Strange places on planet earth. Sandy ocean, or sea desert. Mesquita, Cordoba, Spain

A selection for lovers of natural and historical mysteries, as well as for those who simply appreciate beautiful unusual places. Welcome to 65 corners of the planet that make you think about the irrationality of the world, feel like an explorer and get a dose of adrenaline.

Easter Island, Chile

This small piece of land in the Pacific Ocean (area - 163.6 km², population - about 6,000 people) is known all over the world thanks to the mysterious stone idols - moai. Almost nine hundred statues stand around the perimeter of the island, like sentries. Who made them? How were multi-ton blocks moved? What was the function of the statues? Europeans have puzzled over these questions for decades. And although it is believed that Thor Heyerdahl solved the riddle, the locals still believe that the sacred power of the ancestors of the Hotu Matu'a clan is contained in the moai.

Aokigahara, Japan

This is a dense forest at the foot of Mount Fuji on the island of Honshu. The place is ominous: stony soil, tree roots braid rocky debris, there is a “deafening” silence, compasses do not work. And although scientists (seemingly) found explanations for all these phenomena, the Japanese believe that ghosts live in the forest - the souls of infirm old people who were left there to die in times of famine. Therefore, in the afternoon Aokigahara - popular place rest, and at night - a "shelter" of suicides. Books and songs have been written about this place, films have been made, including documentaries.

Racetrack Playa, USA

In California's Death Valley National Park, there is a dry lake that would be ordinary if not for a phenomenon that scientists have been puzzling over for years. 30-kilogram stones move along its clay bottom. Slowly, but without the help of living beings. The clods leave long, shallow furrows behind them. In this case, the trajectory of their movement is absolutely arbitrary. What pushes rocks? Various versions were voiced: the specifics of the magnetic field, wind, seismic activity. None of the guesses received sufficient scientific justification.

Roraima Plateau, Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana

Roraima is a mountain on the border of three countries. But its peak is not a sharp peak, but a luxurious 34 km² plateau wrapped in a haze of clouds, with unique plants and picturesque waterfalls. This is how Arthur Conan Doyle imagined " lost World". According to the beliefs of the Indians, Roraima is a petrified tree trunk that gave birth to all vegetables and fruits on the planet. Even the Indians believed that the gods live there, so no one climbed to the top before the arrival of the Europeans. Modern travelers say that people on Roraima are simply filled with sacred delight.

Valley of pitchers, Laos

At the foot of the Annam Range, giant pots are “scattered”: up to three meters in height and weighing up to six tons. Archaeologists believe that the jars are about two thousand years old, but they cannot understand how the ancestors of modern Laos used them. Lao legends say that these are the utensils of the giants who lived in the valley. It is also said that the jars were ordered to be made by King Khung Chung to make a lot of rice wine and celebrate the victory over the enemies. Historians have their own versions: they could collect rainwater in pots or store food in them. Or maybe they were burial urns?

Bermuda Triangle

In the Atlantic Ocean, in the “triangle” between Florida, Bermuda and Puerto Rico, there is an anomalous zone where over a hundred ships and aircraft have “evaporated” over the past hundred years. Most famous case happened in 1945. Five Avenger bombers took off from a US Navy base and disappeared. The planes that went in search of them also disappeared without a trace. Skeptics say that shallows, cyclones and storms are to blame. But many tend to believe in more mystical versions: for example, in abduction by aliens or the inhabitants of Atlantis.

Shilin, China

In the province of Yunnan, on an area of 350 km², the "Stone Forest" is spread. Ancient rocks, caves, waterfalls and lakes create an atmosphere fairy world. According to legend, one young man decided to save the people from drought and build a dam. The wizard gave him a whip and a wand to cut and move blocks of stone. But the tools had magical power only until dawn. The young man did not finish the work, and the huge monoliths remained scattered across the valley. Scientists believe that 200 million years ago there was a sea on the site of the Stone Forest. It dried up, but the rocks, striking in their grandeur and beauty, remained.

Glastonbury Tower, UK

IN English county Somerset is a 145-meter hill, topped by the tower of the medieval church of St. Michael. According to legend, there was an entrance to Avalon - the other world, where holy people, fairy-tale creatures and magicians were born, where special laws of time and space operate. King Arthur and his wife Guinevere were buried on this hill - in 1191, the monks of Glastonbury Abbey allegedly found sarcophagi with their remains. This is not the only legend about St. Michael's Hill and King Arthur. Perhaps these are just myths, but visitors to the attraction claim that the hill has the most powerful energy.

Kitovaya alley, Russia

On the Chukchi island of Itygran there is an ancient Eskimo sanctuary. Huge bones and skulls of whales are dug into the frozen shore. The alley was opened in 1977, but its mysteries have not yet been solved. There is an assumption that in the XIV century this place was used by whalers for ritual meetings. Judging by the many "meat pits", the gatherings were accompanied by feasts, and the holes in the tops of the whale "pillars" indicate that, perhaps, the whalers also arranged games, hanging prizes on bones. But in folklore there is no information about the purpose of the alley. But there is a legend about the battle of "flying shamans" that took place there.

Fly Geyser, USA

It's hard to believe, but this "fountain", as if descended from the pages of a science fiction writer's book, is not on Jupiter, not on Mars, but on Earth, in the state of Nevada. "Flying" geyser erupts jets hot water to a height of up to 15 meters, forming around itself a "mini-volcano" of mineral deposits. Scientists say that this is what the surface of our planet looked like millions of years ago. The geyser is located on the territory of a private ranch, and in order to admire it, you need the permission of the owner. But this does not stop tourists. People believe that if you wash yourself with water from a geyser, life will become bright and happy.

Richat, Mauritania

In the west of the Sahara is the "Eye of the Earth". These huge circles drawn by an unknown force really resemble an eye. The Richat structure is the oldest geological formation, the age of one of the rings of which is about 600 million years. "Eye" is perfectly visible from space - in orbit they use it as a guide. There are different versions about the nature of this formation. For example, that this is a funnel from a meteorite fall or a landing site for aliens. But the most scientific are the hypotheses that suggest that this is the mouth of an extinct volcano or the result of erosion on the uplift of a section of the earth's crust.

Nazca Lines, Peru

The Nazca plateau, like a canvas, is streaked with gigantic patterns. A hummingbird, a monkey, a spider, flowers, a lizard, geometric figures - in total there are about 30 neat drawings made in the same manner in the valley. Geoglyphs on the Nazca plateau were discovered almost a century ago, but scientists are still arguing who, how and when created them. Some believe that this is an ancient irrigation system, others - that these are the "holy paths of the Incas", others claim that this is the oldest astronomy textbook on Earth. There is also a completely mystical version, that the lines are a message from aliens. There are many theories, but none have been scientifically proven.

Podgoretsky castle, Ukraine

The 17th-century palace in the village of Podgortsy, Lviv region, would have been an ordinary historical landmark (a well-preserved bright example of Renaissance architecture, the place where D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers were filmed), if not for the anomalies noticed there. According to legend, one of the owners of the castle, Vaclav Rzewuski, was terribly jealous of his beautiful wife Maria. So much so that he walled her up in the walls of the palace. The caretakers of the Podgoretsky castle claim that they have seen the ghost of the “White Lady” more than once and constantly hear the sound of heels on the marble floor.

Devil's Tower, USA

Devil's Tower, or Devil's Tower, is a columnar mountain in Wyoming. It resembles a tower assembled from individual columns. It is hard to believe that this is a creation of nature, and not human hands. Indigenous people treated the tower with reverent horror, because many times strange light phenomena were observed above. There is a legend that the devil sits on top and beats a drum, causing thunder. Due to its bad reputation, climbers bypass the mountain. But she appears in Steven Spielberg's film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" - it is there that a meeting with aliens takes place.

Gaiola Islands, Italy

IN Gulf of Naples, off the coast of Campania, there are two small islands of marvelous beauty. A bridge connects them to each other. One of them is uninhabited, a villa is built on the other. But no one lives in it - the place is considered cursed. All its owners, as well as some members of their families, died under strange circumstances, went bankrupt, ended up in prisons and psychiatric hospitals. Because of the bad reputation, the islands have no owner, the villa is abandoned. Only occasionally brave tourists, photographers and journalists look at Gaiola.

