Quirky places.  Amazing places on the planet

The twenty-first century is a time of digital electronics, new technologies and discoveries. Cures have been found for many previously incurable diseases. Skyscrapers have been built that change their shape. Space has been explored. However, there is still a lot of unknowns left. For example, the Nazque Lines in Peru or China, Stonehenge and Easter Island. Which one is the most mysterious place on the planet? No scientist can answer this question...

Around the world in search of the unknown

Mysterious places on Earth. Where to look for them? Just look around. In every corner of the planet you can find interesting and unusual natural phenomena. The question is: what do you want more - beauty that captivates the spirit, or extreme adventures? Seekers of beauty should visit, for example, Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. A huge salt desert formed on the site of a dry lake. During the rainy season, when the salt is covered with a small layer of water, it feels as if a person is walking on water. The sky merges with the earth. All thoughts disappear overnight. This is the most incredible place on Earth!

And there are also natural places that, once visited, will make it difficult to fall asleep. Caves, forests and lakes with mysterious and mystical stories will not leave even the most daring and courageous tourists indifferent. Horror films will seem like children's fairy tales. The anomalous places on the planet will tickle everyone’s nerves.

Dedicated to thrill seekers

Blue hole. This is an underwater cave located on the coast of Belize among the coral reefs ( Central America). It is a funnel 120 meters deep and 305 wide. The cave roof collapsed and was flooded when sea levels rose. The Blue Hole became known to the world after the television programs of researcher Jacques-Yves Cousteau. It was he who became the discoverer of this amazing natural phenomenon. Undersea world The caves are very diverse, which attracts divers. It feels like you're in a cartoon about the mermaid Ariel.

And lakes are undoubtedly the most unusual places. There are many of these on the planet. And, of course, Lake Melissano in Greece deserves special attention. This is a cave and a lake at the same time. Waters as clear as tears combined with virgin thickets and unusual stones- what could be more beautiful? The only thing missing is fairy nymphs and elves.

The underground river Puerto Princesa in the Philippines attracts and fascinates. The world's largest underground river. Its length reaches eight kilometers. Puerto Princesa is considered one of the wonders of nature. The area around the underground reservoir, as well as the reservoir itself, have been declared a national park. You can enter the cave directly from open sea, where the river flows. Maybe this is the most mysterious place on Earth?

It is also attracting interest in the USA. It is both a surface and underground reservoir. A long time ago, the area around the lake was inhabited by the harshest of them - the Apaches. Here you can listen to a lot of different legends and tales. They will not leave any person indifferent. The lake and the area around it are considered a nature reserve.

If speak about natural reservoirs, mention should be made of the Pamukkale pools in Turkey. A place that will leave its mark on the tourist’s memory for a long time. The pools are large hills filled with natural healing waters. Millions of tourists visit the country just to see this most mysterious place on Earth. At any time of the day, the view from the pool is simply stunning. Many consider the Pamukkale pools to be the eighth wonder of the world.

Mysterious places on the planet

How many interesting and mysterious nature hides! It seems that life is not enough to travel around the Earth and see everything with my own eyes. But, on the other hand, there would be time and desire. After all, nothing is impossible!

So where are they - mysterious places planets? Photos of natural wonders can be found on the pages of various encyclopedias. All you have to do is look through one of these books and decide on your travel route. You should definitely see the Giant's Causeway in Ireland, Troll's Tongue in Norway, canyons in the USA, Spotted Lakes in Canada, and much, much more.

The Giant's Causeway. It is laid out on the coast of Ireland from stone columns. There are many legends and tales about her. The most common legend: the road was built by a Finn to fight a sea monster. In fact, the trail was formed due to volcanic eruptions. The area where it is located is a nature reserve.

Antelope Canyon in the USA. America is rich in canyons, but the most amazing is Antelope Canyon. In the photo he looks like a human creation. After all, how can nature sculpt such lines and shapes? Maybe! For a long time, winds and rainwater carved out and washed away the sand caves. It is difficult to name all the shades of the canyon. In the morning he is one, in the evening he is different. And the best play of colors is during the day, in sunlight. The canyon is located on the lands of the Navajo tribe. And to see the most mysterious place on Earth, you need to pay the Indians to cross their land.

