The most mysterious places on the planet. Unexplored places on our planet

On our planet, oddly enough, there are still places that are still completely isolated from civilization.
Tristan Da Cunha
Tristan Da Cunha is an archipelago of small islands in the south Atlantic Ocean. The closest continent, located 1,700 miles away, is South Africa. The island belongs to Great Britain and today its population numbers 271 people.
Motuo area


Motuo is the only place in China that still has no road. Before getting here, a tourist will have to overcome the snow-capped Himalayas, and then cross a 200-meter suspension bridge. This Tibetan region has not been touched by civilization. Motuo is known for its extraordinary beauty and pristine nature.
Alert, Nunavut, Canada


In Canada there is a small village called Alert, 500 miles from the North Pole. It is rightfully considered the northernmost, most “inhospitable” and most uninhabited area in the world. Due to its location, the day lasts a whole day in summer, and night in winter.
Pitcairn Island


The island is a small piece of land in the south Pacific Ocean. Its closest “neighbors” are Tahiti and Gambier. This remote area is a British colony in the Pacific Ocean. The island is inhabited by only 50 people. There are no planes flying here and the only means of transportation is by boat from New Zealand.
Ittokkoturmiit, Greenland


Greenland is considered the largest island, covering 836,000 square miles, but has a population of 57,000 people.
Kerguelen Islands


Due to their isolation, these islands located in the southern Indian Ocean are also called the “Lonely Islands”. Planes do not fly there; the islands can only be reached by sea. The Kerguelen Islands are uninhabited, but French scientists sometimes land on them - there are research centers on the islands.
Cape York

Australia is known for the beauty of its wilderness and low population density. This is noticeable especially in the north of the continent - on the Cape York Peninsula. Its population numbers 18 thousand people, as a rule, these are natives of Aboriginal tribes. The peninsula is famous among adventure seekers.
Mac Murdo, Antarctica


Antarctica is one of the famous places. There are no local residents here, only several centers for international research operate. The largest of them is called Mac Murdo and is located on Ross Island.
La Rinconada, Peru


The town of La Rinconada is located in Peru at an altitude of 17 thousand feet. This location made it isolated from all the benefits of civilization. La Rinconada is surrounded by permafrost. Despite this, its population is 30 thousand people, most of whom mine gold.
Easter Island


Easter Island is located 2 thousand miles west of Chile - this tiny island in the vast Pacific Ocean is known for its isolation. Its area is 70 square meters. miles, and the population is only 4,000 people. The island is famous for its stone sculptures - Moai.

The nature of our planet delightful, and it would seem that all its green and not so green corners have been studied and known to everyone, but that was not the case! We present to you 12 unimaginable and little-known wonders of the world and 14 incredibly interesting places to visit.

Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines

The Banaue Rice Terraces are 2,000-year-old terraces that were carved into Mount Ifugao in the Philippines by the ancestors of the indigenous people. The terraces are commonly referred to by Filipinos as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. It is believed that the terraces were built with minimal equipment, mostly by hand. They are located approximately 1,500 meters above sea level and cover 10,360 square kilometers of mountainside. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It is estimated that if they were placed closely, they would surround half the globe. Local people still grow rice and vegetables on terraces to this day. The result is a gradual erosion of this wonder of the world, which needs constant reconstruction and care.

Ice towers and caves of Mount Erebus

Mount Erebus is the second largest volcano in Antarctica, active since 1972. Erebus has many ice towers formed as a result of steam emissions due to volcanic activity. Many ice towers constantly emit steam. In addition to these chimney-like pillars, the volcanic mountain is home to a number of naturally formed ice caves, with blue, eerily cavernous underground chambers.

Tent rocks Kasha-Katuwe



The Kasha-Catuwe tent rocks in New Mexico were formed approximately seven million years ago as a result of ash deposited by a pyroclastic flow from a volcanic explosion. As with most rock formations, weathering and erosion can be credited with creating the area's remarkable geography. The noticeably pointed tent-like stones get their interesting name from the native language of the area, and mean "white cliffs". The rocks vary in height, sometimes reaching 30 meters in height.

