Civilization 6: Natural wonders - list, advantages, tips Civilization VI Game Guide
Last update: 09 March 2022
The chapter below of Civilization VI game guide shows all the basic information about natural wonders. You can read about where to look for Natural Wonders in Civilization 6, their sizes and advantages they give to cities or units located near them.
It is worth noting that natural wonders appear on the map randomly. Building settlements near them is crucial, since this is the only way of using their bonuses. Moreover, if you settle near them, you can be sure that your nation will use their advantages. In some cases the bonuses are so high that they might determine the gameplay at the very beginning. Remember that you cannot build on areas with natural wonders, so watch how much space they take.
Below you can find some natural wonders that you can find on maps.
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Cliffs of Dover
- Pantanal
- Piopiotahi
- Torres del Paine
- Crater Lake
- Dead Sea
- Mount Everest
- Tsingy de Bemaraha
- Great Barrier Reef
- Galapagos Islands
- Yosemite
Mount Kilimanjaro
Icon | Location | Bonus |
 | Inland 1 tile | +2 Science impassable |
Kilimanjaro will prevent enemy units from entering your city, similarly to other mountains, but remember that it only occupies one tile. Try to settle near it, having one tile between the wonder and the city center. The mountain is not the most important wonder that is going to appear on the map, but if you want to achieve victory by technological advancement, this wonder will double the Science bonus given by other mountains. If you don't absolutely need to, do not fight for a spot near it, but if you're close and you're able to get some land, go ahead. Technological advancement helps you win, even if you want to play the scenario in a different manner.
Cliffs of Dover
Icon | Location | Bonus |
 | Coast 2 tiles | +3 Culture +2 Gold |
A perfect spot to build settlements on the coast. You will have access to the sea fauna which will increase resources of your population and make you capable of going out into the sea more quickly. High Culture and Gold bonus, but keep in mind that this wonder occupies two tiles, so place the city center in such a way that you can control the wonder as soon as you build the town. Three extra Culture points can help you get a Culture Victory, but remember that this bonus will help you unlock policy cards, which greatly affects the gameplay. Gold will help you create more units and infrastructure.
Pantanal
Icon | Location | Bonus |
 | Inland 4 tiles | +2 Culture +2 Food |
It might be difficult to acquire after building the city center. It occupies four tiles that won't be available to build districts and upgrades. The bonus is really useful, of course, especially that the Food bonus slightly compensates your ability to develop the town. A good place to fight for a Culture Victory, but don't forget about the relation between Culture points and governments. Remember to send your citizens to work in the food fields after building a town. As your territory and population grows, the game will become easier.
Piopiotahi
Icon | Location | Bonus |
 | Coast 3 tiles | +1 Culture +1 Gold |
A small bonus for such an area. If you cannot find a better location and you were going to settle on the coast, the bonus will be helpful in the beginning. Try to develop your town in such a way that it uses the wonder to its advantage and, at the same time, exploits nearby tiles. Gold and Culture bonus will speed up the town's development, but your task will be to create a scout unit and find a place that will give you better production potential and more food for the next town.
Torres del Paine
Icon | Location | Bonus |
 | Inland 2 tiles | Doubles the bonus of adjacent tiles impassable |
An impassable wonder that occupies two tiles. The best way to use it is to make it block the space between your city and cities of other players. Pay attention to tiles adjacent to the wonder. If it is a town, buy all tiles adjacent to the wonder to maximize the income. If you cannot pay for all of that, place the settlements properly to collect everything from the most beneficial tiles. Fighting for control over the area near the wonder, but remember to check the potential of the area before you wage war.
Crater Lake
Icon | Location | Bonus |
 | Inland 1 tile | +4 Faith +1 Science Access to fresh water |
One of the most important inland wonders. Very high Faith bonus will help you pay for units that will spread your religion. Additionally, you will receive an extra Science point that will speed up the technological development of your town. These are not the most important advantages, though, since it also gives you access to fresh water. Increasing the workforce of the town will help you keep a distance from the enemies and succeed. You can get a similar effect by establishing a settlement by a river, but in that case you won't receive any bonuses. If you place the capitol of the civilization near this wonder, your subjects' religiousness will increase quickly.
