Beautiful and unusual places of the world. Eastern and Western Sayans. Eastern Siberia. Amur Pillars, Russia

Beauty is considered a purely subjective concept, however, contemplating the most beautiful places in the world that nature has worked on, we can come to the realization of the fact that the real natural beauty that surrounds us should not go unnoticed. Traditional tourist routes usually do not cover even a small part of the world that is created thanks to the most talented “architects”, which are nature and time. A detailed overview of the most amazing places on the planet in terms of aesthetics and unique landscape features will give you the opportunity to understand what the true beauty of the universe is.

First place - Bolivia. The beauty of Lake Uyuni

Perhaps it’s worth starting our top with this unique salt lake, which occupies the largest area in the world. Many people call this Uyuni a place where time slows down. Surprising is the fact that the surface of the lake can be crossed on foot. During the rainy season, Uyuni undergoes some changes, eventually becoming a large-scale mirror square of a very beautiful appearance. At a distance of three kilometers from the city, which bears the same name, there is a cemetery, which was the last stop for a large number of steam locomotives, which in the old days served as vehicles intended for transporting various minerals (they were mined in the territory of local mines).

The salt marsh surface represents a completely optimal alternative to the expanses of the ocean in terms of such important aspects as checking and adjusting the operation of instruments designed to carry out the sensing process using satellites that are in earth orbit. The territory of the lake is occupied by entire islands, the main flora of which are cacti. This spectacle is incredibly controversial, but at the same time so amazing that it will definitely need to be captured with a camera.

Second place – Cinque Terre

A place called Cinque Terre is considered the most beautiful national park in Italy, which located in the eastern part of the Riviera. Such a picturesque place as Cinque Terre is filled with the spirit of the Middle Ages in Italy. The area is occupied by about five small villages, the architectural features of which are represented in the form of defensive buildings erected at a time when pirate raids were often carried out in this area. A reliable level of land protection was ensured thanks to the rocky coastline, which combines unforgettable beauty and serious danger at the same time.

Such a beautiful corner is filled with romance. Tourists can see many rocky beaches and narrow paths. One such trail is called the “road of love”, and there are also many legends associated with it, in which the most noble and temperamental representatives of Europe are represented.

Third place - Pamukkale

Now, perhaps, it is worth turning to the southwestern part of Turkey, which is characterized by a unique and a magnificent geological phenomenon - calcareous tuff, or rather the rocky terrain created on the basis of this natural material. This place is the main source of streams that cascade down massive stone steps. Many waterfalls and unique pools are formed here, characterized by an unusual origin. Cotton castle - this is the poetic name given to the amazing landscape by the residents themselves. The thermal springs and natural terraces of Pamukkale, located at the foot of the mountains, create a superb view that attracts many tourists to the area every year. This picture appears to be a storehouse of water, saturated with a large amount of calcium, against the general background of an excellent landscape, which is represented in white tones.

Fourth place – Yunnan rice terraces

Another simply stunningly beautiful place on the planet is the territory of rice fields, which is located in China. This area is located in the mountainous regions of the province called Yunnan. The extent of the terraces is characterized by several tens of kilometers, exactly repeating the bend of the general relief. The general uniqueness of this area lies in the basic nature of the ecological type system, which was formed in an independent way. Rice is planted when February comes, because during this period the soil is renewed thanks to the mountain mines. The beginning of the autumn period is considered the time when residents begin to harvest. The tourism season begins at the end of autumn, continuing until spring. It is during this time period that natural terraces become the main object of tourist attention, striking primarily with the mirror type of surface that reflects the rays of the sun, while creating a beautiful color spectrum.

Fifth place - the beauty of the blue hole in Belize

The central part of the atoll (one of the many objects belonging to the coral barrier reef near the coast of Belize) is represented by the most beautiful landscape - a blue hole, which appears in the form of a cave disappearing somewhere in the depths. This natural phenomenon is very common, but this particular abyss has particularly incredible dimensions (the depth level is about one hundred and twenty meters, and the diameter of the cave is about three hundred meters). Extreme divers are especially attracted to this place. A deep-sea cave can become a real paradise for people who have turned diving into the real meaning of life. Jacques Cousteau carried out large-scale research here, which brought enormous popularity to this area in the future.

Sixth place - beautiful views of the Arizona wave

Near the border separating the states of Arizona and Utah, there is a plateau on which there are sand rocks of incredibly beautiful shapes, which are called waves, due to the funny uneven shapes and highly saturated colors. In order to get to this amazing place, professional photographers have to go through a difficult journey: there is no smooth road in such an area. The creation of the unique structure of the magnificent landscape took place over a long period of time through the transformation of dunes from sand into hard rock.

