Blyde River Canyon, Canyon in Mpumalanga, South Africa
Blyde River Canyon is a deep gorge carved by river erosion over millennia, with towering cliff walls and layered geological formations. The landscape features dramatic rock pillars, forested slopes, and several cascading waterfalls throughout its length.
The river and canyon received its name in 1844 from Hendrik Potgieter, who called it after successfully returning from an expedition to Delagoa Bay. Millions of years before this naming, geological processes had already shaped the rock layers and formations visible today.
The Three Rondavels rock formations resemble the shape of traditional South African round houses with thatched roofs. Visitors often notice how the name directly connects these natural pillars to the architectural style of local heritage.
Several marked hiking trails of varying difficulty run through the reserve, providing different ways to explore the landscape. The best time to visit is during warmer months when paths are dry and wildlife is most active.
The Kadishi Tufa waterfall displays natural rock formations that resemble the features of a weeping face. This visual effect develops from mineral deposits and water patterns accumulated over a long time.
Location: Mpumalanga
GPS coordinates: -24.56389,30.80750
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:00
From the highest peaks to coastal cliffs, this collection brings together geographically significant observation points across all continents. The locations offer views of mountain ranges, waterfalls, deserts, oceans, and notable architectural structures. The selection includes the Great Wall near Beijing, the Cliffs of Moher above the Atlantic, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, and Mount Everest on the Nepal-Tibet border. Among the waterfalls are Iguazú Falls between Brazil and Argentina, Victoria Falls between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and Niagara Falls between Canada and the United States. The Pyramids of Giza, the Alhambra in Granada, and the Taj Mahal in Agra showcase important architectural achievements from different eras. Natural formations such as Uluru in the Australian outback, Halong Bay in Vietnam, Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies, and the Norwegian fjords demonstrate Earth's geological diversity. Additional locations include Santorini in the Aegean Sea, the Amazon rainforest, Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River, Petra in Jordan, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the Fitz Roy range in Patagonia, and Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia.
From the windy tip of the Cape to the blue line of the Drakensberg, South Africa stacks landscapes that do not resemble each other. A morning on Table Mountain, an evening facing the whales of Hermanus, and between them red trails, deep canyons, lagoons, vineyards, and reserves where large animals pass through. Kruger opens its roads at dawn, Pilanesberg sketches an ancient crater, iSimangaliso blends reefs and wetlands. Further afield, the rugged coast preserves its cliffs, the Richtersveld its succulent deserts, and the Valley of Desolation its frozen lava columns. Here, travel is at eye and light level, to the rhythm of a vast land that changes its face at every turn.
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