – New Zealand

Location: Koekohe Beach, South Island
What’s the deal? These spherical giants look like dragon eggs waiting to hatch.
Formation Theory: They're concretions—balls of sedimentary rock that slowly grew over millions of years.
Local Lore: Māori legend says they’re food baskets and gourds washed ashore from a wrecked ancestral canoe.

2. Sailing Stones – Death Valley, USA

Location: Racetrack Playa, California
What’s the deal? Massive rocks mysteriously glide across the desert floor, leaving long trails behind them.
Formation Theory: Thin ice sheets form under specific conditions and, with just the right breeze, nudge the rocks along.
Spooky Side Note: Before the ice theory, people suspected supernatural or alien forces. Naturally.

3. The Eye of the Sahara – Mauritania

Location: Sahara Desert, near Ouadane
What’s the deal? A 30-mile-wide swirl visible from space, like a giant bullseye on Earth’s face.
Formation Theory: Once believed to be an impact crater, it’s now thought to be a deeply eroded geologic dome.
Fun Fact: Astronauts use it as a landmark while orbiting Earth.

4. Giant’s Causeway – Northern Ireland

Location: County Antrim
What’s the deal? Around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns that look suspiciously like a giant’s staircase.
Formation Theory: Volcanic activity around 60 million years ago.
Local Lore: Built by Irish giant Finn McCool to reach Scotland for a punch-up with a rival giant.

Become a premium subscriber of Quiz Tango to get full access to this post and other exclusive content.

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.

A premium subscription gets you:

• • Exclusive access to full quizzes (Complete with scores and answers)
• • Receive more variety of quizzes like true or false, fun facts and other interesting general quizzes
• • Premium members get to download the quizzes in digital format, i.e. PDF