Every now and then, Mother Nature shows us who — and what — she’s all about. Several times a year, across the globe, natural phenomena take place and blow our minds. Pictures don’t do these sights justice. Trust us: You have to see them to really believe and experience them.
Here, seven out-of-body experiences.
The Monarch butterfly migration
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Check out migration watch sites and areas like Montes Azules in the late fall and winter for the best results.
The Andean flamingo migration, Argentina via Chile and Bolivia
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A lightning storm over the plains of South Dakota
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My daddy used to live in Aberdeen, SD, and if we heard there was a storm coming, we’d eat outside on a picnic bench and watch the black wall of water, wind and lightning come toward us. By dessert we’d be inside, but it was always a truly awe-inspiring sight that made me feel like I was in a Tolkien novel.
The Northern Lights
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The good news: It’s out of this world and jaw-droppingly stunning. The bad news: It only happens in winter in really, really cold places.
Here’s a handy guide to where and when to see the Aurora Borealis in all its splendor.
Meteor shower
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I saw my first meteor shower when I was 16 in the Black Hills and I have been hunting them ever since. If you are in North America and have the stamina, Saturday morning between 3 a.m and 4 a.m., a spectacular show is set for our skies. For more information on what meteor showers will hit in 2014 (and where), click here.
Bioluminescent bays
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Bioluminescent bays happen when “The water luminescence is triggered by dinoflagellates, oceanic plankton which is able to generate an emerald green and ultramarine illumination when water is physically disturbed.”
Got that? Just know this: It’s really cool. Kayak on the bay at night and it feels like you are in a “Star Trek” episode.
The Rhododendron trees bloom in the Himalayas
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This story was original published on Yahoo! Travel