A hot-air balloon flies over the morning mist near Immenstadt in Allgaeu, southern Germany, on August 24, 2009. The adventurous alternative of hiking is called Balloon-Trekking, where the passengers, equipped with a compass and a map, have to find their way back to the departure by foot after a trip with the balloon. SEBASTIAN WIDMANN/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivetwo985671
As I was looking through these pictures, Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” kept running through my head. These gorgeous pictures of hot air balloons from around the world made me want to buy a balloon, quit school, and spend the next five years touring the world from a wicker basket.
Created in 1782, the hot air balloon hasn’t evolved too much. A hot air balloon is comprised of three main parts- the envelope (balloon), the gondola (wicker basket), and a source of heat (usually an open flame). A balloon stays afloat by trapping air heated by the flame in the envelope. This works because the heated air is at a lower density, so it rises, and the air near the mouth of the balloon is at the same density as the surrounding air, so it helps to trap the hot air in the envelope.
Take a look at 22 of these breathtaking pictures of hot air balloons. The original post was supposed to comprise only 20 pictures, but I just couldn’t leave two of these out. Once you’re done with that, head back to Newscom where I’ve compiled over 100 more incredible pictures. Who knew something so odd shaped could be photographed so beautifully?
HOT AIR BALLOON HOVERING OVER GREEN FIELD WITH TREES AND MOUNTAINS IN BACKGROUND. Dan Barba Stock Connection USA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: scusphotos085793
USA/South Dakota: Mount Rushmore National Memorial. picturescolourlibrary.com Stock Connection USA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: scusphotos067908
Germany/Bavaria: Neuschwanstein Castle. picturescolourlibrary.com Stock Connection USA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: scusphotos067872
ANYANG, May 26, 2012 Hot balloons are prepared for performance at an air show during the Fourth China Anyang Aviation Tourism Festival in Anyang, central China’s Henan Province, May 26, 2012. The festival kicked off on Saturday, attracting over 400 participants from China and abroad. Zhu Xiang/ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumawireworldphotosfive404785
The hot air balloon rises on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dec. 27, 2011. A hot air balloon and eight floating balloons, with slogans against drunk driving, were inaugurated Monday in order to raise the awareness of the public. Weng Xinyang/ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumawirewestphotossix037760
A hot air balloon floats over Yangshuo, China, a popular tourist destination, on August 22, 2009. Brian J. Howell/UPI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: upiphotos970540
Hot air balloons on an excursion flying over the desert early morning at dawn , sunrise, on the West bank of the river Nile near Luxor, Egypt, North Africa, Africa. Neale Clarke/Robert Harding/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rhphotos107968
Hot air balloons taking off from Leeds Castle grounds, Kent, England, United Kingdom, Europe. Nigel Blythe/Robert Harding/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rhphotos094106
Hot air balloon launch in Morning fog in Apron the Filzmooser Balloon Week DEU AT Austria Filzmoos. imago stock&people/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: imagostock292030
Ballooning near the Valley of the Kings, Thebes, Egypt, North Africa, Africa. Alan Copson/Robert Harding/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rhphotos093178
Dhamma-yan-gyi Pahto, Bagan (Pagan), Myanmar (Burma), Asia. Jochen Schlenker/Robert Harding/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rhphotos082737
Photo taken on July 15, 2010 shows hot air balloons during the Golden Ring of Russia in Pereslavl-Zalessky, Russia. Lu Jinbo/Xinhua/Photoshot/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: ptsphotoshot381666
A hot-air ballon flies over a lake at the Metropolitan Park of Ciudad Leon, on Thursday 11 December 2003, 391 km from Mexico City. Today is the first day of the II Hot-Air Balloon Festival. About 100 pilots from around the world participate in the four-day exhibit. Mario Castillo/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotostwo557461
Hot-air balloons on their way during the seventh run of the 15th hot-air balloon european championship in Koerbelitz, near Magdeburg, Germany, 20 August 2007. 83 participants from 24 countries take part in competition, which lasts until 23 August. JENS WOLF/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotostwo220484
A hot-air balloon makes its way in the Vallis region, near Zermatt, Switzerland on Friday 19 September 2003. The event marks the 100th anniversary of the first takeoff in Zermatt of famous captain Edouard Spelterini (1852-1931) and his ride over the Swiss Alps. OLIVIER MAIRE/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotostwo054305
A picture made available on 03 July 2012 shows hot air balloons flying over a valley of the UNESCO World Heritage Rock Cave site of Cappadocia, a region stretching across the south-eastern part of central Anatolia with formations of volcanic tuffs and sandstones carved by erosion, in Turkey 22 June 2012. The number of foreign tourists visiting Turkey declined by 1.53 percent at to 3.23 million in May 2012. The number European tourists has dropped due to the ongoing European debt crisis. RUNGROJ YONGRIT/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotos471218
A hot air balloon flying over Canberra, Australia, 14 March 2012. The Balloon Spectacular is one of the major events of the Canberra Festival and is listed as one of the top four hot ballooning events in the world. LUKAS COCH/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotos328150
A hot-air balloon hovers above a winter landscape near the alps in Pfornten, Germany, 03 January 2011. Wonderfull winter weather with sunshine and freezing temperatures prevails in the south-west of Bavaria. Photo:�Karl-Josef Hildenbrand. Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: dpaphotos338749
A Hot Air Balloon And A Vehicle In A Field; Kenya Africa. Design Pics / David DuChemin/David DuChemin/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: depdest008902
Hot air balloons and ornate building. Markus Amon Cultura/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: cuphotos059188
Hot air balloons fly over Bristol on the week that will see the 34th Bristol International Balloon Fiesta take place at Ashton Court Estate, as balloonists from all over the world gather at what is the largest balloon event in Europe. Birchall Ben/PA Photos/ABACA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: abausaphotos779672
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Tags: 20 pictures of, around the world, beautiful pictures, hot air balloons, sight seeing, wicker basket