Bran Castle, Romania

In the picturesque town of Bran stands a majestic castle of the XIV century. According to legend, Count Vlad III Tepes-Dracula often spent the night here. This man became the prototype of the most famous vampire in pop culture. The earl was given the nickname "Dracula" for his incredible cruelty: he killed innocents for fun, took blood baths, could put a person on a stake and eat in the presence of a corpse. The people hated him and feared him. Bran Castle is currently a functioning museum. It is believed that although Vlad III did not live there permanently, the place is saturated with his negative aura.

Catatumbo River, Venezuela

At the place where the Catatumbo River flows into Lake Maracaibo, a unique atmospheric phenomenon is observed: almost every night the sky is lit up by lightning without thunder. There are over a million discharges per year. Lightning can be seen hundreds of kilometers away. Scientists have found out the cause of the phenomenon, but its extraordinary beauty still gives rise to superstitions and legends. In 1595, Catatumbo lightning saved the city of Maracaibo. Pirate Francis Drake decided to capture the city, but because of the light of lightning, the locals saw the approach of his ships from afar, managed to prepare and fought back.

Body, USA

In California, on the border with Nevada, there is a ghost town named after the gold digger William Body. In 1880, 10,000 people lived in the city. They accounted for 65 saloons and 7 breweries, there was even a "red light district" - crime, drunkenness and debauchery flourished in the city. When the gold rush died down, people left. Now it is a historical park. But tourists go to Bodie not because of an interest in history: the city is considered a haunt of ghosts. The one who takes even a stone from there will be haunted by misfortunes. Park rangers constantly receive parcels with the return of "souvenirs".

Troll tongue, Norway

Trolltunga, or Troll's Tongue, is an unusual stone ledge at an altitude of 350 meters on Mount Skjeggedal. Why language? And why a troll? According to an old Norwegian legend, a troll lived in those parts, who constantly tried his luck: he dived into deep pools, jumped over abysses. One day he decided to check whether it is true that the rays of the sun are deadly for trolls. At dawn, he stuck out his tongue from his cave and ... petrified forever. The rock attracts modern adventurers like a magnet: sit on the edge, do somersaults, take pictures. There is no troll, but his work lives on!

Brocken, Germany

This is the highest point of the Harz Mountain (1141 m), where, according to legend, witches held a sabbath on Walpurgis Night. At the top you can observe a natural phenomenon of rare beauty and mystery - the Brocken ghost. If you stand with your back to the setting sun, then a large shadow will appear on the surface of the clouds or in the fog with an iridescent halo around the head. Sometimes there is even a feeling that the “ghost” is moving. The phenomenon was first described by Johann Silberschlag in 1780 and has since been mentioned more than once in the literature on the Harz mountains.

Golosov Ravine was once a deserted, gloomy outskirts of Moscow. Now it is a beautiful place shrouded in legends in the Moscow Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve. One of the legends tells of a strange green fog. Allegedly, there were cases when people wandered in an emerald haze, as it seemed to them, for several minutes, but in fact decades passed. Also in the ravine are stones that in the old days had a sacred meaning: the Goose-stone patronized the soldiers, giving them strength and good luck in battle, and the Maiden's Stone brought happiness to the girls.

Stonehenge, UK

130 km from London, in the county of Wiltshire, there is a bizarre structure made of huge boulders. It is one of the most popular archaeological sites in the world. The researchers found that the construction of the complex lasted almost two thousand years and took place in several stages. However, it is still unclear who built it and why. According to folk legend, the huge blue stones have magical powers, and the building was erected by a wizard named Merlin. There are also versions that Stonehenge is a Stone Age observatory, a Druid sanctuary or an ancient tomb.

goseck circle, Germany

Goseck circle, Germany

Gozeksky circle are called concentric ditches with a diameter of 75 meters and log circles with gates. Through them, on the days of the summer and winter solstices, the sun enters the circle. This gave rise to the theory that this Neolithic structure is the oldest observatory in the world. Presumably it was built in 4900 BC. e. It seems that the creators of the ancient "celestial calendar" had a good knowledge of astronomy. It is noteworthy that there are similar prehistoric structures not only near Gosek, but also in other places in Germany, as well as in Austria and Croatia.

Machu Picchu, Peru

On the top mountain range, at an altitude of 2,450 m, among the clouds above the valley of the Urubamba River, the ancient "lost city of the Incas" majestically rises. Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century, but in 1532 the palaces, altars and houses were abandoned. Where are the inhabitants? According to historians, the elite of the Inca Empire lived in Machu Picchu, and with the fall of the empire, the inhabitants simply left in search of a better life. According to popular belief, most of the population was sacrificed to the gods for the sake of saving the empire, and the rest dispersed through the valley. But there is no definite answer.

Thor's Well, USA

A natural funnel with a diameter of 5 meters in the strait of Cape Perpetua was named after the god Thor. But more often it is called "the gate to the underworld." The spectacle is really hellishly beautiful: at high tide, water quickly fills the well, and then abruptly “shoots” upwards with a six-meter fountain, forming a whirlwind of spray. As if a monster lives at the bottom, which is angry with the streams of water pouring on it and pushes them back. But it has not yet been possible to find out what is actually inside the funnel - diving there is too dangerous.

Moeraki boulders, New Zealand

Huge stone balls with a diameter of up to two meters are “scattered” along the Koekohe beach, which is not far from the village of Moeraki. The surface of some of them is absolutely smooth, while others resemble a tortoise shell. Some boulders are intact, while others are broken into pieces. Where they came from is a mystery of nature. According to the Maori folk version, this is a potato that woke up from a mythical canoe. There are also opinions that these are fossilized dinosaur eggs and the remains of alien aircraft. Scientists believe that these are geological formations that formed at the bottom of the ocean millions of years ago.

Champ Island, Russia

Another place with mysterious stone balls is Champ Island, located in the central part of Franz Josef Land (Arkhangelsk region). The entire coast is literally strewn with spherical stones ranging in size from a few centimeters to three meters. Where did they come from on a deserted island? It is believed that due to the melting of glaciers, stones fell into natural pools and washed down with water. But why only on this island? Among the supernatural versions are the intervention of aliens and the fact that the stones are artifacts of some lost civilization.

Golden stone, Myanmar

On the edge of the ledge of the Chaittiyo rock lies a granite boulder 5.5 meters high and about 25 meters in girth. The boulder has been balancing on the edge of the abyss for several centuries and, contrary to the laws of physics, does not fall. According to legend, the Buddha gave a lock of his hair to a hermit monk. To save the relic, he placed it under a huge stone, hoisted on a rock by Burmese spirits. The stone is covered with gold leaf and is one of the main Buddhist shrines. It has not yet been possible to find a scientific justification for the phenomenon of the Chaittiyo pagoda. And is it necessary?

Beelitz-Heilstetten, Germany

40 km from Berlin there is a sanatorium, which was once considered the best in Germany. At first it was a hospital for tuberculosis patients, and then a military hospital. In 1916, a young soldier, Adolf Hitler, “licked his wounds” there. After the Second World War, the hospital was at the disposal of the Soviet authorities. Now a lot of horror stories are connected with the sanatorium of the city of Belits. Allegedly, strange sounds are heard there, and letters from soldiers are still found in the walls of the building. Speculation and nothing more? Probably. But visitors say: the longer you stay there, the more tired and depressed you feel.

Mystery Spot, USA

"Mystery Spot" is translated from English as "Mysterious Place". In the middle of the twentieth century, businessman George Prater decided to build a house. I chose a place on a hillside, bought land, but could not erect a building. The house came out crooked, although the drawings were correct, and the builders were sober. It turned out that the laws of physics were violated on the hill: balls roll up an inclined plane, a broom stands without support, water flows upwards, people stand in an inclined position. Scientists say that these are nothing more than optical illusions, but many tend to see a mystical trace in what is happening.

Pyramid of Cheops, Egypt

The largest and most mysterious of the great Egyptian pyramids located on the Giza plateau. Its height is 138.8 meters (due to the current lack of facing), the length of the base is 230 meters. Built in the 26th century BC. e. The construction of the pyramid lasted more than 20 years, colossal resources were involved: 2.5 million multi-ton limestone blocks, tens of thousands of slaves. It would seem that the pyramid of Cheops has already been studied up and down, but disputes among scientists do not subside. How was the construction going? How was this gigantic structure used? There are still more questions than answers.

