What are good early natural wonders?

[andersw]

It maybe depends what civ and what path you're considering.
Great barrier reef used to be THE natural wonder, it tends to be a "no hammer" city, on the other hand its like 2 free libraries and 2 free monuments.
Science from lake victoria is nice but its a lot of food that you maybe dont need.
The ones that produce hammers seems very nice in general.
Kilimanjaro is crazy as warmonger.

I find it somewhat common to have atleast an option for a second or third city near a nat wonder.
Are there ones that you wouldnt even consider moving a tile for?
Are most considered over the top in early game?

Question popped up because
I started (as Iroquois) a game and got king solomons mines near.
So near, combined with the forest movement for settler, I found a spot I grabbed on turn 3, Idea was of course SH->renewal but I had some mountains for a second city and took god of Nature (also stealing that from the Incas who are around).
With any other civ I would probably not have scouted (or moved a settler in woods) that far the first rounds.

Turn 54 epic speed god of Nature (settler is the free one from authority).

 

[LifeOfBrian]

Since Religion is one of the most important facets of the game, I consider Mt. Sinai the most important. Long-term it's the Reef, simply because there are two tiles (that are also improved by Lighthouse).

 

[Rafs]

Aside from Mt.Kilimanjaro and Fountain of Youth, that give tremendous benefits (and kilimanjaro give a good amount of culture) to your military, and Sri Pada (but not that important, but very nice for diplo/religion) I think the Great Barrier Reef is hands down the best one, as it can be improved by lighthouse and gives you science and culture, all very powerful in the early game and useful in the late game too.
As LifeofBrian said, religious wonders are also very helpful, but I feel their impact is more decisive in the early game to help you set your religion before anyone else to pick your desired beliefs.

 

[Stalker0]

The religious ones for me are the best, as that is the prime time for faith. Though frankly all of them are good, I have never met a natural wonder I didn't like.

 

[CrazyG]

I think the ones that give faith or science change your game the most, because they provide such a rare yield in the early game.

 

[pineappledan]

Sri pada is my favourite wonder to spawn next to. If you can claim it with your 2nd city, all subsequent settlers move 2x faster, fast enough you might not need to escort them.

Sri pada’s base yields are 24, meaning you will be very competitive for religion without having to sacrifice early growth for your city, unlike Kailash, Sinai, Solomon’s Mines, or Fuji. It’s the only natural wonder that doesn’t force you to choose between founding a religion and stagnating your city

 

[JamesNinelives]

You missed one Dan! I have a couple of favourites, but Uluru has to be my number one spot! Maybe that's my Australian bias, but I just think it's really awesome and I'm very proud to have it in my country.

I'm also very happy we've finally stopped letting people walk all over it. I like the faith it gives and the balance of hammers and food over time sort of represent the red land it lives in. Despite being a mountain it was never a mine though, so I think culture/faith yields similar to Mt Fuji San might actually be more fitting (they have a similar cultural/spiritual importance to the traditional owners of the land, although the details are different of course).

My other favourite is El Dorado. I just love the feeling of discovering it among the jungle! It's very exiting and the hidden treasure aspect is just great. Plus the early gold and then culture over time are always useful!