Dead Sea
Icon | Location | Bonus |
 | Inland 2 tiles | +2 Faith +2 Culture Fresh water access Heals all units that spend a turn near the wonder |
One more important natural wonder that's worth fighting for, but in this case, you can take your time. Faith and Culture bonuses are not as high as from the Crater Lake, but note that spending just one turn near the wonder makes your units return to full health. If you're going for a Domination Victory, there is a high chance that your city will be impossible to conquer. Imagine that you can change your garrison after every turn so that damaged units can be healed. Obviously, bonuses and fresh water access are important as well, but with such a defense you can be sure that your enemy will use a nuclear bomb. Keep in mind that this wonder occupies two tiles - it makes your line of defense longer, so you can place more units around it.
Mount Everest
Icon | Location | Bonus |
 | Inland 3 tiles | +1 Faith Religious units that come near the mountain ignore the increased cost of movement across hills. impassable |
Another natural wonder that can stop the enemy from entering your territory. It is worth remembering that Mount Everest is crucial for the campaign if you want to achieve a Religious Victory. Occupy all tiles adjacent to this wonder and develop your city's pantheon and religious center. Note that religious units are treated as civilians, so they can approach the wonder without effort. You must not let it happen, but if it does, do not let them leave your territory. The mountain reduces cost of movement across hills, so you can reach other cities and convert them faster. Explore the map because not knowing about such an advantage of an enemy will have an impact on you. Building settlements for a nation that already has bonuses related to religion (e.g. Spain) can determine the whole campaign.
Tsingy de Bemaraha
Icon | Location | Bonus |
 | Inland 1 tile | +1 Science for adjacent tiles +1 Culture for adjacent tiles impassable |
Usefulness of this natural wonder is determined by the terrain around it. The bonuses will be useful, but if you want to acquire adjacent tiles, check which ones can be the most beneficial for you. If you can buy more area, don't think twice, but do not spend too much and watch the advantages. Keep in mind that the wonder only occupies one tile, so a city might quickly surround it. Additionally, it can block invasions. One tile near it can be used to build an Encampment district that will improve the town's defensive capability.
Great Barrier Reef
Icon | Location | Bonus |
 | Coast 2 tiles | +3 Food +2 Science |
This wonder can be found near the cost, which might be a good reason to expand your territory to the closest body of water. It occupies two tiles, which won't matter after the initial part of the game. A significant Food bonus will help you acquire new citizens, while extra Science points can facilitate getting new technological advancements. Remember that expanding your territory to the ocean surface is beneficial because of an extra Food point for each tile. If you don't have enough resources, don't fight for it, but if you want to build a new town that will catch up with the capital city, having the Great Barrier Reef close by can be invaluable.
Galapagos Islands
Icon | Location | Bonus |
 | Coast 1 tile | +2 Science for adjacent tiles impassable |
Galapagos Islands deserve special attention, since it is the only marine natural wonder that is impassable. It only occupies one tile, but even a single tile can make placing the units easier. It is a good place to create a town by the sea, especially because of the double bonus from each neighboring coastal tile. It does not have the biggest strategic potential, but if you are at a right location in the beginning of the campaign, it is worth acquiring.
Yosemite
Icon | Location | Bonus |
 | Inland 2 tiles | +1 Science for adjacent tiles +1 Gold for adjacent tiles impassable |
Another wonder that will help you generate more profit as you upgrade the town and its infrastructure. It occupies two tiles, which has a tactical significance as it is impassable. It also provides the player with more tiles surrounding it and getting the bonuses. Note that buying more land around it can be profitable in the long run. The bonuses are not extremely impressive, but if you build a town early in the game, you can get a financial and technological advantage in the middle of the campaign.