Lion Rock Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

Sigiriya (Lion Rock) is the remains of an ancient mountain fortress and palace, located in the central Matale region of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, tanks and other structures. A popular tourist destination, Sigiriya is also famous for its ancient paintings (frescoes) that are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves in India. Sigiriya was built during the reign of King Kassapa I (477 AD - 495) and it is one of Sri Lanka's seven World Heritage Sites. During prehistoric times, Sigiriya was inhabited. Used as a mountain monastery from around the 5th century BC.

Lechuguia Cave

One of the most popular little known wonders of the world, Lechuguia Cave is another location found in New Mexico. The cave is the seventh explored chain in the world, with a known length of 134.6 miles. The cave is the most famous spectacular crystal formation of gypsum and aragonite. Before its discovery in 1986, Lechuguia had been untouched for hundreds of millions of years, being one of the most ancient ecosystems.

Krubera Cave



Krubera Cave, located within the Arabica Mountains in Abkhazia, is the deepest known cave on Earth, with a depth of 2,191 meters. The cave is also known as Crow Cave due to the large number of nesting crows.

Valley of Flowers in India



Valley of Flowers National Park in India is one of the most beautiful wonders of the world on this list. There is something incredible about high peaks rising into the clouds and steep slopes completely covered with lush vegetation and unique flora. The Valley of Flowers is home to many rare, endangered animals such as the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, brown bear and blue sheep.

Glencoe Valley in Scotland



Situated at the northern tip of Scotland, Glencoe is a narrow river valley that is often considered one of the most spectacular places in the country. The Glencoe Valley is home to a stunning variety of flora, as well as high peaks on both sides and a crystal clear river running through its heart.

Quinta da Regaleira in Portugal



Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, Portugal includes a descending spiral staircase that leads to multiple exits. The name came from the belief that this place was the birthplace of Masonic rituals. At the base lies a compass rose on a Templar cross. The symbolism directly concerns life and death, a common theme for initiation rituals.

Plitvice lakes in Croatia



Plitvice Lakes National Park is home to spectacular views of beautiful open lakes and waterfalls. The contrast of deep blue with vibrant green creates incredible landscapes that excite the imagination. The park is no less exciting even in winter, when some of the waterfalls and lakes freeze. While in Croatia, be sure to visit Plitvice Lakes, one of the natural wonders of the world.

Wulingyuan in China



Head to more than three thousand huge sandstone pillars, many of which are towers more than two hundred meters high - this is Wulingyuan in China. It is one of the most stunning natural sites in the world. The tall pillars are composed of quartzite and sandstone and are karst formations. The incredible area is located one hundred and seventy miles northeast of Changsha and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, however it still remains relatively unknown to most of the world's population.

Kay Gompa Monastery

Ki Monastery or Kay Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery that stands spectacularly on a hill overlooking the small Indian village of Kibar. The monastery stands at an altitude of 13,668 feet above sea level and the village below is said to be the highest in India. Founded in the 11th century, the Kay Gompa monastery has experienced many turbulent events. It was repeatedly attacked, ravaged by Mongol armies, and devastated by fires and earthquakes. Constant destruction and reconstruction has resulted in the building being shaped like a box, providing maximum protection.

Incredible places to visit

Thanks to the talent of designers, architects and landscapers, amazing inspiring places appear on earth that are worth visiting for a person who is partial to beauty and thirsty for new experiences.

The world is amazingly huge and beautiful. It seems that a lifetime is not enough to see all its beauty in person. It doesn’t hurt to sketch out a rough plan of inspiring trips and excursions, which will make your head boil with new ideas and thoughts. Start with the most beautiful places on our planet. And watch a review of unusual hotels, shocking attractions, historical wonders and other works of creative human hands and minds.

Underwater hotel


Conrad Maldives Rangali Island offers underwater apartments and a restaurant.

Igloo Hotel


The transparent roofs of the rooms at Hotel Kakslauttanen in Finland allow you to admire the Northern Lights from your bed.

Flower Park


Wisteria tunnel at Kawachi Fuji Japanese Flower Garden, Kitakyushu, Japan.

Ice aquarium


In the Japanese city of Kesennuma, 80 species of sea creatures are frozen in ice blocks.

