If you don’t stop and “smell the roses” – so to speak – you can sometimes miss out on the many things that make our pale blue dot so incredible. Even in your own neighborhood, there are probably some real surprises you might notice if you just picked up your head and looked…
But, our great planet has more surprises than even that. In fact, there are some spots on the globe that might actually blow your mind! Whether as the result of millennia of geological work or maybe even millions of years of such work, these places have a look that’s decidedly otherworldly.
Have you seen the world’s hottest (and also coolest) natural springs? Have you check out some of the wacky geological formations in places like China and Russia? Have you ever witnessed a cemetery that also doubles as a town for the living?
If not, then you’ve got to check out this list we’ve put together. Let’s take a look at 20 incredible places that seem out of this world!
1. North Cemetery (Manila)
Not only is this location a cemetery, it’s also a place where people live and do business…
2. Dallol Hydrothermal Field (Ethiopia)
This volcanic vent has created an absolutely mind-blowing landscape, and you’ll have to brave some high temperatures to see it for yourself.
3. Luzon (Philippines)
Have you ever wanted to see an island inside of an island inside of an island? That’s exactly what you’ll find here.
4. Grand Prismatic Spring (Wyoming)
Located in Yellowstone National Park, these natural hot springs possess colors that feel almost unnatural.
5. The Forgotten Forest (Wales)
Just outside of a town named Borth the ancient remains of a 4,500-year-old forest were revealed only three years ago…
6. Lake Baikal (Siberia)
You may think of Siberia as a tundra, but Lake Baikal is actually one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.
7. Valpariso (Chile)
Hills of colorful buildings and homes make this city along the Pacific Ocean one of the most beautiful in the world.
8. Britain’s Cropmarks
No, these aren’t crop circles. These are actually ancient archaeological sites that reveal themselves through the lines they create in the landscape.
9. Sedlec Ossuary (Czech Republic)
If the idea of a building covered in bones doesn’t appeal to you, then you might want to skip this macabre treasure.
10. Boiling Lake (Dominica)
Just lake the name says, the waters of this lake are exceptionally hot, reaching temperatures of over 200 degrees.
11. Valley of Flowers (India)
Once the snow thaws and the summer months come, this valley springs to life with the colors of millions of flowers of all different sorts.
12. Rjukan (Norway)
For much of the year, this town used to be shrouded in shadow thanks to surrounding mountains. So, mirrors to reflect sunlight were installed upon those mountains!
13. Merry Cemetery (Romania)
This is one of the more unique cemeteries in the world, with gravestones that feature odd images and humorous poems.
14. Glowworm Caves (New Zealand)
The inside of this gave literally glows thanks to countless bioluminescent creatures, creating a surreal visual experience.
15. Flevoland (Netherlands)
If you visit this town, you can check out a nature preserve that’s home to animals that have walked the earth since the Paleolithic era.
16. Don Juan Pond (Antarctica)
In a land where everything is frozen, you wouldn’t expect to see a pond. But here one is, capable of remaining unfrozen in temperatures as low as 40 below.
17. Mary Celestina Wreck (Bermuda)
Off the coast of Bermuda, you’ll find one of the world’s most alluring shipwrecks, a steamship from the Civil War era.
18. Skyscraper Cemetery (Brazil)
Known as Memorial Necrópole Ecumênica, this 32-storey building is, in fact, a 32-storey cemetery…
19. Zhangye National Geopark (China)
Truly, the rainbow mountains of this incredible national park are unlike anything else you’ll see on the planet.
20. Floating Island (Peru)
Out on Lake Titicaca, there are actually floating islands upon which people have lived for centuries.