Seventh place - features of Jiuzhaigou National Park

In the southeast of China is the territory of Sichuan Province, which attracts a huge number of tourists. And all thanks to the beautiful Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve, which occupies the server of the region. It is a unique natural site under the strictest protection. Waterfalls and lakes in large numbers are hidden from curious tourists by the mountain ranges of Tibet. These waters are called colored because they contain a special composition.

Not every person is able to get to this reserve, however, not so long ago, the mountainous region acquired an airport, providing the opportunity to get to this area directly from Shanghai. In order for tourists to feel maximum comfort in this area, local workers improved the trails in the mountains.

In the old days, the area was occupied by nine separate settlements.

Eighth place – Features of Plitvice Lakes

The territory of Croatia, which is considered very mysterious and colorful edge. First of all, I would like to address the Plitvice Lakes, which are located in a large national state park. The nature of the surrounding nature creates a mystical atmosphere. The park is surrounded by very dense impenetrable forests, which locals call the “Devil's Forest.”

Almost each of the sixteen lakes is located within a mountain valley. There is a connection between them, which is why, thanks to the purest mountain streams, grandiose noisy fountains are formed. From year to year there are more and more waterfalls, because the water causes destruction to the limestone rocks. The total area of ​​the water area is about two square kilometers. The location of the waterfalls themselves is observed at different levels. Thanks to the reservoirs, two picturesque complexes are formed - the Upper Lakes and the Lower Lakes.

Ninth place - Features of the Valley of 10 Peaks. Canada

Canada is considered a harsh land, but incredibly attractive due to the beauty of the “cold” nature. There is one beautiful place here, standing out for its incredible natural beauty, which is called the valley of “10 peaks”, which is located right at the very foot of 10 mountains, bearing the same name Vekchkemna. This area is located not so far from the famous Moraine Lake, which is of glacial origin. In this area, workers have laid out hiking trails in a very large number, which provide an opportunity to give a real assessment of the local attraction. There is one mountain that has a very fancy name - “twenty dollars”, because for some time an image of an identical nature was imprinted on the surface of a bill that has the same denomination.

Tenth place – impressive views of Mount Roraima

The beautiful mountain is a kind of symbol characterizing the neighborhood of states South America - Venezuela and Brazil. Roraima represents mountain ranges, located in a very long chain, which rise directly above the wilds of the great Amazon. This area gained great popularity at the time when Conan Doyle’s novel appeared, which told about a time era when our planet was inhabited by dinosaurs who chose mountain ranges as a safe haven. Thanks to the unusual landscape and unique atmosphere, this territory creates a character of complete detachment from the real world around us, representing an inexhaustible source of inspiration for many literary figures.

Eleventh place - the territory of the Maldives

A huge archipelago containing many (more than 1000) small islands, considered separately a real tourist paradise, located in the Indian Ocean. Water with a turquoise tint, an area of ​​sandy white beaches, exotic fruits - all this great diversity is contained in the Maldives. This area is considered ideal and simply heavenly to spend winter or summer holidays here, have active fun or spend a honeymoon.

Here anyone can go diving and bring this type of leisure activity to perfection, because the level of visibility under the water surface is almost perfect. You can also visit individual uninhabited islands, which can be perfect for solitude and romantic dates.

Millions of tourists visit the most interesting places in the world every year. What could be more tempting than taking a photo against the backdrop of the unusual Chinese Danxia rocks, seeing with your own eyes the Gates of Hell located in Turkmenistan, enjoying the cherry blossoms in the Japanese Hitachi Park, or strolling along the streets of the abandoned town of Pripyat near Chernobyl?

10 most incredible corners of our planet:

1. City of Machu Picchu.
2. Flower fields in Holland.
3. Danxia Geopark.
4. Moon Valley in Argentina.
5. Wulingyuan Mountains.
6. Gates of Hell in the Karakum Desert.
7. Bobsleigh track in Sarajevo.
8. Ghost town Pripyat.
9. Abandoned ship Airfield.

Man-made wonders of the planet

In 1911, US archaeologist Hiram Bingham, while in Peru, accidentally discovered the ruins of a fortress city hidden in the Andes. Machu Picchu.

It is believed that the town was founded in the middle of the 15th century and for some time served as the residence of the ruler of the Inca Empire, Pachacutec, and after his death it turned into a place where children of the nobility were educated. Tourists are attracted by the unique architecture of Machu Picchu.

