26. Penitentes
No, these aren’t Catholics feeling especially sorry for what they’ve done. These are South American swords and spears made of ice, called penitentes. Next time you are hiking in the mountainous regions of this epic part of the world, keep your eyes peeled for a field of these jagged icy blades. The interesting-sounding name, funnily enough, is actually taken from the Spanish word for “penitents,” referring to how these frosty figures appear to be a congregation of churchgoers kneeling during penance.
Penitentes
You will be amazed to discover that these penitentes can also be found on one of Jupiter’s moons, called Europa (the ice formations, not the Catholics). On this faraway moon, the penitentes can sprout up to 50 feet tall!
25. Supercell
No, this isn’t the final form of some Dragon Ball Z villain, but these ferocious super storms will probably wreak as much havoc. You don’t have to be a weather expert to know that the pictured horror is supremely destructive.
Supercell
We do not know how to describe a supercell other than as one of nature’s most devastating forces. A supercell is unleashed when a thunderstorm stores up a titanic updraft, called a mesocyclone, which then pulverizes everything in its path. The residents of the United States’ infamous “Tornado Alley” are one of the world’s only a few targets of such terrifying weather conditions.
