Nature is beautiful, but these days we don't really get a chance to go out and see it. Luckily for us, the internet exists and there are plenty of people ready to share all of their adventures for us to enjoy with them. There are many sites devoted to sharing photos, but one particular subreddit is dedicated to sharing photos of nature at its best. From rainbow ducks and corn to the mysteries of the night sky, there's something here for everyone to enjoy. So what are you waiting for? Check out the awesome pictures below.
Cherry Blossoms
This is the one thing we dream about being able to see in our lifetime. In Japan, there's about a two-week period in the spring in which all of the cherry blossom trees are in bloom and there are a lot--and we mean A LOT-of these pink petals falling all over the place. You may not be able to get something as picturesque as this, but you'll probably see something close to it.
We honestly couldn't care where we get to view this event because seeing it in any capacity would be like a dream come true. Hopefully someday soon w will go.
A Blue Pit Viper
Have you ever seen a blue snake before? It is really rare for something in nature to be naturally blue, so it is likely you haven't come across this specific type of snake before. Whoever was able to spot this snake while it was perfectly settled on this rose must be one of the luckiest people out there. This kind of thing is certainly not something you see every day.
We would not get too close to it, though. The shape of its head and the color of its skin tell us to watch this beautiful creature from a safe distance.
A Desert Bloom
You wouldn't necessarily think of the desert as a place sprawling with plant life, but there are some hardy plants out there that find a way to survive the harsh elements. If you're lucky enough to spot them, you can find a whole ecosystem thriving in their own ecosystems. This is one such moment. According to the poster, this is "a rare desert bloom in the Atacama Desert in Chile".
It's surprising to see how beautiful the desert can be under the right circumstances. It's no wonder life pushes to survive where many other creatures cannot. Although an oasis or two couldn't hurt.
Malachite
We've never actually seen the stuff up close before, but this is what the poster described as "raw velvety malachite". With that beautiful green color, we'd love to have some of the raw minerals for ourselves. You can actually get them as gemstones that are supposed to have healing properties, but nothing beats the natural beauty of the ore itself. It has such a mysterious look to it and we could get lost staring at it.
You could probably find some of this on the internet, but the amount of pictures there are of this stuff is neverending so we will settle for that this time.
Patagonian Crater Agate
If that last one was something that got you excited, then this next one should also tickle your fancy. According to the poster, this is "Exotic, beautiful, and rare Patagonian crater agate only found in Argentina".What's really interesting about it is that it looks like a galaxy up close while somehow also looking a bit nautical at the same time. And looking at the photo from afar makes it look silky smooth.
It's so pretty that we can't help but want it. But judging from its exclusiveness to a crater in Argentina, we don't think we'll be getting our hands on some any time soon.
The Valley of 72 Waterfalls
This is the Valley of 72 Waterfalls located in Switzerland. Not only does the name sound like something from a myth, but the place itself looks like something from a fantasy. Any of the people living here must be in awe every time they look off into the distance because the view here is incredible! And it really lives up to its name as you can see many of the waterfalls in the background.
To even visit here must be an incredible experience, so we can't imagine what it's like to live here all the time. Someone really needs to use this scenery to film a movie.
Pollenating
Ah, the bee. How beautiful and diligent they are. You may have seen a picture of them collecting pollen from a flower, but have you ever seen them being really successful at it? One person managed to capture the moment a bee found itself the perfect flower and it is really something. The sheer amount of pollen coming off of this flower is almost overwhelming for the bee. It's even in its eyes!
We're sure this one is making the hive proud today. A little pollen in the eye is nothing when you have this much food to bring home. Enjoy the harvest!
She Sells Sea Shells by the Seashore
Many people have had the opportunity to collect seashells, but not every beach is equal. For many of us, we've only been able to collect certain types of shells all year, while others have been able to see multitudes of shells from many different species. One person collected all of the different shells that they collected into one bigger shell then took a picture and the results are truly outstanding
Many of the shapes are familiar to us, but the colors upon colors that these shells are are truly something to behold. This makes u excited for summer to come back around.