Situated at an altitude of more than 2 km above sea level, the ancient city attracts travelers with unusual buildings built from polished rectangular stones. In total, about 200 buildings have been preserved, including several temples dedicated to the sun god Inti. Modern scientists were amazed by the scale of the buildings, because in order to build them, it was necessary to have the broadest knowledge in the field of engineering, geology, astronomy and other sciences, which humanity did not possess in those days. How the ancient Incas created the city remains a big mystery. Some researchers even seriously suggest that aliens took part in the construction of Machu Picchu.

Flower fields in Holland

The Netherlands is known in every corner of the planet not only for its Red Light District or the Marijuana Museum, but also for its picturesque tulip fields.

The fashion for growing these flowers dates back to the distant 16th century. It was then that the botanist Carl Clusius first planted several tulip bulbs in the Leiden Botanical Garden.

The strange flowers quickly caught the fancy of the local population, and soon any noble Dutchman considered it an honor to grow them at home. Today, tulips of all varieties and the most incredible shades grow on endless plantations located on the North Sea coast, as well as near Amsterdam, The Hague, Leiden, Enkhuizen and Delft. You can admire the incredibly beautiful flower fields in the Netherlands from mid-April to the end of the first ten days of May.

The most unusual gardens are in Japan. To see this, just visit Hitachi National Park, which stretches over 120 hectares in the city of Hitatinaka on the island of Honshu.

Previously, there was a US military base in its place, but since 1973, the Japanese authorities decided to plant the vast territories with luxurious flowers, shrubs and trees. Work to improve the park took 18 years, and in 1991 it was opened to the public for the first time. At different times of the year, sakura, kohia, tulips, lilies and other plants bloom on huge plantations, turning Hitachi into a place of indescribable beauty.

Unusual creations of nature

In the Chinese province of Gansu, near the city of Zhangye, the unique Danxia Geopark is located. It became famous throughout the world thanks to its unusual colored rocks.

An inexperienced tourist may think that a person had a hand in their creation, but this is not so. The Zhangye Danxia Cliffs are a natural object, they were formed over 24 million years from deposits of red sandstone and other mineral rocks. Their unusual shapes, colors and patterns are the result of numerous weather disasters.. Today there is not a single landscape formation on the planet that even remotely resembles Danxia, ​​so the geopark is very popular among lovers of unusual experiences.

Contrary to expectations, the Valley of the Moon is not located on a natural satellite of the Earth, but in the northwestern part of Argentina. Ischigualasto Provincial Park received this name because of its alien appearance.

There is practically no flora and fauna in the valley. Its attraction is the unusual geological formations, similar to polished skittles with a diameter of up to 70 cm. Scientists today are unable to explain their origin. The area gained particular interest among tourists after NASA employees tested their Mars rovers there.

Located in the Hunan province of China, the Wulingyuan Mountains are covered in greenery with 3,000 peaks and cliffs, some of which reach heights of up to 800 m.

Between them there are gorges with picturesque lakes, streams and waterfalls. Few people know, but it was the Wulingyuan Mountains that inspired the authors of the film “Avatar” to create fabulous landscapes that would amaze viewers.

Underground road to hell

When listing unusual places in the world, it is worth mentioning the Gates of Hell, located in the Karakum Desert (Turkmenistan). The attraction with such an impressive name is a gas crater, the depth of which reaches 20 m and a diameter of 60 m.

It was formed in 1971 after unsuccessful searches for underground gas. While drilling a well, Soviet geologists came across a void filled with natural gas, into which the earth and equipment located on its surface had fallen. To prevent the gas from leaving the crater and poisoning people living in nearby settlements, it was decided to set it on fire.

Mineral seekers hoped that it would go out within a few days, but they were greatly mistaken. More than 40 years have passed since the formation of the crater, and natural gas burns in it without ceasing. From the outside, this spectacle has a mystical appearance.

Forgotten corners of the world

The most beautiful abandoned places in the world have always attracted the attention of travelers. Once in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), tourists should head to the long-forgotten bobsleigh track.

A modern track that meets international standards was built on the eve of the 1984 Winter Olympic Games; its length was more than 1.5 km. The track was used after the end of the Olympics until the outbreak of the civil war in Yugoslavia in 1991. The hostilities in this Balkan country have long since ended, but interest in bobsleigh among the local population has subsided. The track, where the best athletes on the planet competed for prizes, has been abandoned for more than two decades and is of interest only to travelers.

