Are there unexplored places on earth. Thor's Well, USA. The most mysterious places on earth

The world today seems much smaller than it used to be. Globalization, the improvement of communications, the Internet, have led to the fact that almost every corner the globe became available to man. But in the most far corners our planet has survived a few more gods forgotten places where no man has gone before. Most of them are extremely dangerous, but this does not mean that they are deserted. By the way, every year from 17 to 18 thousand new species are discovered by scientists since the end of World War II. According to some estimates, humanity still has to discover about 10 million new species before it can claim to have explored absolutely everything on Earth. Below you will find a list of 12 places on our planet that are still shrouded in mystery.

12. Gangkhar Puensum

Mount Gangkhar Puensum, 7570 meters high, is located on the border of Bhutan and China. She is considered the most high mountain in a world that no one has yet climbed. However, Gangkhar Puensum is not the explorer's paradise you might think. The mountain is unexplored for the reason that it is considered illegal to practice any form of mountaineering on it. Moreover, any mountain above 6,000 meters in Bhutan is considered the home of holy spirits, and those who get injured or trapped there can not hope to get help from local residents. The ban on climbing Mount Gangkhar Puensum has been in place for twenty years, and there are no plans to lift it.

11. Mulu, Borneo

Gunung Mulu boasts the largest cave system in the world, moreover, only 10% of them have been explored. Compared to most of the places on our list, Mulu is fairly easy to get to with daily flights, boats on the river, or on foot. Despite the relative ease of getting there, you will have to work hard not to get lost there, as most of the caves and jungles remain shrouded in a veil of secrets.

10. Namibia

Namibia is the most sparsely populated country in Africa. This is the only place on our list that includes the desert. The Kalahari Desert stretches through Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. Most of Namibia, especially the Kalahari, remains unexplored. Here, every explorer will find something interesting for himself, from amazing animals to incredible landscapes. In addition, Namibia became the first country on Earth to take the protection of environment by introducing relevant clauses into the Constitution of the country. About 15% of the country's land is legally protected, which guarantees its purity and inviolability for the hands of those who are hungry for profit.

9. Greenland Ice Sheet

The Greenland Ice Sheet covers nearly 80% of Greenland and is over 3 kilometers thick. Only the Antarctic Ice Sheet is larger than it. As you might guess, it follows that he hides a sea of uncharted lands. In June 2014, scientists discovered a completely " new world", hidden from human eyes under ice cap. They were shocked to find various irregularities and curvatures under the smooth ice surface. This once again proves that Greenland is fraught with much more than we think.

8. Kamchatka, Russia

Siberia, located in the north of Russia, is famous for its frosts. And although it makes up all 77% of the country's territory, only 27% of the total population is concentrated in this region. And although this entire zone has been little studied, its most mysterious area is the Kamchatka Peninsula, located in the northeast of Siberia. Only 300,000 people live here. The peninsula itself abounds geological wonders, including volcanoes, geysers and amazing coves. The reasons for its little study are remoteness and harsh winters.

7. Amazon rainforest

The Amazon rainforest remains largely unexplored due to its sheer size: spanning nine countries and covering an area of 5,500,000 square kilometers, it is considered the largest forest in the world. 10% of the species of our planet are concentrated in the Amazon forests, but scientists believe that most of them have yet to be discovered.

6. Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is not only one of the most unexplored places planets, but also one of the most at risk of being destroyed. It would be logical to study it while we still can. Before the reef rises a row serious threats such as the greenhouse effect and the warming of the oceans, as well as the irresponsibility of people. More than 900 islands and 2500 reefs lie within its boundaries, which promises a huge field for research. Here, new species of animals are discovered every now and then, which proves how little we know about the ocean.

5. Papua New Guinea

Like most of the territory barrier reef, Papua New Guinea is also great place for researchers. Despite the fact that several tribes live here, to a greater extent this is an absolutely unexplored territory. The dense vegetation here makes it incredibly difficult to trek through the jungle, and the lack of paved roads and limited infrastructure mean few tourists. Roughly speaking, about 2/3 of all species of Papua New Guinea are endemic, which feeds a special desire of scientists to study this area.

