Best Pristine

The Winchcombe meteorite is a CM2 carbonaceous chondrite that fell over Gloucestershire, England, on 28 February 2021. Pieces were recovered rapidly after its bright fireball was recorded, limiting terrestrial contamination and giving researchers unusually pristine material. It contains hydrated min...

The Central Suriname Nature Reserve is a vast protected area in the southern part of Suriname, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000. Covering 1.6 million hectares, it encompasses pristine tropical rainforest and combines three former protected areas: Raleighvallen, Tafelberg, and Eiler...

Cala Mitjana is an unspoiled coastal cove situated on the southern coast of Menorca, one of Spain's Balearic Islands. The bay is characterized by its distinct crescent shape, enclosed by steep, pine-forested limestone cliffs that shield the area from prevailing winds. Its shoreline consists of fine...

Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park is a protected area located in the northern Republic of the Congo, established in 1993. The park covers a large expanse of pristine tropical lowland rainforest and contains no roads within its boundaries. It is a critical habitat for western lowland gorillas, forest elep...

Cala Trebalúger is a remote beach situated on the southern coast of Menorca, Spain. The cove is backed by a designated protected natural area and is characterized by its fine sand and surrounding pine forests. Because it lacks direct road access, visitors must reach the beach on foot or by sea, maki...

Fteri is an undeveloped pebble beach located on the western coast of Kefalonia, Greece. The beach is distinguished by its white pebbles and deep blue waters, contrasting with the surrounding rocky terrain. Access is restricted to visitors arriving by boat or those completing a demanding hike, as the...

Rowley Shoals is a remote coral atoll complex situated within the Indian Ocean off the western Australian coastline. Comprising Mermaid, Clerke, and Imperieuse reefs, it’s notable for its exceptional biodiversity and relatively undisturbed marine environment. Managed as a Commonwealth Marine Park si...

The Ndoki Forest Swamps in the Republic of Congo lie within the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, established in 1993, and protect some of Africa's most pristine rainforest swamps with dense populations of western lowland gorillas.

Cala Biriola is a cove located along the Gulf of Orosei on the eastern coast of Sardinia, Italy. The beach is enclosed by steep limestone cliffs that drop directly into the Tyrrhenian Sea and is backed by dense Mediterranean scrubland. Without any road connection, the cove is accessible exclusively...

Cala Escorxada is a remote beach situated on the southern coast of Menorca, Spain. It lies within the island's designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, an area protected for its ecological and scenic value. The cove lacks direct road access, requiring visitors to arrive by boat or traverse coastal hikin...

Cala Sisine is a beach on the eastern coast of Sardinia, Italy, located within the Gulf of Orosei. The beach sits at the mouth of a canyon and is enclosed by tall limestone cliffs. It is accessible only by boat from nearby ports or by a hiking path that follows a dry riverbed through the surrounding...

Indio Maíz Biological Reserve is a protected natural area located in the southeastern Caribbean lowlands of Nicaragua. Established in 1990, the reserve covers approximately 300,000 hectares of largely undisturbed tropical rainforest. It is recognized as a crucial sanctuary for regional biodiversity,...

Pearl and Hermes Atoll represents one of the most pristine coral atoll ecosystems remaining in the Pacific Ocean. Located within the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, it’s notable for its exceptionally high biodiversity and relatively undisturbed state. The atoll's formation offers a valuable scientifi...

Kingman Reef is a remote atoll within the United States territory of the central Pacific Ocean. It’s notable for supporting exceptionally healthy and largely undisturbed coral reef ecosystems. Its isolation minimizes human impact, making it a valuable location for scientific research focused on mari...

Gemstone Bay is a small inlet within the Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve on the Coromandel Peninsula of New Zealand's North Island. The marine reserve, established in 1992, covers an area of coastline including the more widely known Cathedral Cove. Gemstone Bay features a snorkeling trail with sub...

Nouragues Nature Reserve is a protected area in French Guiana, established in 1995, covering approximately 1,000 square kilometers of largely undisturbed Amazonian rainforest. The reserve is known for the Nouragues inselberg, a massive granite dome that rises above the surrounding canopy and support...

Fall Bay is a cove located on the south coast of the Gower Peninsula in Wales, adjacent to Mewslade Bay. It is accessible via a walk along the Wales Coast Path. The beach is backed by limestone cliffs and features a notable sea cave known as 'Hunt's Cave'. It is a popular spot for rock climbing, wit...

The Sipaliwini Nature Reserve is a vast protected area located in the remote southern interior of Suriname. It shares a border with Brazil and encompasses extensive tracts of undisturbed Amazonian rainforest. The reserve is vital for the conservation of regional biodiversity and serves as a protecte...

Coffin Bay is a highly indented, sheltered inlet located at the southern extremity of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. The bay was charted and named by British navigator Matthew Flinders in 1802, honoring Sir Isaac Coffin. Its clean, nutrient-rich waters are the foundation of a significant aqu...

Small cove within Dorset's MOD Lulworth Ranges, closed to public access as part of an active tank gunnery area, preserving rare undisturbed coastal habitat.