The small town of Pripyat in northern Ukraine can be called, without exaggeration, the most interesting settlement in the post-Soviet space. Founded in 1970 as a city of nuclear workers, it ceased to exist 16 years later. The reason for this was the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant located 3 km from it. After the explosion at the power unit, the entire population of Pripyat was evacuated. The city turned into an exclusion zone, and people began to call it a ghost.

Today in Pripyat everything looks the same as it did at the time of the tragedy. Once in the city, it’s as if you’re transported back 3 decades. The walls of buildings are decorated with communist slogans, schools and kindergartens are waiting for pupils, and apartments are waiting for their owners. But the city differs from other settlements in that no one is going to return to it. Its streets are filled with piercing silence, and the only people there are tourists and tour guides.

Travelers looking for the most beautiful abandoned places in the world should head to Australia. On this distant continent in Homebush Bay the remains of the steam ship Airfield have rested for many years.

The British ship was launched in 1911 and carried ammunition and coal during World War II. Now the Airfield is considered the most famous abandoned ship on the planet. Real thickets of mango trees grew on its deck, which is why it was popularly called the “Floating Forest”. The ship looks especially spectacular in the sunset.

Our blue planet is unique. Nature has created truly unique things, and atmospheric phenomena and elements (winds, water flows) have created amazing sights. There are all kinds of lists and ratings that list the most beautiful places in the world. Watch, read and enjoy our top list of the most amazing miracles!

Arizona wave

A striking formation of Navajo sandstone in the form of a mountain is located in the United States, on the border of two states - Arizona and Utah. The unique creation is approximately 190 years old. Wavy lines were born over centuries by overlapping separate layers. Wind and other atmospheric phenomena completed the incredible landscape.

Getting into the Wave is not that easy. The owner limits the number of visits to 20 per day, because sandstone is a very fragile material and crowds of tourists will trample it in a day.

To become one of the lucky ones who will be able to see it in person, you need to take part in the lottery. The first ten visitors are drawn 4 months before the excursion, the second ten - the day before the visit. By the way, Australia has its own “wave” - a similar creation, but made of granite.

Beach with caves near Algarve (Portugal)

The sea grottoes on Praia da Rocha near the Portuguese city were born naturally. The wind and raging waves have sharpened the rocks, creating grandiose sculptures, grottoes, caves and figured pillars.

Rice fields in Guangxi Province, China, look like masterpieces of landscape design or painted batik. In fact, these lines and colors carry deep Eastern wisdom. They began to be built during the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century. They explore the rice terraces from special observation platforms, a ticket for which costs approximately 250 rubles. with Russian money (50 yuan).
The terraces are planned wisely and taking into account weather conditions. Each step is irrigated in the required quantities and illuminated by the sun in such doses as necessary. This complex ecosystem provides for itself: in the spring, spring water, saturated with microelements, flows from the mountains, qualitatively irrigating the terraces. This gives the earth strength throughout the summer. At this time, the areas flooded with water under the rays of the sun become like sparkling writhing ribbons.

A charming, slender forest is located in the west of the Japanese city of Kyoto. Tens of thousands of slender mast bamboos sway slightly in the wind, their smooth trunks touching and ringing subtly. This place is located next to the famous Zen Buddhist temple Tenryu-Ji.
Visitors say that the melodious chime of bamboo trunks has a calming effect on a person and promotes spiritual enlightenment. The Japanese government has introduced the sounds of thin stems into the main attractions of their country.

Island of Happiness - Socotra

This is exactly how the name of one of the most amazing islands of the Indian Ocean is translated. Socotra lies in the northwestern part of the ocean in the territory of the state of Yemen. Thanks to its isolation, rare representatives of flora and fauna, not found anywhere else, have been preserved and live on it. In a small area - 143 km long and 40 km wide - amazing things fit. Peaked stone ridges are adjacent to snow-white beaches, and desert plains are adjacent to oases of generous and lush greenery. Here, flowers of an unprecedented riot of colors paint the futuristic landscape, and thick baobab trees stand like silent guards.
90% of reptiles, as well as mollusks and a third of plants, are endemic, that is, species that are found only on this island. Socotra is home to 800 species of different plants. Scientists are inclined to believe that most of them trace their ancestry to ancient flora, which disappeared forever in ancient centuries. These include:

• Cucumber tree;
• The dragon tree, in which, according to legend, the blood of ancient dragons flows;
• Dorsthenia gigantea;
• Desert Rose (looks like a swollen elephant's foot with a delicate flower on the top).

