5 Strangest Places on Earth

Posted on 07/24/2019

A calcified flamingo, preserved by the highly basic waters of Tanzania’s Lake Natron and photographed by Nick Brandt (© Nick Brandt 2013, Courtesy of Hasted Kraeutler Gallery, NY)

There are some things that just can’t be explained in this world, and these five places are just to name a few. At a first glance, we couldn’t believe some of these places were real! Have you ever heard or visited any of these unique destinations?

1. Lake Natron

Location: Tanzania

Ever heard of Medusa? In Greek mythology, she is described as a monster; a winged human female with living venomous snakes in place of hair. The most important characteristic to know about her legend is that anyone who gazed upon her face would turn to stone. Well, Lake Natron is no different… Animals that die in this African lake are turned into statues. How? Through calcification. The presence of huge volumes of sodium bicarbonate ensures the animals turn into statues. Also, there is a high alkaline collection, so the lake looks red in colour - which is also why the lake is referred to as the “Petrifying Lake.” If we were you, we wouldn’t even THINK about entering this dangerous water!

2. Tunnel Of Love

Location: Ukraine

Less terrifyingly, there is a section of industrial railway in Ukraine, otherwise known as the Tunnel of Love. It’s true that this green leafy tunnel seems like something out of a fairytale!And that’s why this destination is known for being a classic place for couples to take morning or evening strolls!

3. Sea Of Stars

Location: Maldives

A sea that glows?How could it be? Well, it’s actually bioluminescent sea plankton that causes the sea at Vaadhoo to glow blue during nighttime. This designation is a HUGE tourist attraction, and with good reason. The location started to gain more popularity after being featured in a large number of Bollywood and Hollywood films. The good news is, the Maldives is still a virgin destination and a honeymooner's dream, so there’s nothing stopping you from adding this incredibly beautiful destination on your bucket list!

4. Crooked Forest

Location: Poland

This could easily be the strangest destinations on this list. Why? Because there is literally no scientific explanation as to why these trees are crooked. This is not a very common destination for tourists, as few people visit this region in general… But let us paint the picture for you: In an otherwise normal forest in Poland, full of straight trees, there is this collection of curved trees.

5. Dead Sea

Location: Jordan

Last but not least, The Dead Sea has made our list of strangest places in the world. If you can’t swim, then it’s your lucky day! The Dead Sea is a salt lake that will ensure you can float without any effort.Yes, you heard correctly. How is this possible? Well, The Dead Sea has a high volume of salt and other minerals in the water, in fact, it is 10 times as salty as the ocean, with a salinity of about 34%. That’s why if you open your eyes underwater in The Dead Sea, your eyes will sting badly.