Teotihuacan<\/a>, located 30 miles or 50 kilometers from present-day Mexico City, was the home of a thriving culture that mysteriously vanished in about 600 CE. For some unknown reason, the civilization declined, and the city was uninhabited until the Aztecs rediscovered it. What is known is that it was built by hand over a thousand years before the Aztecs arrived in Central Mexico. According to George Cowgill, an Archeologist from Arizona State University, the mysterious city is 8 square miles with a population of a hundred thousand, and it was considered the largest city in the Western Hemisphere before the 1400s.<\/p>\nThe Aztecs named the site Teotihuacan, which means “the place where the gods were formed.” However, they don’t know where it originally came from or who its builders were. The mysterious site has a macabre Avenue of the Dead, a pyramid-lined street that probably houses ancient rulers’ bodies. Interestingly, there’s evidence that this city has various cultures combined, like Maya, Zapotec, and Mixtec. All we know is that the mystery of this city brings around 4 million visitors every year to admire the secrets of the pyramid of the sun.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nLoch Ness is full of intrigue and mystery. Photo Credit: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nNessie’s Home Is In The Scottish Highlands<\/span><\/h2>\nNessie, a nickname for the Loch Ness monster, supposedly lives in the incredibly deep waters of Loch Ness, the deepest Lake in Scotland. Loch Ness is located near the city of Inverness, way up in the Scottish Highlands. Rumors of a monster living in the waters began getting popular in the 1930s, but the stories have been around since ancient times. There are stone carvings of a mysterious beast with massive flippers made by the Picts, a group of Celtic-speaking folk who used to live in the area. Over centuries, the monster’s extraordinary stories have been roaming the area, but when a couple reported a monster crossing their car’s path in 1933, the Nessie legend became stronger.<\/p>\n
Plenty of fantastical stories have been invented about the Loch Ness monster. In 1934, the iconic picture of a beast with a small head and long neck was photographed by English Physician Robert Kenneth Wilson. He brought international attention and even more tourists to visit. People come to see the famous location every day in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Nessie. Some theories suggest that Nessie is an ancient species that survived the mass extinction that killed off the dinosaurs, while others thoroughly believe the whole story is a hoax.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nArea 51 sign in the middle of the road with UFOs in the sky. Photo Credit: Fer Gregory\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nArea 51 Is A Real Site In Nevada<\/span><\/h2>\nArea 51 is the name of a military base situated about 80 miles from Las Vegas, the biggest city in Nevada. The facility, which is the United States Air Force Airport, is believed to be used for testing experimental aircraft and weapons. Nevertheless, more than that, it has long been purported to be the secret location where government officials store aliens’ bodies and spacecraft. During the Cold War, the base was built between the United States and the Soviet Union. It was supposed to create and develop aircraft like the U-2 and the SR-71 Blackbird. Even if most people knew about Area 51 since the 50s, it wasn’t until 2013 that the CIA officially acknowledged it.<\/p>\n
Most of the alien theories have been thoroughly debunked, and military bases are, by necessity, shrouded in secrecy. However, that doesn’t stop conspiracy theorists from demanding answers from the United States government and continuing to spread rumors about the otherworldly beings that are kept in isolation at Area 51. It also doesn’t stop Nevada authorities from capitalizing on the tourist dollars. Before you go “Storm Area 51”, it’s essential to know that this base is not open for tourism, but the city close by have made it a stop destination for anyone who loves to have a close encounter of the first kind.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThe bones were arranged like this to encourage tourism. Photo: Photo Credit: Delpixel\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nUnderground Parisian Streets Are Littered With Bones<\/span><\/h2>\nParis has been around for a long time, and many people have died within its limits over the centuries. Ancient graveyards became so full of bodies that city workers moved skeletons from anonymous pits into the catacombs that crisscross the city’s underground in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In total, there’s more than 6 million human remains in the underground catacombs. The city started the process after an incident in 1774 where basement walls in Saint Innocents Cemetery collapsed, bringing an urge of urgency to find a new home for the dead.<\/p>\n