Chocolate Hills of Bohol Island (Philippines)

People go there to marvel at the natural formations - round, almost identical hills, of which there are 1,268 on an area of ​​50 km². How these hills arose is not known for certain; the most plausible version is that these coral colonies bulged outward due to some geological processes under the island.


When the grass withers in autumn, the hills take on an extremely pleasant appearance of truffle candies, and in the summer they turn bright green under the Philippine sun.

Only on this island live the smallest monkeys in the world - tarsiers, as cute as toys (below in the photo). Their height is less than the palm of a person.

Wulingyuan: Pandora's Floating Mountains

Fans of the famous blockbuster will immediately understand what is going on. These unusual “fingers” are called “Avatar Mountains”. Huge columns of quartz sandstone, covered on top with dense tropical forest, are located in Hunan Province (China). In fact, this is a vast nature reserve, a national park founded in 1982. The entire area is well protected from destruction.
It is strictly prohibited to light any kind of fire within the park, including a ban on smoking. All hiking trails are paved with a special coating that protects the soil from erosion.

Presumably, when creating the film "Avatar", director James Cameron was inspired by the Wulingyuan Mountains.

Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia)

We have already written about this fascinating place in an article about, however, the famous salt desert deserves a place in our arbitrary TOP-20 ranking. This salt marsh, the largest in area, is covered with neat cones. The entire landscape has an alien appearance.
During the rainy season, the surface of the dry lake is covered with a thin layer of water, which turns into a huge mirror. It reflects the endless sky with clouds and mountains in the background, and then the landscape becomes completely unreal.

Hamilton Basin (USA)

A curious ecosystem is located in the state of Texas near the city of Austin - a lake under the dome of a cave grotto. In ancient times, it was an underground river flowing through a karst cave, but nature made its own adjustments. At some point, the vaults collapsed in one place, and the underground river saw the sun and sky for the first time.
The resulting intimate bay with a beach under the roof is a very cozy place. The water in the lake is a rich blue color. The “ceiling” of the grotto is covered with centuries-old layers of soil and rocks; moss, limestone stalactites and climbing plants hang from the edges. Swallows have built nests inside the dome. A waterfall rustles to the side.

Grand Canyon (USA)

One of the deepest and largest canyons in the world is located in Arizona. In the depths the river of the same name flows among high walls made of layers of shale, limestone and sandstone. The canyon extends 446 km in length and up to 1800 m in depth.
65 million years ago, the Colorado flowed across the plain, but then the plateau gradually began to rise. The angle of the river changed, the flow accelerated, and the water began to erode the soil in its path. The canyon has been in the form in which we see it now for 6 million years, and to this day soil erosion continues and the failure deepens. The Grand Canyon is the most famous in the world, immortalized in dozens of American films.

Canaima National Park (Venezuela)

Located in the state of Bolivar on the east coast of the country. The entire area is strictly protected as the reserve is included in the World Heritage List. An interesting fact is that it is here that you can see the highest waterfall on the planet -. The Kerepakupai River falls from a height of almost a kilometer and falls into the jungle.


Angel falls from a unique table mountain (979 m) and is called Devil's Mountain.

Tepuis are shaped like a table with a flat top and straight walls.

Valley of Flowers (India)

Incredibly beautiful meadows can be seen in the upper part of the Ganges River in the Western Himalayas. The vast majority are endemic, growing only here. Alpine meadows with a length of 88 km² are under the close attention of scientists. Beautiful flower meadows are surrounded by forests, mountains and waterfalls. Locals are sure that fairies lived in the valley.

Danakil Desert and Dallol Volcano (Ethiopia)

One of the most incredible, beautiful and mysterious places. Photos of these bright and abstract landscapes evoke thoughts of extraterrestrial worlds. Locals believe that here, on the plain, is the gate to Hell through the mouth of Dallol. The Tribes tribe does not allow scientists to explore their volcano, so as not to disturb the demons inside it.

"Pulpit" (Norway)

We have already mentioned the most famous Norwegian rock in the article about. This work of nature with a top as flat as a table also earns a place in our top 20. Photos of the “Cathedra...” are circulating on the Internet in huge quantities; “the folk trail will not overgrow” it, since the view of the fjords is stunning.
The cliff hangs 604 m above the Lysefjord. The width of the upper platform is 25x25 m. To get there, you will have to walk 6 km along rocky paths. On average, the climb takes 2 hours, but the most breathtaking sight in the world awaits you as a reward! Huge, inaccessible cliffs rise in all directions, and somewhere far below the mirror of the Lysefjord looms black.