Spotted Lake in Canada. The shape of the lake resembles a honeycomb, each cell of which is filled with water. different color. This is because the reservoir is saturated with various minerals, which color the water. In summer, the water evaporates, leaving beneficial minerals on the surface.

Stone forest in China. These are amazing stones that resemble small mountains. At one time there was a sea here, which washed away the soft rocks, leaving stone trunks. The forest is located in Yunnan province and is very popular among tourists. It has narrow paths and passages, which it is better not to wander along alone - you can get lost. There are similar formations in Russia on the banks of the Lena River (Yakutia).

Pyramids of Yoganuni in Japan. The world knows many pyramids, but the Japanese ones were discovered quite recently, just 20 years ago. The unusual thing about the buildings is that they are underwater. According to scientists, it is ten thousand years. There are no clear answers as to who built this artifact and how. However, terraces, trenches, various lines and inscriptions indicate some, perhaps still unknown, civilization that was flooded by the sea.

Tourists in love should definitely visit the Tunnel of Lovers. It is located in the Rivne region in Ukraine. An abandoned railway, it would seem, should have a frightening, mystical appearance. But with this tunnel it’s the other way around! In summer, the railway section is overgrown with greenery on all sides and takes on the appearance of a tunnel. Many lovers and newlyweds rush here for a photo shoot. The tunnel is very similar to the path from the fairy tale “Alice in Wonderland”. You just wait for the Cheshire Cat to appear...

A few horror stories. Ghost towns

In addition to stunning and mysterious natural places, our planet is full of creepy and unpleasant places that chill the soul with their mystical secrets. As they say, horror films “take a break” in comparison. For thrill seekers - just right!

In the “most anomalous places” category, first place can legitimately be given to Ukraine and its ghost town of Pripyat. The city is abandoned and abandoned after the world-famous tragedy at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Empty streets, playgrounds and lonely houses seem to have been specially created as the backdrop for a creepy film. Pripyat is the youngest ghost town. At the time of the disaster he was only 16 years old. Now about 300 old residents live there, who did not want to look for shelter in other cities.

There is a similar town in Russia - Kadychkan (Magadan). It traces its history back to 1943, when coal deposits were discovered at the site of the future settlement. High Quality. Since then, a small settlement has been founded. However, after a mine explosion in 1996, life in the city became impossible due to increased levels of radiation. People wasted away before our eyes. The evacuation has begun. Now only empty apartments and cars abandoned in courtyards remind us that the city “was”...

Oradour-sur-Glane is a French village whose inhabitants were shot by the German occupiers during World War II. In one day, 642 people were killed, of which almost 500 were women and children. The city itself was burned. Built not far from the site of the tragedy new town with the same name, and old Oradour-sur-Glane is recognized as a historical monument.

America also has its own ghost town - Detroit (Michigan). The previously prosperous city now looks like a ghost: destroyed houses and schools inspire fear and horror. The biggest impression is made once by the largest in the world railroad station. Detroit is a great place to film mystery films. In abandoned churches, dolls are scattered everywhere, indicating satanic rituals.

Ghost towns are the most unusual places on the planet. They make you think about the consequences of human actions and reconsider your attitude towards nature.

In search of the paranormal

When it comes to ghost towns, it is appropriate to mention individual buildings that are so frightening in appearance. Paranormal places on the planet are not a figment of the directors’ imagination, it’s true stories worthy of attention.

Amityville. Someone will say: “This is just fiction!” But still, the strange house actually exists! The town of Amityville is located not far from New York. The murder, which led to mysterious events, has not been solved to this day. Nobody knows what really happened there. However, after the terrible incident when the eldest son killed his entire family, not a single tenant stayed in the house for a long time. People fled, leaving their belongings behind.

The same horror is caused by the Lier Sikehus psychiatric clinic in Norway or the military hospital in Germany. Buildings that have a dark past will be a treasure for lovers of the paranormal. In the clinic, as in the hospital, souls who died in pain and agony found their refuge.

The eighth workshop of the Dagdizel plant (Russia) “smells” of loneliness with notes of mysticism. This is a Russian military station in the Caspian Sea. It is located three kilometers from the coast. The walls of a long-abandoned plant, like a cold icy iceberg, stand in the middle of the sea and frighten the Marines with their monstrous appearance...

Russia also has its own “Silent Hill”. A small abandoned town of dachas and children's camps is located in the Moscow region. And God forbid you become a witness to the satanic rituals that are held there!