The catacombs are situated in a small part of a tunnel network built to consolidate Paris’ ancient stone quarries. The ossuary was mostly forgotten until it became a fad to place concerts and private events in the 19th century. City officials recognized the potential that the underground catacombs had for drawing in more tourists (and more money). They arranged the anonymous skeletons into the arrangements that can be seen today, methods that are quite macabre and disturbing. In 2013, they became part of the Paris Museums managed by Paris Musées, which is the same institution that manages the archaeological crypts of Notre-Dame.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nImagine a beach that has trash instead of sand. Photo Credit: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nTrash Composes An Entire Beach <\/span><\/h2>\nWe have been polluting the oceans with our garbage for a long time, more so in recent years. In 1906, the Fort Bragg residents decided to make the beach behind the Union Lumber Company into an official water dumpsite. Residents will throw anything from appliances, vehicles, and lots of glass. It stopped being an active dumpsite until 1967. By then, people sold most of the metal trash, leaving the biodegradable waste and glass. The pounding waves of the area kept breaking down the glass, and with the help of the sand, it created smooth, small, colored pieces of glass that look like jewelry.<\/p>\n
The beach gets thousands of visitors every year. It means that people tend to take a couple of pebbles as souvenirs home. These actions have become problematic for Glass beach. Thus, the activity is now illegal. Most of the glass is disappearing between the crashing waves and tourists, but there’s still hope for it. A few movements are trying to preserve this beach and researching how the glass has affected the area’s wildlife. There are several endangered and protected plants that only live in the area, including hybrid Menzies wallflower.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThese hoodoos accompany visitors who hike through the park. Photo Credit: Natali Glado\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nStrange Goblin-Like Structures Occupy Goblin Valley State Park<\/span><\/h2>\nIn Utah, 216 miles southeast of the capital city, Salt Lake City, is a remote valley full of giant sandstone pinnacles. The wind has eroded them to form bizarre formations called hoodoos, but the locals and tourists think they look like goblins. Hence the name Goblin Valley State Park. These mushroom-shaped rock formations can be several feet tall, some being the largest occurrences of hoodoos in the world. The area is relatively small, comparing it to the rest of the park, as it is only a mile or two across. There’s a lot of art hidden in the area that is great to look for.<\/p>\n
Experts believe the Native American cultures like Fremont, Ute, and Paiute are responsible for the pictographs and petroglyph panels in the park. Cowboys discovered the secluded area in the 1920s when they were looking for cattle. The place was also known as the Mushroom Valley but later changed to the name we know today. Though getting there may take some time, visitors can easily hike through the area in a day. There are plenty of marked trails to make hiking more manageable. Just make sure to bring water, as it is a desert.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nNobody really knows where these giant jars came from. Photo Credit: Avigator Fortuner\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGiant Megalithic Jars Litter a Site In Laos <\/span><\/h2>\nLaos is a country in Southeast Asia. The United States sent massive aerial bombardments over the country during the 1960s. People are finally clearing some of these areas. If you visit the site, you will be impressed. Nevertheless, there are still more than 90 areas in Xiangkhoang province with these mysterious jars arranged in hundreds of hundreds. The jars’ sizes vary, from 1 meter to 3 meters, and all made from rock, so it’s a fascinating cluster in every area. Some sites can have over 400 stone jars. Most are not decorated, except one which has a “Frogman.”<\/p>\n
The “Frogman,” as some people call it, is carved on the jar’s exterior, and it has a slight resemblance to a rock painting made at Huashan in Guangxi, China. The carvings and paint are believed to be dated around 500BC to 200CE. The Plain of Jars is one such location. It is home to giant jars embedded into the Earth, which were presumably made for ancient funeral ceremonies. However, the local people have a different explanation, as legend explains that giants used them to make rice wine.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nHand Sculpture, the symbol of the Atacama Desert in Chile. Photo Credit: Ksenia Ragozina\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nA Desert In Chile Has A Hand Rising Out Of The Sand<\/span><\/h2>\nModern art is often known to be perplexing and attempting to communicate something that only the artist is aware of. Sometimes we get too analytical, and maybe the significance of some pieces might not be that complicated. However, a sculptor in Chile, Mario Irarrazabal, created a massive hand that rises out of the sand in Chile’s Atacama desert that will leave you in awe. The hand supposedly depicts human suffering, a theme that is not difficult to grasp when one looks at it. Many of the works are unnerving and communicate feelings of loneliness, isolation, and desolation.<\/p>\n
