Unusual places on earth. The Himalayas - mountains with history

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 the 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.

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

New Zealand is 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 their 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. The quiet, picturesque area on China's east coast has not become a comfortable place for humans to live, but it has quickly become 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. Thus, the abandoned settlement gradually turns 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 entire 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.

Yosemite National Park in California has an impressive natural feature called Horsetail Fall. Behind 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. Just a few days a year, visitors to the park have the opportunity to see a rare phenomenon - the transformation of an ordinary water stream into a fiery waterfall, reminiscent of lava erupting from a volcano. In fact, this natural phenomenon is 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 skills and ability to maintain balance on sheer 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 on the shores of the 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.

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

Beautiful caves and golden beaches, beautiful forests and majestic mountains make up the beauty of the Earth. Some of the corners of our planet never leave the pages of fashion guidebooks. But there are places that can rarely be found in such literature.

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

Only a few of them have survived to this day. The most significant structure of these is the Shwezigon Golden Pagoda. It was built in 1057 on the site indicated by a white elephant carrying a bandage, a tooth and a rib of Buddha. These same relics are still kept in the temple.

Other attractions of Bagan must also be included in the photos of the most beautiful and amazing places in the world: the temples of Ananda, Htilo-Minlo, Shweleikto and the Bu-paya pagoda.

Colored rocks of Zhangye Danxia (China)

The most amazing places on the planet can be built by man or nature. Colored rocks, which are located in the Chinese province of Gansu, are natural formations 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 look so original.

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

Yusupov Palace (Russia)

But, let's return 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 very heart of St. Petersburg on the Moika River. Built in the 18th century for the niece of Peter the Great, Princess Praskovye, it only came into the possession of the Yusupovs in 1830. But, since then, he has been associated only with this legendary surname. This palace is the site of the murder 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. Locals call this river Lijiang. It is recognized as the cleanest river in the Middle Kingdom. 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 by taking a cruise ship or using the service of local gondoliers.

Monastic complex of Meteora (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 founder 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 for themselves and their teachers, amazingly beautiful and reminiscent of the nests of huge birds. The word "Meteora" is translated as "floating in the air."

Volcano Erebus (Antarctica)

One of the most interesting places in the world is the Erebus volcano. It is famous for the fact that on its territory you can see a lake made of real lava. This natural phenomenon is unique. The volcano was named after the ship of the James Clark Ross expedition, which discovered this natural phenomenon. The glow of this volcano attracts everyone who travels to Ross Lake. It is a kind of calling 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 modern local residents more than 2000 years ago. The plowed, multi-level fields not only fed the Ifuago people, but were also an excellent defensive structure.

Union of Fire and Ice (Kamchatka - Russia)

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

Death Valley (USA)

Another natural monument is Death Valley. It must be included in all lists of interesting places in the world. We won’t miss this unique place either. Formed many thousands of years ago at the bottom of the sea, this valley amazes with its natural phenomena. There are literally stones walking here. Leaving bizarre traces on the petrified silt. But, if you decide to come here, you need to prepare for intense heat. During the day, the thermometer here rarely drops below 50 degrees.

Guam Gorge (Russia)

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

Beach with caves near Algarve (Portugal)

One of the most amazing places in the world, undoubtedly, are the Portuguese caves, which are located in the southernmost province of the country of port wine and the birthplace of Cristiano Ronaldo. The most famous of them is the Algarve de Benagil cave. It 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)

Many of us associate the beauty of the Land of the Rising Sun with cherry blossoms. In this country, special tours are even created with the help of which you can observe the alternate flowering of this plant in all provinces of Japan. But another, no less popular symbol of Japan is the Sagano Bamboo Forest. Looking through photos of the most beautiful and amazing places in the world, you will definitely find several images of a picturesque grove of evergreen bamboos.

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

The nature of Sokotora seems like a setting for science fiction films. Charming vegetation, many examples of which are found only on this island, divine beaches and silence. This is exactly what you need for happiness and a serene paradise holiday.

Lake Baskunchak (Russia)

It is called the saltiest 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 Baskunchak Cave. Its one and a half kilometer length attracts speleologists.

