Explore the 15 most bizarre places in the world, where nature and creativity collide to create unforgettable travel experiences.
Weird, incredulous, inexplicable, outlandinsh, grotesque, offbeat, queer, abnormal, strange; well these are some of the synonyms of ‘bizarre’. You can easily attribute any one or all of these words to the places that are covered in this blog post
When you have finished reading the post fully, you would wish it were lengthier, describing more such natural, abnormal wonders.
Whenever you go to the countries mentioned in this blog post, try to visit these bizarre places.
You are likely to feel a sense of victory even if you witness at least one of the 18 outlandish wonders.
They would create such a lasting impression you.
These offbeat places exist from New Zealand to Alaska.
You can classify them under:
- Abnormal
- Para-normal
- Mystic
- Mythical
- Alien
- Scary
- Geographical
15 Most Bizarre Places in the World You Must Visit!
While the majority of the strange occurrences can be explained scientifically or logically, a few remain ‘inexplicable’.
-
Crooked Forest, Poland
Yes, it is crooked indeed! Can you believe these are pine trees that are known to stand ramrod straight?
See how straight the pine trees are.
I have seen even mini pine plants that also were very straight.
But, these pine trees in Poland are stand crooked.
Where?
You can see the 400 odd bent pine trees in Gryfino town, in northwest Poland’s West Pomerania province. It is close to the German border.
Why?
No one knows the method, the arborist used.
What is odd is the pine forests that surround this crooked forest are not bent but stand straight, and tall as usual.
-
Devils Bridge, Germany
The exact reflection of the bridge in the water beneath it is nothing devilish about but it is still called so.
However its official name is ‘Rakotzbrücke’.
The name of this German park is, “Kromlau Azalea and Rhododendron Park”.
The beautifully landscaped park is developed out of 200 acres of land. The lush surroundings make the place dreamy, and rather isolated.
As its age is over 100 years, no one is allowed to walk on it.
Where?
It is in Saxony. The exact name of the location is Gablenz. The nearest airport and big city is Frankfurt at 125 southeast.
Why?
It was deliberately built as an attraction for the tourists to Frankfurt.
Nevertheless, the legend says some supernatural power must have a hand in it.
-
Lake Abraham, Canada
It is one of the largest lakes in Canada, measuring 53 sq.kms. Well, we cannot visualize an area if it is mentioned in sq.km.
Therefore, it is better to mention the lake’s size in terms of length and width.
It is 32 km by 3.3 km in length and breadth respectively.
Did you notice the ice forms that are floating on the lake?
It is the result of a geographical phenomenon. The lake is surrounded by diverse flora that emits methane during decay.
The methane gas gets trapped inside the frozen bubbles that actually float!
Where?
It is in Alberta, Canada, near the famous Canadian Rockies. It is part of the Clearwater County.
You can either fly up to Calgary or Edmonton, or then hire a taxi to drive up to the ice-bubbles in Lake Abraham.
Why?
The gas creates bubble on the water. When the water is frozen, the gas-entrapped ice blobs stay as such.
You can walk or skate on the frozen lake, and go near the ice bubble. Watch a video below.
This is a natural wonder.
Nearby attractions:
In the vicinity of the lake are the Mountain Ernest Ross, Michener Mountain, and North Saskatchewan River.
Incidentally, Lake Abraham is a manmade lake to generate electric power.
-
Island of the dolls
Please enlarge to see the dolls that are placed on the trees on a lake shore.
This is not a wonder but related to some superstition, and occult stories.
There is a lake in Mexico City and it hosts a small island comprising of trees only.
The dolls were made by one person in the memory of a girl’s body he found on the water.
Next day, he actually found a doll that he placed on a tree on which he placed the first doll he made in the memory of the girl.
Soon, he made numerous dolls and the island was made into a tourist landmark.
Tourists who visited the island of dolls believed it to be a haunted place.
They claimed the dolls animated, seemed to be speaking to the other dolls.
Now the public were convinced it is a site of some occult power and started placing objects near threes, seeking blessings from the soul of the dead girl.
Today, the island of Dolls is a major tourist attraction, and it became a site of a movie.