Roads of Death

Our land is intertwined with roads and highways. There are good highways and not so good ones. And there are paths, being on which evokes inexplicable fear.

For example, Most scary road in the world! It claimed thousands of lives. The road runs high in the mountains and stretches for 70 km. On one side there are rocks dotted with crosses and monuments, and on the other side there is a cliff and an abyss. And although construction of a safe path has begun, people still use this road. Eyewitnesses more than once noticed strange white shadows flickering in front and behind the car. Probably the souls of those who died on this path, who cannot find peace in any way...

An unusual road is located in the mountains of China. This is not just a track, but a road-tunnel. Periodically, the route seems to enter the mountain itself, where on one side there are rocks, and on the other there are windows over the abyss. They say that if the driver looks out that window, he will immediately fall down...

There is a road of death in Russia too. This is the name of the Lyubertsy-Lytkarino highway. This is a narrow, winding highway where drivers drive with extreme caution. More than one traveler has seen strange silhouettes here. Rumor has it that there are ancient burial grounds in these places. Perhaps restless souls are looking for answers to their eternal questions. The entire road is dotted with monuments, crosses and flowers.

But by and large, all roads in Russia, to one degree or another, can be called paths of death. Either the drivers are like that, or the highways, but Russian Federation among the first countries in road accidents.

Paranormal Russia

All Russian country it's teeming with anomalies. There are a lot of different oddities in its very heart - in Moscow and the region. Anomalous places in the Moscow region are scattered mainly in small villages.

UFO seekers can hunt for unusual images in the settlements of Chapel, Protasovo, Ogudnevo, Nikolskoye and many others. The strongest geopathogenic node is located in the village of Chapel. Strange sounds, shadows and flashes have been noticed more than once by local residents. Some were lucky enough to capture interesting footage on camera, the authenticity of which was verified in Russia and the USA.

Lights are often recorded in the sky at 47 km of the Yaroslavl highway, in particular, over the village of Sofrino. You can find out whether this is true or true only by arming yourself with a camera and going on an extreme journey.

If we talk about Moscow itself, then almost every metro station hides some secrets. They hide a lot of interesting and paranormal things underground stations“Baumanskaya” (Basurmansky crypts), “Sukharevskaya” (Tower of the Sorcerer), “ Chistye Prudy"(the misers with Myasnitskaya). These are places that still keep the secrets of the past.

But the greatest horror is brought to the residents of Moscow by the Beria House on Malaya Nikitskaya Street (Arbatskaya metro station). They say that at night you can hear the sounds of a car approaching, followed by heavy male steps. It was Beria who returned home. And it’s good if he is accompanied by a lady. But if you can hear the groans of a repressed person, then it’s better to run away from that place without looking back...

What do the caves of Russia hide?

Caves are the most mysterious places on the planet, which have aroused great interest among people since ancient times. There are different beliefs and legends about these natural creations.

For example, Sablinsky caves in Leningrad region they took more than one human life. They prefer to remain silent about this place. You won't read about him in the newspaper or hear about him on the radio. The secret zone is covered in secrets that no one has yet been able to unravel. Previously, fugitives and prisoners hid in caves. Probably, they were never able to find a way out of them, and now their souls are doomed to eternal searches.

Many horror stories are associated with the Kashlukat cave, which is in northern Russia. It is popularly known as the Black Devil's Cave. It is not surprising, because its grottoes also have mystical names - Skeleton, Obscurantists... On the walls of the cave you can see ancient spells of shamans who have been performing their rituals here for a long time. They say that those who manage to survive after going into the cave eventually go crazy.

The most anomalous and mysterious places Russia are concluded in mountain ranges. One of these is the Dyatlov Pass. Many people learned about this place from the film of the same name. This is not just an invention of the director, this is a real mountain, and it is located in the north of the Urals. Back in 1959, a group of young tourists tried to conquer it. However, all members of the group died under mysterious circumstances. Rescuers looking for tourists found only a tent torn from the inside. What force forced people to leave their accommodation for the night in the bitter cold? What scared the group members so much? There are still no clear answers to these questions. Locals They consider this place cursed.

People don't talk about places like this...

