View the Chapters

Part 1: Deserts, Valleys, and Canyons

Erosion shapes the land we live on. Running water carves out canyons and valleys. Windblown sand creates deserts. Though not everyone can venture out to these remote and seemingly barren landscapes, this chapter will bring you as close as paper can. In this section, you’ll experience the rock formations found in Canyonlands National Park, the northern rim of the Grand Canyon, the Sonoran Desert, intimate slot canyons, the rising buttes throughout Monument Valley—and so much more.

Part 2: Water and Ice

Water covers more surface area than anything else on Earth by close to a factor of four. Both still and running water in the form of lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams make for incredible photos. Water is stunning, even in its solid forms found in the extreme northern and southern parts of the world, as well as at high altitudes. These mesmerizing photographs in this chapter will change the way you see water, revealing its beauty in extraordinary detail.

Part 3: Stars and Storms

Some of the most impressive sights on Earth occur in the atmosphere. The tremendous power and energy of a storm is conjured up above, as is the vibrant dance of the aurora borealis or the steady movement of star trails. Witnessing such spectacular sights is difficult, depending on where you live. Some weather and atmospheric phenomena only occur in certain places, and city lights obscure the night sky. This chapter of Natural Wonders brings the marvels of the sky to you, including domineering storm clouds, technicolor sunsets and auroras, colliding meteor showers, and rarely seen red sprite lightning.

Part 4: Human Influence

People have long shaped the landscapes they live on. Though most of this book captures natural landscapes, there is something equally stunning and graceful about built environments. This section will connect you with humanity—past and present, near and far. The photographs document the interplay between nature and technology over the decades, taking you to timeless monuments, modern cityscapes filled with urban canyons, and panoramic agricultural vistas.