Restaurant in a cave


Located in the Italian city of Polignano a Mare on the grounds of the Grotta Palazzese hotel.

Markizyak Castle Garden


Located in the French city of Vezac and was created over 3 centuries.

Hotel underground


The Sala Silvermine Hotel in Sweden is located in a former mine at a depth of 155 meters.

Restaurant by the waterfall


Located at the Villa Escudero Resort in Quezon Province, Philippines.

Lost City of Machu Picchu


Located on the territory of modern Peru at the top of a mountain range 2450 meters above sea level. Awarded the title of New Wonder of the World.

Skyscraper in Huaxi village


Residents of a Chinese village pooled their money to build a hotel 328 meters high and costing $470 million.

Snow hotel



Every winter in Finland, the Alps and Pyrenees, a winter resort is built from snow for lovers of extreme recreation.

Pool-waterfall


The natural basin of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is located at an altitude of 128 meters.

Observation deck


Glass balconies of the 103-story Willis Tower skyscraper in Chicago.

Attractions at the site of the nuclear power plant


Wunderland Kalkar Park is located on the territory of an unfinished nuclear power plant in the German city of Kalkar. The main attraction is located in the central tube.

Even a thousand years ago, people were firmly convinced that the Earth was the center of the universe and did not explore anything beyond the oceans. However, thanks to adventurers such as Magellan, Columbus and others, new continents were discovered. And the idea of ​​our world has changed forever. With the development of technology, namely with the spread of travel by plane, people began to independently explore every corner of our planet. The question arises: is there anything else that can be explored? Here you will learn 10 places that are still considered insufficiently explored.


Amazon rainforest

The Amazon forests are so vast that there are still tribes that have not been reached by modern civilization. The main reason why unknown areas of the forest are not sufficiently explored is the danger from deadly poisonous creatures. In addition, several countries lay claim to these forests and therefore there is no specific policy on how to deal with this territory. However, there is a lot to explore.

Namibia

One of the least populated countries in the world on one of the least populated continents, Namibia covers an area of ​​48,280 km2. It is also the least explored place in the world. It is also the only country in the world whose constitution talks about protecting the country's nature. Namibia's policies have strict laws to protect nature and preserve its pristine state. Therefore, many places are still unexplored, including the Kalahari Desert.

Greenland Ice Sheet

You must be wondering why people haven't explored Greenland's glaciers yet? There simply isn't enough reason to take the risk of exploring a land that's 80% ice. The ice, measuring 966 km2 according to scientists, may melt in a few hundred years, but you still have the opportunity to set foot on these untouched lands.

Tristan da Cunha Archipelago

Tristan da Cunha is one of the most isolated archipelagos in the world. One of the islands, almost 11 km wide, is part of other islands, which at one time were called the Inaccessible Islands. And this is not without reason - you can find a lot of shipwrecks off the coast.

Mariinskaya Trench

When talking about the least explored places on Earth, one cannot fail to mention the Mariinsky Trench. More than 11 km deep, this place is the most unexplored place on Earth and is of extraordinary interest to scientists. Even now it is unknown what life forms inhabit this deep depression. The Mariinskaya Trench is indeed a very mysterious place.

Mount Kankar Punsum in Bhutan

Lying on the Chinese border, between Bhutan and Tibet, Mount Kankar Punsum is so remote that until recently there were no clear maps. There are also disputes over the mountain that border on politics. Climbing mountains in Bhutan is illegal due to religious beliefs, and even for explorers it is difficult to obtain permission to trek in the mountains. There was an expedition from Tibet that managed to reach only the three smallest peaks of the mountain, but still, Kankar-Punsum is one of the few places on Earth unexplored by man.

Antarctica

What could be the reason for the lack of exploration of Antarctica, if not the fact that it is a huge block of ice at the incredibly cold South Pole of the Earth. Despite the fact that there are certain expeditions, Antarctica is a very mysterious place.

Northern Mountains of Colombia

It is difficult to say exactly what percentage of mountains have been explored by humans and what percentage has not. Many brave souls have never returned from traveling through these mountains, but you can take the risk.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is considered one of the less explored countries in the world. But, despite the amazing biodiversity, there are places in the country where no human has set foot!