4. Myanmar

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has quite a lot of unexplored territory, despite the fact that a number of expeditions have been sent here over the past few years. dangerous political situation in the country, which has persisted for the past 50 years, was the main reason for the absence of tourists and scientists here, but since 2011 its borders have again become open to the public. Myanmar boasts 135 ethnic groups inhabiting its territory, rich history and culture, as well as rare animal species.

3. Rainforests of the Congo

And although the Amazon jungle is much larger, rainforests The Congo is much less explored. The basin of the Congo River, which covers as much as 15% of the entire territory of Africa, serves tempting place for both locals and foreigners. Local tribes tell legends about dinosaur-like creatures sneaking through the thickets of the Congo, and visiting tourists are interested in the tribes themselves, among which the Bantu people make up the majority. The first explorations of this region date back to 1876, when Henry Morton Stanley spent three years in local forests, covering more than 9,000 kilometers, but even despite his travels, this area is still a mystery.

2. Lake Vostok, Antarctica

Antarctica remains a mystery even in the 21st century. Most of the expeditions heading here depart from Tierra del Fuego in Argentina (one of the most southern points countries). One of the most intriguing places in Antarctica is Lake Vostok. Located in the east of the continent, this lake was covered with ice about 15-25 million years ago, making it an excellent source of fossils from that era. And although the lake itself was discovered in 1993, it has not yet been fully explored.

1. Mariana Trench

While we know almost nothing about the oceans, the Mariana Trench is an even more mysterious place. Its deepest point is the "Challenger Abyss", the depth of which reaches 11 thousand meters. Here dwell the strange and unique creatures accustomed to enormous water pressure and extreme temperatures, such as monkfish. This place is the most unexplored on our planet.

Many people think that since modern technologies allowed us to start exploring the Moon and Mars, launching spacecraft to Jupiter, Saturn and other planets, then there are no more secret and unexplored corners on Earth. In fact, this is completely true.

But even today there are quite a few areas on the globe that remain poorly understood for one reason or another, where a human foot has stepped a couple of times at most. We have collected 10 of the most unexplored corners and places on our planet.

1. Northern Columbian Mountains

Tiered mountain ranges with a system of caves, picturesque sites and dense vegetation are hardly suitable for your privacy, as they serve as privacy for other people - namely, Colombian drug dealers. Capturing this absolutely unexplored territory, they keep it in complete submission, thanks to the fact that the mountains are very difficult to storm, and the lush year-round green vegetation provides excellent cover.

However, selfless scientists who, at their own peril and risk, conduct scientific expeditions there, talk about new unique discoveries in the animal and flora, especially in intermountain isolated valleys.

2. Angel Falls

Also known as Kerepakupai vena, which means "Waterfall deepest place". This is the highest continuous waterfall in the world. It is located in the tropical forests of Venezuela, on the territory national park Canaima. Water overthrows from the top of Auyantepui, the largest of the Venezuelan tepui - its name in Russian means "mountain of the devil."

The water falls from a stunning height of 979 m. The waterfall gets its name from Jimmy Angel, the US pilot who first flew over this waterfall. This place is still one of the most inaccessible on Earth due to the dense jungle and the lack of vehicles.

3. Papua New Guinea

open but unexplored land, which impresses with its landscapes, diversity of fauna and other natural beauties, also pleases researchers with discoveries in the world of people. The thing is that more and more new tribes and cultures are found there, most often cannibalistic, which, by the way, interfere with the study of this territory.

If you still decide to admire the pristine beauty of nature without smoking chimneys, admire the rivers without waste merging into it and still go to Papua New Guinea, then remember that you will have to be extremely careful in this little explored area - the population is unfriendly, and If help comes, it will be extremely untimely.

4. Greenland Ice Sheet

Greenland has the second largest ice sheet in the world (after the Antarctic), and the island is used as a testing ground for fundamental research on glaciers: glaciologists study glacier dynamics here, microbiologists - ancient life bound in ice. However, the most significant aspect remains the study of the paleoclimatic aspects of research, since the ice has air inclusions that can provide information about the atmosphere of the past. A total of six drilled in Greenland deep wells, and most little explored place- This northern edge Greenland, the Lincoln Sea and other arctic waters surrounding it. In their entire history, only a few ships have visited here, among them were our nuclear-powered icebreakers. But this whole icy desert is gradually melting, and at current rates, the shield will disappear in 2,000 years.