Crystal River (Columbia)

“River born of a rainbow”, “River that escaped from paradise”... Colombians gave many names to their pride - Kanye Cristales, which flows in the north of the country.
As you can see from the photo, its waters are painted in the brightest colors that exist in the world. And this is not chemical waste being poured into the reservoir, it is the most natural algae that blooms so wildly. This splendor can be seen in the autumn months, when numerous marine organisms begin to bloom, each in their own color.

Pamukkale (Türkiye)

Pamukkale means “cotton castle” in Turkish. The locals gave this name to an unusual plateau located in the very center of the country. Essentially, these are terraces made of travertine, a polycrystalline rock. Over the centuries, thermal springs were created by streams of mineralized water, which, flowing down the slopes, did not have time to reach the bottom of the mountain and evaporated under the hot rays.
Now the resort is in high demand, because here you can not only be treated with mineral baths, but also wander through the azure pools, beautiful snow-white terraces, admiring the design and imagination of Mother Nature.

Dengxia Colored Mountains (China)

Another bright “explosion” took place in the Chinese province of Gansu. The endlessly beautiful red-orange mountains with blue and green stripes attract many tourists here. Danxia got its killer color from a variety of sedimentary rocks and thanks to a large inclusion of red sandstone and centuries-old soil erosion.

Scientists believe that the mountains got their color back in the Mesozoic era, and inside the rock you can find the remains of extinct lizards.

Li River (China)

In general, this Asian country is full of all kinds of beauty, which is why it appears in several positions in our top 20. This time we want to show the Chinese Lijiang River, the muse of poets and artists, full of romanticism and softness.


Lijiang is one of the most beautiful, clean and scenic rivers in Gualin Province.

Director John Curran filmed the film The Painted Veil here.

Multnomah Falls (USA)

This is one of the most popular hiking trails in Oregon. It plunges into the Columbia River Canyon. Multnomah Falls is one of the five largest waterfalls in North America, but it has the first place in height among those that never freeze - 189 meters. To get to the place, you need to drive just 30 minutes from the city of Portland.

Machu Picchu: an unsolved mystery (Peru)

The remains of the ancient Incan civilization are on the list of the New Seven Wonders. It translates as “old mountain.” And the lost city lies on a flat area at an altitude of 2057 m. Until the beginning of the 20th century, no one suspected the existence of evidence of an ancient civilization in Peru.
Why did the Incas need to build their city so high in the mountains? We will never know this, all that remains is to wander around the old mossy stones and make guesses.


One way or another, the lost and mysterious city of Machu Picchu closes the ranking of “The most beautiful places on earth” - the best twenty.

We invite you to watch the video, which also shows places not included in the list. Is it possible to list all the unique corners of the planet? After all, she is absolutely beautiful!

There are various places in the world that are distinguished by their natural beauty, colors, landscapes and rich vegetation. Others are beautiful in their simplicity and subtlety. In this article you will find something you probably haven't seen before: the strangest places in the world, but at the same time incredible beautiful.

1. "Bloody Pond" in Japan

Our list of the strangest places on Earth opens with the bloody spring (called Jigoku, which means hell) - a landmark of the city of Beppu, one of nine thermal springs that are more appropriate to look at than to swim in them.

The reddish color is due to the presence of high levels of iron in the hot waters, which makes this place quite strange.

2. Ice Caves of Eisriesenwelt (Austria)

These are the longest ice caves in the world. Today, only a small area of ​​them is open to the public, but this is amazingly enough to allow visitors to experience the wonderful and mysterious whim of nature.

This strange place is located in the Richat structure, on the African continent. It is visible from space due to its length of almost 50 km. The structure is located about 400 meters above sea level in the Sahara Desert in Mauritania and has curious concentric rings. It is believed that the Eye of the Sahara was created by a meteorite impact.

4. Salt Desert

This is a huge salt desert in Bolivia, also known as. This is the largest salt marsh in the world and here you can see active volcanoes, plains with geysers, tall cacti, etc., which make the environment an endless illusion or a landscape of another world.

5. Stone forest of China

Shilin Stone Forest, known as the "first wonder of the world", is located in Yunnan Province. This forest covers an area of ​​over 400 square kilometers and showcases amazing rock formations with breathtaking views. The forest was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2007.

6. Spotted Lake Kliluk

This huge unusual lake is located between the state of Washington and the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is rich in natural resources, but the most amazing thing about it is the strange formation of circles with white borders and puddles inside, reflecting sunlight in blue and green colors, like mirrors or doors to other worlds.