“Unusual places on the planet, photos of which can be found on the pages of educational books, are just pictures,” everyone will say. And only those who have felt the cold of a mysterious cave or lake are unlikely to want to visit these corners again.

There are places in Russia that it is better not to know about, much less not to go there. For example, local residents prefer to bypass the Devil's Cemetery by the tenth road. Mystical forest with an incomprehensible clearing is located near the village of Ust-Kov, Kezhemsky district, Krasnodar region.

According to the legend of the village residents, in 1908 a meteorite fell here and formed in the ground. The hole became overgrown after a while. But the land in this place is considered cursed. It looks like after a terrible fire, and there is nothing alive on it. Anyone who sets foot in the Devil's Cemetery will die immediately. Over all the years of research, about a hundred people have disappeared here.

These are not all the anomalous places in Russia. Many secrets are hidden in water bodies countries.

Ivachevskoe Lake (Volgograd region). The reservoir fascinates with its beauty and mystery. However, the picturesque area not only pacifies, but also instills some fear. Many noted that after relaxing on this lake their health worsened. And residents of the city of Cherepovets, which is located next to the lake, say that more and more people are disappearing on this reservoir. Researchers of anomalies have not yet given clear answers. This is the most mysterious place on Earth.

They also bypass the Yachenskoye Reservoir ( Kaluga region). People call it the Thunder of the Lord. The reservoir attracts an electrical charge. People who bathe in it die from lightning strikes. It's better not to go to these places. It is unlikely that anyone will like such a vacation.

But the mortality rate of people in Lake Surzi Arkhangelsk region quite understandable. The reservoir is dangerous to life due to increased radioactivity. The fish here floats up belly up, and the fishermen completely disappear. Those who managed to survive after such fishing remember the events with fear and do not always survive until the morning. The results of forensic examinations show that the cause of death of the fishermen was the effect of radiation.

These are not all the anomalous places in Russia. The mystical city of Arkaim in Chelyabinsk region. Where two rivers, Karaganka and Utyaganka, converge into one, this amazing historical heritage is located. The city was discovered by archaeologists in 1987. It looks like rings enclosed one within the other. The settlement has four entrances - one on each side of the world. The surviving buildings of Arkaim indicate ancient civilization. The city has amazing properties - it can heal many diseases. Anyone who has visited here once will certainly return again. But Arkaim is not hospitable for everyone. For some, it instills fear and horror. Only a select few are allowed entry.

Incredible places on Earth - towards adventure!

The unknown surrounds us everywhere. The most mysterious places on the planet are revealed only to a select few. People with enormous willpower who are ready for an exciting trip. Our life is so short and fleeting that before you even have time to look back, old age creeps up. And it’s good to close your eyes and remember the mysterious places on the planet in search of which you wandered around the world. And whoever has not seen the true beauty of our Earth has almost never lived...

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

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

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

Semuk Champey. View from observation deck

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Text

Artyom Luchko

Most people tend to think that if modern technology has allowed us to begin exploring the Moon and Mars, sending spacecraft to Jupiter, Saturn and other planets, then there is nothing special to study on Earth. Actually this is not true. There are still quite a lot of areas on the globe that remain poorly understood for one reason or another.

Namibia


Namibia is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world (only 2.3 million people live on an area of ​​824 thousand square kilometers). It is located in the south of the African continent and gets its name from the Namib Desert, which is home to a quarter of all cheetahs in the world. (there are about 2.5 thousand of them). The desert land is known for its giant dunes, ancient rock art, meteorite craters and waterfalls, and Namibia's landscape is one of the most pristine in Africa. This place is an ideal haven for poachers, so the country’s constitution sets out a program to protect a unique natural reserve, which includes many thousands of kilometers of unexplored desert (including the famous Kalahari).

Greenland ice sheet


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

Tristan da Cunha


Tristan da Cunha is an archipelago of four islands in the southern part Atlantic Ocean, part of the British overseas territory Saint Helena Islands. Along with Easter Island and the Pitcairn Islands, it is one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth. The distance to the nearest mainland coast - that is, to South Africa - is 2,816 km, and to South America - as much as 3,360 km. There are no mammals on the islands (except for seals on the shore and mice brought by humans), reptiles, butterflies, but many endemic plants. The main asset of the island is the smallest flightless bird on Earth - the “Inaccessible Island Shepherd” or “Tristan Shepherd”. According to the 2008 census, the population of the largest island, Tristan da Cunha, is 264 people. Three other islands - Gough, Nightingale and Impregnable - are nature reserves.