This hand can be found 46 miles outside of the city of Antofagasta; its remote location accentuates the theme that the artist is attempting to convey. He spent more than 25 years sculpting the hand, and the city of Antofagasta unveiled the result in March of 1992. The big hand is made out of concrete over an iron frame, and it’s taller than an NFL goalpost. “La Mano del Desierto” or “The Hand of the Desert” is a waving hand for many travelers that pass thru Chile’s Route 5. It is a good reminder that even when we think we’re alone, there’s someone there to bring us a hand.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nDragon-blood trees on an island off of Yemen. Photo Credit: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAn Island In Yemen Has The World’s Only Dragon-Blood Trees<\/span><\/h2>\nSocotra Island is off the coast of Yemen, between Guardafui Channel and the Arabian Sea, the poorest country in the Middle East and one that has been decimated by years of war. The place is mostly isolated. Only a few thousand people live there. However, in contrast to the devastating mainland, Socotra Island has some of the rarest wildlife and plant life globally, including the world’s only dragon-blood trees. Some people have described the place as the “most alien-looking place on Earth,” with one-third of the plant life being endemic, it almost feels like you’re on another planet, and soon enough, aliens will come to rescue you.<\/p>\n
Yes, dragon-blood trees are a real thing. They are part of the over 700 species of endemic plants found in Socotra. These are plants only found in a specific geographical location. The islander’s use the umbrella-shaped trees for paint and varnish. These trees are actually evergreens. However, their resin is known as dragon’s blood because of its red sap. The island also has the bulbous bottle tree and others not native anywhere else in the world. There’s a lot of rich flora and fauna in one place. In turn, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the location as a World Natural heritage.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThe Panjin city red beach landscape. Photo Credit: Dashu Xinganling\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nRed Algae Covers One Beach In China<\/span><\/h2>\nIf sand is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the beach, you need to know about this remarkable place in China. Sueda salsa is a red alga that covers a beach in China’s Panjin province so that it grows a bright, fiery red with no view of the sand every fall. The algae start growing around April or May, looking like normal green algae until the end of the year where it becomes a sight to be seen. It makes the view of that beach like it belong on another planet.<\/p>\n
As the site is known, Red Beach is a tidal wetland and reed marsh, and it is the largest in the world. It is home to over 250 different kinds of birds, like the Crown Cranes and Black Beaked Gulls, 400 types of animals, and to protect the hundreds of wildlife types there, most of the beach is inaccessible to the public. However, there are boardwalks over a small part of the beach. That way, people can visit to enjoy the view without damaging the splendor of the beach. Seeing that place in real life must feel like out of this world.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nCats from a small island Aoshima in Ehime prefecture, Japan. Photo Credit: Sido Kagawa\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nJapan Has A “Cat Island” <\/span><\/h2>\nCat lovers, rejoice. Aoshima, referred to as “Cat Island” by visitors and locals, is an island in the Japanese archipelago that felines have conquered that they outnumber humans, six to one. You will get a warm welcome as soon as you get out of the boat with hundreds of cats purring around the harbor. Since this island is the home to a fishing village, it became a haven for the cats that happily fed any fish they could find. They tend to find shelter anywhere they can, mostly in old buildings. Sometimes, a tourist will adopt one.<\/p>\n
Felines were initially brought to the island to kill mice, spreading so rapidly that they were wreaking havoc on the island. Since there are few residents on Aoshima, most of the cats do not need to be neutered or spayed apart from some fishing villages. They reproduced like wildfire and now vastly outnumber humans. However, think twice before visiting because the vast number of cat-loving tourists who visit Aoshima has been putting stress on the island’s resources. The small population of residents had lowered to only 6. Cats were mostly neutered, so they kept reproducing, and they are still as friendly as ever.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThe Salinas Grandes salt flats. Photo Credit: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nArgentina Has Over 3000 Square Miles Of Salt Flats<\/span><\/h2>\nSalinas Grandes is a vast swathe of land in the northwest of Argentina that appears to be covered in snow year-round. However, the white stuff covering the ground isn’t snow. It’s salt. The salt is much more concentrated than what you put on your food, but it is possible to use it in cooking. The white landscape, not only is breathtaking, but it can play tricks on you! The vast, empty backdrop can play with your mind and mess with your perspective, so for photo enthusiasts, this is an excellent opportunity to have fun with it.<\/p>\n
