There’s Magic in the Air
Sometimes it’s easy to give past civilizations a hard-time for falling for magic and mythology. However, after taking a look at some of these fantastical and rare natural occurrences, it’s hard to blame them.
1. Fairy Rings
These naturally occurring rings of mushrooms have been the subject of folklore and myth worldwide. Some cultures in Western Europe believe that they are dangerous and evil, while others see them as a sign of good fortune. Whatever you might believe, there’s something unnaturally perfect about this formation of fungi.
2. Foxfire Fungus
The Foxfire is a neon green light created by some species of fungi. They grow in decaying wood and look absolutely enchanting. This phenomenon has been known since ancient times, with many linking it to witchcraft.
3. Bioluminescent Waves
These waves look like something straight from a sci-fi movie. Found in very rare places on the planet, these waves light up due to the organisms inside them being disturbed by movement. It is a mesmerizing thing to look at.
4. Frozen Methane Bubbles
These bubbles are formed when methane gas becomes trapped in a frozen lake. They are quite magical to look at. Many people have described them as dazzling and beautiful.
5. Sailing Stones
The sailing stones are a geological phenomenon in which rocks move across a smooth valley floor without any interruption. They leave a trail behind them as they slide along. Some have been measured to go as far as 250 yards in a month.
6. Volcanic Lightning
With an epic name like this, these electrical discharges definitely do not disappoint. They are caused by a volcanic eruption rather than the normal thunderstorm. The most magical-looking one happened back in 1994, with the Mount Rinjani eruption causing a lightning strike in the volcano's core.
7. Blood Falls
Blood Falls of Antarctica sounds like a place from a fictional magic-based movie. These falls look like the water has been replaced with blood instead. It truly looks like dark magic is at play here.
National Science Foundation/Peter Rejcek on Wikimedia
8. Noctilucent Clouds
These clouds are a phenomenon that occurs in Earth's upper atmosphere. They turn the sky into a magical, icy color. They are a bit harder to see in daylight but are still visible and fascinating nonetheless.
9. Starling Murmurations
A large group of starlings that fly across the sky in a choreographed pattern. This occurs during the winter months. The movements they do seem impossibly precise; the only explanation left is magic…
10. Solar Halos
Solar halos are an optical phenomenon that looks like the Sun has an aura or bubble around it. The light reflecting from the ice crystals stays suspended in the atmosphere, giving the Sun a forcefield-like glow. A truly magical sight to see.
Grooveland Designs on Unsplash
11. Moonbows
Everyone knows about rainbows, but not many people know about moonbows. Also called the lunar rainbow, it is another one of the optical phenomena caused when moonlight is reflected in water droplets. The light that even the brightest full moon gives is far less than the Sun, making moonbows incredibly faint and very rarely seen.
12. Lenticular Clouds
This is a stationary cloud that forms above mountains or large structures. They take on the shape of a lens or a saucer. Bright colors are often seen along the edges of these clouds.
13. Light Pillars
Light pillars, also known as ice pillars, are a vertical beam of light. These can be caused by basically any light source. The most magical-looking ones can be seen in rural areas where there’s less light pollution
14. Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees
These trees are extremely tall and very colorful. They grow in the rainforest and are native to only a handful of regions. Their name comes from the bark of the tree looking like a vibrant pastel color has been splashed onto it.
15. Aurora Borealis
Also known as the northern lights, Aurora Borealis is a natural light display in Earth’s sky. They display a dynamic pattern of stunningly beautiful lights in the sky. It almost looks like someone used a wand to draw on the sky using magic.
16. The Door to Hell
This eternal flame has been burning without a break since the early 1980s. Dubbed many names such as Gates of Hell, it looks like something menacing is at play here. It’s sure to at least make you second-guess whether magic is real.
David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada on Wikimedia
17. Frost Flowers
Frost flowers often form exquisite patterns when they occur. They come in many shapes and sizes and also have different names, such as ice ribbons, rabbit ice, and needle ice. Truly a wondrous thing to witness.
18. Red Tide
The red tide, although visually intriguing, is actually very dangerous and harmful. They occur when colonies of algae spread in the water and infect the fauna. When this happens, the waves that hit the shore turn a vibrant red color.
19. Fog Bows
Just like there are rainbows and moonbows, we have fogbows. Sometimes referred to as a white rainbow, this phenomenon appears in the fog rather than the rain. It is a similar process to a rainbow, just much denser and harder to see.
20. Devil’s Kettle
The Devil’s Kettle has been a mystery for a really long time. With the river splitting into two waterfalls, one of them seemingly disappears into nothing. It’s truly a sight to see and can hurt your head if you think about it too much.
