Most Alien Looking Places on Earth
If you have done any travelling, there is a good chance you have seen some amazing things. Some of these places are amazing for their beauty, for their size, their splendor or for some other reason. But there are some places on the planet that are known for their strange landscape that looks like it belongs on a totally different planet which deem them the most alien looking places on Earth. If you enjoy travelling to these types of places, here are a few you may want to consider.
Dallol Volcano, Ethiopia
This volcano is located in a remote area in the north east of Ethiopia. It is on top of a 1000m thick layer of potash reserves. It is thought that this volcano was formed due to a basaltic magma body underneath it. The depression near the centre is likely due to a collapsed crater but the age or process cannot be determined.
Socotra, Yemen
There are more than 700 rare species of fauna and flora of which a third are found nowhere on the earth. For these reasons, this area seems like it is another planet as everything is so different looking than what people are used to seeing. The island has over 40,000 inhabitants but roads have only been installed recently as this area is a World Natural Heritage Site.
Madagascar Stone Forest, Africa
This forest was made a World Heritage site and the reasons are apparent when visiting. You will find a wide variety of limestone formations. There are also a variety of strange species living here from lemurs, reptiles and plants.
Devil’s Tower, Northeast Wyoming
It is not 100% known what this is or what created it, but the main theory is that it is a volcanic plug that was part of a volcano long ago. This means that the magma was moving up the volcano but before eruption, the volcano died which left the magma inside. The magma is more resilient than the materials making up the volcano so that is what still remains. Due to the nature of cooling magma, there is a hexagonal pattern.
Wave Rock, Western Australia
Have you ever thought about what a wave would look like if it didn’t crash over onto itself? If you travel to Western Australia, you can see Wave Rock which appears ready to fall over. It was created over 2700 million years ago and the shape has been created over centuries of erosion. This is the largest of these at 14 metres high and 110 metres long but there are smaller ones to see in the Hyden area. Depending on the time of day you visit this rock will determine what it looks like and the color it appears to be.
Hell Gate, Turkmenistan
This odd place is known due to man’s interference in the area and the results. Thirty five years ago, geologists were in the area looking for gas outside of Darvaz. But the drilling equipment broke through a cavern and caused a cave in. The gas started to seep out and so the geologists set the gas on fire to prevent further leakage and to keep people from harm. So far it has burnt for thirty five years and doesn’t seem to be ready to stop.
Being Under the Sea
To some, one of the most exotic and strange places is going under the water, especially the further down you get where sun does not reach. There are strange formations of sponges, corals and the various flora and fauna that live down there.
Cueva de los Cristales, Mexico
This cave is located 300 meters under the surface in Mexico and contains enormous selenite crystals which are some of the biggest natural crystals with the biggest one being 39 feet long, 13 feet in diameter and weighing 55 tons. The temperature in the cave can reach 136F and have humidity between 90 and 99 percent. For this reason, the cave has not been explored all that well as people can only handle the climate for about ten minutes without proper protection.
Spotted Lake, Canada
It is a sacred lake known for having a high concentration of minerals which it is believed to have healing properties. But what makes this lake especially interesting is how it changes during the year. Saline lakes form and increased concentrations of salt accumulate while the lake fills with the spring runoff. In the summer, the heat causes the lake to evaporate faster than it fills and a ring of salt is left at the edge.
Lechuguilla Cave, United States
This cave has a 90 foot entrance which then leads to 400 feet of dead end passages. It has gypsum and lemon yellow deposits of sulphur as well as speleothems which are rare and various other features like gypsum chandeliers, soda straws, hydomagnesite balloons and u and j-loops. You can find this cave in the Guadelupe Mountains in the United States.
Lake Tawakoni State Park, United States
Located 50 miles to the east of Dallas, the park ranges from 167 to 552 feet in elevation. It is a 376 acre park that has 5.2 miles of shoreline. When visiting, you can spot up to 100 different species of birds and there are a variety of fish that can be caught. It is famous for an acre of spider web trees that makes you shiver when you pass by them. (jeepers creepers…)
Great Blue Hole, Belize
For a scuba diver, going to Belize can be a dream come true. Visiting this location will let you see a great variety of tropical fish and coral formations. It is a large sinkhole that is more than 984 feet across and 410 feet deep and is the world’s largest formation like this.
