Nature Can Be As Beautiful As It Is Concerning, Here’s Proof
Mother Nature is responsible for some pretty incredible things, and for every stunning sunset or adorable baby animal, there is its polar opposite, such as destructive weather or horrifying bugs.
So without further ado, here is a collection of nature-based photos and videos that might remind you that try as you might, Mother Nature will always win. But, at least try to relax and enjoy the ride.
The Cosmos
As beautiful as it is here on Earth, the beauty of the stars in the night sky is just as stunning.
Thousands of stars and the Milky Way Galaxy shine in the night sky in this photo of Crater Lake in Oregon. It’s humbling to know that while we go about our day-to-day lives, the tiny rock we call home is spinning through outer space. Scenes like this help put our place in the universe in perspective.
Naptime
Roses are my favorite flower, and I think they might also be the favorite of this little guy. This tiny lizard was spotted catching up on his beauty sleep as he sleeps soundly inside a deep pink rose.
“Just imagine being so small that you have the privilege of sleeping inside the silkiest, prettiest natural bed,” wrote one Reddit user.
Disapproving Sawfish
Even this sawfish is tired of your BS.
While I’ve never quite asked myself “What does a sawfish look like from its underside?” before, now I can’t unsee it. Perhaps some questions are better left unanswered.
You Are What You Eat
You know that saying, “You are what you eat”? Well, a hungry catfish tried to make a meal out of an unsuspecting turtle, and it got more than it bargained for because this turtle ended up getting the last laugh.
So what’s the answer to “You are what you eat”? Dead, the answer is “dead.”
Snowscapes
Winter started fading into spring, although winter refused to give up entirely.
This user noticed that in the shadows on the ground caused by the branches of the tree, some of the remaining snow hadn’t quite melted yet. This resulted in a frozen work of art, courtesy of Mother Nature.
Slugs R’ Us
This Reddit user couldn’t quite figure out how his work shoes were sparkling clean each morning despite being left outside overnight. Eventually, he realized that it was all thanks to some slugs—all 50 of them—who just love the flour on the bottom of his shoes. Gags.
“You are the grossest Disney Princess,” wrote one user.
Rain On Me
With some of the country currently enveloped in an early summer heatwave, heavy rainfall can be a long-awaited gift from the sky.
After sweltering in 40-degree heat (about 104 degrees Fahrenheit), these people rejoiced in torrential rainfall that gave them a much-needed break from the heat.
Don't Go Chasing Lavafalls
Don't go chasing lavafalls, just still to the volcanos and the ash that you're used to. TLC warned us about this but we didn't expect to see it in real life. This looks like the final battle scene in Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith. If we zoom in we're expecting to see Anakin fighting Obi-Wan.
In reality, this is just proof that nature is terrifying and you don't have to be in a sci-fi movie to see a scene like this.
Would You Swim Here?
The water here looks really blue, but the cave monster looks a bit creepy. How did the rocks form into such a perfect face?
There's probably some hidden treasure in there.
Leopard Seals Are Actually Terrifying
We know what you're thinking: seals are nice, they do tricks in aquariums, what could be so scary about them? Well, leopard seals are a different story. It's the second-largest seal in Antarctica and it's only predator in the wild is the killer wale.
If you're still not convinced it's terrifying, just watch the scene in Happy Feet when a leopard seal chases Mumble. The seals feed on penguins in real life too.
"Mesmerizing Ice Cave In Argentina"
If you're ever in Argentina, this is a cave you have to see.
This ice cave has stellar views and makes you feel like you're somewhere not of this Earth.
"This Tree Grew Inside The Stop Sign"
If nature wants to do something, it will. It doesn't get any more straightforward than that.
This tree wanted to grow, and this sign couldn't stop it if it tried.
Birds Are Just Small Dinosaurs
We've all heard that birds are the closest modern relatives to the dinosaurs, but it can be hard to picture the resemblance without photos like this. This is a recently hatched blue heron chick.
