To reveal which global natural wonder is officially the most beautiful, luxury travel company Kuoni ran a study that used eye-tracking technology to discover which natural landmarks the human eye is drawn to the most.
The study used a unique way to gather the data, participants were asked to look at a series of images of 50 of the world’s most famous natural landmarks and their eye movements were tracked using AI technology, data on which images drew the eye for the longest was then analysed to reveal the most eye-catching natural wonders.
Eye-Catching Natural Wonders
The study results show that it’s Peyto Lake in Canada that is officially the most beautiful natural landmark, followed by Meeru Island in the Maldives and the Jurassic Coast in the UK.
Top 15 Most Eye-Catching Natural Wonders
- Peyto Lake, Canada
- Meeru Island, Maldives
- Jurassic Coast, UK
- Yosemite, USA
- Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
- Niagara Falls, Canada/USA
- Snowdon, Wales, UK
- Puerto Princesa Underground River, Philippines
- Marble Caves, Chile
- El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico
- Aurora Borealis, Iceland
- Iguazu Falls, Argentina/Brazil
- Lake Matheson, New Zealand
- Phang Nga Bay, Thailand
- Grand Canyon, USA
North America is the continent with the most beautiful natural wonders, with five from the US, Canada or Central America in the top 15 including Yosemite, El Yunque National Forestand the Grand Canyon.
From waterfalls to lakes, it’s interesting to see that water-based natural wonders dominate the top list. Alongside Peyto Lake in Canada, that takes the number one spot, the calm but breath-taking Lake Tekapo in New Zealand places fifth. Two caves also make the list, Puerto Princesa Underground River in the Philippines and the ethereal Marble Caves in Chile, as well as two waterfalls (Niagara Falls and Iguazu Falls in Argentina/Brazil).
Eye-Catching Beaches
The research also analysed the most eye-catching beaches in the world, and the unbelievably idyllic beach on the private island Niyama in the Maldives topped the list, with Dubai’s Al Sufouh Beach and Bai Sao on the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc placing second and third.
Asian beaches prove to be the most beautiful according to the research, with four beaches in the top ten including Boracay White Beach in the Philippines and Railay Beach on the island of Krabi in Thailand.
Perhaps surprisingly, a UK beach also makes the list – with Bamburgh Beach in Northumberland being named as more visually arresting than beaches in Hawaii and the Philippines.
Top 10 Most Eye-Catching Beaches
- Niyama Private Island Beach, The Maldives
- Al Sufouh Beach, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Bai Sao, Phu Quoc, Vietnam
- Cape Drastis, Corfu, Greece
- Pensacola Beach, Florida, USA
- Bamburgh Beach, Northumberland, UK
- Numana Alta Beach, Italy
- Railay Beach, Krabi, Thailand
- Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, USA
- Boracay White Beach, Philippines
Full research can be found here: https://www.kuoni.co.uk/best-natural-wonders-and-beaches
I have visited Lake Tekapo and the place is eye-popping! World-renowned visibility there too at night as you can basically see all of the stars.