6 heart-shaped natural wonders from around the world

Romantic types and outdoor enthusiasts will undoubtedly get a kick out of these gorgeous heart-shaped natural wonders. From atolls and islands to lakes and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/stupefying-hand-knitted-hammock-is-suspended-above-a-400-foot-high-canyon/">canyons</a>, Mother Nature has proven that she has a quirky sense of humor, as well as a lot of love to share.

A coral formation off the <a href="http://www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au/destinations/whitsunday-islands/">Whitsunday Islands</a> in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the beloved <a href="http://www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au/destinations/airlie-beach/attractions/heart-reef/">Heart Reef</a> grew and protruded naturally from the surface in the shape of a heart. The small atoll can only be appreciated from the air—snorkeling, diving, and landing of any sort are verboten—making it a popular destination for scenic helicopter flights and marriage proposals. Unfortunately, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/australia-agrees-to-dump-one-millions-tons-of-mud-near-the-great-barrier-reef/">Australia has plans to expand its coal industry</a> on the mainland near the Whitsundays, and dredge spoil may threaten life around Heart Reef and the greater Great Barrier ecosystem in future years. Our hearts go out to all the marine creatures of Heart Reef.

Slot canyons are rife with shapes and colors, their stripes and spirals often creating optical illusions. X Canyon, located on Navajo land roughly 30 minutes from Page, Arizona, is an uncrowded alternative to Antelope Canyon. <a href="http://www.overlandcanyontours.com/xphoto">Overland Canyon Tours</a> is the only outfitter permitted to enter the slot canyons, some of which have 150-foot walls that close to a mere three feet. Look up and you'll likely see all kinds of images, especially black hearts emerging from red-orange flames.

Sitting about 7,000 feet up the <a href="http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-au/sentiero-alpino-calanca-mountain-trail.html">Calanca Mountain Trail</a> between the Calanca and Mesolcina Valleys in the Swiss Alps, hikers reach Lac Calvaresc ("lake of heart"), a green pool of water that offers a refreshing dip in summer. The marmots enjoy it too. Most people visit Heart Lake on a three-day hiking trek from San Bernadino, staying in mountain huts along the way.

This forested island floating in the neon glacial waters of Mascardi Lake in Argentinian Patagonia only bears its loving shape from the eastern vantage point of Lake Gutierrez. Many <a href="http://www.swoop-patagonia.co.uk/lakes-mascardi-hess-roca/">kayaking</a> trips explore the Bariloche Lake District, stopping for photos, kisses, proposals, you name it at Isla Corazón.

At the site of the <a href="http://www.hawaiiweb.com/blog/maui/nakalele-blow-hole-maui#detaileddescription">Nakele Blow Hole</a>, north of Kapalua in West Maui, there's a hole in the lava rock that the ocean blew out in a rough image of a heart. High tides and strong surf create the best blow hole effects, which include the spewing of seawater through the heart-shaped window.

While not exactly <em>natural</em> since it was created by fishermen to trap their catch on the incoming tide, the <a href="http://www.amusingplanet.com/2014/11/twin-heart-fish-trap-in-penghu.html">Twin-Heart Stone Weir</a> in the township of Chimei, Taiwan, is worth a visit for its flying-heart aesthetic and to learn about an ancient sustainable fishing practice of stacking stones into concentric traps.