7 LARGEST Things in The World

There is a certain sense of wonder and amazement that is evoked by huge things. The sheer magnitude of something can be truly awe-inspiring, leaving us feeling small and insignificant in comparison. The way that large objects dominate their surroundings, casting shadows and creating an imposing presence, is truly majestic. Whether it's a towering mountain range, an enormous skyscraper, or a massive whale swimming through the ocean, there is something about size that captures our imaginations and leaves us in awe. Astronauts often come home with a new perspective on life after traversing the vastness of space and realizing that our planet, and even us, are just microscopic specks in the grand scheme of things. We don't even need to look as far as space. Here at home, the Grand Canyon, with its sheer immensity, can remind us about just how small we are on this planet and that there is a wider world out there. The depth of the Great Barrier Reef and the monolithic elephants are but a few of the things that can dwarf us and remind us of the captivating beauty of Mother Nature. In today's list, we are going to allow ourselves to be awestruck and immensely humbled as we count down to 10 of the world's largest things found in nature!

7.

INGA FALLS When we talk about large waterfalls the image that instantly pops up in mind is either Niagara Falls or Victoria Falls. They are, after all, gigantic compared to any falls on earth. We would not immediately think of Zaire's Inga Falls as the largest waterfall on the planet because, compared to Victoria and Niagara, well, it really cannot compete because of its drop measuring 21 meters and an expanse of only 4 kilometers wide. You might probably be thinking that we're nuts about putting this on the list but hear us out. Inga Falls makes this list because it is the only waterfall on the planet that moves the largest amount of water. In perspective, Victoria Falls moves a little over 38,000 cubic feet of water; Niagara Falls, on the other hand, moves around 85,000 cubic feet of water. To think that these two giants are among the tallest and widest falls in the world, they should at least be pouring out double or triple the number they are currently spewing. Enter Inga Falls, moving over 900,000 cubic feet of water per second, at least 10 times more than Niagara Falls.

6.

FISH LAKE NATIONAL FOREST Known as the heaviest organism known to man, the Fishlake National Forest is a single clonal colony of a male quaking aspen affectionately called the Trembling Giant. Its monolithic root system is comprised of about 47,000 stems that have created the "forest" - but, when all the individual stems, trunks, and leaves are put together as a single unit, this giant will weigh just about 6600 short tons! This organism is so heavy that the Blue Whale's weight of 200 tons shrinks in comparison. Even more impressive about the Fishlake National Forest is that researchers and conservationists estimate its age to at least 80,000 years old making it not just the heaviest living organism on the planet but also the oldest one.

5.

SON DOONG CAVE Discovered in 1991 by a local man, the Son Doong Cave of Vietnam is the largest cave to have been found on the planet. The cave itself is at least 5 kilometers long with ceilings that are at least 300 meters high; ceilings that boast natural skylights because of weaker limestones being washed away over thousands of years above-head. Steep and sharp inclines and acoustics make the interior of the cave a little eerie and otherworldly. Also, right below is a large subterranean river that adds to just how large and intimidating the cave is. Experts speculate that the cave may have been discovered a little sooner had it not been for the rough terrain and its impossibly remote location.

4.

SALAR DE UYUNI SALT FLATS Sitting on top of a plateau in Southwestern Bolivia, the Salar de Uyuni salt flats are the largest known salt flat on the planet with a surface area of over 10,000 square kilometers. Also, atop a plateau that has an elevation of 3600 meters, twice higher than Denver, Colorado. While it does produce tons and tons of salt, the Flats is also known for an enormous, untapped reserve of lithium just beneath its surface. Experts even estimate that the lithium reserve beneath Uyuni makes up for one-half to two-thirds of the world's reserves. Despite appearing to be a desolate wasteland of salt, Uyuni is also home to the world's largest pink flamingo habitats and at least 80 other avian species. And if that isn't enough to impress you, for a large part of the year, a thin layer of water covers the surface of the flats turning it into a reflective surface and during these seasons it appears to be the world's largest mirror - or, at least, the world's largest reflective surface.

3.

SALTWATER CROCODILE The extremely aggressive and territorial saltwater crocodile takes the number 3 spot as the largest terrestrial and riparian predator in the world, as well as the largest living reptile on earth. With the male of the species being the largest, measuring at lengths no less than 22 feet and weighing at least 4400 pounds, these reptilian ambush predators are much more terrifying in the water - ambushing their unsuspecting prey with lightning speed and tearing them apart with razor-sharp teeth. The saltwater crocodile is known for attacking indiscriminately on land as well and has been known to take down wild boars and water buffalos. In water, there have been instances in which they have overpowered sharks.

2.

AFRICAN BUSH ELEPHANT Easily the African Bush Elephant takes the 2nd spot for being the largest land animal on earth. While there are several other species of elephants, this one takes the cake because this species can grow up to 13 feet high and reach a length of at least 24 feet. With their massive size comes a massive weight of 11 tons which helps them exhibit extraordinary strength because these grey giants can lift more than 400 pounds with just their trunks. Endemic to African savannahs and rain forests, the African Bush Elephant requires a diet of at least 350 pounds of vegetation per day to keep their muscular physiques at an optimum. Among all mammals on earth, female African Bush Elephants hold a record of 22 months of gestation before giving birth. Unfortunately, because of their highly valued ivory tusks, these species are considered highly threatened because of illegal poaching and the black market trade of ivory. Many of these species, to keep their population going, have been kept in highly protected reserves where they are under watch and cared for 24/7.

1.

HONEY FUNGUS Don't be fooled by the tiny, honey-colored mushrooms it produces. In 1998, the US Forest Service set out to determine the cause of 112 tree deaths within the Malheur National Forest in Oregon. The team discovered that the tree deaths covered at least 3.7 square miles and were caused by the so-called Honey Fungus or Armillaria Solidipes. This single organism of fungus was able to occupy about 2384 acres within the said 3.7 square miles and was able to kill at least 61 trees in the park. Quite impressive for a fungus. The researchers who discovered the Honey Fungus determined it to be the largest organism on the planet - and from their collected specimen, they have also determined that, at its growth rate, the fungus could at least be 2400 years old as of 1998 and could, quite possibly, be as old as 8650 years old. This fungus consists mainly of lace-like, black rhizomorphs that spread below ground to search for a host that they will latch onto and feed from, sometimes their underground network - as evidenced by the tree deaths in Malheur National Park - can span acres; a feat that no common fungus is unable to accomplish. Above ground, their presence is usually spotted by the appearance of clusters of - as mentioned earlier - honey-colored mushrooms from which it gets its namesake.