Where?
Ask for the way to reach Xochimilco canal, in the suburb of Mexico City.
A small vessel parked there will take visitors to the island of dolls.
Hmm… it is a weird attraction indeed! Some of the fabric dolls appear disfigured and scary.
Nonetheless, it is a tourist attraction, at least for the brave hearted.
-
Gates to Hell
This is actually a gas chamber, not out of volcanic activity but due to the existence of natural gas fields.
The constant burning, the appearance of huge burning hole, creates fear. Thus it is ideally called the ‘gates to hell’.
Its official name is “Darvaza Gas Chamber”.
Where?
Darvaza, Turkmenistan. This is a Central Asian country that is surrounded by other countries whose names end with ‘stan’.
They include:
- Afghanistan
- Kazakhstan
- Uzbekistan
To go near the door to hell, you have to target reaching the cruel Karakum Desert.
The Darvaza crater is in the desert. Ashgabot, the capital of Turkmenistan is 260 km south of the burning cavern.
Note:
By the way, do you know the size of the Karakum Desert? It comprises a whopping 350,000 sq. km!
Why?
I think this is a manmade attraction. The subterranean gas fields existed but they were just emitting gas seen as bubbles.
Some people believed it to be a poisonous gas and wanted the gas not to spread. They thought ignition is a way of stopping the spread, and proceeded accordingly.
The fire seen from a distance has been going on for the past 45 years or so.
Inexplicably, this gate to hell is turned out to be tourist attraction.
-
Eternal Flame Falls
Can you believe water and fire co-exist? I mean, it, buddy. There exist such a natural but bizarre phenomenon.
Isn’t it weird?
Where?
It is right there in New York City. To be more exact, go to Chestnut Ridge Park first in the western part of New York, Once inside the park, follow the sign to Shale Creek Reserve.
You can see the waterfall and right behind the falling water, you can see the flame clearly.
Why?
There is a natural gas field in the cave behind the waterfall. Someone has to ignite the gas.
Once lit, the flame can remain so until someone extinguish the fire. But, it can be relit.
So, this is a natural wonder where man has a hand to make it possible.
Since the flame is seen throughout the year, it is called an eternal flame.
-
Devils tower, U.S
Whenever you see a landform that is rather single, rises straight and ends with a flat summit, it is known in geography as ‘butte’.
Again, I don’t see anything ‘devilish’ about this tall monolith.
I suppose, that’s why it has an alternative name, ‘Bear Lodge’. Its height is 867 feet. It is a big tourist attraction.
The ‘wonder’ aspect of this tower is its solitarity. In addition, it looks cleanly shaven of any green foliage.
Where?
It is in the town known as Hulett, Crook County, Wyoming, the United States.
Why?
It is a natural, geographical feature. Moreover, it is classified as a U.S. National Monument!
Well, there is something else that may point to the reason for the name Bear Lodge.
Long ago, a few Native American Indian girls were chased by a huge bear. In an answer to the girls’ prayer, the rock on which they were lying down suddenly rose to the present height.
The legend further proved this story by pointing to the mark of bear’s claws on Devils Tower that can be seen even now.
Pretty interesting behind the existence of a ‘butte’!
-
Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela
First, watch the video.
This lightening occurs almost throughout the year. You can see the series of lightening at the same time every night.
You can count. The bizarre show of lightening appears as many as 28 times every second.
Buddy, it doesn’t stop after a second, or after a minute, or after an hour of continuous lightening.
This atmospheric lightening show goes on for as many as 9 hours every night!
That’s a terrific natural show of lightening that doesn’t create any sound at all!
Where?
In Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, South America.
The exact location of the lake where the lightening occurs is the estuary where River Catatumbo delivers its content into the Lake Maracaibo.
Doesn’t the lake’s size look big? Yes, it occupies a mind-boggling 13,500 sq. km!
It is said to be the oldest lake in the world. Its formation is dated back to 36 million years ago!
Incidentally, it is the main source of the lake which looks as an extension of the Gulf of Venezuela.
The name of the continuous lightening phenomenon is ‘Catatumbo Lightening’.
Why?