The Salinas Grandes formed from a prehistoric saltwater lake that evaporated, leaving behind all of the salt. The high quantities of sodium and potassium are being used to push the industry even further. Moreover, 300,000 hectares are being used to explore Lithium brine underneath the salt. Very little can live out there, even in the way of plant life. Thus, animals tend to stay mostly away from the area. There aren’t even many humans out there, as only some specially adapted microbes can thrive in this extreme environment.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThe Chocolate Hills look like a chocolate lover’s dream come true. Photo Credit: Rasto SK\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Philippines Have Giant Mounds Of Chocolate<\/span><\/h2>\nNot really, but the Chocolate Hills sure do look like real chocolate, especially during the dry months, when there is no vegetation growing on them. They are located on the island of Bohol and are one of the most-visited places in the Philippines. Most of the hills’ vegetation is mostly a few different grass-like Imperata cylindrica and several ferns. The space between it is used to grow rice and other crops. When the dry season comes, it looks like big chocolate kisses in a breathtaking landscape. because of these hills’ shape<\/p>\n
The hills covered 31 square miles of the island and were probably formed by ancient coral deposits, which were left behind by an ancient ocean that once covered the area. Over 1700 hills spread for nearly 50 square kilometers or 20 square miles, causing the landscape to look like a seemingly endless bed of chocolate springing out of the Earth. Two hills are being used for tourist resorts, which are said to have the best view of the hills you can get, and it has more information about how these beautiful hills were formed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThe Dead Sea is one-third salt. Photo Credit: Zaid Saadallah\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Dead Sea Is The Lowest Place On Earth<\/span><\/h2>\nYou may know of the Dead Sea as the saltiest body of water on Earth, as only microbes can live in its waters due to the excessively high salt content. It is also the lowest place on Earth, as the sea’s surface begins 1300 feet below sea level! For centuries, the Dead Sea has attracted visitors for different reasons, mostly for health because of all the products that can be made using the high sodium of the water, which is 9.6 times as salty as the ocean. Egyptians even used it for mummification.<\/p>\n
The sea is called “dead” because its high sodium prevents any macroscopic aquatic organisms from living, like fish or aquatic plants. There are only a few bacteria and fungi that can survive this environment. When it rains, the salt content can drop from the usual 35% to lower than 30%. The area, which is on the border of Jordan and the West Bank, has scorching temperatures in the summer and is extremely dry. Many people visit the Dead Sea during the fall and spring when the weather can be quite pleasant.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThe floating Tianzi Mountain. Photo Credit: lzf\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nChina Has Floating Mountains<\/span><\/h2>\nTianzi Mountain in Zhangjiajie, China, is a 22-square-mile area of some of the most unique landscapes on the Earth. It is a collection of natural skyscrapers, some of which are over 4000 feet tall, seem to rise out of the mist. They formed through erosion, but the ancient legends surrounding the place are much more exotic. The tallest of the pillars is called the Kunlun Peak, which has an elevation of 1,262 meters or 4,142 feet tall, and the smallest, which is the Shilanyu, has a height of 534 meters or 1,572 feet tall.<\/span><\/p>\nThe place is trendy in the area, especially in certain months of the year, mostly when it rains because the mountains tend to get covered in fog that makes any picture look breathtaking. July can be the hottest month of the year, but there are more chances for rain to happen. If you have ever wanted to visit an alien landscape, Tianzi Mountain may be the place to go, as it was the inspiration for the planet Pandora in James Cameron’s movie <\/span>Avatar<\/span><\/em>. There is even a cable car that runs through the area to view the fantastic scenery with ease.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\nThere are 365 “spots” in Spotted Lake. Photo Credit: Nalidsa\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSpotted Lake Has The Same Chemical Make-Up As Mars<\/span><\/h2>\nSpotted Lake is a lake in the northwest of Osoyoos in British Columbia, Canada. People believe the Earth around Spotted Lake has the same chemical make-up as the soil of ancient Mars. Iit is incredibly salty. In the summer, most of the lake’s water evaporates, which reveals beautiful colorful mineral deposits. Some of the minerals concentrated in the Spotted Lake are Magnesium, calcium, sulfate, and sodium sulfates, plus silver and titanium. Experts theorize that Magnesium sulfate, when it crystallizes, determines the colors and spots formed in the lake.<\/p>\n