7. Dry deserts of Antarctica

These are authentic dry valleys in Antarctica with dark gravel scattered across the land, similar to the volcanic areas in the Canary Islands that equate to Mars. The valley is so cool and dry (the driest place on earth) that everything that dies there is preserved like a mummy. She is like a natural freezer. In addition, here you can find the corpses of seals that died several centuries ago.

Our own little Mars on Earth is in Spain. The resemblance of this strange place to the red planet is so high that NASA conducted various experiments here because of this. This river creates such an unusual environment due to its enormous acidity, and it is the high copper content that gives it its red color. All this is due to the fact that gold and copper were mined on the river.

This island has very interesting vegetation that makes it a unique and almost anomalous ecosystem. It is part of an archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean that were separated from Africa about 7 million years ago. Like the Galapagos Islands, they contain more than 700 very rare species of both flora and fauna, and about a third are unique to the area.

The Afar Depression in Ethiopia, better known as the Danakil Depression, is one of the hottest inhabited places on Earth, with temperatures ranging from 35 degrees Celsius when it's cool to around 60 degrees Celsius when it's hot. This is an area in the Horn of Africa where tectonic plates separate, allowing the waters of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to reach the land. This is the reason for such bright colors in the landscape. It is worth noting that this is a very volcanic and radiation zone. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most unusual places on Earth.

11. Soaring Geyser Nevada

This geyser in Nevada is one of the strangest attractions in the United States. It was created in 1916 by accident during oil drilling: water heated by geothermal energy came to the surface, causing this colorful spectacle. The geyser is made up of various minerals and thermophilic algae that shoot jets of water 1.5 m into the air and give it such a variety of colors and plastic appearance. This terrace consists of about 40 pools of water on an area of ​​30 hectares.

Located in Yellowstone National Park. It is the largest geothermal source in the United States and the third largest in the world. With its appearance, it undoubtedly deserves a place on the list of the strangest places on the planet. The source is formed by thermophilic bacteria, which produce colors ranging from green to red. Colors depend on the ratio of chlorophyll and carotenoids, and on water temperature.

These were the strangest places on earth . I hope that the article was interesting for you. Thank you for your attention!

P.S. To reinforce the topic, I suggest watching a video selection of the most beautiful and unusual places on our planet:

Descriptions and photographs of unusual, mysterious and amazing places on our planet.

Semuc Champey (the name from the Mayan language translates as “where the river is hidden under the stones”) is the most beautiful natural attraction in Guatemala, formed by the Caabon River, passing through a 300-meter limestone bridge (of natural origin) and forming several natural pools with a depth of 1 to 3 meters. You can swim in these pools, and if you sit on a stone and put your feet in the water, then in just a few seconds you will begin to receive free massage and peeling from the small fish that live in these reservoirs. This is an extremely pleasant feeling, I liked it even more than directly swimming in a pond.

Semuc Champey is located in the deep jungle and remained unknown for a long time until it was accidentally discovered in the mid-50s of the last century. In 1999, the President of Guatemala declared Semuc Champey a natural monument.

Semuk Champey. View from the observation deck

Mount Kailash is located in the highland valley of Tibet in southwest China. This sacred land is full of mysteries and mysticism. It is here that pilgrims come from all over the world to perform the kora - a ritual circumambulation around Kailash.

Prohodna is the highest cave in Bulgaria. It is located 2 km from the village of Karlukovo in the valley of the Iskar River and is part of the Iskar-Panega geopark. This amazing karst cave is a natural rock bridge 262 meters long and 15 to 25 meters wide. It has two entrances, Big and Small, between which there is a path.
The height of the arch of the large entrance is 45 meters: this is a favorite place for fans of extreme jumps. In addition, the cave is very popular among rock climbers. In the surrounding area of ​​Prohodna there are sports routes that are considered one of the most difficult in Bulgaria.
The main feature of Prohodna is two through holes in the rock shaped like human eyes. Locals call them "God's Eyes" and sometimes "Devil's Eyes." These “windows” provide natural light in the cave and captivate tourists with their amazing symmetry. But the “Eyes of God” make a special impression in rainy weather, when real tears seem to flow from them.

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in the state of Utah (USA). This amazing natural site is known throughout the world for its beauty and unique marine geology. It is a gigantic amphitheater of rocky peaks varied in structure.

New Zealand is a beautiful country proud of its picturesque landscapes. However, its main attractions are not only on the surface - it is just as beautiful underground. Proof of this is the famous Waitomo region, which lies on one of the largest islands of the state. It is famous for its impressive limestone caves, which are amazing in themselves, but what makes them even more special are the numerous fireflies that choose these underground labyrinths as their home. Thousands of tiny insects emit phosphorescent light, creating surreal light installations.