Mariana Trench


Almost the entire bottom of the World Ocean can be called the least explored space on our planet. However, the most mysterious known point is the oceanic deep-sea trench in the west Pacific Ocean. The depression was named after its nearby Mariana Islands, and its deepest point, the 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 on the bathyscaphe Trieste in 1960, and James Cameron on the bathyscaphe Deepsea Challenger in 2012. The pressure at this depth is 1,106 times the pressure at sea level, but 20 thousand microorganisms were discovered at the bottom of the Challenger Deep. Fauna collected included isopods and six species of shrimp-like amphipods. Further study of the depression, according to scientists, can tell us more about the adaptation of organisms to high pressure and, perhaps, even reveal the secret of the origin of life.

Antarctica


The continent of Antarctica, covered with a thick layer of ice, is also one of the most poorly studied parts of our planet. Research is hampered by the harsh climate, but in the future, with warming, its development is quite possible. There are many abandoned settlements, military and whaling bases in Antarctica and the surrounding islands. Currently, there is no permanent population in Antarctica, but there are about 45 year-round scientific stations, where, depending on the season, live from 1 thousand people in winter and up to 4 thousand people in summer. Studying the ice sheet, which records hundreds of thousands of years of climate and atmospheric composition, sheds light on the Earth's past and future. The least explored part of the continent adjoins the Weddell Sea (West Antarctica). Recently it turned out that there is a hidden pool the size of a small European country (area about 20 thousand square kilometers), and its depth in some places is up to two kilometers.

Gangkhar Puensum


Gangkhar Puensum is the highest unconquered peak in the world. The mountain is located in the disputed territory between Bhutan and China and reaches a height of 7570 meters. The mountain was first described in 1922, but the first attempts to conquer it began only after 1983, when mountaineering was allowed in Bhutan. Four unsuccessful attempts were made in 1985 and 1986, but in 1994 Bhutan again banned climbing mountains higher than 6,000 meters out of respect for local faith, and in 2003 mountaineering was banned completely. A Japanese expedition in 1998 decided to summit the peak from the Chinese side, but in the end the climbers were only able to climb the neighboring Liankang Kangri.

Amazon rain forests


Northern Andes


It's hard to say how well researched northern region Colombian Andes because guerrillas and drug lords do not keep official records. This area is known for hiding criminals of all kinds. After all, unexplored mountain ranges, covered with forests and shrouded in fog, are best suited for this. Most of the civilians in the surrounding areas are local tribes. Every time a scientific expedition goes to the northern mountains of Colombia, it discovers previously unknown plants and animals there. In 2006 it was discovered the new kind birds were the Yariga Atlapete, and in 2010 a new subspecies of the bird, the Lachrymose Mountain-Tanager, was discovered.

Jungle of New Guinea


New Guinea is the last of the little-studied large islands. More than a thousand different ethnic groups and hundreds of different tribes live here, some of which are completely isolated from influence modern world. On the slopes of the Foggia Mountains in western New Guinea in 2005, a group of American researchers discovered a place they called the “Garden of Eden.” An area of ​​about 300 thousand hectares was isolated from the influence of the outside world, and more than 20 previously unknown species of frogs, several species of butterflies, tree kangaroos, and six-feathered birds of paradise were discovered there. (which were previously thought to be extinct), as well as species of palm trees unknown to science and many other plants. At the same time, many animals were not afraid of humans and even allowed scientists to take control of themselves.

Northeastern Siberia


The northeastern part of Siberia, located northeast of the Lena River, is known for its harsh nature and climate. The winters here are long, with severe frosts, and the summers are very, very cool. It is here that the “pole of cold” is located - Oymyakon. North-Eastern Siberia has a complex topography of folded-block areas and ridges. Permafrost is also common in the area. Farming in this region in open ground is impossible, and development natural resources difficult due to climatic conditions, remoteness of the area, lack of a wide network of transport routes (first of all railways) . This territory is the most sparsely populated part of Eurasia, and most of the human presence here is associated with the constant search for minerals.

With progressive science, many secrets of the Earth have already been discovered. We have already reached the surface of the Moon and explored other planets. But there are still some of the most mysterious places on Earth that have yet to be explored. Here is a list of the best unknown places on the ground.