Newgrange, Ireland

40 km north of Dublin is an ancient stone structure. It is older than the Egyptian pyramids by 700 years. According to legend, Newgrange is the home of the Celtic god of wisdom and the sun, Dagda. According to archaeologists, this place served as a tomb. There is also a version that this is one of the first observatories: during the winter solstice, the morning rays of the sun penetrate the hole above the entrance and illuminate the room from the inside. But researchers still have more questions than answers: where did they come from and what do the inscriptions on the stones mean, how did the builders achieve such accuracy, what tools did they use?

Heizhu, China

In the south of China, there is one of the most powerful anomalous zones in the world - the Heizhu Valley, which means "Black Bamboo Hollow". Here, under mysterious circumstances, accidents happen and people disappear in thick fog. No one can find an objective reason for what is happening. Some believe that plants that emit toxic substances grow and rot in the forest. Others believe that the reason strange events in the strongest geomagnetic radiation. Mystics say that in the valley there is a portal to a parallel world.

Horstail Falls, USA

In Yosemite National Park, on the eastern slope of Mount El Capitan, there is a 650-meter waterfall. For most of the year, it is unremarkable, but in February, falling water flows turn into “lava flows”. An amazing natural phenomenon is due to the fact that at sunset the sun's rays are reflected in a waterfall, creating a visual illusion that hot metal is flowing from a rock. According to legend, on the top of the mountain was the house of a blacksmith who made the best horseshoes for horses in the area. But because of heavy rain the forge was washed off the cliff. Since then, the waterfall once a year "reminds" of this tragic event.

Chillingham Castle, UK

In the north of England, in the county of Northumberland, there is a majestic castle of the XII century with a watchtower. At one time it was of great strategic importance, but in the 17th century it became the residence of the aristocracy. Within its walls, dramas and intrigues unfolded that claimed many lives. Perhaps that is why Chillingham is the most haunted castle in the UK today. There are at least three of them: The Shining Boy (appears in blue robes), Torturer Sage (seen in the torture room) and Lady Mary Berkeley (leaves her portrait in the Gray Room).

Mercado de Sonora, Mexico

One of the most unusual markets in the world is the dream of magicians and mediums of all stripes. The place, if not mystical, then definitely atmospheric, saturated with many legends. Most tourists visit the witch market just out of curiosity. Where else can you see bizarre ritual objects, masks, dried snakes, spider legs and rare herbs? Local sorcerers - bruho - can tell fortunes, cleanse the aura and "cure" ailments. Mexicans often visit the market - they take witches quite seriously.

T'Spookhuys Restaurant, Belgium

"Horror Restaurant", "House of a Thousand Ghosts" - all this is about the T'Spookhuys establishment in the city of Turnhout. The restaurant was conceived as an attraction for lovers of mysticism: a gloomy interior, fog swirling on the floor, moving pictures, creaking doors, skulls instead of plates, an extraordinary menu and waiters in the role of vampires. At first, the black humor of the owners brought success - there was no end to the clients. But a few years later, the restaurant acquired a bad reputation, they began to say that ghosts really settled there. Now the institution is abandoned, but the atmosphere and the sinister aura have been preserved.

Loch Ness, UK

Loch Ness - deep lake in the highlands of Scotland, where, according to legend, the monster lives. Allegedly, this is a creature resembling a prehistoric lizard. One of the eyewitnesses described it as follows: 40 feet long, 4 fins, the body smoothly passes into an elongated neck with small tubercles. There are quite a few people who claim to have seen the Loch Ness monster. More than three thousand cases have been recorded. There is even photo and video evidence. But there are also skeptics. The debate about whether there is a monster in the lake has been going on for decades and from time to time flares up with renewed vigor.

Lake Kara-Kul, Russia

The Russian counterpart of the Loch Ness monster, according to legend, lives in the Kara-Kul lake of the Baltasinsky district of the Republic of Tatarstan. This is an elongated reservoir with medium depth 8 meters, an area of 1.6 hectares. Translated from the Tatar "Kara-Kul" means "black lake". It is believed that earlier the reservoir was surrounded by a dense forest, which made the water look black. At local residents there is a legend about the bull-like water snake Su Ugeze. If it seemed to people, expect trouble - fire or hunger. There is no documentary evidence of the presence of a monster in the lake. But superstitious people prefer to bypass it.

Lake Hillier, Australia

The lake is surrounded by a eucalyptus forest, and a narrow strip of land separates it from the ocean. But main feature lakes in that it is pink. The reason for such an unusual color of the water is not solved. It was assumed that the matter was in specific algae, but this was not confirmed. But there is beautiful legend, as if a crippled, but surviving shipwreck sailor ended up on a desert island. He was tormented by pain and hunger and asked heaven for deliverance, until, finally, a man came out of the forest with jugs of milk and blood. He poured them into the lake and it turned pink. The sailor plunged into the scarlet water and got rid of pain and hunger. Forever.

Hvitserkur, Iceland

This is a 15-meter rock on the eastern coast of the Vatnsnes peninsula. In shape, it resembles a dragon drinking water. But, according to popular belief, this is a troll who went out to the sun and turned into stone. Scientists believe that Hvitserkur is the remains of an ancient volcano, eroded salty waters and destroyed by cold winds. So that the sea does not completely destroy the figure, its base was reinforced with concrete. People from all over the world come to admire this rock. And sometimes the northern lights observed there give it additional mystery.

Manpupuner, Russia

Other names - Pillars of weathering and Mansi boobies. These are mountain remains with a height of 30 to 42 meters on the territory of the Pechoro-Ilychsky Reserve. It is believed that 200 million years ago there were high mountains, but because of the snow, frost and winds, only small pillars remained of them. Many legends are associated with them. According to one of them, the leader of the giant tribe wanted to marry the daughter of the leader of the Mansi tribe. Having been refused, the giant attacked the village. It’s good that the beauty’s brother arrived in time: he saved the village by turning the giants into stones with the help of a magic shield.

San Zhi, Taiwan

Sanzhi was to be the city of the future. The elite residential complex consists of futuristic houses, shaped like "flying saucers". An elegant staircase leads to each of the “plates”, and, according to the architects, you can go down from the second floor directly to the ocean or pool along a water slide. A huge amount of money was allocated for the construction. But the company that built San Zhi went bankrupt, and accidents at the construction site gave rise to unkind rumors. The complex was completed, but advertising could no longer change the glory of the "cursed place". The city is abandoned. The authorities wanted to demolish it, but the locals were against it. They believe that San Zhi is a haven for lost souls.

Singing dune, Kazakhstan

Not far from Alma-Ata there is a three-kilometer dune 150 meters high. It offers a beautiful view of the Ili River and the purple mountains. In dry weather, the dune makes melodic sounds, like an organ. According to one of the legends, a shaitan who roamed the world and plotted people intrigues turned into a dune. According to another version, Genghis Khan and his associates are buried in the sands. The dune "sings" when the soul of the khan, "exhausted from mental anguish, tells his descendants about his exploits." It is noteworthy that the dune does not roam the plain, but stands still for millennia, despite the fluctuation of the sand and strong winds.

Zone of Silence, Mexico

Anomalous desert on the border of the states of Durango, Chihuahua and Coahuila, where it is impossible to receive and register radio and sound signals. There receivers stall, the compass does not work and the clock stops. Scientists have tried several times to determine the cause of the anomalies, but their conclusions boil down to something like this: something suppresses radio waves. The area, also called the "Tethys Sea" in honor of the ancient ocean, is associated with many mysterious incidents, from disappearances of planes and falling rockets to evidence of strange travelers leaving scorched grass in their wake and UFO landings.

Winchester House, USA

House number 525 on Winchester Boulevard in the city of San Jose has a bad reputation. There are 160 rooms and 6 kitchens on three floors. At the same time, many doors lead to a dead end, steps go to the ceiling, and windows to the floor. Not a house, but a labyrinth! Created this architectural "miracle" Sarah Winchester. Her father-in-law made weapons, for which, according to the woman, a curse was imposed on their family. On the advice of a medium, she built a house for the souls of people whose lives were taken by the inventions of old Winchester. According to rumors, ghosts actually settled in house number 525. But even without them, the gloomy layout gives visitors a chill on the skin.