It is a natural wonder; an atmospheric phenomenon. Consequently, this place on Venezuela is considered as the most electric place in the world, and aptly so.
-
Michigan triangle
We all have heard of the ‘Bermuda Triangle’, that used to swallow whatever enters its mouth. It is one of the eerie places on earth where the ships that enters the triangle area, mysteriously dawn into a vortex.
Similarly, there is an area called Michigan Triangle. It exists right in the large Lake Michigan.
Shipwrecks are not uncommon here. What inexplicable here is, even, the planes that pass over the Michigan Triangle crash into the lake.
Why?
There is no clue to these natural disasters. In addition to the catastrophes, the locals have reported seeing UFOs.
There is another class of alien objects called Unidentified Submerged Objects {USO} that people found.
Can it be due to the presence of bad spirits hovering over the area of the triangle?
-
Marfa Ghost Lights, Texas
This is one of the weird wonders. It is attributed to some paranormal activity.
Please zoom and view. I don’t mean the red lights but the yellow lights seen at a distance from the viewing platform.
Where?
This occurrence can be seen in Marfa, a city in Texas desert.
Why?
Numerous reasons were published that include paranormal activity, car lights, and atmospheric phenomenon.
-
Spotted Lake, Canada
The actual name of the lake is Lake Kliluk. The lovely colored patches on the water are very attractive.
Where?
It is in Canada’s Osoyoos Town, near Similkameen Valley, British Columbia province.
Why?
The water is a rich source of various mineral compunds that include the sulphate of sodium, magnesium, calcium, silver, and titanium too.
When the water evaporates during the summer, the remaining water shows patches of various colors on the surface.
-
Aleya Ghosts, India
The colored lights in the Sunderbans marshlands are neither artificial nor natural. They are said to be emanating from the souls of people who have died in the marshlands.
Where?
The marshlands and the wetlands of Sunderbans are located about 75 km from Kolkata City, West Bengal, India
Why?
The scientists attribute the cause of lights to the presence of methane or chemical action involving phosphine, and diphospane (please note the slight difference in spelling}. But the locals believe it to be a paranormal activity. Those who showed valour and started walking towards the lights, were died by drowning in the marsh.
-
Light emitting water {sea of stars}
What a fantastic sight! Though we are all aware of the blue glow emitting micro-organisms that are the real cause for the water to glitter in the night, this particular beach in Maldives is the densest of all other bioluminescent beaches in the world.
This place is rightly called the ‘Sea of Stars’. Consequently, Vadhoo Island is one of the most visited islands in Maldives.
Where?
You have to reach the island of Vadhoo, Maldives to witness this natural wonder. From the Male city, the capital of Maldives, Vadhoo Island is only 5 km away. Speedboats are available for transportation.
Why?
Phytoplantion, the microorganisms present in the sea, are the cause of the water’s electric-blue glow.
Consequently, Vaadhoo Island is one of the most visited islands in the Maldives group of islands.
The blue glow is more pronounced when you disturb the water.
You can swim on this beach but try not to swallow the water,
-
The lake that turns birds into stones, Tanzania.
This lake is capable of turning vulnerable birds, and animals into stones!
Where?
The location of this high-salinity late is 140 km from a Tanzanian city known as Arusha. But national’s capital Dodoma is very far off at over 400 km, south.
Why?
Lake Natron, Tanzania is a petrifying lake with high temperature {60 deg C} and extreme alkalinity {ph value is above 10+)
If any birds or flying foxes enter the water to catch a prey, they are instantly stoned!
The water is super-saturated with sodium carbonate that is actually a preservative. When the birds die, they are preserved as mummies naturally.
However, only a certain species of flamingos thrive safely when they enter the lake in search of prey.
-
Blue Flame Lake, Indonesia
Watch it fully to see the flue flame clearly, emanating from water! Here is another location where the fire and water exists.
Where?
Bondowoso Regency, eastern most part of Java Island, Indonesia.
Why?
It is due to volcanic activity. A series of volcanoes have created a large crater that is filled with water. This volcanic lake emits blue flame even now due to subterranean activity.
The Ijen lake is a staggering 20 km wide lake that burns.