Siberia (northeast and northwest, Kamchatka Peninsula)

Being 70% of the territory of Russia, having 30% of the country's population, Siberia is one of the few places in the world with such a harsh climate that it is simply impossible for humans to thoroughly explore. The northeast and northwest of Siberia almost certainly were not developed by humans. Moreover, Kamchatka is also almost unexplored. Great news for enthusiasts!


Tepui is the only place on Earth where no human has set foot. What animals live on Tepuis, what plants grow on Tepuis - all this is a dark forest for us, since people have visited only some Tepuis. And most of Tepui is absolutely unexplored!
They become not only a source of legends and scary stories, but also a subject of creativity for science fiction artists.


Tepuis, or tepui, are table mountains located in the Guiana Highlands in South America, mostly in Venezuela. Among the most famous tepuis are Autana, Auyantepui and Mount Roraima. Many tepuis are located in Venezuela's Canaima National Park, which has the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The word "tepui" in the language of the Pemon Indians inhabiting the Gran Sabana region means "house of the gods." Tepuis for the most part stand isolated from each other, rising above the jungle with inaccessible cliffs, which makes them carriers of unique sets of endemic plants and animals.


Tepuis are the remnants of a vast plateau that once stretched from the Atlantic coast to the borders of the Amazon, Orinoco and Rio Negro river basins.

The plateau formed on the site of the lake about 200 million years ago, when South America and Africa still formed a single continent. The plateau consisted of sandstone and was located on a granite base; Over time, erosion turned the plateau into several monadnocks, from which tepuis were formed, covered with erosion-resistant rocks.


Typically, tepuis consist of a single block of Precambrian sandstone or quartzite that rises sharply above the surrounding jungle to heights of over 2000 m. Many tepuis contain water-washed caves, such as the 671 m deep Abismo Gai Collet cave, as well as sinkholes up to 300 m, formed when the arches of underground river tunnels collapsed.



German explorer Robert Schomburgk visited the area in 1835. He was amazed by the table mountains, but attempts to climb one of them were unsuccessful. Only almost half a century later, in 1884, a British expedition led by Everard Im Thurn managed to climb to the top of Mount Roraima.

However, it was the report of Robert Schomburgk's expedition to the tepui region that inspired the writer Arthur Conan Doyle to write the novel The Lost World about the discovery of a plateau inhabited by prehistoric species of animals and plants.



As in the lowland areas of the llanos savannas, the tepui have rainy and dry seasons. From 2 to 4 thousand mm of rain falls per year. The climate is also influenced by altitude - at the highest elevations the temperature can drop to 0 °C, however, as a rule, the average thermometer reading at the peaks is from 8 to 20 °C, depending on the altitude. The soils are predominantly oligotrophic (low in nutrients).


The plateau of the mountains is completely isolated from the forest at the foot, which makes them “ecological islands”, on which now endemic species of flora and fauna have been preserved, developing for millennia in isolation. The wooded high plateaus support a wide variety of representatives of the orchid and bromeliad families, and carnivorous plants are also common.




The highest tepui, Pico de Neblina (3,014 m), is located in Brazil. The next three in height are Pico Phelps (2,992 m), Roraima (2,810 m), located at the meeting point of the borders of Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana, and Cerro Marahuaca (2,800 m).


View of Roraima from the Venezuelan plateau.

Roraima is the highest tepui in Venezuela. Its height is 2810 meters, and the top - a plateau with an area of ​​34 km² - is completely covered with dense vegetation, fancy stones, steep depressions, caves, small lakes and swamps. Local Indians call Mount Roraima “the navel of the earth” and believe that the ancestor of the human race, the goddess Quinn, lives on its top.


Cerro Ichun, located near the Brazil-Venezuelan border, has the largest plateau area (3,260 km²) and an altitude of 1,400 m.
Auyantepui is the largest of the tepuis, with a plateau surface area of ​​700 km². From this mountain falls Angel - the highest waterfall in the world.




Tepui Matavi, also known as Kukenan due to the fact that the source of the Kukenan River is located on the plateau.


