25 Optical Illusions And Phenomena Only Seen In Nature

We\'re all familiar with man-made optical illusions, but did you know that nature can actually produce optical illusions as well? For example, have you ever witnessed something that seemed a little bit off in nature? [textads] Maybe something moving that shouldn\'t be moving? Maybe a natural phenomenon resembling something completely out of place. From clouds and halos to auroras and mirages, these are 25 Optical Illusions And Phenomena Only Seen In Nature! [ads2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ0pHDT-G_s 1. Arcus Cloud: We’re just going to end the list on clouds, and Arcus clouds are some of the coolest. Oftentimes seen along the coast, they can look quite foreboding. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 2. Lenticular Clouds: These lens-shaped clouds have been responsible for more than one UFO sighting. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 3. Badlands Guardian: Found in Alberta, Canada and seen from Google Earth, this rock formation bears the appearance of a human head wearing an Aboriginal Canadian headdress. Thanks to several humans structures the Guardian seems to be wearing headphones/earrings. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 4. Apache Head: The Apache Head in the rocks is a famous site at Ebihens, France. It is known as pareidolia, or a stimulus which we perceive to be significant but really isn’t. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 5. The Wave: Located on the border of Arizona and Utah, this sandstone rock formation is a favorite spot for hikers and backpackers. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 6. Salt Flats: Found around the world, salt flats can cause some interesting depth and perception illusions due to not having a point of reference anywhere. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 7. Magnetic Hill: A magnetic hill is a hill that is actually sloped downwards but due to its surroundings, the hill appears to slope upwards. The effect is best seen by putting your car in neutral and drifting “uphill”! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 8. Gonepteryx rhamni: This butterfly has some incredibly realistic camouflage. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 9. Anticrepuscular rays: The visual opposite of Crepuscular rays, these appear to originate from a point on the horizon and spread upwards. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 10. Aurora Light: In the northern hemisphere, it is known as the Aurora Borealis while in the southern hemisphere it is called Aurora Australis. These phenomena are caused by magnetic rays and solar wind interacting with the upper atmosphere. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 11. Crepuscular rays: These are sun rays that appear to stream through the clouds from a point in the sky where the sun is located. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 12. Alpen Glow: An interesting phenomenon, this happens when the sun has already set but due to light reflecting off of particles in the atmosphere mountains can sometimes appear to be illuminated with a reddish glow. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 13. Halo: Often seen around the sun or the moon, the most popular is the “22-degree halo” often seen around the sun. Sometimes when a halo surrounds the moon it is called a “mood ring”. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 14. Circumzenithal Arc: Similar to a rainbow, this optical phenomenon typically has much purer colors. Once again, rather than being caused by raindrops it is usually caused by ice crystals. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 15. Green Flash: Sometimes occurring right before or after sunset, a green spot will appear right above the rim of the sun for a few seconds. Although they are caused by a variety of factors, the general explanation is that light is being bent in the atmosphere. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 16. Dew on spider web: Early in the morning spider webs can create some amazing “floating water” illusions. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 17. Atlas Moth: The Atlas Moth comes with two snakes on its wings for protection! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 18. Cloud shadows: Looking like islands on an ocean, cloud shadows can make for an interesting effect, especially in low lighting conditions. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 19. Moon Illusion: Have you ever noticed that when the moon is close to the horizon it appears to be humongous? Well next time that happens, make binoculars with your hands and isolate the moon in your field of vision. It shrinks! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Why is that? Because your brain adjusts the moon‘s size in relation to another object on the horizon and (mistakenly) decides that it should actually be much bigger! 20. Atlantic Road: Although this bridge in Norway looks like it is nothing more than a ramp leading to nowhere, seen from another angle you would see that the bridge actually curves back down to the other side. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 21. Brocken Spectre: Also called “mountain spectre”, this happens when your magnified shadow is cast on clouds or fog below you. 22. Light Pillar: Once again, ice crystals are responsible for the vertical beam you sometimes see over light sources in the sky. 23. Fata Morgana: A complex type of mirage, Fata Morganas are cause by air of different temperatures distorting light waves. 24. Sun Dogs: Also known as phantom suns, this happens when ice crystals in the atmosphere create the effect of having two extra suns on either side of the real sun. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 25. Horsetail Falls: It’s not actually on fire, but when the light hits the water at the right angle, it sure looks like it! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

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Horsetail Falls

Sun Dogs

Fata Morgana

Light Pillar

Brocken Spectre

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