5. Tristan da Cunha

Moderate warm climate, rich fauna and flora, south Atlantic Ocean– what could be better than solitude and quiet old age? In addition, it is extremely difficult to get here, there is no way by air - only by sea, and even then on certain days, when the sea is calm and there is no danger of flying onto a rocky ridge.

However, there is Internet on the island, there is radio communication, so everything you need for happiness modern man can be found there. Cons - about 300 more people have chosen such a paradise place, you will have to put up with this company, as well as the fact that you will have to produce food yourself - catch fish with homemade nets or plow on plantations like those same 300 people.

6. rain forests Amazonia

7. Tibetan Plateau

Traveling 20 days on foot, walking 81 days and not seeing a single person, do you think this is possible only on the surface of the moon? No, this is the Tibetan Plateau - one of the most mysterious places on Earth. With the exception of a handful of monks in certain areas, you run the risk of not running into anyone here at all, even if you move permanently to a small village.

Cartographers still don't have common card terrain, and if we talk somewhere about white spots, then only about Tibet. The championship is held by the border mountains of Gankar Punsum, having chosen these heights, you will have to get to the nearest locality about a month and a half without the possibility of using any transport.

8. Mariana Trench

Almost the entire bottom of the World Ocean can be called the least explored space on our planet. However, the most mysterious point known is the oceanic deep sea trench in the West Pacific Ocean. The depression is named after nearby Mariana Islands, and her most deep point"Challenger Deep" is located in the southwestern part. According to measurements in 2011, its depth is 10,994 ± 40 m below sea level. Only 3 people have visited this place: Jacques Picard and Donald Walsh in the Trieste bathyscaphe in 1960 and James Cameron in the bathyscaphe Deepsea Challenger in 2012. The pressure at this depth is 1,106 times the pressure at sea level, but 20,000 microorganisms have been found at the bottom of the Challenger Deep. The fauna collected included isopods and six species of shrimp-like amphipods. Further exploration of the trough, scientists say, could tell us more about how organisms adapt to high pressure, and perhaps even unravel the mystery of the origin of life.

9. Cape York Peninsula

The natural reserve on the northern peninsula of Australia is also famous for being extremely difficult to reach, only by air. Large flat areas, where absolutely no one lives, are interspersed with small settlements of aborigines, who are extremely unfriendly to tourists trying to penetrate their protected area.

It is not called a reserve in vain - only there you can meet up to 150 various kinds animals and plants that on Earth are found only on Cape York and nowhere else. Beautiful hilly landscapes and ocean bays still attract extreme tourists, according to whom the trip to Cape York is very expensive, due to the absolutely undeveloped infrastructure of this part of the mainland.

10 Naica Crystal Cave

This giant cave natural crystals, including the largest ever found. It is located next to the city of Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico. Miners discovered the cave during excavations of a new tunnel in 2000. It has the shape of a horseshoe. The air temperature reaches up to 58 °C (136 °F) and the humidity is between 90 and 99 percent. Without proper protective equipment, people are only able to stay inside for about ten minutes due to the high temperature. Notably, access to the cave is provided by the mining company's pumping activities. If it stops, the cave will sink again under water.

Many people think that since modern technology has allowed us to start exploring the Moon and Mars, launching spacecraft to Jupiter, Saturn and other planets, there are no more secret and unexplored corners on Earth. In fact, this is completely true.

1. Northern Columbian Mountains

Tiered mountain ranges with a system of caves, picturesque sites and dense vegetation are hardly suitable for your privacy, as they serve as privacy for other people - namely, Colombian drug dealers. Having captured this completely unexplored territory, they keep it in complete submission, thanks to the fact that the mountains are very difficult to storm, and the lush, year-round green vegetation provides excellent cover.

However, selfless scientists who, at their own peril and risk, conduct scientific expeditions there, speak of new unique discoveries in the animal and plant world, especially in isolated intermountain valleys.