Jan 29, 2016

On the surface of our planet there are beautiful landscapes and unique landscapes that give rise to associations with other galaxies. website has prepared an overview of the most unusual places and invites you to admire the wondrous and bizarre imagination of nature.

Photo by Wolfgang Staudt

The grandiose and unearthly view of Niagara Falls will forever amaze your imagination. It is located on the border between the USA and Canada, in the state of New York. In general, this is a whole complex of powerful and rolling waterfalls, which include: “Horseshoe” (aka “Canadian”), “Veil” and “American”. It is surprising that with relatively small differences in height, all the springs are very wide, and the water beats with such force that its roar is deafening. That is why Niagara Falls is considered one of the largest and noisiest on the entire planet. And this place is so picturesque that, having been here once, you will often remember it and share your impressions with friends.

This natural site is located on Hawaii, the island of Oahu. In the local language, the staircase has a name somewhat reminiscent of the Japanese - “Haiku”. At its core, the stairway to heaven is a uniquely beautiful mountain path that runs right along the tops of small mountains. For the convenience of tourists, the amazing object is surrounded by railings. From the steps of this staircase there are simply breathtaking views of both the heavenly beauty and the valley. And the air seems to saturate, it is so clean, transparent and even tasty. This is one of the most magical and unusual places, worthy of Tolkien’s fairy tales about hobbits and light, almost weightless elves.

3. Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon in Arizona (USA) fully justifies its name, which is translated into Russian as “Great or Huge Canyon.” Its size is truly amazing. The very winding and unpredictable Colorado River runs through it, which with a powerful current makes its way through the limestone rock. The Grand Canyon is an amazing and historically very valuable place. It is in it that one can trace the stages of formation of the modern surface of our planet; There are 4 historical layers presented here. Not only is it fantastically beautiful, this place is invaluable for the development of sciences such as geology and history. It is for this reason that the Grand Canyon is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

It turns out that not only the USA and Hawaii can boast of amazing places on the planet. In Belgium there is a beautiful forest with the sonorous name Hallerboss. He is very famous not only in his native country, but throughout the world. With what? Every spring, unusual forest flowers bloom here - bells. Or rather, they would be completely ordinary if not for their quantity. Every year the forest seems to be lined with a blue carpet, stunning in both its appearance and the subtle aroma in the air. That is why Hallerboss, which stretches south from Brussels (the border of Flanders and Wallonia), is popularly called the “Blue Forest”.

Of course, stunning and unusual places are formed not only on the surface, but also in the most hidden depths of our planet. One of them is the huge Son Doong Cave, which can be found right in the center of Vietnam. To do this, you need to take a walk through the Phong Nha-Kebang National Park, which is located near the border with Laos. The size of this natural object is truly amazing. No wonder the cave was recognized as the largest on the entire planet. Unexplored views open here, and the highest vaults provide scope for the most colorful fantasies. Here are just some data: the height is about 200 meters, the width is about 150, and the length has not yet been fully studied, but approximately 5 km. There are places to take a walk.

6. Valley Monument

If you rely on the name, you might think that we are talking about something man-made, created by artists or sculptors, but our review includes unusual places on Earth, created exclusively by nature itself. Likewise, Monument Valley, which is again located in the state of Arizona, USA, is amazing precisely because man did not take part in its creation at all. The upper layer of the Colorado Plateau in this particular place once consisted of very soft and unstable rocks of sedimentary origin. Over time, they were completely destroyed, and small rock fragments remained in the valley, which are now called monuments, or monuments. Only now they were set by history itself and built by the hands of nature. Some rocks even have names, for example Three Sisters, Mitten (Western and Eastern), etc.

It would seem that there is nothing more majestic and silent than endless sands to the very horizon. However, deserts can also be amazing in their beauty. In New Mexico (USA) there is a valley called Tularosa. It is already beautiful in itself, but there are also more unusual places here. This is the White Desert. It is so nicknamed because the sands are not golden yellow, but glossy white. It may feel like you're in the middle of a hot winter. The Indians gave the desert a very romantic name - Porcelain, but among tourists it is better known as the White Sands Desert. Due to its natural beauty, this place received the status of a US National Monument, and due to the composition of the dunes, it received the title of the largest gypsum deposit on the planet.