Owl Nest
Owls are some of the cutest birds out there. Their feathers make them so poofy and they have these really intense, yet beautiful eyes. Unfortunately, they are hard to spot due to being nocturnal and all, but when someone does manage to see one, it can lead to some really interesting pictures. Here, someone managed to snap a picture of a mother owl with all of her young chicks.
This is one of the most heartwarming things we have seen this week. Their curious stares and fluffy feather just melt our hearts away. So this is why Harry chose an owl for a pet.
Mandarin Duck
There are so many different kinds of ducks out there. We've always seen the classical Mallard duck and the wild ducks that are native to where we live, but there are so, so many more out there that, after seeing this, we're sad we have not seen before. This duck is a Mandarin duck and we never thought we'd ever see a duck that has a literal rainbow of feathers.
There's a first time for everything, they say. And we're happy that we have finally seen this. They look like they would make the perfect background for a cell phone.
A Fight for Survival
Like we said before, there are some hardy plants out there that will do anything to survive. This tree for example has literally grown its roots all the way down this cliffside... or has it grown its way up? Either way, this is the perfect example of how eager plants are to keep going. No matter where the sun shines, they will find a way to get there.
It's also really interesting to see how a tree's roots work. It actually looks really similar to the veins we have in our bodies. Maybe there's a point to that.
Cardinals Galore
Cardinals are well-known for their bright red plumage and their tiny little faces. They are common in the midwest and getting to see them all lined up like this is really a treat. We feel like they aren't as common to see in the winter, so that makes this feel extra special. It's also interesting to be able to see the color difference between the two sexes of the bird.
The best time to spot them in our opinion is the fall when they match with all of the falling red and brown leaves. Relly just any time is welcome.
A Frozen Lake
The best part about drones is that they can give us a whole new angle on things in a way that we might not be able to get otherwise. What this means is that we can finally see what the things around us look like to the creatures flying above our heads. For one person, they discovered that a frozen lake is quite obviously one of the coolest things on Earth.
You can't tell us that that isn't cool. And while we're terrified to think about what's going on under the surface, we can't help but stare at those beautiful blue ice webs.
Half the Storm
You may have found yourself on the edge of a rainstorm before, but chances are you have never actually seen what that might look like. And if you have, then consider yourself lucky because it really is a marvel to see. Luckily, the people of the internet have gathered to make such occurrences available for the general public to see. And trust us, you won't want to miss this one.
This photo is made even cooler by the fact that the clouds look so low. The rain just looks like a gray haze rather than a dark and wet afternoon.
Catwalk
How many people can say they've been up close and personal with a wild cat? We're not sure who would be brave enough to get close enough for a picture, but this person has truly captured the magnificence of the leopard. And you can tell that she likes it from the way she poses as if she's some sort of feline model. Well, in a way she is and she's really pretty.
She is almost enticing enough to get an even closer look, but we know that that could be a fatal trespassing on her grounds (if this photo isn't so already).
Candid Lynxes
Not all wildcats are equal. While the leopard is majestic in its own right, nothing can be the look of these two lynxes chilling in a field of flowers. This is something that looks straight out of a fairytale. It probably has something to do with all the colorful flowers and the elf-like ears that the adult lynx has. just crank up the saturation and you'll be good to go.
And can we just say that that lynx cub is the cutest cat cub we have ever seen? We would adopt one if we could, but that's unfortunately not an option.
A Snow Lynx
If you think those lynxes are cool, you should check out the snow lynx. It's perfectly adapted to colder climates where it might encounter lots of snow (hence the name). Because of that, it seems to come with bigger pays and feet, seemingly to keep warm under all that fur, and it's got a nice new white coat of fur. And dang, those feet are really massive compared to the rest of it.
We wouldn't be surprised if that thing pounced right out of the screen at us. It looks so unbelievably powerful that we're glad we're not the ones taking the picture.
A Blue Mushroom
Because it is really rare for something in nature to be blue, we have a special place in our hearts for all of those pictures of the random things that nature has dubbed worthy of the color. This lone mushroom is the perfect example of the beauty of this rare color. The shades of blue in this mushroom are simply beyond the natural, yet here they are in their full glory.
