Vanshika- Vanshika
Weirdest places across the world, one must visit- 12 Unusual destinations on Earth!
Updated: Apr 26, 2021
Earth is wonderful in a weird way. There are a thousands of places we are yet to explore but there are many others which we are already aware of and must admire their bizarre beauty.
This is the second part of the "12 unusual and bizarre places on earth" blogpost.
I have compiled a list of yet another 12 unusual but breathtaking destinations in the world one must visit at least once in their lifetime. Their extraordinary and miraculous appearances will leave you astounded to your very core.
From Plain of jars in Laos to the spooky crooked forest, the stories and facts about these astonishing places, will leave you in awe.
1) PLAIN OF JARS, LAOS
What maximum size jars have you seen?! I am pretty sure they won't be as huge as the jars you will find in Laos. The Plain of Jars is a megalithic archaeological landscape in Laos. It consists of thousands of stone jars scattered around the upland valleys and the lower foothills of the central plain of the Xiangkhoang Plateau.
Though the caretakers for the Plain of Jars are applying for status as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the area still remains one of the most dangerous archaeological sites in the world. It is believed that thousands of unexploded bombs, from the secret war of 1960s, still remain in this site. It’s only been relatively recently that some areas have been cleared and declared safe for visitors.
2) CAT ISLAND, JAPAN
Are you cat person or a dog person?! I, personally, am not a very big fan of kitties :p! But if you are, then I have a perfect place for you, where all you will see are kitties!
The Aoshima island in Japan, also known as the cat island is famed for its huge number of Feline residents. All you need, to reach there, is a teeny ferry ride from the Japan's east coast, Tashirojima. Originally the cats were encouraged as the island produced silk and, mice are a natural predator of silkworms, so to curb the increase of the mice population, cats were brought in to the island. Local fishermen regarded them as good luck and the island even has a cat shrine, along with newly built cat shaped cabins for tourists to stay in. So, what are you waiting for?! Spend a day with no one but furry cats on this island.
3) FLY GEYSER, USA
This utopian looking geyser is way to bless your eyes and soul. Nevada is famed for its Las Vegas, but I have something more fascinating and intriguing that'll make you plan your next trip to this place. The fly geyser also known as the fly ranch geyser in Nevada, USA, is a geothermal geyser located on private land in Washoe County. The Fly Geyser is the result of man-made drilling in 1916, when water well drilling accidentally penetrated a geothermal source. Fly Geyser, which is 12 feet high and 12 feet wide, now is a part of the Hualapai Geothermal Flats.
Not just this, this is a colourful geyser and the reason behind its multi-coloured appearance is thermophilic algae growing on the calcium carbide. The algae builds in hot and moist conditions only.
4) CONFLUENCE OF RHONE AND ARVE RIVERS, SWITZERLAND
A peculiar phenomenon like the one in the photo can only be witnessed in Geneva, Switzerland. There is a stark contrast between the colours of the water in the rivers of Rhone and Arve. The water doesn't mix and there is a clear visibility of difference of colours. La Jonction is the place where these two rivers merge together. For a good view of this phenomenon, there is a viewpoint next to the water, as well as a bridge, Viaduc de la Jonction, 40m above. The river on the left is the Rhone, which is just exiting Lake Lehman. The river on the right is the Arve, which receives water from the many glaciers of the Chamonix valley (mainly the Mer de Glace) before flowing north-west into the Rhone on the west side of Geneva, where its much higher level of silt brings forth a striking contrast between the two rivers.
5) VINICUNCA RAINBOW MOUNTAIN, PERU
Did you know that mountains can be of many different colours other than green, rust and brown?! These seven coloured mountains in Peru will make you feel like you are treading the rainbow. Vinicunca, also called Montaña de Siete Colores or Rainbow Mountain, is a mountain in the Andes of Peru with an altitude of 5,200 meters above sea level. It is located on the road to the Ausangate mountain in the Peruvian Andes, in the Cusco region. This is the second most visited tourist attraction after Machu picchu.
Initially this gorgeous wonder was hidden under a thick layer of ice and wasn't known to many, but during the year 2015, it became well-known. Now, people from all over visit this place to witness the vibrant colours appearing as the sun shines over the surface!