8. National Park in Australia

Another place of amazing beauty in its mesmerizing beauty is the Australian Port Campbell Park, which you can visit in the state of Victoria. Just drive 190km southwest from Melbourne and you'll find yourself in a pristine piece of Paradise. The coastline of the park is especially striking here. It is all lined with rocks of various, sometimes very bizarre, shapes. In addition, it was here that grandiose shipwrecks occurred more than once. And the memory of them is preserved in the names of the mountain fragments - “The Twelve Apostles”, “London Arch”. In Port Campbell you can also visit the beautiful Thundering Cave.

South America is also famous for its unusual places that you simply must visit. One of them is the Dragon Falls, which flows its waters in Venezuela. It is an object of national importance and in itself is very loved by tourists. Education is entirely the work of Mother Nature. By the way, the Dragon shares one valley with an equally famous waterfall - Angel, which is considered the highest on the planet. Both of these places fascinate with their majestic beauty. They are carefully guarded and preserved in order to continue to delight, delight and surprise.

The city of San Francisco, which is located on the west coast of the United States, is on the lips of many. But few people know that it is located on the hills left over from the times of the Gold Rush. Most of them are monuments of historical significance, others are simply beautiful, and still others offer fantastic views. It is not known for certain how many hills are located here, but they say at least fifty. The objects are very popular among tourists. First of all, because they are unusual, there is nothing like this anywhere else on earth. And secondly, many offer stunning views of the city. One of these hills is Twin Peaks, which offers a panoramic view of the entire central part of San Francisco.

A river of extraordinary beauty flows through Slovenia and Italy. It meanders between the mountains, sometimes expanding, sometimes narrowing to the size of a fast stream. The path of Sochi, or, in Italian, Isonzo, runs through incredibly beautiful places, but this is not the only reason why it is famous throughout the world. The color of the river waters is stunning: bright turquoise, blinding in the sun. And surprisingly, throughout Socha does not change it, remaining pale blue. The famous Slovenian Alps, lush vegetation in the valley and unique color make the Isonzo one of the most extraordinary places on the planet.

One of the most famous natural monuments in the world is the Victoria Falls, which is located in South Africa. If you want to visit such unusual places, then you need to come to the border between the African states of Zimbabwe and Zambia, to the Zambezi River. It is here that the most important attraction of the entire continent, the waterfall named after Queen Victoria, makes noise, roars, and throws down tons of water. Its width is almost 2 km, and its height is more than 120 m. The local name is more poetic - “Thundering Smoke”. This natural monument is unique in its impressive size; there are no others like it in the whole world.

On our planet there is also a real entrance to the underworld. It is called “Thor's Well” and is located in Oregon (USA). It looks like a huge funnel into which whole tons of water fall noisily. These places are famous for their gorgeous sunsets, which are impossible to forget. An amazing well, formed by nature itself, provides endless scope for various fairy tales and beliefs. In fact, it is an almost perfectly round hole, 5 m in diameter, located in the high tide zone near Cape Perpetua.

14. Himalayas – mountains with history

The Himalayas are translated from Sanskrit as “the abode of snow,” and for good reason. It’s true that it’s always snowy, sky-high and fabulous here. A chain of mountain ranges and peaks stretches across India and Tibet, as well as Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan. These are very picturesque and unforgettable places that every climber should definitely conquer! The Himalayas are famous for both their unearthly beauty and their famous beauty, about which there are many legends, poems and songs. In general, it is here that there are more than 10 mountains, the peaks of which exceed 8 km, while the average for the Himalayan mountains is 6 km above sea level. This is a world altitude record.

Australia, surrounded on all sides by oceans, is famous for its coral reefs, but the Great Barrier is a different story. It is huge in size, but more than that, it is truly a living, constantly developing organism, beautiful in its uniqueness. It is recognized throughout the world as the largest, and here are just a few figures to prove it: the length is about 2,500 km along the north-eastern Australian coast, the number of individual reefs is almost 3,000, and the number of formed coral islands of various sizes is 900. The appearance of this landscape produces such impressions that impossible to compare with anything.

Iceland is a beautiful northern country, any mention of which immediately brings to mind a picture of geysers. But there are other places here that are no less unusual and beautiful. Glacial lake Jökulsárlón is one of them. Not only is this reservoir formed by glacial waters, which is why it is crystal clear and terribly cold. Also, the whole area around is simply fantastic. It seems as if you were on another planet. Blocks of transparent ice rise straight from the water, creeping over each other and forming a truly beautiful landscape worthy of the Snow Queen herself. It is considered a natural wonder of the country.