Unfavorable conditions and destructive natural forces make some places the least explored. On the other hand, it is protection. Because this will help preserve even a few places in their original form.

The most mysterious places on earth

The endless island of Greenland

Greenland is the largest island in the world. It is also the northernmost country in the world. 80 percent of Greenland is covered in ice. This is the exact reason why Greenland remains the least explored and least populated. By 2016, living on this big island only 56,250 people.

Some of the ice sheets on this island are 3,200 meters thick. The island also contains glaciers, deep rivers, ice, sun, hot springs and Northern lights. In case of transport, there are no roads or railway networks in Greenland, and to get through you can choose a snowmobile, boat, plane or helicopter.

Mariana Trench in the Western Pacific Ocean

The Mariana Trench is the deepest part on Earth, located in the western Pacific Ocean. This deep, crescent-shaped trench was formed in the ocean millions of years ago. Given the depth and high pressure in the Mariana Trench, this dangerous place to explore it.

So far, there have been only two successful manned descents into the depression. The first descent was made by Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard and Lieutenant Don Walsh in 1960. The second mission was carried out by famous Hollywood director James Cameroon in 2012.

The Mariana Trench is home to many rare minerals and ocean creatures. Bottom Mariana Trench contains fossils.

Unclimbed peak Kankar Punsum in Bhutan

Kankar-Punsum is the most high mountain, not passed in the world. It is located in Bhutan. Even at the most high peak, Mount Everest has already been successfully climbed by many people. But no one has ever managed to reach the top of Kankar Punsum.

In total, four expeditions took place there. In 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1994 respectively. But all these expeditions were unsuccessful due to heavy snowfall and unstable conditions. in 2004, the Bhutanese government restricted mountaineering in Kankar Poonsum due to spiritual beliefs. So, the mountain became unclimbed and unknown.

Lifeless Deserts

It is a known fact that deserts are the least explored due to poor weather conditions. Sahara is the most big desert in the world. It covers more than 200 million square miles. The Sahara is located in Africa and is the largest and hottest desert in the world.

Deserts receive very little rainfall per year. Dramatic temperature fluctuations are also very common in deserts. The days can be quite hot. But the nights are very cold. This makes for very harsh conditions for animals, plants and humans. Although, some animals and plants can be found in deserts. Such animals are highly technologically advanced to live in harsh conditions.

Unknown Deep Caves

There are a large number of unexplored caves located throughout the world. Too difficult to explore many caves due to unbearable weather conditions and sharp rocks

Also some underwater caves in the world are unexplored, even there is no marine life due to the deadly conditions. Flooded, Yucatan Cenotes, cave networks in Mexico are the best example for this. Crystal Caves and snow caves have become too dangerous for expeditions due to unprecedented changes.

Boundless Amazon, South America

With a total area of ​​2.5 million square kilometers, the Amazon contains half tropical forests on the ground. Rich biodiversity and availability large quantity rare species make the Amazon popular for scientific expeditions. But the mysterious Amazon is a dangerous habitat.
There is no dry season in the Amazon rainforest; it rains throughout the year. Heavy rain in the Amazon rainforest begins in February. This leads to a sharp rise in the water level in the river and severe flooding. In such conditions, transport across rivers also became too dangerous due to extreme river currents.

The Amazon is also dangerous because of deadly animals such as jaguars, rattlesnakes, Brazilian wandering spiders, mosquitoes, poisonous frogs, piranhas, black caimans and anacondas, which can even harm humans. Additionally, lack of access to healthy food and clean water makes an expedition to rainforests The Amazon is too dangerous.

Icy Antarctica

Antarctica is the coldest place on the surface of the Earth. It is a dry, cold, windy continent. The climate in Antarctica varies dramatically from -10 degrees Celsius to -30 degrees Celsius under normal conditions. The lowest recorded temperature in Antarctica is -89 degrees. This harsh climate of Antarctica itself makes for dangerous research conditions.

The maximum wind speed recorded in Antarctica was 200 mph in 1972. The ice in Antarctica is 2 miles thick. It reflects the unbearable climate conditions on the continent. Heavy snow, glaciers, crevasses and other potential hazards in Antarctica. Therefore, this place is very difficult to explore.