2. Angel Falls

Also known as Kerepakupai vena, which means "Waterfall of the Deepest Place". It is the highest continuous waterfall in the world. It is located in the tropical forests of Venezuela, on the territory of the Canaima National Park. Water overthrows from the top of Auyantepui, the largest of the Venezuelan tepui - its name in Russian means "mountain of the devil."

3. Papua New Guinea

The open, but unexplored land, which impresses with its landscapes, diversity of fauna and other natural beauties, also pleases researchers with discoveries in the world of people. The thing is that more and more new tribes and cultures are found there, most often cannibalistic, which, by the way, interfere with the study of this territory.

4. Greenland Ice Sheet

Greenland has the second largest ice sheet in the world (after the Antarctic), and the island is used as a testing ground for fundamental research on glaciers: glaciologists study glacier dynamics here, microbiologists study ancient life trapped in ice. However, the most significant aspect remains the study of the paleoclimatic aspects of research, since the ice has air inclusions that can provide information about the atmosphere of the past. In total, six deep wells have been drilled in Greenland, and the least explored place is the Northern Edge of Greenland, the Lincoln Sea and other arctic waters surrounding it. In their entire history, only a few ships have visited here, among them were our nuclear-powered icebreakers. But this whole icy desert is gradually melting, and at current rates, the shield will disappear in 2,000 years.

5. Tristan da Cunha

A temperate warm climate, rich fauna and flora, the south of the Atlantic Ocean - what could be better than solitude and quiet old age? In addition, it is extremely difficult to get here, there is no way by air - only by sea, and even then on certain days, when the sea is calm and there is no danger of flying onto a rocky ridge.

However, there is Internet on the island, there is radio communication, so everything that a modern person needs to be happy can be found there. Cons - about 300 more people have chosen such a paradise place, you will have to put up with this company, as well as the fact that you will have to produce food yourself - catch fish with homemade nets or plow on plantations like those same 300 people.

6. Amazon Rainforests

7. Tibetan Plateau

Cartographers still do not have a general map of the area, and if we talk about white spots somewhere, then only about Tibet. The championship is held by the border mountains of Gankar Punsum, having chosen these heights, you will have to get to the nearest settlement for about a month and a half without the possibility of using any transport.

8. Mariana Trench

Almost the entire bottom of the World Ocean can be called the least explored space on our planet. However, the most mysterious point known is the oceanic deep sea trench in the western Pacific Ocean. The depression is named after the nearby Mariana Islands, and its deepest point, the Challenger Abyss, is located in the southwestern part. According to measurements in 2011, its depth is 10,994 ± 40 m below sea level. Only 3 people have visited this place: Jacques Picard and Donald Walsh in the Trieste submersible in 1960 and James Cameron in the Deepsea Challenger submersible in 2012. The pressure at this depth is 1,106 times the pressure at sea level, but 20,000 microorganisms have been found at the bottom of the Challenger Deep. The fauna collected included isopods and six species of shrimp-like amphipods. Further exploration of the trough, scientists say, could tell us more about how organisms adapt to high pressure, and perhaps even unravel the mystery of the origin of life.

9. Cape York Peninsula

It is not called a reserve for nothing - only there you can find up to 150 different species of animals and plants that are found on Earth only on Cape York and nowhere else. Beautiful hilly landscapes and ocean bays still attract extreme tourists, according to whom the trip to Cape York is very expensive, due to the absolutely undeveloped infrastructure of this part of the mainland.

10 Naica Crystal Cave

This is a giant cave of natural crystals, including the largest ever found. It is located next to the city of Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico. Miners discovered the cave during excavations of a new tunnel in 2000. It has the shape of a horseshoe. The air temperature reaches up to 58 °C (136 °F) and the humidity is between 90 and 99 percent. Without proper protective equipment, people are only able to stay inside for about ten minutes due to the high temperature. Notably, access to the cave is provided by the mining company's pumping activities. If it stops, the cave will sink again under water.

