Tropical Paradise-13 Natural Wonders of Southeast Asia

Mount Pinatubo, Philippines

southeast-asia-pinatubo

(images via: wikimedia commons)

An active stratovolcano on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, Mount Pinatubo was once obscured from view and covered in dense forest that were home to the indigenous Aetas people. But in 1991, the volcano erupted in the second-largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century, changing the landscape forever. The eruption cut the volcano’s height by more than 1,000 feet and created a massive caldera that is now Lake Pinatubo. It also led to the relocation of the Aetas, many of whom assimilated into lowland culture.

Phi Phi Island, Thailand

southeast-asia-phi-phi

(images via: greg knapp, spotter_nl)

The Phi Phi islands offer some of Thailand’s most picturesque views, which is saying a lot in an island nation where virtually every natural setting is eye-poppingly beautiful. One of the islands was used as the setting for the 2000 film The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. There are six islands in all, lying about 31 miles southeast of Phuket, and they’re best known for their spectacular limestone mountains with cliffs, caves and white sandy beaches.

Kinabalu National Park, Malaysia

southeast-asia-kinabalu

(images via; chris wary)

One of Malaysia’s first national parks, Kinabalu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 4,500 species of animals and plants, making it one of the most important biological sites in the world. Located in Malaysian Borneo, it covers a large area surrounding Mount Kinabalu. Thousands of climbers reach its pinnacle each year for stunning views of the landscape.

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

southeast-asia-ha-long-bay

(images via: wikimedia commons)

Ha Long Bay (‘Descending Dragon Bay’ in Vietnamese) features thousands of limestone islands and ‘islets’, and several of the islands are hollow. One, the Hang Dau Go, has three large chambers and is marked with 19th century French graffiti from one of its earliest groups of tourists. The bay, located in northeastern Vietnam, is a popular travel destination and is home to 14 endemic floral species and 60 endemic animal species.