Although it's often not depicted in pop culture, scientists have strong evidence that most dinosaurs had feathers, including the infamous velociraptor.
Boney M Would Like This Puffer Fish Skeleton
This skeleton of a puffer fish shows just how crazy the bone structures of fish can get.
These bones expand and contract with the fish to make its out
"These Huge Blueberries I Found"
These blueberries have to be mutated. There's no way they should have ended up looking this huge.
Put those in your smoothie for an overwhelming taste of giant blueberries. You won't even taste anything else.
This Looks Like A Hunting Photo Someone Would Post
Great tits, a species of small birds known for their distinctive yellow bellies and black head markings, mostly consume a diet of insects unless food is scarce.
These birds will turn toward hunting and killing other birds and small rodents, such as mice, in order to avoid starvation
Burn It Down
If you want to talk about something gross, pull this image up. Those worms range from large to tiny, but they're all over the place.
That thing needs to get burned as soon as possible. Looking at this might give you the creeps, but you'll be okay.
"A Rare Red Rainbow In Lansing"
Any rainbow is a beautiful rainbow, but an all-red one is straight-up rare.
Red rainbows happen when the sun is low on the horizon, making blue and green light scatter on their way through the atmosphere.
A Wind Storm Did This
Who knew storms could cause trees to lift up the front lawn like a throw rug?
This is a bit scary to consider, especially if you're a homeowner in a place that gets big storms.
"Huge Cabbage, Weighing In At 66 Lbs"
There's no reason a cabbage should be this big.
The great part about it is that it fed 120 homeless people in a day, so I suppose size matters sometimes.
... But Nature Can Also Be Kind Of Adorable
This grizzly bear and wolf were observed hunting and traveling together for 10 days after this wolf was separated from its pack.
I would like Disney to consider turning this friendship into an animated film.
This Photo Has Big Nope Energy
Before you scroll away from this terrifying image, wouldn't you like to know what it is? This is the result of wasps building their nest in a spot that also happened to have an old Halloween mask in it. The result is something that will haunt our nightmares forever.
Why Do Plants Have to Do This To Us?
No, those aren't spiders or an alien species. They are actually upside-down, dried-out Aloe Ferox leaves. With the right placement and lighting, they look exactly like something out of a sci-fi movie.
Don't Let Looks Deceive You
This beetle, Onychocerus Albitarsis, uses its antenna to sting and deliver venom, so stay away from those extra-long antennas. It is the only known insect on the planet to do this.
It Looks Worse Than It Is
While this bird looks like it just survived a zombie apocalypse, the reason for its unusual look is completely natural. This cardinal is going through its regular molting phase and will regrow its feather soon enough. What a relief!
Are These On The Right Planet?
Before you start thinking that this is a plant from another galaxy, this is Hydnora Africana, a parasitic plant. Its natural pollinator is the dung beetle, so as a result, the plant smells like poop to attract the beetles. That's nature for you – things look weird AND smell bad.
Not Quite Like Jurassic Park
This is a life-size model of a T-Rex from the natural history museum and honestly, we are so happy that dinosaurs and humans never coexisted. As per recent scientific evidence that many dinosaurs were likely feathered, this T-Rex has a terrifying hairdo and small, beady eyes. Yikes!
Why Is Nature So Scary?
These are the fangs of the Goliath Birdeater spider and a human's finger for scale. All I can say is that I'm relieved that these things eat birds and not humans. I wouldn't want to come across one of these in real life.
The Unknown Path Can Be The Scariest
There's a reason why so many fairy tales and folk stories discuss the dangers lurking in the deep, dark forest. That's because, while these places can be beautiful, they are also terrifying. Besides the lack of sunlight, you never know what kinds of creatures can be lurking about.
It's For Educational Purposes But Still Scary
This is a model of a cheetah with no skin, fur, or ears at Milan’s Natural History Museum to show visitors how aerodynamic these big cats really are. While that is impressive, we could have done without the visual representation.