A thousand years ago, people were firmly convinced that the Earth is the center of the universe and did not explore anything beyond the oceans. However, thanks to adventurers like Magellan, Columbus and others, new continents were discovered. And the idea of our world has changed forever. With the development of technology, namely with the spread of movement by means of an airplane, people began to independently explore every corner of our planet. The question arises: is there anything else to explore? Here you will find 10 places that are still considered underexplored.

Amazon rainforest

The Amazon forests are so vast that there are still tribes that modern civilization has not reached. main reason why unknown areas of the forest are not sufficiently explored - danger from deadly poisonous creatures. In addition, several countries claim these forests and therefore there is no definite policy on how to deal with this area. However, there is a lot to explore.

Namibia

One of the world's least populated countries on one of the least populated continents, Namibia covers an area of 48,280 km2. It is also the least explored place in the world. it's the same the only country in the world, in the constitution of which it is said about the protection of the nature of the country. Politics Namibia has strict laws for the protection of nature and for the preservation of its pristine state. Therefore, many places are still unexplored, including the Kalahari Desert.

Greenland ice sheet

You must be wondering why people have not yet explored the glaciers of Greenland? There just isn't enough reason to take the risk and explore a land that is 80% ice. The 966 km2 ice, according to scientists, may melt in a few hundred years, but you still have the opportunity to set foot on these untouched lands.

Tristan da Cunha archipelago

Tristan da Cunha is one of the most isolated archipelagos in the world. One of the islands, almost 11 km wide, is part of other islands, which at one time were called the Inaccessible Islands. And this is no accident - off the coast you can find a lot of shipwrecks.

Mariinsky depression

Speaking of the least explored places on Earth, one cannot fail to mention the Mariinsky Trench. More than 11 km deep, this place is the most unexplored on Earth and it is of extraordinary interest to scientists. Even now it is not known what forms of life inhabit this deep depression. The Mariinsky depression is indeed a very mysterious place.

Mount Kankar Punsum in Bhutan

Located on the border with China, between Bhutan and Tibet, Mount Kankar Punsum is so remote that, until recently, there was no clear maps. The mountain is also the subject of controversy that borders on politics. According to religious belief, climbing mountains in Bhutan is illegal, and even for explorers it is difficult to get permission to hike in the mountains. There was an expedition from Tibet that managed to reach only three of the smallest peaks of the mountain, but, anyway, Kankar Punsum is one of the few places on Earth that have not been explored by man.

Antarctica

What could be the reason for the insufficient exploration of Antarctica, if not the fact that this is a huge block of ice on an incredibly cold south pole Earth. Despite the fact that there are certain expeditions, Antarctica is a very mysterious place.

Northern mountains of Colombia

It is difficult to say exactly what percentage of the mountains have been explored by man and which have not. Many daredevils did not return from traveling through these mountains, but you can take a chance.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is considered one of the less explored countries in the world. But, despite the amazing biodiversity, there are places in the country where no human has set foot!

Siberia (northeast and northwest, Kamchatka Peninsula)

With 70% of the territory of Russia, with 30% of the population of the country, Siberia is one of the few places in the world with such a harsh climate that it is simply impossible for a person to explore thoroughly. The northeast and northwest of Siberia were almost certainly not mastered by man. Moreover, Kamchatka is also almost unexplored. Great news for enthusiasts!

IN South America there are still many tribes cut off from the outside world. In the Vale do Yavari reservation alone, or the Javari Valley, there are more than a dozen of them. Their way of life and way of life is not yet fully understood.

This area, comparable in area to Portugal, is generally one of the most isolated places not only in South America, but also in the world.

It's hard to imagine what else can be found in these rain forests on the border with Peru. The Javari Valley is guarded by a special government agency, so getting there is not easy.

Man conquered the mountains, landed on the moon. But the resources of the world's oceans have not yet been studied. Therefore, it is the expanses of water that attract researchers from all over the world.

One such unexplored area is the Mariana Trench. It is located in the western Pacific Ocean, between the islands of Japan and Australia. According to recent estimates, it has a depth of almost 11 kilometers, so it is at least difficult to explore it. This does not mean that people have not tried. For example, director James Cameron became the third person to hit the bottom of the Challenger Abyss. He took rock samples and made surveys using modern cameras.