And finally, the time has come to travel to the Alps - the oldest and most picturesque mountain ranges on Earth. It is here that the famous Matterhorn mountain, the snow-white miracle of the Alps, is located. Where can you see it with your own eyes? Not far from the resorts of Switzerland Zermatt and Italy Breuil-Cervinia. If you translate the name into Russian, you will get something like a “meadow peak,” that is, a peak abundantly overgrown with vegetation. The mountain is considered one of the highest and most difficult (in terms of mountaineering) in the world, its height is 4478 m. The valley around is very picturesque.

There are a lot of amazing landscapes in Japan, but one of the most stunning is the blue pond of Biei (Hokkaido Island). It overflowed at the foot of the no less picturesque Mount Tokachi, and if you go from the town of Biei strictly to the southeast, you can certainly see this natural object. The pond is unique for its extraordinary color. The gentle, blue tint of the waters makes the heart skip a beat in true admiration for the creation of nature. This color is not always permanent, and under certain weather conditions it can become either more transparent or darker.

Amazing even the most sophisticated imagination. The Ural National Park Taganay is one of these. This is the west of the Chelyabinsk region, not far from the ancient town of Zlatoust. This area was awarded the title of national treasure relatively recently, in 1991. The places here are unique in that they have preserved intact the most valuable natural areas - mountain tundra and meadows, with their unusual vegetation and fauna. In addition, only here you can find pristine moss swamps and relict forests that keep the secrets of entire millennia.

Oh, this is perhaps the most unusual place in the world. The island is located in the Indian Ocean, not far from Somalia. In essence, it is even an archipelago consisting of 4 parts. Three islands are inhabited, but one is not, and this is the most interesting one. It was here, under the most severe selection conditions (sandy soil, climate like in a desert), that unique vegetation survived, the representatives of which cannot be found anywhere else. And indeed it is. If you want to see bizarre plants and animals that are not found anywhere else on the planet, then you should visit this uninhabited, and therefore even more mysterious and amazing, island. It is also here that the rarest and most beautiful type of pearl – black – is mined.

Text: Maria Nikitina

Millions of tourists visit the most interesting places in the world every year. What could be more tempting than taking a photo against the backdrop of the unusual Chinese Danxia rocks, seeing with your own eyes the Gates of Hell located in Turkmenistan, enjoying the cherry blossoms in the Japanese Hitachi Park, or strolling along the streets of the abandoned town of Pripyat near Chernobyl?

10 most incredible corners of our planet:

1. City of Machu Picchu.
2. Flower fields in Holland.
3. Danxia Geopark.
4. Moon Valley in Argentina.
5. Wulingyuan Mountains.
6. Gates of Hell in the Karakum Desert.
7. Bobsleigh track in Sarajevo.
8. Ghost town Pripyat.
9. Abandoned ship Airfield.

Man-made wonders of the planet

In 1911, US archaeologist Hiram Bingham, while in Peru, accidentally discovered the ruins of a fortress city hidden in the Andes. Machu Picchu.

It is believed that the town was founded in the middle of the 15th century and for some time served as the residence of the ruler of the Inca Empire, Pachacutec, and after his death it turned into a place where children of the nobility were educated. Tourists are attracted by the unique architecture of Machu Picchu.

Situated at an altitude of more than 2 km above sea level, the ancient city attracts travelers with unusual buildings built from polished rectangular stones. In total, about 200 buildings have been preserved, including several temples dedicated to the sun god Inti. Modern scientists were amazed by the scale of the buildings, because in order to build them, it was necessary to have the broadest knowledge in the field of engineering, geology, astronomy and other sciences, which humanity did not possess in those days. How the ancient Incas created the city remains a big mystery. Some researchers even seriously suggest that aliens took part in the construction of Machu Picchu.

Flower fields in Holland

The Netherlands is known in every corner of the planet not only for its Red Light District or the Marijuana Museum, but also for its picturesque tulip fields.