Valley of the Mills, Italy

In the heart of Sorrento, at the bottom of the gorge that divides the city into two parts, are the ruins medieval city, the "highlight" of which were water mills. Hence the name of the valley - Valle dei Mulini. The walls of the old mill were almost destroyed, the wheel was overgrown with moss - in the middle modern city it's like a fragment of another world. Perhaps that is why the Valley of the Mills is one of the favorite attractions of fans of mysticism. They believe that the mill has otherworldly inhabitants. Allegedly, laughter is sometimes heard from the gorge, and a strange light is visible from the windows of the building.

dancing forest, Russia

Dancing forest, Russia

An unusual coniferous forest is located 37 km from the Curonian Spit (Kaliningrad region). The tree trunks are intricately curved and twisted into spirals. The forest was planted in 1961, and it is still unclear why the pines "started dancing." According to one version, the trunks of still young trees are damaged by the caterpillars of wintering shoots. According to another, the reason lies in the geomagnetic impact of a tectonic crack. Ufologists see the intervention of an alien mind in everything. In 2006 new trees were planted in the forest to see if they would bend. As long as the seedlings grow straight.

Pluckley, UK

This is a place in the English county of Kent, where, according to legend, at least a dozen ghosts live. On the road from Pluckley to Maltman's Hill, a four-horse carriage appears from time to time, the spirit of the colonel roams the pasture, and on one of the streets you can stumble upon the phantom of the gallows. Each of the 12 ghosts has its own story. Local residents say that they are used to the "neighbors" from the other world and are no longer afraid of them. But many believe the ghosts are a publicity stunt to attract tourists. True, it has not yet been possible to prove this, as, indeed, the presence of ghosts.

Catacombs of Jihlava, Czech Republic

Jihlava is a city in the southeast of the Czech Republic. One of its main attractions is the 25-kilometer catacombs. Once these were silver mines, then they began to be used for household needs. In 1996, archaeologists worked in the catacombs, who recorded that the sound of an organ was heard in the place indicated by the legends, and in one of the passages, the researchers found a “luminous staircase” that emitted a reddish light. Archaeologists were examined - mass hallucinations are excluded. The reasons for the mysterious phenomena are unknown.

Temehea-Tohua, French Polynesia

On the island of Nuku Hiva, part of the Marquesas Archipelago, in the town of Temehea-Tohua, statues of strange creatures were found. Disproportionate torsos, elongated heads with large mouths and eyes. Archaeologists date the creation of mysterious idols to about the 10th-11th centuries. Why did the natives make them? According to the official version, these are monuments to priests in ritual masks. But it is strange that the masks themselves were not found on the island. Hence the assumption that aliens once visited Nuku Hiva, and the locals captured their appearance in stone.

Great Blue Hole, Belize

This is a huge funnel with a diameter of 305 meters and a depth of 120 meters. Located in the center of Lighthouse Reef. In 1972, Jacques-Yves Cousteau established that it was originally a system of limestone caves that originated during the Ice Age. When the ocean level rose, the roof of the cave collapsed and formed sinkhole. But there is an opinion that flooding could not provoke destruction - too big sizes, too regular round shape. There must have been an external influence, for example, a meteorite fall.

Lake Paasselka, Finland

In autumn, on Lake Paasselka, you can watch the lights wander across the water surface. Some of them are spherical, others resemble flames. According to Finnish beliefs, they point to places where treasures are hidden. But they lure greedy people to a depth where it is difficult to get out even for experienced swimmers. Wandering lights are also found in other parts of the world, but they were photographed on Paasselk. Different things say about the nature of strange lights: either discharges of electricity in the atmosphere, or methane coming out of the ground and flammable, or maybe traces of a UFO movement?

Lake Ertso, South Ossetia

This is a picturesque reservoir with a length of 940 meters in the Dzau region of South Ossetia. Locals often call it a "ghost lake", because every 5-6 years all the water disappears from the lake, and then comes back. According to legend, in the old days, a greedy rich man lived on its shore. Angry peasants drowned him, and since then his greedy spirit from time to time drinks all the water in the lake, and then again falls into oblivion. Geologists also suggest that the water goes into karst caves under the bottom of the reservoir. Ufologists have their own version, as if there is an alien base under the lake.

Shichen, China

The ancient city, flooded in 1959 as a result of the construction of a hydroelectric power station. Shichen, or "Lion City", was founded in 670. Five city gates with towers, six stone streets - everything was under water. The Lion City is about 62 football fields in size. Surprisingly, even after half a century, the city is perfectly preserved, including wooden beams and steps, as if this “Chinese Atlantis” is inhabited and someone carefully maintains order there. The mysterious underwater kingdom is very popular with divers.

Hashima Island, Japan

Located in the Pacific Ocean, 15 km from the city of Nagasaki. The Japanese call it "gunkanjima", that is, "cruiser" - the island looks like a ship. In 1810, a coal deposit was found there. In the 1930s, Hasima was a significant industrial center. In the second half of the twentieth century, more than 5 thousand people lived there. But coal reserves were melting, and with them the population was declining. Currently, the abandoned island is partially open to the public. Tourists like to wander among the gloomy buildings, listening to the stories of the guides. Hasima became one of the illustrations of a deserted world in the TV series "Life after people."

Amur pillars, Russia

A natural monument 134 km from Komsomolsk-on-Amur, sung in legends. Granite pillars from 12 to 70 meters high stand on the slopes of the hill and have their own names: Shaman-stone, Walls, Bowl, Church, Crown, Heart, Turtle and others. Locals talk about the strange aura of the stones, and shamans still perform rituals there. Scientists express various assumptions about the origin of the Amur pillars. According to one version, they are about 170 million years old and are the result of an underground volcano.

Sacred Forest, Italy

In the city of Bomarzo, there is an ominous but beautiful "Sacred Forest", or "Garden of Monsters". The park has about thirty mythologically inspired sculptures and fantastic buildings covered with moss: an elephant devouring a man, a three-headed monster, a dragon dog, the gates of the underworld and others. All these are the fruits of the imagination of Pier Francesco Orsini, who so decided to perpetuate the memory of his tragically deceased wife. The Orsini heirs did not take care of the park, and it acquired an ominous appearance. There were rumors that evil spirits roamed there. But despite this, the park became a source of inspiration for Salvador Dali, Manuel Mujica Lines and other creators.

Stanley Hotel, USA

Located in Colorado, close to national park Rocky Mountain. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the hotel consists of 140 apartments and is considered a haunt of ghosts: for example, the ghosts of a musician playing the piano. There have never been murders or other terrible events in the hotel, but the place is literally saturated with mysticism. It inspired Stephen King to write the book The Shining, which was subsequently made into a TV series - the hotel itself served as the "settings". And Stanley Kubrick's feature-length film of the same name became one of the best horror films in the history of cinema.

Nesvizh Castle, Belarus

This palace and castle complex is included in the list world heritage UNESCO. The legend of the Black Lady is associated with it, the prototype of which is the cousin of the first owner of the castle - Barbara. The mother of her lover did not bless their marriage, and when they nevertheless secretly married, she poisoned her daughter-in-law. The heartbroken husband asked the alchemist to call the spirit of his wife in order to look at her at least once. During a séance, the widower, in a fit of feelings, touched Barbara, which was absolutely impossible to do. Since then, her ghost allegedly lives in the walls of the Nesvizh castle.

Teotihuacan, Mexico

Teotihuacan means "city of the gods". This mysterious place is located 50 km from Mexico City. Now the city is deserted, but once it was inhabited by more than two hundred thousand people. The layout is striking: the regular lines of streets form quarters and at the same time are strictly perpendicular to the main avenue. In the center of the city there is a huge square with massive pyramids on platforms. Teotihuacan was built according to an elaborate plan and prospered. But in the 7th century it was abandoned. Why is unclear. Either because of a foreign invasion, or because of a popular uprising.

Skeleton Coast, Namibia

in the middle sand dunes national park, dilapidated ships seem like phantoms. But this real ships, once caught in a storm and moored to the shore to wait out the storm. Due to the moving sands, the ships were cut off from the water, often at quite a distance from the ocean. One of the most famous "captives" of the mysterious coast is the steamer "Eduard Bolen", which found its last refuge about two centuries ago. The southern part of the Skeleton Coast is open to the public and is of great interest to lovers of mysticism.