Autana rises 1300 m above the forest and is pierced by a cave that runs from one side to the other.
Tepui Sarisarinyama, famous for its almost circular sinkholes with a depth and diameter of about 350 m, at the bottom of which unique plants grow.



Kukenan tepui

Venezuela's largest natural reserve, Canaima National Park, was founded in 1962 and is considered the oldest part of the Earth, more than 2 million years old. This lost world, seemingly preserved by chance as it was many millions of years ago, is visited daily by thousands of tourists.


Also, many other lesser-known, but no less beautiful tepuis, are located in the Canaima National Park, which lies in the southeastern part of Venezuela, at the junction of Brazil and Guyana. The reserve, which stores priceless natural resources on its territory, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.


The nature of Canaima National Park is extremely diverse and unique. In addition to the majestic table mountains, hung with beautiful waterfalls, in the park you can see rare species of flora and fauna that are found exclusively in this area. For example, carnivorous plants lure insects into their beautiful fragrant traps and eat them. The foothills and slopes of the mountains are surrounded by cloud-covered forests, in which exquisite bromeliads and orchids stand out as bright spots.


On the tops of the tepui, grasses and shrubs grow lushly. The fauna of the Venezuelan park is no less rich - there are monkeys of various sizes and species, jaguars, giant ants and many small animals. But the world of birds, which live in large numbers on this rich land, boasts the greatest diversity of species.



In the Canaima National Park, vacationers are offered exciting canoe excursions along the lagoon, into which four waterfalls flow. Two of them - Golondrina and Ukaima - can be seen by canoeing, and under the other two - Acha and Sapo - there is a path along which you can walk inside the waterfall between the raging stream of water and the rock.

You can go to one of the most spectacular attractions of the park - Angel Falls, excursions to which are carried out either by boat or by plane. If you go on a boat excursion, you can see the picturesque Orchid Island along the way.


Those who want to get to know the life of the aborigines of these lands better can go to the northern part of Canaima, where the settlement of the Pemon Indians is located. Here you have a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in an unknown culture, communicate with the aborigines, get acquainted with their rituals, traditions, legends and way of life, which has been preserved since ancient times.



Among other things, this area is shrouded in an aura of secrets and mysteries, which are told not only by ancient legends and myths, but also by reports of several expeditions organized by brave researchers. The last major official expedition to these remote places, namely Mount Roraima, was formed in 1965 by the son of the famous Juan Angel, the discoverer of the world's highest waterfall.


The expedition diary describes an amazing world in which the flat surface of the mountain top is covered with bizarre hills shaped like mushrooms, unusual depressions filled with water are scattered everywhere, and in addition to the animals already known to science, an unusual creature was discovered, which was called the Cadborosaurus.

The previously unseen beast had the head of a horse and the body of a snake with humps on its back. Frogs hatching eggs, bloodsucking insects that were not affected by any chemical means of protection, and giant ants more than 5 cm long, capable of biting small tree branches with their steel teeth, were also found here.


The biggest discovery for scientists was the discovery of the remains of ancient animals that until recently lived in these places. There is an assumption that they died as a result of alien experiments. Scientists were prompted to this guess by a large round area discovered by the expedition, devoid of vegetation and completely strewn with silvery powder of unknown origin. Later, laboratory studies showed that this is an alloy of rare metals, which is simply impossible to create under earthly conditions.


When examining the caves, researchers found a large number of rock paintings depicting fantastic animals and creatures vaguely similar to humans. The expedition members also discovered several crypts, inside of which there was thick fog and a sweet smell. Some members of the team, having inhaled this strange aroma, fell into a coma for several days, and when they woke up, they told their colleagues about incredible visions and trips to other worlds.




After this incident, the decision was made to return back, but then a new surprise awaited the travelers: they could not find a way out of this enchanted world, as if some mysterious forces were preventing this in every possible way.

Only a few months later, exhausted by the search for a way out, people managed to return home. They claim that they were helped by some unknown force that picked them up and slowly lowered them to the central square of one of the Indian settlements.








When the scientists finally reached civilization, it was discovered that the families had long ago given up hope of their return: after all, the expedition, which was scheduled to return after several months of work, had been absent for four years.



