Connect with Nature, part 1: Virtually connect with Nature

Evermore studies are now providing scientific evidence for something that many of us have always known: …

Being connected with Nature is good for us. It’s good for our health, well-being and happiness.

When we’re limited in the ways we can go out into Nature, maintaining this connection can be a challenge for many.

Luckily technology provides a way that makes it possible to — at least virtually — still visit some of the world’s most stunning natural places; to virtually connect with Nature.

Below I’ve listed 5 virtual explorations into some of those incredible places.

1.) Keukenhof, the Netherlands

Every spring tourist flock in large numbers to the Netherlands to see endless fields of blooming tulips.

The Keukenhof is a beautiful spring garden/park dedicated to those very tulips and many other flowers.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic it won’t open its doors in 2020, but you can still visit it virtually.

2.) The northern lights

One day I will visit a place where I can actually witness this incredible natural phenomenon.

Caused by solar winds in the magnetosphere the sky lights up with amazing colours and complex ever changing shapes.

Until then I will have to do with photographs or the videos of the ‘Lights over Lapland’ project.

3.) The world’s largest cave

Located right in the heart of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the Quang Binh province of Vietnam, the world’s largest cave, Hang Son Doong, can be found.

Estimated to be between 400 and 450 million years old it was first discovered by a local in 1990. Not daring to go in by himself, he returned home and promptly forgot the route he’d taken. Not until 2008 was he able to find the cave entrance again. This time in the company of a group of scientists and explorers.

They found a cave of incredible beauty and size (in places big enough for a boeing to fly through).

4.) The pillars of Zhāngjiājiè

If you’ve seen the 2009 movie ‘Avatar’ you may recognise these columns Nature created out of quartzite-sandstone. They inspired the Avatar scenery that played such an important part in the movie.

Around 240 peaks and more than 3,000 karst pinnacles and spires reach 1,000s of metres into the air.

You can take flight around these towering natural columns in an interactive video exploring the site.

5.) Descent into a live volcano

Humans have always had an ambiguous relationship with volcanoes. On the one hand, they provide incredibly fertile earth to grow crops on. On the other hand when they erupt death is the likeliest of outcomes for those who live on their slopes. You only have to look at images of Pompeii to know this is true.

Knowing this a team of scientists and adventurers still decided it was a good idea to descend into one of the world’s most active volcanoes: Ambrym, a volcanic island in Malampa Province in the archipelago of Vanuatu.

As always …

Go dare greatly

— Gerdi

Discover more ways to connect with Nature:

• Connect with Nature, part 2: Listen to sounds of Nature
• Connect with Nature, part 3: Read a book with Nature as a main character
• Connect with Nature, part 4: Look at images of Nature
• Connect with Nature, part 5: Listen to songs about Nature
• Connect with Nature, part 6: Watch a Nature TED Talk
• Connect with Nature, part 7: With Natural Classics