Let's look at the most unusual corners of our planet. We will talk about unusual landscapes that evoke admiration just by their appearance - these are real wonders of nature.

Let's start with the most unearthly part of our planet - the Dry Valleys in Antarctica. This desert is unique in that it is the driest place on earth. There has been no precipitation here for several million years. This place is closest in climate to Mars, and therefore is of particular interest to NASA. Mars rovers are tested here and large-scale research is conducted in all directions. This is the only part of Antarctica that is not covered with ice. In the valleys there is a frozen lake with extremely salty water, mysterious bacteria and organisms were discovered under the ice - this discovery served as confirmation of the theory that life exists on Mars

In second place is the island of Socotra - the landscapes of this island are unique and look more like alien ones. The island has been geographically isolated from Africa for 6 million years and is home to many extremely rare species of flora and fauna - a third of which are endemic and can only be found here. Despite the hot and dry climate, many amazing and beautiful plants grow here, many of which are about 20 million years old.

Next on the list of “The most unusual places on Earth” is the Rio Tinto quarry in Andalusia, Spain. The huge quarries of Rio Tinto create a surreal, lunar-like landscape. The quarries are named after the river of the same name, which flows here and washes minerals out of huge craters. Mining has been carried out here for many centuries, so the river is painted a bright red-orange color, its acidity and saturation with metals is simply off scale. Currently, mining in this region has ceased, and Rio Tinto attracts crowds of tourists and photographers to Andalusia.

Let's move on, I still have something to surprise you with :) I bet that you have never heard of Spotted Lake, much less seen such stunning landscapes. The lake is located in British Columbia, Canada. Depending on weather conditions and the time of year, the lake crystallizes and turns a certain color. Many “spots” – circles of minerals – form on the lake. This is the world's largest concentration of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt), calcium and sodium, as well as silver and titanium. This place is sacred to the indigenous Indians of Canada, and is famous for its medicinal properties- for this he was given the name Kliluk.

Another unusual landscape - the largest in the world salt Lake, Salar de Uyuni. This is a beautiful area with a huge salt desert, active volcanoes, large islands cacti and geysers. You can ride on the surface of the lake in a jeep and admire the unusual, sometimes unearthly beauty of this place. The Uyuni salt marsh is clearly visible from space and is one of the points for satellite calibration.

There is another unusual place in Brazil - Vale da Lua, which means Valley of the Moon. This is a rock formation, washed by water, with natural swimming pools. Vale da Lua is located in the Brazilian Chapada forest and is one of the oldest rock formations on the planet consisting of quartz and crystals.

There are also unusual places in Japan. This is the Bloody Pond, one of Beppu's famous springs. There are nine unusual geyser springs in this city, but the most famous among them is the Bloody Pond with hot water of bright red color. This color is due to the high iron content in the water. This pond is also the most photogenic among all the sources.

Coming eighth on our list is the Shilin Stone Forest in China, a stunning example of karst topography. The rocks are made of limestone and were formed by water, which destroyed everything except these tree-like pillars. Since the Ming Dynasty, Shilin Stone Forest has been known as the “First Wonder of the World.”

Another miracle of nature is the Richat Structure in Mauritania. It is also called the Eye of the Sahara. Richat is about 30 miles in diameter and is visible from space. The formation was originally thought to be the result of a meteorite impact, but modern geologists believe that the Richat structure is the result of erosion. The reason for its round shape is still a mystery that scientists around the world are struggling with.

The famous gate to Hell - Darvaz in Turkmenistan, was also included in the list. This place frightens with its power, thousands of tons of lava and heat emanating from the bowels of the Earth. There is a burning crater in the middle of the Karakum desert, its diameter is 60 meters and its depth is 20 meters. At its core, Darvaz is a gas well, and the history of its discovery is quite interesting. Researchers drilled a well here to extract gas, but as a result this huge abyss opened, the gas had to be set on fire so that no one would be poisoned.

Closing the list of the most unusual places on the ground are the ice caves of Eisreisenwelt. These caves are different from any other caves because of their icy strangeness. Once you get here you feel like you're somewhere else. fairy tale world. There are many ice caves in the world, but the Eisreisenwelt Caves are the largest among them. Their total length is 40 kilometers, and only a small part is open to the public. But even this is enough for thousands of tourists every day to admire the grandeur and unusualness of this place.