Jaw-dropping caves, epic waterfalls and angry volcanoes: Spectacular photographs show Mother Nature at her most beautiful – and fearful – from Canada to Scotland via Iceland

• One photographer has captured a stunning image of Matsumoto Castle in Nagano Prefecture, Japan 
• One photo of Trolltunga (Trolls Tongue) by Robert Godwin shows just how far thrill-seekers will go 
• Photographer and diver Martin Broen, from New York, explores the world’s longest underwater cave system

This spectacular collection of photographs from around the world showcases the natural beauty of planet earth, from incredible underwater caves to the peaks of icy mountains.

One photographer has captured a stunning image of Matsumoto Castle in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

Daisuke Uematsu, 31, who is based in Japan, said: ‘It is a symbol of my local area and a beautiful building in Japan. ‘Matsumoto Castle is a national treasure – these buildings are found all over Japan, but each is loved locally.’

Extreme athlete Alexander Schulz crosses the fiery crater of Mount Yasur on Vanuatu using a 2.5cm-wide, 260m- (853ft) long ‘lavaline’

LEFT: This stunning image of Matsumoto Castle in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, was taken by Daisuke Uematsu. RIGHT: The paradisiacal Seychelles 

Around the world, photographers have gone to extremes to get the perfect shot by getting up close and personal to Mother Nature at her most beautiful and most fearful spots.

One photo of Trolltunga (Trolls Tongue) by Robert Godwin shows just how far thrill-seekers will go.

This world-famous rock formation in Norway is a precipice of rock jutting out over a sheer cliff and picturesque lake. Thrill-seekers perform incredible backflips, handstands and yoga poses against the stunning backdrop.

The eye-catching view from above: A spectacular drone shot taken near Invergarry in Scotland

LEFT: Trolltunga (Trolls Tongue) – a precipice of rock jutting out over a sheer cliff and picturesque lake in Norway. RIGHT: An ice hockey match on frozen Vermilion Lakes in Banff National Park, with ice bubbles glowing just beneath the surface

And some people sit down and dangle their legs over the edge.

The flat cliff edge, 700 metres (3,000ft) from the ground, sticks horizontally out of a mountain on the north side of Lake Ringedalsvatnet.

Meanwhile, away from bustling tourists, the Vatnajokull glacier in Iceland is bathed in an orange glow as photographed by Sigurdur William Brynjarsson, who took his breathtaking shot while in a mesmerising ice cave.

The Vatnajokull glacier in Iceland is bathed in an orange glow as photographed by Sigurdur William Brynjarsson

Martin Broen explores the other-worldly underwater caves and cenotes along the Riviera Maya in Mexico

Martin describes the experience of being in the Riviera Maya caves as ‘floating through a different planet’ 

Anna von Boetticher free-diving under enormous icebergs in Greenland

Another isolated natural beauty is a little harder to find, hidden beneath -27C icy waters.

Tobias Friedrich, 39, an underwater photographer from Germany, captured Anna von Boetticher, a free diver, in Tasiilaq, Greenland.

His shot shows the brave diver defying freezing temperatures and swimming underneath huge icebergs.

The pair said although challenging, it was a unique experience.

An amazing self-portrait by Paul Zizka at Canada’s breathtaking Wapta Falls in the Yoho National Park

Female workers in Bangladesh tirelessly harvest and sort red chilli peppers in the hot sun, preparing them to be delivered to spice companies

Adventurous couple Jarrod Andrews, 35, and Jess Fiona, 29, said they have always loved getting up close and personal with nature and thought this stunning spot – the magically-hued Lake MacDonnell in South Australia – would make for some incredible snaps of them holding hands

This spectacular shot shows Jeff Mercier, a champion ice and mixed climber and Chamonix mountain police officer, scaling an icy wall in Iceland 

Tobias said: ‘It was definitely impressive to see these large structures and forms of icebergs from a view where you usually don’t see them at all.’

Investigating our underwater world again, photographer and diver Martin Broen, from New York, explores caves in the Riviera Maya in Mexico.

His eerie yet magical photographs show part of a worshipped Mayan world – a glimpse into the world’s longest underwater cave system, formed millions of years ago during the ice ages.

A self-portrait of Paul Zizka at the Greenland Ice Sheet. Paul, who often travels alone, uses an intervalometer built into his camera, which controls how many shots are taken, how often and for how long

Martin described the experience of being in it as ‘floating through a different planet’.

On dry land, female harvesters work tirelessly to harvest and sort red chilli peppers in the hot sun, preparing them to be delivered to spice companies in Bangladesh.

An aerial photo shows a chilli harvest in all its glory. It was taken by photographer Azim Khan Ronnie, who visited a chilli farm in Bogura, Bangladesh, that supplies local companies with chilli spice.

There are just under 100 chilli farms in Bogura with over 2,000 women workers.

Azim said: ‘Thousands of bright red chilli peppers are harvested in the hot sun before being sorted, ready to be delivered to spice companies.’

Meanwhile, the internet has fallen in love with romantic snaps a couple took of a pink lake, which looks like something out of a fairy tale.

While you’d be forgiven for thinking these snaps were photoshopped, this incredible lake in Penong, South Australia, is totally natural.

Pamukkale in Turkey, a spot famous for its shiny white terraces formed by mineral-rich geothermal spring water

After heavy rains tannic acid accumulates, providing a colourful neon-green tone and amazing background for the water lilies at Cenote Car Wash in Tulum, Mexico

LEFT: Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca, in Peru can receive over 1,500 visitors per day. RIGHT: Colourful salt flats in Australia

Adventurous couple Jarrod Andrews, 35, and Jess Fiona, 29, said they have always loved getting up close and personal with nature and thought this stunning spot would make for some incredible snaps of them holding hands.

The body of water is called Lake MacDonnell, with its magical hue caused by high concentrations of salt, plus a special type of algae and bacteria.

A self-portrait of Paul Zizka at the Greenland Ice Sheet is just one of a collection of epic self-portraits, taken while globe-trotting from Asia to Antarctica in search of the world’s most stunning locations.

Paul, who often travels alone, uses an intervalometer built into his camera, which controls how many shots are taken, how often and for how long.

Source: Read Full Article