The picturesque island quarter of Burano in the northern lagoon of the Italian city of Venice can rightfully be called one of the most colorful places on planet Earth. In addition to its skilled lace-makers, it is famous for its bright, colorful buildings. Interestingly, each building is assigned a specific color, for which homeowners receive permission from local authorities. The condition of cartoon houses and the saturation of the shade are carefully monitored, if necessary, refreshing the lost brightness of their appearance. According to legend, it was the bright colors of the facades that from ancient times showed Buran fishermen the way home.

The small village, located on one of the 400 Shengxi Islands located east of the Chinese province of Zhejiang, has been abandoned by people for decades, but every year it increasingly attracts the attention of tourists. After the town, famous for its fishing, was abandoned by people who found more convenient ways to make money on the mainland, it began to disappear under the onslaught of local vegetation, turning into a kingdom of greenery. Plants are slowly consuming dilapidated stone buildings, demonstrating the power of nature and creating a truly fantastic spectacle. The quiet, picturesque area on China's east coast has not become a comfortable place for humans to live, but it has quickly become a cozy home for local flora and fauna. The transformation of the city is especially impressive considering the fact that residents only left it in the early 90s, and empty houses and broken windows are already completely merging with thriving greenery. Thus, the abandoned settlement gradually turns from ruins into a green jungle, which has already become a famous local landmark.

In cold Iceland, a land of snow, ice and unique natural attractions, there is always something to see and admire. Its main assets are represented by powerful fjords, volcanoes, waterfalls and, of course, glaciers, striking in their scale and beauty. In their depths, as if in the castle of the Snow Queen, something even more magnificent lurks - ice caves. The most amazing of them are concentrated in the southern part of the giant Vatnajokull glacier, which has the status of the largest in Europe and the third largest in the entire globe after the glaciers of Antarctica and Greenland. Its area is 8133 km², which is 8% of the entire territory of the island. The ice thickness is on average 400 meters, and the maximum reaches 1000 meters. Vatnajökull is part of the largest national park in Europe of the same name.

Yosemite National Park in California has an impressive natural feature called Horsetail Fall. Behind this unusual name lies an ordinary seasonal waterfall, falling from the eastern side of the El Capitan mountain range in winter and early spring. The most interesting things begin to happen in these parts at the end of February. Just a few days a year, visitors to the park have the opportunity to see a rare phenomenon - the transformation of an ordinary water stream into a fiery waterfall, reminiscent of lava erupting from a volcano. In fact, this natural phenomenon is a visual illusion, the secret of which is hidden in the reflection of the rays of the setting sun at a certain angle and under favorable weather conditions. The luminary, blazing with fiery reflections in the water flowing from the mountain, creates truly apocalyptic landscapes. The unusual effect lasts only a few minutes, but travelers and hunters for unique footage regularly gather near Mount El Capitan in order to see and capture the stunning illusion.

Blue Fields is an unusual photo project, similar to a beautiful fantasy of an artist, authored by Scottish photographer Simon Butterworth. The bodies of water in western Australia captured by aerial photography look very surreal, as if these are not photographs at all, but watercolor paintings depicting abstract patterns. In fact, the pictures show ordinary artificial ponds from which a concentrated salt solution evaporates, leaving a harvest of salt. The salt fields reflecting the blue sky were captured by a photographer from an airplane at an altitude of about 1,500 meters near the abandoned town of Useless Loop, in Shark Bay, the westernmost point of mainland Australia.

Goats are known for their acrobatic skills and ability to maintain balance on sheer cliffs. However, their amazing abilities do not end there - in the kingdom of Morocco you can see an even more unusual sight: dozens of horned animals comfortably nest in the trees, like a flock of birds. They climb to the highest branches, like skilled tightrope walkers, where they engage in measured eating of green leaves and fruits.

As night falls, the beaches of some islands in the Maldives archipelago erupt with millions of glowing neon dots, as if the starry sky is falling on the shores of the Indian Ocean. The surreal picture does not appear through magic, but as a result of the life activity of microscopic organisms called bioluminescent phytoplankton. Blue glow is most common in the Maldives from around July to February, especially during the new moon, when the darkness of the sky helps microorganisms glow as brightly as possible. The amazing effect of bioluminescence can be seen in any of the atolls of the state, but the most enchanting “star” surf occurs on the island of Vaadhoo.