Natural Phenomena that are More Beautiful than Fireworks

[Rogue Proxy]

Even at a fairly young age, I've always viewed fireworks displays as overrated, trivial, and unappealing. This primarily stems from the artificial and anthropogenic elements of these events, coupled with the sensory and mental overstimulation from the loud explosions, music, talking, crowded areas, and forced human interactions. Instead, I regard certain natural phenomena as more pleasurable, meaningful, memorable, and beautiful than even the most elaborate fireworks. These include sunsets (particular in settings like mountains, beaches, deserts, and deciduous autumn forests), meteor showers, aurorae, eclipses, fireflies courting on clear nights, and clear, starry skies. For those who prefer natural phenomena and locations over fireworks displays, which one(s) would you love to observe during the Fourth of July?

 

[Lost in a Dream]

Personally, I prefer watching lightning a lot more. Nature puts on a much more impressive fireworks display than people in my opinion. Fireflies are great too, but what's really amazing is when you see them together.

 

[Lost Magic]

Northern lights is a better lightshow and more calming too.

 

[western_heart]

I have similar feelings about fireworks

Last night I sat at home and watched videos of train journeys that the algorithm recommended to me, going through mountains. I had no idea that there are long distance/overnight scenic train tours! Now I want to take an expensive vacation

Besides mountains, I love deserts, sunsets, seeing the stars, walking along the coast... holy shit I miss the ocean
I probably won't get to do anything too scenic this summer, but I am so glad I was able to see the Atlantic a few months back.

 

[veryhappyhuman]

Last night I sat at home and watched videos of train journeys that the algorithm recommended to me, going through mountains. I had no idea that there are long distance/overnight scenic train tours! Now I want to take an expensive vacation

Once went on one of those train journeys in the Rockies. The scenery was so amazing that I got neck ache from keeping my head turned to the window all day. Couldn't miss even a single moment of it! Probably the best 2 days of my life and also maybe the only 2 days I didnt think of ctb in the recent past lol. Nature is truly amazing and it's a catastrophe that humans are destroying it for purely selfish reasons.

Northern lights is a better lightshow and more calming too.

Not to mention they don't scare the F out of dogs and other animals!

Iinterestingly, they look very different to the naked eye than in the videos! My flight was over the Arctic at night, so I got to see Northern Lights but they just looked like these massive moving wisps/strands of greyish smoke spanning the sky. Still incredible but I was really hoping for a color show like in the videos. But viewed through the phone's camera it looked completely different.

 

[Someone123]

Grass, dandelions, trees, squirrels, birds, ants etc. I just have never gotten into fireworks, not sure why.

 

[odradek]

Bioluminescent plankton:

 

[Angi]

The waves of the ocean hitting the cliffs and slowly clawing away the land.

Fire. Also, lava. It looks like fire but it is mountains in the making!

 

[Sans]

Now that it's the summer, the fireflies come out in huge numbers and light up the night. Sometimes I go out and just watch the lights flash and it's beautiful. I just wish I had someone to enjoy it with, but I don't so it just makes me more sad.

I also really love the sound on the waves on the beach in the summer accompanied by the sounds of the seagulls. It brings me back to when I was a child and could actually enjoy the summer without having to worry about work and money and the future.

 

[Sibyl Vane]

Volcanic Lightning:

 

[symphony]

I've always had a certain obsession with the moon. It may not be flashy or spectacular, but it has a sense of grace and majesty to it, at least in my mind. At times I've characterized it (again, just in my mind) as some sort of benevolent spirit keeping watch over me and holding on to little moonlit moments of my life. It's a quiet beauty but I far prefer it over fireworks.

 

[NotYourFriend]

Fireworks are pretty cool. I have no complaints.

 

[waitingforrest]

The Rainbow Mountains of China

surreal.