6) NELSON LAKES PARK, NEW ZEALAND
Are you into jungle safaris and exploring the nature?! Then this national park in New Zealand is a must visit for you. The Nelson lakes national park is located in the South island of New Zealand. This bewitching park has more to offer than you may expect! It has got the serene and tranquil forest, a path to trail under the canopies, Calming streams and lakes, both big and small! Wondering what's so strange about such a charming place?!
Well, how about the fact that the lakes are crystal clear and you can see through the water to the very bottom of the lake.
Legend tells the story of Rakaihautu, chief and explorer who came to Aotearoa and travelled with his people to the great mountains. With his ko (digging stick) Rakaihautu dug enormous holes that filled with water. He filled them with kai (food) for those who followed. The lakes, Rotoiti (little lake) and Rotoroa (long lake) remain today.
7) LAKE RETBA, SENEGAL
A PINK LAKE?! YASSSSS! Lake Retba, translates to lake rose which means a pink lake. This unreal looking water body in Senegal is such a blessing to the human eye! The strange and unique colour of this lake owes to the presence of certain kind of Plankton and minerals. These organisms are attracted by the amount of salt present in the water. The lake is separated from the Atlantic Ocean only by a narrow corridor of dunes. It is located some 30 kilometers northeast of Dakar. It get its vivid pink colour due to the huge presence of Dunaliella salina algae. It is completely safe to swim in this lake, so pack your swim wear and just dive into these pink waters.
8) THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, IRELAND
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a natural nature reserve for Northern Ireland. Sixty million years ago a huge volcanic eruption spewed out a mass of molten basalt, which then solidified and contracted as it cooled, creating the cracks that can be seen today. This is believed to be the scientific reason.
The mythical legend behind this strange place is that Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) – an Irish giant picked a fight with Scottish big man Benandonner and so one day after enduring insults from Benandonner, Fionn built a path to use as stepping-stones to reach Scotland, which was then ripped up by Benandonner. The result was the Giant’s Causeway.
9) SPOTTED LAKE, CANADA
I don't think there is a need to mention what is so bizarre about this place! The name itself is pretty fascinating. Spotted Lake is a saline endorheic alkali lake, in a language we all can understand, it means its a lake with highly concentrated minerals, located northwest of Osoyoos in British Colombia. The lake is spotted with 365 separate pools arranged in a strange mosaic-like pattern. Each of these spots hold a unique and highly concentrated chemical content and is said to cure different diseases. Which is why its easy to understand why the locals consider this water body to be sacred, because of its therapeutic values.
But I have some bad news, you cannot actually go inside because the visitors aren't allowed to trespass the tribal area and this lake is a private property :(
Instead, one can view it from highway 3.
10) DEAD VLEI, NAMIBIA
The Dead vlei or the "dead marsh" is located among the largest sand dunes in the world. It is a white clay pan located near the more famous salt pan of Sossusvlei. It is a sun-blackened dead forest in a white clay pan which is basically a dried oasis. An amazing yet counted as one of the strange places in the world, the lack of water forces the roots of trees to come outside looking for moisture. Dead vlei is a paradise for photographers as the contrast between the pitch-black trees and bleached-white pans, and the rusty-red dunes and deep blue sky make for incredible images. Dead vlei is at least 1km walk from the parking lot so be sure to take drinking water with you.
11) RICHAT STRUCTURE, MAURITANIA
In the desert in Mauritania, you will find this intriguing structure, with a diameter of 30 miles, it looks like an Alien spaceship landed in this place. It is also called the "Eye of Africa" or the "Eye of Sahara". It is a prominent circle-shaped structure smack in the middle of Mauritania.
You can get to the destination from the quaint desert town of Ouadane in the west-central part of Mauritania in western North Africa. But, do lookout for the weather!
12) THE CROOKED FOREST, POLAND
Oooohhh, we are in the Halloween month and there is no way I wouldn't have included this spooky yet beautiful forest in my list of unusual places on Earth. You will come across any oddly-shaped pine trees outside Nowe Czarnowo near the town of Gryfino, West Pomerania. The Crooked Forest consists of around 400 pine trees that grow with a 90-degree bend at their base, the vast majority of which are bent northward. Curiously, the Crooked Forest is enveloped by a larger forest of straight growing pine trees.
The most popular explanation of some being crooked is that their growth was deliberately manipulated by local farmers trying to create naturally curved wood for shipbuilding or furniture making.
So, when are you going to take a stroll among these crooked pines?!