From the mystical Appalachian Trail which runs through the east, to the natural phenomenon that is Mississippi’s Petrified Forest, and the esteemed Grand Canyon, the U.S. has volumes to offer when it comes to exploring natural sites and landmarks.
Aqua Expeditions polled 3,113 Americans on which local natural landmarks they would most like to visit. It was revealed that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which lies on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, is the natural landmark most people would like to tick off their bucket list. Unsurprisingly, this destination is the most visited national park in America, having attracted more than 14.1 million visitors in 2021 alone. It’s no wonder so many others aspire to join the visitor’s book and witness the sprawling natural landscape, along with its year-round wildflower blooms, abundant rivers, waterfalls and forests.
In 2nd place, Niagara Falls emerged as one of the most popular natural landmarks, which is located on the Niagara River. At the Observation Tower at Prospect Point in the Niagara Falls State Park, visitors can behold a natural spectacle: a view of all three waterfalls.
Located in Belleview, Missouri, Elephant Rocks State Park is a geologic reserve and recreation area, and it emerged in 3rd place. It is named for a row of large granite boulders, resembling a train of elephants.
In 33rd position came North Carolina’s Whitewater Falls. The Whitewater Falls are the highest waterfalls east of the Rockies. Given their inaccessibility, there are few visitors and the area has remained underdeveloped for years. Wildflowers, ferns, mosses, and fungi are abundant for hikers to enjoy.
View this post on Instagram
North Carolina’s other natural landmarks voted in the 250 most popular include:
#33 Whitewater Falls.
#47 Looking Glass Falls.
#71 Mount Mitchell.
#117 Jockey’s Ridge.
#167 Sliding Rock.