The fashion for growing these flowers dates back to the distant 16th century. It was then that the botanist Carl Clusius first planted several tulip bulbs in the Leiden Botanical Garden.

The strange flowers quickly caught the fancy of the local population, and soon any noble Dutchman considered it an honor to grow them at home. Today, tulips of all varieties and the most incredible shades grow on endless plantations located on the North Sea coast, as well as near Amsterdam, The Hague, Leiden, Enkhuizen and Delft. You can admire the incredibly beautiful flower fields in the Netherlands from mid-April to the end of the first ten days of May.

The most unusual gardens are in Japan. To see this, just visit Hitachi National Park, which stretches over 120 hectares in the city of Hitatinaka on the island of Honshu.

Previously, there was a US military base in its place, but since 1973, the Japanese authorities decided to plant the vast territories with luxurious flowers, shrubs and trees. Work to improve the park took 18 years, and in 1991 it was opened to the public for the first time. At different times of the year, sakura, kohia, tulips, lilies and other plants bloom on huge plantations, turning Hitachi into a place of indescribable beauty.

Unusual creations of nature

In the Chinese province of Gansu, near the city of Zhangye, the unique Danxia Geopark is located. It became famous throughout the world thanks to its unusual colored rocks.

An inexperienced tourist may think that a person had a hand in their creation, but this is not so. The Zhangye Danxia Cliffs are a natural object, they were formed over 24 million years from deposits of red sandstone and other mineral rocks. Their unusual shapes, colors and patterns are the result of numerous weather disasters.. Today there is not a single landscape formation on the planet that even remotely resembles Danxia, ​​so the geopark is very popular among lovers of unusual experiences.

Contrary to expectations, the Valley of the Moon is not located on a natural satellite of the Earth, but in the northwestern part of Argentina. Ischigualasto Provincial Park received this name because of its alien appearance.

There is practically no flora and fauna in the valley. Its attraction is the unusual geological formations, similar to polished skittles with a diameter of up to 70 cm. Scientists today are unable to explain their origin. The area gained particular interest among tourists after NASA employees tested their Mars rovers there.

Located in the Hunan province of China, the Wulingyuan Mountains are covered in greenery with 3,000 peaks and cliffs, some of which reach heights of up to 800 m.

Between them there are gorges with picturesque lakes, streams and waterfalls. Few people know, but it was the Wulingyuan Mountains that inspired the authors of the film “Avatar” to create fabulous landscapes that would amaze viewers.

Underground road to hell

When listing unusual places in the world, it is worth mentioning the Gates of Hell, located in the Karakum Desert (Turkmenistan). The attraction with such an impressive name is a gas crater, the depth of which reaches 20 m and a diameter of 60 m.

It was formed in 1971 after unsuccessful searches for underground gas. While drilling a well, Soviet geologists came across a void filled with natural gas, into which the earth and equipment located on its surface had fallen. To prevent the gas from leaving the crater and poisoning people living in nearby settlements, it was decided to set it on fire.

Mineral seekers hoped that it would go out within a few days, but they were greatly mistaken. More than 40 years have passed since the formation of the crater, and natural gas burns in it without ceasing. From the outside, this spectacle has a mystical appearance.

Forgotten corners of the world

The most beautiful abandoned places in the world have always attracted the attention of travelers. Once in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), tourists should head to the long-forgotten bobsleigh track.

A modern track that meets international standards was built on the eve of the 1984 Winter Olympic Games; its length was more than 1.5 km. The track was used after the end of the Olympics until the outbreak of the civil war in Yugoslavia in 1991. The hostilities in this Balkan country have long since ended, but interest in bobsleigh among the local population has subsided. The track, where the best athletes on the planet competed for prizes, has been abandoned for more than two decades and is of interest only to travelers.

The small town of Pripyat in northern Ukraine can be called, without exaggeration, the most interesting settlement in the post-Soviet space. Founded in 1970 as a city of nuclear workers, it ceased to exist 16 years later. The reason for this was the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant located 3 km from it. After the explosion at the power unit, the entire population of Pripyat was evacuated. The city turned into an exclusion zone, and people began to call it a ghost.