Hicks Point, Australia

In 1947, the keeper of Australia's tallest lighthouse went out to sea to fish and never returned. And the new caretakers allegedly began to notice oddities: shuffling, heavy tread on spiral staircase, sighs, polished doorknobs. Thus was born the legend that a ghost settled at the lighthouse. The lighthouse at Cape Hicks is currently open to the public. There you can admire the local beauties and spend the night. Every year, thousands of tourists come to Hicks Point hoping to see the ghost of the lighthouse keeper.

Chandragupta's Column, India

An iron seven-meter column included in architectural ensemble Qutub Minara. This is one of the main attractions of Delhi. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that over the centuries it has hardly undergone corrosion. It has been suggested that the reason for this is a special metal and a favorable climate. According to another version, the column was preserved because of the oils that the pilgrims rubbed it with. But none of the hypotheses has been officially confirmed: it is still unclear how the prototype of modern weather-resistant steel was obtained in 415.

Bulgakov's apartment, Russia

The Mikhail Bulgakov Museum is located in the 50th apartment of the house number 10 on Bolshaya Sadovaya. The writer lived there from 1921 to 1924, and it is believed that this very place became the prototype of the apartment where the “Satan’s ball” took place in the novel The Master and Margarita. The entire front door is covered with lines from the novel - visitors are immersed in the atmosphere of mysticism without even crossing the threshold. There is an urban legend that on moonless nights, piano sounds are heard from the “bad apartment”, and strange silhouettes flicker in its windows. Therefore, the museum is visited not only by fans of the writer, but also by lovers of mysticism, who are sure that Woland, the cat Behemoth and other characters are not fiction at all.

The world has a huge number of places and attractions that you want to visit. All of them are something special and attract the attention of thousands of tourists every year. When planning your next trip, take a look at this list and maybe visiting one of these amazing places will leave you with a lasting impression.

1)
A large sinkhole located in the center of Lighthouse Reef, an atoll in the Belize barrier reef. The diameter of this natural wonder is 305 meters, and it goes 120 meters deep. The blue hole annually attracts a huge number of divers from all over the world.

2) "Wave" in Arizona, USA

In the state of Arizona in the USA, there are rocks covered with intricate layered patterns that give this place an ethereal look. located close to major settlements, therefore, has gained great popularity among tourists.

These chocolate hills are located on the island of Bohol in the Philippines. In total, there are more than 1200 such hills covered with greenery in this area.

This place in the Karakum desert in Turkmenistan, nicknamed the Gate to Hell, was formed after unsuccessful drilling in search of gas. During drilling in 1971, all equipment, including the drilling rig, fell into the resulting crater, which was filled with gas. To avoid accidents and poisoning, it was decided to set fire to this gas, and since then, it has continued to burn for more than 40 years.

IN Chinese province Hunan became the prototype of fantastic landscapes from the movie "Avatar". More than 3,000 sandy mountains rise to a height of up to 800 meters and are of great interest to tourists, especially after the success of Cameron's film.

One of the most accessible amazing places on the planet, many Russian tourists have already been there, since Pamukkale is located just a few hours from the popular Turkish resort - Antalya. Pamukkale, which means “Cotton Castle”, is a snow-white terrace filled with water from mineral springs. The water in these terraces is believed to have healing properties.

7) Antelope Canyon, USA

Antelope Canyon is located in the southwestern United States, 240 kilometers from. Wind and water for many thousands of years have done great job, the result of which was this amazing canyon of red-red flowers.

Do you know that the most active volcano is in Antarctica? Erebus Volcano (Ice Towers of Mount Erebus) was discovered on January 28, 1841 by an English expedition led by polar explorer Sir James Clark Ross on the ships Erebus and Terror. The height of this volcano is 3794 meters, which makes it one of the most high points Antarctica. Inside the volcano is a large lava lake.

9) Kasha-Katuwe-Tent Rocks Monument, USA

This national monument is located in the state of New Mexico, 60 kilometers from the city of Santa Fe and was formed due to the deposition of volcanic rocks.

10) Ischigualasto Natural Park, Argentina

This park, which is also called The Valley of the Moon, is located in the province of San Juan in Argentina. Not the most popular place among tourists, as it is located far from the main tourist routes, but this is where NASA tested its rovers. The landscape of this place looks alien.

11) Uyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia

Salt Lake (Salar de Uyuni) in Bolivia is located near Lake Titicaca - this is one of the most amazing and photogenic places on our planet. Everything in this area is saturated with salt, it is everywhere, but the most amazing sight happens when it rains and everything is covered with a thin layer of water, the ideal surface of which turns into a mirror.

12) Landscape Danxia (Danxia Landform), China

It may seem that this incredible landscape is just the result of the work of Photoshop, but it is a real geological feature, formed due to the overlay of sandstone and other mineral rocks. This natural object located in the Chinese province of Gansu. In 2010, the Danxia Landscape was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

13) Crystal Cave of the Giants, Mexico

This cave with the largest crystals in the world was found recently in 2000 near the city of Chihuahua in Mexico. These giants are up to 15 meters long and 1.5 meters wide and are composed of zinc-silver-lead salts. The cave has a special climate (almost 60 degrees Celsius and 100% humidity), in which a person cannot spend more than 5-10 minutes.

14) Dry Valleys, Antarctica

The dry valley is the territory of three oasis valleys (Victoria, Wright, Taylor) in Antarctica to the west of McMurdo Sound. hurricane winds, lack of precipitation, low temperatures have created in this place unique climate. Rare lakes have long turned into ice wells, in which, according to some scientists, unknown microorganisms live.

15) Socotra Island, Yemen

Socotra is an archipelago in Indian Ocean, consisting of 4 islands, located off the coast of Somalia. These islands have preserved unique plant and animal life, many of which can only be found here. The symbol of the archipelago is the endemic dragon tree.

16)Giants Causeway, Ireland

More than 40,000 basalt columns form a path that leads to the foot of the volcano, thanks to the eruption of which these amazing columns. The Trail of the Giants is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland.

17) Kliluk Lake, the Spotted Lake, Canada

The local native Indians consider this lake to be sacred. The water of this lake has bright colors, as it is saturated with sodium sulfates, calcium, magnesium and other minerals. During the hot season, the water in the lake dries up and many small puddles form, which have different colors, depending on which element of the periodic table prevails in them.

18) Pulpit or Preikestolen, Norway

Preikestolen Rock - a favorite place for photographers and just tourists, is a huge rock-cliff with a flat area of 25 by 25 meters. The height of the cliff is 604 meters and from its top there is a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape. Preikestolen Rock is one of Norway's most popular attractions.

19) Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

Plitvice Lakes are the main attraction of Croatia. There are 16 large and several small lakes, about 20 mysterious caves and 120 waterfalls. In this place, you can find many species of plants and animals that are unique and found only in the Plitvice Lakes region, so they are strictly protected by UNESCO.

20) Cappadocia, Turkey

Cappadocia, or "Land of beautiful horses" - unique place located in the Göreme Valley in Turkey. Cappadocia is practically a whole world hidden in caves. volcanic origin, there are houses, monasteries, unique multi-tiered underground cities and much more, all this appeared before our era. This unique place is rightfully popular with tourists coming to Turkey.

21) Yellowstone National Park, USA

Yellowstone National Park - unique natural Park known throughout the world. The most famous and most visited national park in the United States. Yellowstone is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This park is located on the territory of three states at once: Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Yellowstone is famous for its unique geological objects: geysers, geothermal springs and the largest dormant volcano of the entire continent - Caldera.

22) Tunnel of love in the city of Klevan, Ukraine

This tunnel of trees envelops the railway tracks that pass near the city of Klevan. Because of its amazing beauty and romance, this place is called the Tunnel of Love. In summer, when the tunnel is in its prime, newlyweds like to come here, taking a photo against its background is considered a good sign.

23) Corinth Canal, Greece

It is impossible to believe that this channel was created by human hands. The construction of the Corinth Canal began under the emperor Nero in 67 BC, and ended only in 1893. This unique human creation connects the Saronic Gulf of the Aegean Sea and the Corinthian Gulf of the Ionian Sea. The depth of the Corinth Canal is 8 meters and the width is 24 meters.

One of the most beautiful places in Chile is Lake Lago General Carrera, where marble caves. This unique natural cave consists entirely of multi-colored marble (pink and blue), there are more than 5,000 million tons of it.