For a long time, no expeditions were organized to this region, but today this lost world, which previously instilled fear in people, is visited daily by several dozen adventurers. For safety reasons, it is advisable to climb accompanied by an experienced guide.




























Angel Falls is considered the HIGHEST IN THE WORLD, its height is 1054 m (according to other sources - 979 m). Angel Falls (in English - Angel, local name - Churum-meru) is located on the river. Churumi - a tributary of the river. Carrao (Orinoco River basin) in South America, in Venezuela.


Angel translated into Russian means “angel”. Although the names of waterfalls are usually very figurative and poetic, this waterfall is called an angel not in honor of the biblical angels and not because of its “proximity to heaven.”

The 1st magnitude giant bears the name of its discoverer, the Venezuelan pilot Juan Angel, and the Indians called the waterfall Apemey or Maiden's Eyebrow. Angel Falls, more than a kilometer high, was discovered relatively recently - in 1935. This proves how much unknown our beautiful planet Earth still conceals.


How could such a phenomenal miracle of nature - a vertical stream of water a mile high - be hidden from humanity throughout history? The fact is that Angel is located in one of the most remote and inaccessible corners of the earth. The southeastern part of Venezuela - the Auyan Tepui mountain range (Devil's Mountain) is composed of porous sandstones, has a height of up to 2600 m, and ends abruptly with a sheer rock wall. The approaches to the wall are blocked by the selva - a dense tropical forest.


What was Angel looking for there? In the 1930s, a “diamond fever” broke out in Venezuela. Hundreds of adventurers, businessmen hungry for profit, and simply the poor rushed into the impenetrable jungle. Angel bought a small sports plane and flew to the Auyan Tepui massif. In those places, the tops of the table mountains are often covered with clouds. Angel was flying in clear weather and was the first to see a kilometer-long vertical water line.

It turned out that the waterfall does not fall from the very edge of the highland ledge. The Churumi River has “cut through” the upper edge of the cliff and falls 80-100 m below its edge. Water consumption is 300 sq.m/s.


Juan Angel (Angel) did not discover diamond deposits. Others have done it. He suffered an accident (the plane capitulated) and was saved literally by a miracle. He landed in the very place that Conan Doyle chose to unfold the events of his famous novel The Lost World. Having reached the nearest post office, Angel reported his discovery to the National Geographic Society of the United States, and his name is now on all maps of the world.

On Latin American maps the waterfall is often designated as Salto Angel, i.e. "angel's jump." The discoverer spent the last years of his life in Venezuela, in the state of Ciudad Bolivar, and died in 1956. According to Angel’s will, his ashes were scattered over a waterfall named after him.


The extent to which the term “miracle” in relation to the surviving pilot Angel is not an exaggeration can be judged by the fact that fourteen years later, in 1949, a group of five American and Venezuelan surveyors barely made their way through the jungle to the waterfall, as the wild forest was completely intertwined with vines and lush shrubby vegetation.

They had to continuously cut the road with machetes and axes. The expedition spent... nineteen days to cover the last 36 km! But the game was worth the candle. What the expedition members saw will not be forgotten by any of them until the end of their days.


The most vivid description of the waterfall - perhaps the best in world literature - belongs to the chairman of the Soviet Peace Committee Yu. A. Zhukov, who viewed Angel Falls from an airplane in April 1971. “The pilot is flying his plane close, close to it. In front of us is an incredibly high - per kilometer! - an elastic, foamy white column of water - a tight stream of flow falls from the plateau into the abyss, at the bottom of which the Churumi River is reborn, whose flow is interrupted by this crazy water jump...
We have already heard and read that the height of the water fall here is so great that the stream, without reaching the bottom of the abyss, turns into water dust, which settles on the stones as rain. But you had to see this in order to imagine all the originality of the spectacle that presented itself: somewhere below, about three hundred meters from the bottom of the abyss, a powerful, elastic, boiling stream suddenly seemed to melt and break off in the fog.

And even lower, as if born out of nothing, the river was seething... How I would like to approach the waterfall not by plane, but on the ground - to stand near it, listen to its roar, inhale the smell of water falling from the sky! But this is impossible..."