Formerly known to the First Nations of the Okanagan Valley as Lliluk, the Spotted Lake has remained for centuries as a sacred site because of therapeutic waters believed to have healing properties. The Okanagan Syilx people use minerals in the water for traditional medicine. If you want to visit Spotted Lake and experience for yourself what ancient Mars may have been like, you may have to do so from a distance and respect. Tribal land of the First Nations own the property. They request that visitors do not to trespass and respect the environment around it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThe magnificent colors are created by iron oxide and algae. Photo Credit: Lukas Bischoff Photograph\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nA Geyser In Nevada Is Completely Accidental<\/span><\/h2>\nIn 1964, Nevada’s thermal drilling test went wrong and created a deep fissure in the ground that became known as Fly Geyser. It’s located on the Fly Ranch, a piece of property in the Black Rock Desert. In 1916, people were drilling for irrigation water when a small geyser formed. They abandoned the site when the geothermal water was close to boiling point. Nevertheless, they tried to drill again, and the same thing happened close to the first geyser. That one was not as hot. They used a cap to block the geyser. However, the seal was unsuccessful. As a result, the discharge had so much pressure that it dried the first geyser, making this one much bigger.<\/p>\n
The geyser has been erupting pretty much continuously since 1964. It has grown in size because of the high mineral deposits left by the water, which has given the geyser its iconic cones and travertine pools. The cones are about 6 feet or 1.8 meters, and the whole mound is around 25 to 30 feet tall or 7.6 to 9.1 meters. It glows with red and green color because of the iron oxide in the sediments and the algae that are surprisingly well-adapted to the extreme environment.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nYou can see the Northern Lights while sitting in a natural hot tub. Photo Credit: SaZy\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nYou Can Freeze And Boil At The Same Time In Iceland<\/span><\/h2>\nBlue Lagoon is a hot spring in Southwestern Iceland that is surrounded by snow. In the winter, temperatures can plunge to well below freezing, leaving people to question whether going for a dip would be a wise thing to do. The spa is near a lava field in front of Mount Þorbjörn on Reykjames Penninsula, an area with much geothermal power that supplies water to a geothermal power station right besides de lagoon. The place is around 12 miles long or 20 kilometers and is considered one of Iceland’s main attractions.<\/p>\n
Even if it looks like something mother natured might have made, this lagoon is entirely human-made. Because of the lava field, the water has a lot of mineral concentration, and it can’t be recycled, so every two days, the water is renewed by the plant. The temperature at the Blue Lagoon hot springs remains about 100 degrees Fahrenheit year-round so that visitors can enjoy a warm soak even in the coldest months. The waters stay a light blue because of the mineral content, and the salts in the water are great for the skin. So you can freeze, boil, and get a spa treatment, all in one place.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nSome of the moais’ bodies are above the earth. Photo Credit: Alfredo Cerra\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Moai of Easter Island Have Bodies Under The Sand<\/span><\/h2>\nEver since its discovery, Easter Island, which lies some 2000 miles off Chile’s coast, has been known for the massive heads, known as moai, which cover the surface. There are nearly 900 of these statues, and researchers have found that many have bodies underground. Many researchers now believe that Easter Island used to be a lush, forested landscape. However, the inhabitants destroyed its ecological systems by creating and transporting the moai. The moai were an essential part of the people’s mythology and how they practiced their religion.<\/p>\n