We think it would be really cool if we could see a whole field of these mushrooms growing around, Maybe we can plant some in a terrarium and keep them as a pet.
A Reborn Phoenix
Not just anyone gets to see an actual volcano while it is actively erupting, but someone who has managed to capture the moment that Mount Etna erupted and the resulting lava plume created a phoenix on the mountainside. It is almost as if a real phoenix was rising from the flames of the volcano. Things like this are what prove that nature is truly a sight to behold and not to be messed with.
It's just too bad that nature can be deadly sometimes because this would be really awesome to see up close and personal. For now, this picture will do just fine.
More Blue Mushrooms
There are more blue mushrooms in the world and we are ecstatic about it. It really seems like a sign this terrarium project we were talking about should be a real thing. Especially when you've got a fungus that just loves to line itself almost perfectly along other things in nature and is an exotic color. We wonder if they would also taste good (they're probably poisonous, though, judging by the color).
It almost seems like they are lining themselves up with the veins in the leaves. Actually, if they are leeching off of it then that is more than likely the case.
The Northern Lights
We've never seen any auroras, so pretty much any picture of these wonderous lights makes us excited. And when you're able to capture the stunning majesty of wild reindeer running across the empty tundra, you know you're doing something right. Being able to come out here and see these lights any time you want must be some sort of fantasy. It may be cold, but it's definitely worth the time.
We wonder if the animals ever look up and check out the sky in the same way we do. Do you think they see it as something natural or something totally weird?
The Moon Hidden Behind a Cloud
The northern lights are but one part of our beautiful sky. The moon is also very good at being photogenic, especially when the weather is right. Most of the time you will not want any clouds to block your view, but sometimes the right amount of them can transform the moon into a living painting. In this case, the small wisps of cloud made the moon look similar to Saturn.
We can't ever see the ringed planet properly with just our eyes, but this is definitely a close second. Combine this with a blood moon or other cool phenomenon and you've got yourself a winner.
A Caterpillar's Snack
For user MTPokitz on Reddit, one of the marvelous things that they caught in nature is "This caterpillar eating a leaf but all I can see is Squidward’s interpretive dance". It's really amazing how accurate that description is. If you've ever watched "SpongeBob SquarePants" and have seen the interpretive dance in question, you'd know exactly what they mean by this. If not, a simple YouTube search will work out plenty.
Do you think he watches SpongeBob? On a more serious note, it really is incredible just how much this hungry caterpillar can eat in one go. Even we don't eat that much.
Trapped in Amber
The world of tiny things is truly incredible. Just like everything else, it spans millions of years into our past. The coolest part is that we can see some of that history even today. According to the poster, this is "a 12 million-year-old praying mantis encased in amber". Fossils like these aren't all that common, but they share glimpses of a world that isn't all too dissimilar to our own.
In fact, this praying mantis looks nearly identical to the ones we have now. Maybe it's a bit scrawnier than some, but surely a few million years is enough time to evolve.
A Skink
Another user on Reddit showed off the tiny thing that they found in their own yard. They said in the caption, "My wife found this tiny skink in our garden, some much-needed brightness on a grey, smoky day". We wouldn't have known enough to call this a skink, but we definitely would have appreciated the little guy. And look! He's even got the cutest little blue tail, doesn't he?
It's so interesting to see just how small these critters can get. They really push the boundary on how big an animal needs to be to do well in the wild.
The Fox and the Drone
This one may not be as small as the others. but this beautiful picture really puts things into perspective. The scale of the picture really shows just how big the earth is. This must be what it's like for a bird to be looking down as it flies over the forest. Although maybe the fox would be less likely to notice the bird flying overhead as much as it notices the drone.
Being able to see pictures like this makes us want a drone for ourselves. Hopefully, we can bring it out to the best wildlife hotspots and witness nature practically undisturbed.
