A luxury travel company has placed a popular Banff lake at the top of its list of the most eye-catching natural wonders.
Peyto Lake, a glacier-fed lake nestled in the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park, was named number one on Kuoni’s list released this week.
The company says it has used eye-tracking technology to help compile the list.
“Participants were invited to view a series of images of 50 of the world’s most famous natural sites and their eye movements were tracked using AI technology,” Kuoni wrote in a statement. “The data the images had the longest eye on was then analyzed to reveal the most eye-catching natural wonders.”
The company says Peyto’s “turquoise blue color”, which is emphasized by the surrounding forest on the shore, has helped put the Canadian destination at the top of the list.
The lake has beaten the “clear blue water and brilliant white sands” of Meeru Island in the Maldives and the Jurassic Coast in the UK, a World Heritage Site that attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Peyto wasn’t the only iconic Canadian destination to make Kuoni’s list. The three different waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls were sixth.
“A stunning natural wonder which is extremely popular with tourists, over 8 million travelers visit the iconic waterfalls every year,” Kuoni wrote. “Most people go into the water to get as close as possible, with boat trips that take visitors to the base of the falls to fully experience the landmark.”
The top 15 most eye-catching natural wonders, according to Kuoni’s list, are:
- Peyto Lake, Canada;
- Meeru Island, Maldives;
- Jurassic Coast, England;
- Yosemite, United States;
- Lake Tekapo, New Zealand;
- Niagara Falls, Canada / United States;
- Snowdon, Wales;
- Puerto Princesa underground river, Philippines;
- Marble caves, Chile;
- El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico;
- Aurora Borealis, Iceland;
- Iguazu Falls, Argentina / Brazil;
- Lake Matheson, New Zealand;
- Phang Nga Bay, Thailand; and
- Grand Canyon, United States
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