Experts believe they were carved between the years 1250 and 1500 and transported from Rano Raraku. In fact, most of them are still there, to stone platforms called “ahu.” Someone placed them around the perimeter of the island. It is impressive knowing how technology wasn’t advance in this area. The tallest Moai erected called “Paro” is 33 feet tall or 10 meters and weighs over 80 tons. The heaviest one of the statues weighs 84 tons! There’s evidence that they were more statues, but sadly were destroyed in the early 19th century, possibly during a tribal war.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThe bay glows because of bioluminescent plankton. Photo: Pinterest<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nA Bioluminescent Bay In Puerto Rico Glows Like Stars<\/span><\/h2>\nIn Puerto Rico’s Isla de Vieques’ southern shore, Puerto Mosquito is filled with bioluminescent plankton that glows in the dark thanks to a delicate chemical reaction inside the organism. It has long been on the must-see list of travelers who visit the islands of Puerto Rico. There are only 5 Bio Bays globally, and 3 of them are in Puerto Rico, including Puerto Mosquito, La Pargera, and Laguna Grande. In 2008, the <\/span>Guinness Book of World Records<\/span><\/em> voted Puerto Mosquito as the brightest bay in the world. Its bioluminescent qualities are already brilliant all year round.<\/span><\/p>\nHowever, in September of 2017, following the devastation of Hurricane Maria, the bay went dark. People thought that its lights might have gone out for good, but the bay recovered to become even brighter than before. Everyone who visits Puerto Mosquito agrees that it is indeed a magical place and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is best to experience the phenomenon during a “new moon” phase to enjoy the lights to their maximum strength. So make sure to check the moon phase calendar to find the perfect night to visit.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\nThe Giant’s Causeway in Ireland. Photo Credit: Todamo\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAn Ancient Volcano Eruption Left Behind 37,000 Perfect Geometrical Formations<\/span><\/h2>\nThe Giant’s Causeway is a site in Northern Ireland. A massive volcano erupted about 60 million years ago. In turn, the disaster formed the site. The volcano spewed out molten basalt, which contracted as it cooled down and developed into the perfect polygons known as the Giant’s Causeway. There are over 40,000 basalt columns interlocking with each other making this massive and almost unreal area. It almost feels like it’s part of an old video game for texturing rocks. UNESCO declared the Causeway the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom in 1986.<\/p>\n
Local legends say that a giant created the place, and if you were to visit the site, you would have no problem understanding why. It’s almost like it was taken out from Lord of the Rings. The World Heritage Site comprises 37,000 polygonal columns, which seem to have been laid down with precision. Experts believe that all the contraction after the rock cooled down helped to make those perfect columns into what they are today. However, legends and folklore aside, this place is a must-see if you’re into exploring places that feel like they don’t belong on this Earth.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nLake Hillier compared with the color of the nearby ocean waters. Photo Credit: matteo_it\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOne Lake In Australia Is A Deep Pink<\/span><\/h2>\nPeople know about Lake Hillier, which is in Western Australia’s Recherche Archipelago Nature Reserve, because of its deep pink color. The Lake has a high saline content, as well as a type of bacteria known as halobacteria and algae known as Dunaliella salina. Combined, these three factors give the waters their characteristic hue. The lake is about 2,000 feet or 600 meters in length and 820 feet or 250 meters in width. A paperbark and eucalyptus forest create a dense barrier around the lake with a rim of sand to complement it with the pink water.<\/p>\n
European explorers discovered the Lake in 1802. The only living organisms that live in the water are microorganisms. Besides that, no fish or plants is habituating the pink waters of the lake. It is somewhat isolated and remote, so there are only a few ways for visitors to get to it. Even though it has a questionable color and a saline content comparable to the Dead Sea, the Lake is safe to swim in. However, it is protected by the Western Australia Department of Environment Conservation, so you’ll need a permit to do so.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThe salty hot springs of Pamukkale. Photo Credit: muratart\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nTurkey Has Mineral Springs Made of Limestone<\/span><\/h2>\nPamukkale is a place in western Turkey, and its name means “cotton castle.” It was the site of the ancient Greek city of Hierapolis or the Holy City, and one visit will make you realize why it was so revered. The place is made of white limestone, and the minerals in the hot springs have long been known to rejuvenate weary people. Experts believe the Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis was built in the 2nd century BC on top of the travertine. The formation is almost 9,000 feet long, 1,970 feet wide, and 525 feet high.<\/p>\n