A Bison and a Magpie
Have you ever seen a bison meet a magpie? It's probably the cutest thing you can see. The snow falling around them really romanticizes the introduction. They look as though they are about to go on a grand-scale adventure after journeying through the harrowing snowstorm. Maybe one day someone will write a tale about the bison and the magpie. But that day is yet to come. As for now, their journey has just begun.
The journey between these two would probably make for a good photography project. Though good luck actually keeping these two together, we're acting like they're actual; friends ready to pose.
Snow Crow
We're always trying to get the perfect picture of a snowflake, but we can never manage to do it because they either fall somewhere that isn't aesthetically pleasing or they melt too fast. Well, someone has gone and captured a picture that we are all ready to say is one of the best pictures of a snowflake. The flake itself is in mint condition and all the details from the feathers really add to it.
We don't think we could have done any better. But we won't give up hope. They say no two snowflakes look alike so the next step is to find a rare-looking one!
Iceland
Landmannalaugar, Iceland might sound like a mouthful, but it is actually one of many beautiful places on this planet. With mountains and a big river that splits off into many streams, this could be the perfect picture for a postcard to send back to the family. Although this looks more like a painting than a photograph, this is assuredly the actual location. It's amazing that we have places like this.
We wonder how much has changed in its time mostly undisturbed. If it looks as good as it does now, what about in the past? Perhaps the river was bigger and engulfed more of the mountainside too.
Rainbow Effects
If there were any place we were sure a unicorn would be likely to show up, it would be here in this unspecified forest. Pretty much any forest will do, so long as it has this gorgeous water with the rainbow effect, This is the kind of thing that legends are made from. If we had a choice, we might one day build a cabin out in these woods so we can wake up to this every day.
You can't say you wouldn't want to do the same. This is one of those things that knew could happen but were pleasantly surprised upon the first time seeing it.
That Is One Big Cloud
This is supposed to be a "cumulus congestus" at the beach, but it looks more like a UFO to us. Although it may look white and fluffy, there's no denying that ominous tractor beam that is being shot right out in the middle of it. Actually, is that supposed to be rain? We suspect the name of this cloud means it's full of water, so if that's the case then this is a really cool capture.
We wonder how such a big cloud comes to be. Maybe they all fused together into one giant cloud. Or maybe we should have paid more attention in science classes.
Rainbow Corn
"This is the most beautiful corn," says u/runyoufreak over on Reddit. "It is a Native American variety called 'Glass Gem Corn' and yes it really does grow like that." We have seen blue corn before, but this stuff takes the cake. We wonder if it tastes any different or how the corn got its rainbow of colors. Whatever the case, this is definitely the coolest corn we have ever seen.
These would definitely make for good decorations. Now we understand why we see dried blue corn hanging in certain stores. It really is a pretty sight and one we never thought we'd see.
A Frozen Lighthouse
There's frozen over, and then there's this. We've never seen a building quite so frozen over as this lighthouse is, but now we certainly have. It's hard to believe that it can actually get this bad. But what's really cool is that the freezing of the building has seemed to capture it before it could become so destroyed. It's like a real-life photograph. It's really pretty, we'll give it that.
The way it looks in this picture also has a sort of cartoony sense to it, which just adds to the depth of this picture. Ten out of ten for this one.
A Wolf Spider
Sometimes you've got to look at the scary things in life as well to fully appreciate nature's beauty. And if you look close enough, then you might just find that it's not so scary after all... or, like us, you'll realize you never want to see a spider face again. While this picture does help make this spider more humanoid, the plentiful eyes are just staring us too deep in the soul to keep looking.
But for those of you who managed to find a newfound love for spiders, we're happy to have been able to help you out. We just hope no one came out as traumatized as us.
A Sloth
And while we're at it, we might as well spoil that not everything we find cute always looks as cuddly as we think they do. Case in point this picture. You would think that a sloth could never look bad, but trust us: this is the stuff that nightmares are made of. One look at this and you might never want to see a sloth ever again in your whole life.
But it really shows how everything can be so radically different than our perspectives. It really gives nature a whole new level of beauty that we haven't been able to see before.