Created by nature itself millions of years ago, it still keeps secrets. Perhaps it is there that we will find not only new forms of life, but also a whole undersea world cut off from civilization.

Caves are another hard-to-reach place for research. They are often difficult to access, sometimes even dangerous, and are located in remote areas. mountain ranges and regions around the world.

The Yucatan Cenotes are one such example of unexplored caves. It's pretty big cave network in Mexico, which combines eight of the most famous original wells (cenotes). Their stunning snow and ice caves too dangerous even for experienced craftsmen.

Interestingly, cenotes were once used by the ancient Mayans for sacrifices.

Mysterious and uncharted places There are also on the territory of our vast Motherland.

The Republic of Sakha is a huge piece of Russia, accounting for about a fifth of our territory. For comparison, this is the size of India. But due to harsh weather conditions, most of the traffic is carried out water view transport.

It is in consequence extreme climate much of this area remains unexplored. For example, in January the temperature can drop to -43 degrees Celsius. It is so cold here in places that most of the land is covered with permafrost.

Since much of this area is untouched by man, you will find wonderful natural places such as the Lena River Delta.

If there is a place on Earth where it will definitely be difficult to establish a civilization, then this is Antarctica.

The cold, barren and mostly uninhabited continent is literally the coldest place on the planet. The lowest recorded temperature on the planet (-89 degrees Celsius) was recorded in Antarctica. Heavy snow, dangerous cracks and glaciers also complicate colonization. Until now, on the territory of this frosty continent, the main reasons for the appearance of man are scientific research and fishing.

Given the dangerous climate and unsafe natural features of its landscape, Antarctica remains and is likely to remain one of the least explored places on the planet. At least in the coming decades.

Although Greenland is the most big island on the planet, it is still largely unexplored.

Many do not even realize how big Greenland is. This is over 2 million square kilometers. Of these, approximately 80 percent are covered with ice. The ice is incredibly thick, reaching up to 3,000 m in some areas. ice sheets covering most of the island are also very old - from 400,000 to 800,000 years old.

The population here is mainly engaged in hunting and fishing in those areas that can be reached.

No wonder such a sparsely populated region is filled with untouched natural wonders - hot springs, northern lights and even rivers that carry water with ice.

Patagonia is geographic region in South America, referring to Argentina and Chile. But it is the Northern part that is the least populated and unexplored.

There is a wild landscape all around, there are places where there is still no way to get by transport. Here nature is largely untouched - there is a massive rainforest, many peaks, steppes, lakes, rivers, glaciers and other natural wonders. And the huge ice mass called the Northern Patagonian Icefield is one of the largest outside the polar regions.

Only the most daring travelers go to this region. But if you dare to venture into this unexplored area, the scenery and nature will blow your mind.

These forests, like many others, still conceal not only wild world flora and fauna, but also the dangers lurking at every turn.

The area of this territory is estimated at 5.5 million km2 and contains almost half of the entire tropical forest in the world. Due to their size, many of them have not yet been studied. In the Amazon, it rains all year round, leading to flooding. This in turn makes it difficult to cross the river. The impenetrable jungle also played a role in the development of the area.

It may be a good thing that the Amazon rainforest is largely undeveloped - there are a number of deadly animals, from poisonous frogs and piranhas to anacondas.

People in general have never sought to explore the deserts because of their remoteness and extreme climate. But precisely namib desert, located in the southern part of Namibia, is one of the most unexplored deserts in the world.

In small areas with total area diamond deposits have been found in 100,000 km2, which attracts the population. Most of it lives in the northern part of the country, leaving southern part completely empty.

Scientists believe that the Namib is the oldest desert in the world. The absence of civilization can be guessed from the name, because in the Nama language "Namib" means "a place where there is nothing."

IN papua new guinea you can find "Star Mountains" - mountain range, stretching from the Indonesian border to the Hindenberg Range. This natural wonder light is rich in its ecosystems and natural species.

The rain here is plentiful, over 10,000 mm per year, and is considered to be one of the wettest places on the planet.

Unconquered today, this place, for sure, will be of interest to researchers in the near future. After all, one of the biological surveys showed the presence of at least 100 species of plants and animals that have not yet been discovered.