In addition to being a natural wonder, Pamukkale is an archeologist’s and history buff’s dream. It is the site of many ancient Greek and Roman ruins. They are remarkably well-preserved, possibly due to the hot springs’ minerals. People named it the “Cotton Castle” due to its snow-white limestone dripping down the mountainside. The shimmer makes it look like it is from a fairy tale book. Some legends even say that the formations are solidified cotton that giants left out to dry. Visitors can enjoy artificial pools, enter preserved Roman ruins, and learn more about its history in the museum on-site.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThor’s Well, off the coast of Oregon. Photo Credit: Unsplash<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThor’s Well Absorbs the Tide Before Spewing It Back Out<\/span><\/h2>\nThor’s Well is a site off the coast of Oregon that is part of the Captain Cook Trail. It is a natural hole in the ground. Experts estimate it to be about 20 feet deep, but this number can vary depending on the tides; when the tide comes in, the water cascades into the hole until it eventually overflows. Even if some people call it “bottomless,” the sinkhole has a bottom, and falling into it can be extremely dangerous. When it floods, the hole spits the water out up to 20 feet in the air before the water surrounding returns back into the hole. The cycle then repeats.<\/p>\n
According to some researchers, the well started as a sea cave made by the crashing of waves that eventually collapsed and created the opening we see today. Experts believe it is around 20 feet deep to make the splash it does when it’s the most active. Thor’s Well is most active during the winter months, during high tide, and during storms. If you visit, please stay on the trail. The site can be quite dangerous, especially on stormy days, because the sudden torrents can sweep anyone right into the maelstrom.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nBermuda Triangle. Photo Credit: F. Rauf\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Bermuda Triangle May Be A Real Thing<\/span><\/h2>\nThe Bermuda Triangle is a 500,000-square-mile swath of land in the Atlantic Ocean. Its three points are Miami, the island of Bimini, and the Bahamas. Also known as the Devil’s Triangle, the area has long been known to cause strange equipment malfunction and swallow entire vessels leaving no trace. Many legends, including U.S. Navy bombers, became disoriented while flying over the ample area or boats vanishing in thin air on a good weather day with no distress signals. These stories are widespread to hear around, but are they real?<\/p>\n
While the United States Coast Guard and mainstream scientists dismiss any notion that the area is different from any other part of the ocean, many eyewitnesses claim that mysterious things happen in these waters. Theories range from electromagnetic fields that generate magnetic fog and electric clouds to aliens. Nowadays, all sorts of planes and ships pass thru the area with no incident or anything weird happening. Some scientific explanations have been confirmed over the years, but still, it is more fun to believe that there are some aliens in there than learning about weather conditions.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nOne of the Nazca lines, as seen from the air. Photo Credit: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThere Are Giant Carvings of Animals In Peru<\/span><\/h2>\nPeople know about the Nazca lines. They crisscross the Peruvian pampas, flat and fertile lowlands in South America. What was not realized until aerial photographs were taken was that the lines were not random collections of depressions drawn into the ground. They were massive carvings of animals, some of which were over half a mile in size. Their enormity leads many researchers to question what caused the people of ancient Peru to invest so much time and energy in carving these hieroglyphs and how they could do so with such stunning precision.<\/p>\n
Some local theories range from religious significance to slave labor to alien intervention. Nevertheless, scientists believe these large hieroglyphs came to be between 500 BCE and 500 CE. They made shallow and sometimes deep incisions in the desert floor to expose the colored dirt underneath. The combination of all the lines is over 1,300 kilometers or 800 miles, covering an area of 50 square kilometers or 19 square miles, and most lines are over one-third meter or a foot wide. If they are impressive looking at them from a plane, it’s, even more, looking up close on how they made it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nBadab e Surt in Iran. Photo Credit: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOne Hot Spring Site In Iran Is Red<\/span><\/h2>\nBadab-e Surt is a site in the Mazandaran Province in northern Iran that boasts a collection of hot springs infused with minerals, especially calcium and iron. The site is a collection of stepped terraces of travertine, a type of limestone, which is common to hot springs. What sets Badab-e Surt apart is that the travertine is red. There are two different types of springs in this area; the first one contains very salty water in small pools. People consider the location to have medicinal properties like curing rheumatism and skin diseases.<\/p>\n