Today in Pripyat everything looks the same as it did at the time of the tragedy. Once in the city, it’s as if you’re transported back 3 decades. The walls of buildings are decorated with communist slogans, schools and kindergartens are waiting for pupils, and apartments are waiting for their owners. But the city differs from other settlements in that no one is going to return to it. Its streets are filled with piercing silence, and the only people there are tourists and tour guides.

Travelers looking for the most beautiful abandoned places in the world should head to Australia. On this distant continent in Homebush Bay the remains of the steam ship Airfield have rested for many years.

The British ship was launched in 1911 and carried ammunition and coal during World War II. Now the Airfield is considered the most famous abandoned ship on the planet. Real thickets of mango trees grew on its deck, which is why it was popularly called the “Floating Forest.” The ship looks especially spectacular in the sunset.

There are many places on our planet, when contemplating which a storm of enthusiastic exclamations involuntarily breaks out, and a dreamy smile appears on your face.

Some of these places were created by people using modern technologies, but there are also those whose formation occurred in an absolutely natural way - by the forces of nature and certain climatic conditions. There are such places in different parts of the world, and traveling to them can be the ultimate dream for each of us.

Beauty record holders of the Land of the Rising Sun

Hitachi National Seaside Park, which was established in 1991 on the site of a former military base, can rightfully be considered a striking, exemplary example of an original landscape. The area of ​​the park is 120 hectares, and a great variety of the most striking representatives of the flora grow on its territory: poppies, nemophila, tulips, sakura, forget-me-nots, daffodils, lilies. The most amazing and incredibly beautiful thing here is the change of flower cover in accordance with the changing seasons.

The Japanese are proud of another truly heavenly place in their country - a bamboo forest in Kyoto called Sagano. The picturesque alley of thousands of trees is an original, truly amazing picture.

Orderly bamboo thickets covering an area of ​​16 square kilometers have a rather attractive feature - the wind seems to play gentle, soothing musical melodies on the bamboo stems. The forest is one of hundreds of places included in the state's officially protected landmarks.

Takinoue Park is considered a real kingdom of shibazakura flowers or pink moss. The smallest pink flowers are planted on an area of ​​100 thousand square meters, creating the impression that the traveler has found himself in an amazing land of fairy fairies.

An equally amazing landmark of Japan is the surreal wisteria tunnel. The Wisteria Tunnel is located in a garden located in the city of Kitakuyushu. Wisteria vines gently fall from all sides, tightly entwining the frame of the tunnel. Multi-colored thickets give the impression of a complete picture of a surreal direction, creating a fabulous, magical atmosphere.

Vibrant landscapes of modern China

In China, perhaps the most popular beach is the Panjin Red Beach, located about 25 kilometers from the city of the same name. The beach is called red because of the many small algae, thanks to which by autumn it becomes as if covered with a bright red dense carpet.

Only a small part of the beach is publicly accessible to tourists, and its main territory is considered a protected area.

The Canola flower fields are a picturesque and eye-catching place in China. Every spring, Yunnan province in the east turns into a yellow sea of ​​flowers, attracting numerous visitors. At this time, rapeseed flowers (canola) are in full bloom here, turning ordinary fields into vibrant works of art.

In Yuanjiajie Park there is a non-trivial, bright corner created by nature. This is Mount Tianji, located at an altitude of 1250 meters above sea level. In good weather, from the top of the mountain you can see stunning surrounding landscapes, including almost 2 thousand other mountain peaks. There is also an original bridge called “Connecting Hearts”.

Gansu Province is famous for its colorful Zhangye Danxia Cliffs, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. Scattered ridges of rocks, painted in different colors of the rainbow, contain a large number of isolated caves in their depths.

Scientific research has proven that previously there were water pools in this area, which dried up during global cataclysms and left such a multi-colored trace. Now there are many boardwalk tourist routes here.

Aesthetically strict Germany

The city of Bonn can be called an isolated landmark in Germany. Being one of the largest cities, Bonn consists entirely of small streets, which contain a large number of historical and architectural monuments.

The Elector's Castle, the Cathedral, the Old Town Hall - these and many other buildings make up a rich historical heritage of world class. The city is also home to a large number of museums; there is even a whole museum quarter.

