The world's most beautiful mountains

 Mountains are natural treasures that make travel worthwhile, whether you're skiing, hiking, or just sightseeing.

We've compiled images and unexpected facts about some of the most breathtaking peaks on the planet, from Peru's Rainbow Mountain to Japan's majestic Mount Fuji.

Scroll down to experience extreme wanderlust.

Mu Cang Chai, Vietnam

Mu Cang Chai, a hidden gem in a tiny, rural province in Northern Vietnam, with terraced rice fields with a deep green color that makes you think you've stepped into a picture. The hues of the fields can range from light brown to golden yellow to emerald green, depending on the month you visit.

The rice fields are still harvested by the native Hmong people, who carved them directly into the Hoang Lien Son mountain range in the 1400s. 

Kirkjufell, Grundarfjörður, Iceland

Kirkjufell, the peak that is most photographed in Iceland, is situated in a distinctive spot on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Its spectacular appearance is further enhanced by the waterfalls that come before it. The peak appears to emerge out of the ocean.

Kirkjufell even served as a filming location for the sixth and seventh seasons of the widely watched television series "Game of Thrones."

Three Sisters, Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia

Every year, throngs of tourists swarm Echo Point in hopes of catching a view of the Three Sisters, an intriguing rock formation in the Blue Mountains, an area known for its waterfalls, steep cliffs, and eucalyptus forests.

Around the sandstone rock structure are several legends. One relates the tale of three sisters from the Katoomba tribe who developed romantic feelings for three brothers from the Nepean tribe. The brothers abducted the sisters and incited a tribal war since they were forbidden from getting married by tribal law. A witch doctor from their tribe enchanted the sisters into becoming rocks by casting a spell on them. After the fight, he intended to undo the enchantment, but he was slain, leaving the sisters as rocks for all time.

The Dolomites, Italy

The Dolomites comprise eighteen peaks, some of which are nearly ten thousand feet high, that are a component of the northern Italian alps. The world's tallest limestone cliffs are said to be found in this mountain region.

Many refer to Lake Braies, also known as Lake Prags (shown above), as the Pearl among Dolomite Lakes. Its jewel-toned waters are caused by reflections of the surrounding landscape in the summer. The lake, which descends to a depth of 118 feet, is among the biggest and deepest of the Dolomites' natural lakes.

The Andes, Bolivian Altiplano

The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range, spanning 4,500 kilometers.

Nestled against the gorgeous Andes, the Laguna Colorado, also known as the crimson lagoon, is a lake on Bolivia's altiplano plateau. The rarest flamingo species in the world, Andean flamingos, are drawn to its shallow, salty waters.

The red sediments and algae that are present in the water give the lake its characteristic blood red hue

The Alps, Europe

The Alps are the greatest mountain range in Europe, spanning eight nations and 745 miles in total. A portion of Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Germany, France, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, and Hungary are touched by the mountain range.

The Alps have been inhabited by people for ages. The earliest known European man mummy, Ötzi the Iceman, was found in 1991 on an Alps glacier. It is thought that he was killed 5,300 years ago and has been preserved in ice ever since.