25) Village of Monsanto, Portugal

This small Portuguese town is built among huge stone boulders, many of which serve as homes for local residents. The town of Monsanto almost entirely consists of one-story buildings, which are separated by narrow streets, getting here, you can feel like in the Middle Ages.

Kinds of it ice canyon in Greenland is mesmerizing, its dark blue water attracts and you can get lost in the many artfully made ice arches. This canyon is the largest on the island, and its waters are home to bowhead whales, seals and walruses.

27) Skaftafell, Iceland

Skaftafell Park is Iceland's natural wonder, containing ice caves Jokulsarlon (Jökulsarlon).

28) Multnomah Falls, USA

29) Seljalandfoss waterfall, Iceland

This temple carved into the rocks truly deserves the title of one of the wonders of the world. The construction of this city began before our era, and at present it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

32) The town of Riomaggiore, Italy

A small town in Italy, in which houses are piled on the rocks right at the edge of the sea. In Riomaggiore, driving is prohibited.

33) Loy Krathong Festival, Thailand

Every year a festival is held in Thailand, the unchanging tradition of which is the launch of sky lanterns. This amazing sight, when thousands of luminous lights rise into the sky at the same time, is simply mesmerizing. If you are in Thailand in November, do not miss this festival.

34) Mount Roraima, Venezuela

The height of Mount Roraima is 2723 meters, and the summit plateau has an area of 35 square kilometers. Reports of an expedition to the mountain region inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to write The Lost World.

35) Etretat, Normandy, France

It is impossible to list in one place all the interesting places on the planet, because each place is unique in its own way and deserves attention, but we tried to collect a lot of interesting places that you should pay attention to when setting off on your next trip.

My personal rating of unusual places on our planet. We are not talking about beauty, although many of the places considered are not without such a quality, namely, about unusualness and even strangeness. This list includes places, bumping into which, when searching on the Internet, it was difficult to resist the exclamation: “Wow! And there is such a thing on our planet!”

Places are sorted in ascending order of the “Wow factor”, that is, starting with the simply interesting, continuing with the unusual, and ending with very strange, even fantastic, unearthly landscapes (although this gradation is very arbitrary).

Unusual places on our planet.

Let's start with a trip to the "Edge of the World" ..

It is located near the town of Skagen in Denmark, as the locals called the junction of the North and Baltic Seas:
This is the confluence of two currents of different composition and density, which for some reason do not mix, but form a clear boundary. It turns out beautifully and mysteriously, but in my opinion it looks more like not the "End of the World", but some kind of "Border between Worlds".

Entrance to the underwater kingdom.

This is the "Great Blue Hole", which is located in the Caribbean Sea near the Yucatan Peninsula. Its diameter is 305 meters, the depth is about 120-140 m:
Once this hole in the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean was an ordinary "land" cave, in which the "roof" collapsed, and then it was flooded by those who rose after the end ice age waters of the oceans. This is the largest hole of its kind on our planet. After Jacques Cousteau featured it in his film, it became the world's most popular diving site.

Inverted sky.

Natural mirror area of 10 thousand square meters. m.
This is a dry lake in Bolivia, it is called "Uyuni Salt Flats". Such a fantastic effect of a giant mirror occurs during the rainy season, when water covers the surface of the salt marsh with a thin layer. The rest of the time the lake looks like this:

Crooked forest.

Forest with crooked trees in Poland.
This forest was planted in the 30s of the last century. Virtually all of its 400 trees have a synchronous bend to one side. There is no exact scientific explanation for this phenomenon, but the most plausible version sounds like this:

..As you know, in old times furniture with smooth curves and crooked legs was in fashion. In general, curved wooden parts were used everywhere, for example, sleigh runners, details of boats, ships, etc. Usually, wood was bent already in the production process, but here, in the area of the Polish village of Gryfino, we see the result of an experiment on the production of a pre-curved wood.

But the second World War prevented this ambitious commercial project from being realized - the village was destroyed, young "slender" pines were abandoned. But now, in Poland, which is rather poor in sights, there is such a strange forest, protected by the state as a nature reserve.

Valley of love.

These rocks definitely resemble something.. hence the name of the valley, which is located in Cappadocia (Turkey). But not only the Valley of Love, but the rest of Cappadocia is a place with a very unusual "mushroom relief".
Such a relief is a consequence of powerful eruptions that took place here in prehistoric times, after which wind and water took over, which, over millions of years, together created these pillars with caps.
Then, several thousand years ago, people set to work and created here cave dwellings and entire cave-underground cities, going to a depth of up to 80 meters.

In total, there are about 40 cave cities in Cappadocia, in which up to 30,000 people once lived.

Scuba diving in the park.

Agree, a very unusual place for diving is to swim among the alleys, benches and trees:
There is such a park in Austria. It is located near a clean mountain lake, and for most of the year it is an ordinary park. But in summer, when the snow melts in the mountains, the water level in the lake rises by several meters, turning the surrounding area into an attraction for divers.

I think that scuba divers experience very strange sensations while swimming in this lake, it probably looks like flying in weightlessness or in a dream, because instead of the usual deep landscape, they see an ordinary park underwater.

Another proof of the wisdom of nature. Look at what beauty she turned an ordinary trash can:

50 years ago, this place on the coast of the Gulf of California was a large dump of household waste. But somewhere in the 60s, it was forbidden to throw garbage here, the main rubbish was taken out, but the broken glass remained .. And nature, as usual, performed a miracle!

Welcome to glass beach in California!

Happy Island.

This is the name of the island , more precisely an archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean, a few hundred kilometers from the coast of Somalia and Yemen. The unusualness of this island is that for several million years it has been isolated from the rest of the earth, thanks to which many ancient plants and animals have been preserved here in their original form.

Once here, you will be transported into the past of the Earth by about 10-20 million years. Everything is as it was then, only dinosaurs are missing:

We continue the review..

It turns out there is such a miracle on our Earth! This country, or rather a city, is located in China.

This place was created to attract tourists. "Little people" live here, arrange performances for tourists, and in general, make money on tourists as best they can. Therefore, many Chinese dwarfs have a chance to find work and shelter in "Country of the Lilliputians".

Arizona, 240 km from the famous Grand Canyon. Fantastic, surreal beauty, especially when the rays of the sun enter during the day:
or the moon at night:
The place where Antelope Canyon is located belongs to the Navajo Indians, so to get here, you need to negotiate with them ($) and hire a guide.

If you suddenly decide to go there, be careful in rainy weather - even if it rains somewhere nearby, the canyon can fill up with water very quickly and almost silently. Thus, in 1997, 11 tourists died here.

Wave.

Arizona Wave (The Wave) - another miracle of nature:

They say nature is the best artist, in this case we see her work in the style of "surrealism".

This place, as well as Antelope Canyon, is located near the Grand Canyon Park. The surface of the “Wave”, despite the fact that it was formed under the influence of rain and wind for millions of years, is rather fragile in places, so large crowds of tourists are not allowed here. The maximum is 20 people a day, and tickets here are raffled off like a lottery, so it’s not easy to see this beauty with your own eyes.

But you can see the photo or video:

These multi-colored rocks are located in the geological park of the Chinese province of Gansu, and there are no other hills of the same type anywhere else in the world.

Hundreds of millions of years ago, this area was the bottom of the sea. But, as often happened in those geologically active times, the sea became dry land, and the silt deposits dried up and oxidized. Naturally, it was not without the participation of water and wind, which washed out and blew out various layers of sedimentary rocks, of different colors and shades.

Now it is a unique place of its kind that attracts tourists from all over the world. For them, convenient paths and viewing platforms have been built here. Another curious fact is that once the famous Silk Road ran through this area.

The strangest place in the world.

This may be a very loud headline, but if not this strange place, then what!?!

Of course, these toys were never alive, but according to the terrible impression that the discarded dolls hung on the trees make, such a definition is quite suitable for this place:

The Island of the Dolls is located in Mexico, not far from Mexico City, among the canals of Xochimilco overgrown with reeds and shrubs. Of course, there is a legend that explains what happened here:

In the middle of the last century, a man named Don Julian Santana Barrera lived in these places. He was gloomy in temperament, liked to drink a lot, and was not quite friendly with his head, which is why those around him did not like him. At some point, his roof went completely, and this happened on religious grounds. With his delusional sermons, he annoyed the neighbors so much that they began to beat him periodically.