The Black Forest of the Black Forest is another pride of Germany, located in the south of the country. This forest can be called a separate estate with its own natural infrastructure and the presence of the most striking representatives of flora and fauna. The Danube originates here and there are numerous lakes and waterfalls. In addition, the Black Forest was quite successfully and colorfully described in the works of the brothers Grimm and Wilhelm Hauff, who populated it with witches and magical creatures.

The most presentable corners of the world space

Salar de Uyuni or the salt marsh of Uyuni is called the largest and most beautiful lake in the world. It is located almost 4 thousand meters above sea level. The area of ​​the dried salt lake is more than 10 thousand square kilometers, and the thickness of the salt layer at its bottom is from 2 to 8 meters.

The surface of the lake is perfectly flat, so after each rain the lake turns into an amazingly beautiful mirror.

In addition to being a productive source of salt, Uyuni is also a scientifically important site, used by astronauts to test and calibrate remote sensing instruments on modern satellites.

The beauty of Mexico

When drilling the Nike mine in Mexico, at a depth of almost 300 meters, the Crystal Cave was discovered. The length of the largest selenite crystals reaches 10 meters, which is why they are called the largest on the planet.

The cave is currently closed to general access, as descending into it is extremely dangerous without appropriate preparation and equipment.

Amazing places in Vietnam

An equally famous cave is Son Doong - the largest cave in the world, located in Vietnam. Local residents discovered a unique natural phenomenon back in 1991, and it was discovered for the whole world by researchers in 2009.

The volume of the cave is 38.5 million cubic meters, and it has already formed its own natural resources and even a separate climate.

Tunnel of Love in Ukraine

The Ukrainian “Tunnel of Love”, located in Ukraine - in the small town of Klevan, looks like a real portal to a fairy-tale world.

The green crowns of trees close over the abandoned railway create a peaceful picture. There is a belief that the wishes of lovers made here will surely come true.

The Indescribable Beauty of Alaska

The Mendenhall Glacier Caves in Alaska are considered to be a spectacular creation of nature. During the melting of the Mendenhall Glacier, caves gradually form, in which cracks are created with the help of meltwater.

Over time, the cracks transform into separate passages. The unearthly beauty attracts the attention of not only naturalists and tourists from all over the world, but also numerous photographers. Crystal caves can dissolve within two years, and the most persistent ones, ten years old, are created in motionless layers of ice.

How Holland will captivate you

Holland is a country of flowers, and spring fields of colorful tulips attract the attention of visitors from all over the world. From March to the end of May, an exhibition is held that gathers a huge number of people in Koenenhof Park.

A huge carpet of 17.5 thousand hectares represents many species and varieties of not only tulips, but also other representatives of the flower world.

America will surprise you not only with money

Many picturesque sandy rocks, in which you can see large cracks, illuminated by original, subdued light, create all the prerequisites for multiple visits. This is the result of centuries of exposure to water and wind and is called Antelope Canyon.

The best time to visit the canyon is considered to be autumn and spring, and during heavy rains a visit can even be dangerous. The canyon consists of two parts – the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, for which separate tourist routes have been developed.

Unique pink lake in Sinegal

Retba (or Pink Lake) is located approximately 30 kilometers from Dakar in Senegal and has a maximum depth of 3 meters. The channel that once connected the lagoon to the ocean was filled with sand due to constant tides, after which a peculiar bowl of approximately 3 square kilometers in area was formed.

After the drought of the 70s and thanks to the presence of cyanobacteria, the water in the lake turned bright pink. The amazingly picturesque place attracts many tourists, and the excess salt allows you to stay on the surface under any conditions.

France - bright lavender fields

One of the striking attractions of Provence in France is its lavender fields.

The artistic landscape is distinguished by a riot of different shades of purple, and especially for the constant influx of tourists, lavender roads have been laid here, crossing cozy villages and farms. Lavender blooms from June to the end of August.

No less bright and attractive are the lavender fields in the UK - in Banstead or Kent.

Amazing Mount Roraima

A unique place on our planet is the location at the junction of Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela of the “tepui” - the table mountain of Roraima. It is the highest mountain in the area, with its highest peak reaching 2810 meters.

The Roraima plateau is 31 square kilometers, and optimal protection is created by the 400-meter cliffs surrounding the mountain. Unique plant species grow on the plateau, and the fabulous view of the surrounding landscape is created by numerous waterfalls and clouds constantly swirling above the top.