The second spring is more orange rather than red. The water has a sour taste and high levels of iron oxide or rust in the springs. As a result, the site seems to glow like fire. However, the pyric appearance doesn’t fail to draw visitors. Experts have known about Badab-e Surt since antiquity for its medicinal, healing qualities. In turn, tourists are attracted to rejuvenate themselves in its waters. Others just admire the natural beauty of the place surrounded by a pine forest, making it almost a hidden gem.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThe island is lined with a corridor of whale bones. Photo Credit: GTW\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhale Bones Cover <\/span>An Island In Siberia<\/span><\/h2>\nEighty-two miles off the coast of Alaska lies Yttygran Island, part of the Russian province of Siberia. Massive whale jawbones dot the snowy landscape. They are stuck into the ground to stand upright. All together, they form an eerie, macabre corridor for brave, stalwart tourists to travel. The Whalebone Alley not only has thousands of bones and stones, but it also has a large number of meat storage pits that were used by different villagers, making this place a central shrine between all of them. However, there is no evidence of any rituals happening in the area.<\/p>\n
The site likely dates to about the fifteenth century and may carry religious significance. Although the local Yupik people have a more straightforward explanation that all the bones there are, it is a collective center for butchery, flensing, and overall the hunter’s favorite place to process their meats. The area extends around 1800 feet or 548 meters along the northern coast of Yttygran island, covering a few strategic areas for the locals in the area. However, the exact purpose of the site remained unknown. You can visit the area and find out for yourself.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThe flame underneath the flowing cataract. Photo Credit: Jay Ondreicka\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nA Fire Burns Under A New York Waterfall<\/span><\/h2>\nEternal Flame Falls is a majestic, breathtaking waterfall in upstate New York. It is part of the Shale Creek Preserve in Chestnut Ridge Park. However, visitors to this cataract often get more than they bargained for because, in addition to flowing with water, the place burns with fire. A natural gas reservoir lies under a spot inside the waterfall, so there is a flame that burns perpetually. Hence the name “Eternal Flame Falls.” This part of the preserve was mostly unknown until it was featured in the book Secret Places by Bruce Kershner and gained popularity.<\/p>\n
Various geologists from the States and Europe have come to investigate the Eternal Flame to understand better how natural gas emitted hydrocarbon seeps to add to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They concluded that the “macro seep” in the eternal flame falls has a higher concentration of ethane and propane than any other known natural gas seeps. They also found that it emits approximately one kilogram or 2.2 pounds of methane a day. Interestingly enough, the fire can be extinguished, and other times it destroys itself with the water, and caretakers occasionally put it out and then relight it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nRock formations in the North Coyote Buttes, part of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. Photo Credit: Frank Fichtmueller\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nRiding the Waves of the Canyon in Arizona<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\nIn the Coyote Buttes ravine in Arizona, over 5,000 feet above sea level, you can find what is called simply: The Wave. It comprises Navajo sandstone dunes that have calcified vertically and sometimes horizontally that, when hardened, compacted the rocks over time. Wind and rain erosion created the structure’s beautiful orange color with its dramatic lines. The slow process took over 190 million years ago. People consider the amazing location one of the world’s greatest geological formations. What’s interesting is that people did not know about the Wave until recently, around the 1990s! <\/span><\/p>\nThis beautiful place was made aware thanks to a German travel brochure that advertised it. In 1996, it was shown in the German film” Faszination Natur” and became a favorite place to visit European tourists. Every year, thousands of tourists visit the trippy dunes, which people have described as a surreal experience that may cause vertigo if you stare too much at it. Some say it’s like being in a waking dream. Today, this place is very popular with photographers. However, it is essential to know that only 20 visitors a day are allowed to walk through the area due to being susceptible to damage.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\nThe Marble Caves are a series of naturally sculpted caves. Photo Credit: R.M. Nunes\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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