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Mitre Peak, New Zealand -

The north face of Mitre Peak in the South Island of New Zealand drops 1,690 m (5,560 ft) to Milford Sound, making it a contender for the highest sea cliff in the world.

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Kalaupapa, USA -

Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai in Hawaii is one of the highest sea cliffs on the planet, rearing out of the Pacific Ocean to reach 1,010 m (3,313 ft).

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Cliffs of Moher, Ireland -

The Cliffs of Moher tower over the rugged west Clare coast of Ireland. They reach their maximum height of 214 m (702 ft) just north of O'Brien's Tower.

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Hornelen, Norway -

At 860 m (2,820 ft) high, this majestic sea cliff is the loftiest in Europe. Located in Norway's Vestland county, Hornelen's summit can be reached after an arduous four-hour hike from Berleneset (across the small fjord from the village of Berle).

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Bunda Cliffs, Australia -

Australia's Bunda Cliffs extend for around 100 km (62 mi) along the Great Australian Bight and constitute part of the longest uninterrupted line of sea cliffs in the world.

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Matengai, Japan -

Jaw-dropping in its grandeur, Matengai Cliff on Oki Island rises 257 m (843 ft) out of pounding surf along the Kuniga coastline of Nishinoshima. The region is known for the wild horses that graze on the clifftops, an unusual sight in Japan.

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Paracas Sea Cliffs, Peru -

A natural wonder of Peru's Paracas National Park, the sea cliffs set on the coast about 250 km (155 ft) south of Lima are home to numerous species of wildlife, in particular an astonishing variety of seabirds.

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Étretat, France -

The chalk sea cliffs at Étretat in the Normandy region of northwestern France are among the most scenic in Europe. Étretat's natural arch is a much cherished local landmark.

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Sliabh Liag Cliffs, Ireland -

The Sliabh Liag Cliffs, also known as the Slieve League Cliffs, are located on the southwest coast of County Donegal, and rank among the highest in Europe, with a maximum height of 596 m (1,955 ft).

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Cabo Girão, Portugal -

Cabo Girão on Portugal's Madeira island levels out at 580 m (1,900 ft). The sea cliff features the highest cliff skywalk in Europe. Made of toughened transparent glass, the platform affords giddy views of the coastline far below.

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Qingshui Cliff, Taiwan -

Picturesque Qingshui Cliff runs for 21 km (13 mi) along Taiwan's Hualien County coastline. In fact constituting a series of cliffs, Qingshui itself reaches a height of 2,408 m (7,900 ft) directly from the Pacific Ocean, but is considered a mountain rather than a sea cliff.

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Skansbukta, Norway -

The sea cliffs at Skansbukta in Svalbard loom over the crystalline Billefjorden. The area was once home to a gypsum mine.

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Kangiqtualuk Uqquqti, Canada -

Approaching Kangiqtualuk Uqquqti (formerly known as Sam Ford Fjord) on Baffin Island by boat is to navigate a channel hemmed in by massive granite cliffs of heights up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level.

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Látrabjarg, Iceland -

Wild and windswept Látrabjarg is located in the Westfjords region of Iceland and is the largest seabird cliff in the country, and contains one of Europe's most important seabird colonies.

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Big Sur, USA -

The iconic Big Creek Bridge in Big Sur arches over a gap in the cliffs that characterize the central coast of California where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean.

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Preikestolen, Norway -

Norway's spectacular Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, is one of Europe's great natural wonders. It rises 604 m (1,981 ft) above Lysefjorden, which is near enough to the coast to be included on this list.

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White Cliffs of Dover, England -

One of the most recognized natural wonders of the United Kingdom, the chalk cliffs set near Dover on England's southeast coast rise to a lofty 110 m (350 ft) at their highest point. On clear days, the white cliffs can be seen from France. Indeed, scientists have fathomed that the cliffs once connected Britain to France before global warming caused a "megaflood" and created the English Channel.

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Bismarck Strait, Antarctica -

Antarctica's remote and beautifully stark Bismark Strait is channeled under a collection of dramatic sea cliffs and peaks that are among the highest and most forbidding in the region.

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Dingli Cliffs, Malta -

Malta's Dingli Cliffs are found on the west coast of the island. The cliff range is named after the village of Dingle, which sits on a plateau 250 m (820 ft) above the Mediterranean Sea.

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Hoy, Scotland -

The island of Hoy in Orkney, Scotland features a spectacular coastline of cliffs and sea stacks, the most famous of which is the Old Man of Hoy (pictured), which stands 137 m (449 ft) near Rackwick Bay on the west coast.

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Acantilados de Los Gigantes, Spain -

Translated as "Cliffs of the Giants," this dramatic line of vertical cliffs found along the western coast of Tenerife in the Canary Islands reach 500 m (1,640 ft) in places.

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Vixía Herbeira, Spain -

The sea cliffs of Vixía Herbeira in Galicia's Serra da Capelada are among the most precipitous on the European continent. The La Garita de Herbeira Viewpoint, at 600 m (1,968 ft), affords a spectacular panorama across coast and country.

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Fira, Greece -

A favorite tourist destination for decades, scenic Santorini is perched 400 m (1,300 ft) above the Aegean Sea on a ridge of sea cliffs that in fact form part of the rim of an ancient volcanic caldera.

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Zuytdorp Cliffs, Australia -

At their highest point, Australia's dramatic Zuytdorp Cliffs top out at 250 m (820 ft) above the sea. They extend from the mouth of the Murchison River to follow a line south along a remote section of the Western Australian Indian Ocean coast.

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Cliffs of Bonifacio, France -

Found on the island of Corsica, the Cliffs of Bonifacio are named after a commune in the southern tip of the island. The limestone sea cliffs are noted for their sculptured appearance, a result of erosion that has cut layers into the cliff face. 

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Zakynthos Island, Greece -

The cove on the northwest shore of Zakynthos Island is hemmed in by precipitous cliffs that embrace the famous Navagio Beach, where the wreck of the MV Panagiotis has lain on the sand since 1980.

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The Sentinel, South Africa -

The Sentinel is a small peak resembling a rhino horn that marks the western end of Hout Bay near Cape Town. Its shear cliff face drops dramatically into the sea.

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Gásadalur, Faroe Islands (Denmark) -

The coastline around Gásadalur on Vágar is known for its village and an iconic waterfall that cascades into the sea, fed by streams originating in the high cliffs and mountains that surround the area.

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The Kame, Scotland -

The Kame, located on Foula in the Shetland archipelago, rises 376 m (1,233 ft) above the North Atlantic, and is one of the highest sea cliffs in the United Kingdom.

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Møns Klint, Denmark -

Just under two hours south of Copenhagen is one of Denmark's most surprising natural wonders, Mons Klint (Møns Klint). This 6-km (3.5 mi) stretch of chalk cliffs along the eastern coast of the Danish island of Møn in the Baltic Sea reaches up to 120 m (393 ft) above sea level.

Sources: (Visit Norway) (Scimex) (The Mirror) 

See also: The breathtaking world of Red Bull cliff divers

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