Finalists for New Seven Natural Wonders - Jeita Grotto to Yushan in Chinese Taipei

  Mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan

With a world filled with natural wonders, this is the list and description of the second half of the finalists. In alphabetical order from Jeita Grotto to Yushan.

Read about the New 7 Wonders  project and the announcement

Read about the first half of the finalists - Amazon to Iguazu Falls

Jeita Grotto in Lebanon Jeita Grotto is a compound of crystallized caves,  an upper and  lower cave complete with underground river. Filled with cathedral-like vaults of various sizes, colors and shapes of stalactites and stalagmites, majestic curtains and fantastic rock formations. It also boasts one of the longest stalactites in the world.

Jeju Island, Korea This volcanic island is both the largest island and smallest province in Korea.  Hallasan, the tallest mountain in South Korea and a dormant volcano, are part of the island.

Kilimanjaro, Tanzania With its three volcanic cones, Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world

Komodo, Indonesia Indonesia’s Komodo National Park was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon.

Maldive Islands, Maldives The Maldive Islands make up an island nation of 1,192 small islands in the Indian Ocean. Only about 200 are inhabited.

Masurian Lake District, Poland With more than 2,000 lakes, the area was shaped by the Pleistocene ice age. Many of its hills are parts of moraines and many of its lakes are moraine-dammed lakes.

Matterhorn/Cervino, Italy and Switzerland The Matterhorn/Cervino towers over the Swiss village of Zermatt and the Italian village Breuil-Cervinia. What makes the mountain unique (in addition to its spectacular profile) is its four faces, each facing one of the four compass points.

Milford Sound, New Zealand Part of the Fiordland National Park, it is spectacularly beautiful with several picture-worthy peaks, and lush rain forests on the mountain sides. Marine life abound in the water below.

Mud Volcanoes, Azerbaijan It is estimated that 300 of the planet's estimated 700 mud volcanoes are located in Eastern Azerbaijan and the Caspian Sea. Formations created when gases (often methane) and a slurry of fine solids suspended in liquid (often salty or acidic water) are ejected.

Puerto Princesa Underground River, Philippines The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park features a limestone mountain landscape with a  navigable underground river that winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. It creates a clear lagoon, framed by ancient trees grow up to the water’s edge, and the beach complete with monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels.

Sundarbans, Bangladesh and India The Sundarbans delta is the largest mangrove forest in the world complete with tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests. The area is known for its wide range of fauna, with the Royal Bengal tiger being the most famous.

Table Mountain, South Africa This flat-topped mountain is a prominent landmark and major tourist attraction to visitors who enjoy taking a cable car to the top.

Uluru, Australia Uluru (Ayers Rock) is one of Australia's natural icons. The sandstone formation appears to change color as the different light strikes it at different times of the day and year.

Mt. Vesuvius, Italy Perhaps the world’s most infamous volcano, its eruption in AD 79 destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. It has erupted many times. Although not currently active, it maybe one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world.

Yushan, Chinese Taipei Yushan, part of Yushan National Park, is a central mountain range in Chinese Taipei known for its diverse wildlife and ecology. The environment around Yushan itself spans from sub-tropical forests at its base to alpine conditions at its peak.

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(c) Neala Schwartzberg, all rights reserved