Because of all this, Don Julian decided to get away from the bustle of the world, chose a wild island among the canals of Xochimilco, began to grow vegetables there and fish for lunch. He was alone on a desert island, just like Robinson Crusoe. Rejected by society, he felt an all-consuming loneliness and hatred for the whole world.

One day, Don Julian found a doll on the island. He knew that not so long ago, a girl drowned somewhere nearby - most likely it was her doll! As a religious man, Don Julian believed that the girl's soul still wanders here without finding rest, and for his personal safety he needs to somehow win her over. Since then, occasionally visiting the city, he collected discarded dolls from the garbage dumps and brought them to the island as a gift to the spirit of the deceased girl.

..As the years passed, there were more and more dolls, and more and more Don Julian survived out of his mind - the mania of collecting dolls took possession of his consciousness completely and completely. He became obsessed with dolls, they completely replaced his society and human communication. Now he was not alone - he lived a full life surrounded by friends, girlfriends, neighbors, acquaintances .. and enemies. He treated his friends in a friendly way - he courted them, shared shelter with them, and they kept him company on long dull evenings.

But Don Julian did not have many friends, for the most part he was surrounded by enemies. And with the enemies of Don Julian Santana Barrera was cruel! He carried out executions over them like a medieval inquisitor cracking down on heretics, and then hung them from the "corpse" on trees, mainly around the perimeter of the island, in order to frighten evil spirits and intruders.

This is how this strange and mysterious man lived on his island, Robinon Crusoe of the 20th century. But one day, when his nephew, the only living person who occasionally visited him and brought him food, once again sailed to the island - Don Julian was no longer here. It looks like he drowned in the canal, as did the girl whose doll became the first inhabitant. "Islands of the Dead Dolls"

Here is such a legend .. I apologize if I caught up with horror at the end of the post. I fantasized a little based on what I found on the Internet about this strange island.. just to make it more interesting.

Earth is the most beautiful planet in the solar system, and perhaps the entire universe. The nature of our planet surprises with its beauty, brightness of colors, unique views and diverse landscape.

Beautiful caves and golden beaches, wonderful forests and majestic mountains make up the beauty of the earth. Some of the corners of our planet do not leave the pages of fashion guides. But, there are places that are rarely found in such literature.

We open our review from the symbol of the mysterious Myanmar - the ancient city of Bagan. It is called the city of a thousand pagodas. This place was the capital of the Bagan kingdom. His greatness was so strong that the best minds and masters of antiquity aspired to Bagan. Thanks to them, Buddhist temples and other beautiful structures were built.

Only a few of them survived to our time. The most significant of them is the Shwezigon Golden Pagoda. It was built in 1057 on the site indicated by the white elephant carrying the bandage, tooth and rib of the Buddha. These relics are kept in the temple until now.

The photo of the most beautiful and amazing places in the world should definitely include other attractions of Bagan: Ananda temples, Htilo-Minlo, Shveleykto and Bu-paya pagoda.

Colored rocks of Zhangye Danxia (China)

The most amazing places on the planet can be built by human hands or nature. Colored rocks, which are located in the Chinese province of Gansu, are natural formations made of multi-colored sandstones. Recent studies show that more than 100 million years ago there was an ocean here. The silt colored the sandstone and made the rock formations so original.

Today, the mountain peaks of Danxia near the town of Zhangye are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. So that tourists can enjoy the views of these mountains, the locals have built many boardwalks and paths with which you can walk between these amazing mountain peaks.

Yusupov Palace (Russia)

But, back to man-made miracles. In any almanac of the most beautiful places in the world, you will find such an architectural monument as the Yusupov Palace. It is located in the heart of St. Petersburg on the Moika River. Built in the 18th century for the niece of Peter the Great, Princess Praskovya, it only passed into the possession of the Yusupovs in 1830. But, since then, he is associated only with this legendary surname. This palace is the site of the assassination of Grigory Rasputin.

Li River (China)

Another beautiful place in China is the Li River. This is one of the most picturesque water bodies on our planet. Starting as a small stream in the Mao'er Mountains, it runs like a "silk ribbon" through the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China. The locals call this Lijiang River. She is recognized as the most clean river Celestial. Its main attribute is the majestic karst giants. They were formed with the help of water and wind over many centuries. These mountain formations have poetic names and attract tourists from many countries of the world with their beauty.

You can enjoy the beauty of the Lijiang River with the help of a cruise ship or using the service of local "gondoliers".

Meteora monastery complex (Greece)

There are many amazing places in our world. If we talk about architectural monuments, then most of them are in Greece. This country, which became the ancestor of modern Europe, is proud of its legendary "ruins". But the monasteries of Meteora are no less popular. Their main feature is their amazing location: they crown the high peaks of the mountains of Thessaly.

Christian hermits hid in the mountains from Albanians, Turks and ordinary robbers. Over time, students gathered around them, who built monasteries of amazing beauty and resembling the nests of huge birds for themselves and their teachers. The word "Meteora" is translated as "soaring in the air."

Mount Erebus (Antarctica)

Erebus volcano is one of the most interesting places in the world. It is famous for the fact that on its territory you can observe a lake of real lava. This natural phenomenon is unique. The volcano was named after the ship of the expedition, James Clark Ross, who discovered this natural phenomenon. The glow of this volcano attracts everyone who travels on Lake Ross. It is a kind of visiting card of Antarctica.

Rice Terraces (Philippines)

The list of the most interesting places in the world must be continued with the rice terraces of the Philippines. They are even called the eighth miracle of counting. And this is not surprising. These man-made gardens were built by the ancestors of today's locals over 2,000 years ago. Plowed, multi-level fields not only fed the Ifuago people, but were also an excellent defensive structure.

Union of Fire and Ice (Kamchatka - Russia)

Talking about interesting places on Earth, one cannot ignore Kamchatka. On the territory of this peninsula, you can find 28 operating and 160 extinct volcanoes. If you want to climb fire-breathing mountains, watch salmon spawning and see the world's largest bears, then be sure to go and temper your spirit with the help of Kamchatka. The amazing places of nature of this place are conducive to hiking, extreme and sea tourism.

Death Valley (USA)

Another natural monument is the Death Valley. It must be included in all lists of interesting places in the world. We will not bypass this unique place either. Formed many thousands of years ago at the bottom of the sea, this valley is striking in its natural phenomena. Here, literally, stones walk. Leaving bizarre footprints on the petrified mud. But, if you decide to get here, then you need to prepare for the intense heat. During the day, the temperature here rarely falls below 50 degrees.

Guam Gorge (Russia)

The gorge is located in the upper reaches of the Kurdzhips River in Krasnodar Territory. The natural beauty of this gorge attracts tourists all year round. But, here you can do not only the contemplation of the magnificent flora and fauna, but also extreme tourism. Rock climbing is especially highly developed in the Gum Gorge.

Beach with caves near the Algarve (Portugal)

One of the most amazing places in the world, no doubt, are the Portuguese caves, which are located in the very southern province countries of port wine and homeland of Cristiano Ronaldo. The most famous of them is the Algarve de Benagil cave. She is called the most beautiful cave in the world. Wind and sea water - these two creators have created a magnificent example of one of the best travel destinations in the world.

Sagano Bamboo Grove (Japan)

The beauty of the country rising sun many of us associate with cherry blossoms. In this country, even special tours are being created, with the help of which you can observe the alternate flowering of this plant in all provinces of Japan. But, another equally popular symbol of Japan is the Sagano Bamboo Forest. Looking through the photos of the most beautiful and amazing places in the world, you will definitely find several images of a picturesque grove of evergreen bamboos there.

These majestic plants, when blown by the wind, make sounds reminiscent of the popular wind chimes. This beautiful park was created in the 14th century by the monk Muso Soseki.

The nature of Sokotora seems like a setting for science fiction films. Charming vegetation, many of which are unique to this island, divine beaches and silence. This is just what you need for happiness and a serene paradise vacation.

Lake Baskunchak (Russia)

He is called the most salt lake in the world. In terms of salinity, Baskunchak exceeds the famous Dead Sea. This reservoir is located in the Akhtubinsky district of the Astrakhan region. Not far from this lake is the Baskunchakskaya cave. Its one and a half kilometer length attracts speleologists.

