Every Year, April Fools' Day pranks are celebrated around the world on the first day of the spring month. Although it's not considered a national holiday, the day is recognized as a time for many people to play gags and practical jokes on each other. These tricks can sometimes vary in sophistication and humor.

But what happens when it's not a person playing a joke on us, but rather the extraordinary work of Mother Nature herself? Some people consider nature's optical illusions to be the most sophisticated jokes of all.

With their weird shapes and outstanding colors, they mesmerize and leave us bound at every weird and wacky location.

These picturesque illusions can be found all over the world and usually give off a perception of shape and size that can trick you into thinking that they really are what they seem to be. But most of the time, it's probably not what you think.

In celebration of April Fools' Day 2012, here are Nature's Best Pranks. [Press Start to view the slideshow]

The Salt Desert
Known to some by the name “Uyuni,” the famous salt flats are located in western Bolivia and have become quite the tourist destination. Measuring in at more than 4,085 square miles, the area that is the former home to Lake Minchin is the world’s largest sea flats. It was 40,000 years ago the lake began to dry up, leaving what now looks like a never-ending desert. These days the area is a popular tourist stop as there is low-price lodging, as well as local goods and hand crafts at reasonable prices. Creative Commons/Phillie Casab