Our planet has many worthy places that you should definitely visit. I already wrote about some of them a couple of months ago. However, at that time it was about the most famous places which, despite their originality, are well known and popular to everyone. Today we will talk about those corners of the planet, most of which are incredibly difficult to get to.

Rocks of Kasha-Katuwe

This unusual rock formation is located in New Mexico and was created by nature about seven million years ago. Volcanic ash, erosion and weathering led to the formation of such unusual tent mountains.

Unusual creation of nature rocks Kasha-Katuwe

The rocks have a rather interesting altitudinal variety, which rises to a height of thirty meters with pointed peaks like tourist tents or Indian wigwams. This Kasha-Katuve formation got its name from the area in which they are located and in translation they sound like “White Rocks”.

Volcanoes are those natural formations that always attract thrill-seekers. However, it is they who are one of the most inaccessible places on earth, and if we add the difficult Antarctic climate to such a place, it turns out that it is the ice towers and caves of Erebus that are an unattainable dream for most tourists.

The icy splendor of Mount Erebus

At the same time, the most interesting tourist place is not even the peaks of the Erebus volcano, which rise up to 4 kilometers, but the lava lake of the volcano and ice caves on its slopes. The lava in this lake is unique and cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

In addition to caves, another of the most interesting phenomena are ice chimneys on the slopes of the volcano. They are formed in the process of exiting from underground caves of warm air vapors, which, in contact with the forty-degree frosty Antarctic climate, build up these chimneys.

Ice chimneys - the magnificence of Mount Erebus

Philippine eighth wonder of the world - rice terraces

Twenty years ago, this man-made beauty of human hands was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. And now rice terraces are a vivid example of how nature helps a person with due respect for her on the part of this very person.

The eighth wonder of the world - rice Banaue terraces

Some of the Banaue rice terraces are believed to be around 6,000 years old. The most interesting thing about them is not even that their total area is more than 10,000 square kilometers, and if they could be placed close to each other, they would take half the globe but the fact that they are all man-made and completely made by hand.

Another interesting feature of this most interesting place on earth is the original irrigation system - fresh water enters the terraces using ancient irrigation methods directly from the tropical forests, which are located higher in the mountains. And if we take into account the fact that all the rice terraces of Banaue were created at a height of one and a half kilometers, then they can definitely be safely equated with a new wonder of the world.

Wonder of the world with a thousand years of history

Moreover, all these terraces not only do not disfigure the Philippine Cordillera, but on the contrary Tosno repeat all their curves, emphasizing the splendor and beauty of the majestic mountain ranges. This miracle now attracts thousands of tourists who want to look not only at the delicate greenery of rice plantations, but also follow the work of local residents who still grow rice according to the precepts of an ancient tribe of rice growers.

Lena Pillars - a monument of wild and majestic nature

This unique natural formation is located in Yakutia along the banks of the majestic Siberian river Lena. Along many miles of coastline, towering cliffs called the Lena Pillars look down on everyone. Now the Lena Pillars are not just unusual mountain formations, but a whole natural park that stretches along the Lena River for as much as 200 kilometers.

Lena Pillars - a monument of the Cambrian era

An unusual park of Early Cambrian deposits

It is worth noting that not only the beauty and monumentality of the Pillars is unique, but also their geological structure, which dates back to the early Cambrian period in the history of the Earth's development. At this time, the first skeletal animals appeared on our planet, and it was in the rocks of the Lena Pillars that scientists discovered the burial of representatives of numerous species of mammoths and the imprints of such a unique specimen of the Cambrian fauna as epiphyton algae.

Horseshoe caldera in Scotland

The Glencoe Valley, which is located in the northern part of Great Britain, is considered to be one of the most picturesque and memorable places in the British Isles. It stretches for 16 kilometers in the mouth of an ancient volcano and has unique monuments of nature and history.

The British come here for the stunning variety of flora that cuts through the river valley with clear waters and magnificent mountain peaks. The splendor of nature and silence - what else do you need for have a nice rest in nature and away from civilization.

It is the mountains that attract mountaineering and skiing here. In addition, this place is infamous for its events four centuries ago, during which the Jacobins uprising was brutally suppressed on the slopes of the valley. Recent events have given rise to another name for the valley - "Valley of Tears".

The enchanting beauty of the Vale of Glencoe

Interesting place - Indian Park "Valley of Flowers"

Along western slopes The Himalayas on an area of 90 square kilometers is the national Indian park "Valley of Flowers". At the same time, the valley of flowers itself, which gave the name to the park, is only a fifth.

At an altitude of 3.5-4 kilometers above sea level, you can see a platform eight kilometers long and two wide. It is here that you can observe a unique natural phenomenon - about six hundred representatives of alpine, subalpine and high-mountain fauna grow in the protected zone of the valley. Moreover, some of their representatives, such as the blue poppy or the Himalayan maple, can only be seen in this valley.

Unique flower "Valley of Flowers" - blue poppy

In this interesting place on earth you can enjoy natural beauty alpine meadows, moreover, it is especially interesting to go to the "Valley of Flowers" during the monsoon season, when it is completely transformed and takes on a special flavor. At this time, she is covered with a wide variety of flowers, total number species of which there are more than five hundred types.

Desert Wonder of the USA - Lechugia Cave

In the USA there is an amazing creation of nature. Of course, there are many places in the world where nature has created bizarre underground passages, but Lechugia stands out from ordinary caves with its gigantic volumes. Already now we can say with confidence that this cave is the deepest on the American continent. The cave descends underground down to a depth of 500 meters, and the total length of its underground passages exceeds 150 kilometers.

Of particular note is the ecosystem of the cave - it is “thanks” to it that there are no usual routes for tourists in Lechug and only researchers have access to the dungeons. This ecosystem is unique in that in the underground passages and grottoes of the cave there is special world in fact, completely isolated from the outside world, sunlight and everything that is on the surface of the Earth.

Moreover, during the research it turned out that some inhabitants of the underworld literally eat the vaults of the cave. For them, the chemical elements contained there are a source of energy that allows them to exist.

Another interesting fact. Before the discovery of this cave 30 years ago, the world in it was literally mothballed for almost a hundred million years.

Cave Krubera-Voronya - a fast way to the bowels of the earth

In Abkhazia there is a cave, which is considered the deepest in the world today. It is now reliably known that the depth of this cave extends for almost two kilometers. And although there is no “direct exit” to the underworld, unlike the Lechugia cave, since its height is located in the mountains at a level of 2256 meters, the path itself, more than two kilometers long, is in itself a unique natural phenomenon.

The cave was discovered more than fifty years ago in the area of the Orto-Balagan tract, and for a long time it was considered superficial with a depth of up to one hundred meters. Until numerous expeditions began to explore it, each of which, having reached the mark of 210, 340, 710 meters, did not declare the end of the length of the moves. All this continued until seven years ago, a group of speleologists failed to reach a depth of 2196 meters.

This cave has its second nickname. Because of a large number the crows nesting there are also called the Crow. At the same time, unlike the above-mentioned Lechugia, this cave has many tourist routes and anyone can admire its beauty

Fairy tale land of elves - Plitvice Lakes

In the central part of Croatia there is a beautiful oasis with "devil's forests" and a complex of lakes and waterfalls that create a truly fabulous landscape. On the territory of this alpine valley, as many as 16 lakes with fantastically blue water and magnificent noisy waterfalls were formed.

The territory of this reserve is divided into two parts with upper and lower lakes connected by magnificent cascades of waterfalls. Moreover, no one knows the exact number of these waterfalls, since nature creates new cascades every year.

All this happens due to complete non-interference in the ecosystem of lakes and all sticks and branches that fall into the water are never removed from it, and subsequently, under the influence of limestone, they petrify and become a barrier to water, forming a new cascade of waterfalls. This amount of limestone forms not only bizarre growths and calcium deposits, but gives the water a delightful blue appearance with a greenish tint.

At the junction of two Latin American countries - Brazil and Argentina, nature has created real beauty - the Iguazu Falls cascade. This system of 275 small and large waterfalls, which stretches for three kilometers, is considered the most powerful in the world. The Spanish conquistadors called the largest waterfall the Devil's Throat for its power and unusual shape in the shape of the letter U.

The greatness of the waterfall is fully revealed during the rainy season from November to March, when the water flow is so large that its discharge rate reaches thirteen thousand cubic meters of water per second.

P.S. All those who liked this article will also like the article about, which was a pioneer in the TOP-10 section.