W O R L D S M O S T U N B E L I E V A B L E P L A C E S
DRY VALLEY ( ANTARTICA )
Antarctica's Dry Valleys, with their barren gravel - strewn floors, are said to be the most similar place on Earth to Mars.
Its fascinating landscape, located within Victoria Land west of McMurdo Sound, get almost no snowfall, and except for a few steep rocks they are the only continental part of Antarctica devoid of ice.
The terrain looks like something not of this Earth.
SOCOTRA ISLAND ( INDIAN OCEAN )
This island simply blows away any notion about what is considered “ normal ” for a landscape on Earth, you’d
be inclined to think you were transported to another planet - or traveled to another era of Earth’s history.
RIO TINTO ( SPAIN )
The giant open cast mines of Rio Tinto create a surreal, almost lunar landscape. Its growth has consumed not only mountains and valleys but even entire villages, whose populations had to be resettled in specially built towns nearby.
Named after the river which flows through the region - itself named for the reddish streaks that colour its water - Rio Tinto has become a landscape within a landscape.
KLILUK , THE SPOTTED LAKE ( CANADA )
In the hot sun of summer, the water of Spotted Lake, located in British Columbia and Washington, evaporates and crystallizes the minerals, forming many white - rimmed circles, shallow pools that reflect the mineral content of the water in shades of blues and greens.
It contains one of the worlds highest concentrations of minerals, magnesium sulphate ( Epsom salts ), calcium and sodium sulphates, plus eight other minerals and traces of four more, including silver and titanium.
THE STONE FOREST ( CHINA )
The Shilin ( Chinese for stone forest ) is an impressive example of karst topography. Its rocks are made of limestone and are formed by water percolating the ground’s surface and eroding away everything but the pillars.
BLOOD POND HOT SPRING ( JAPAN )
Blood Pond Hot Spring is one of the " hells" ( jigoku ) of Beppu, Japan, nine spectacular natural hot springs that are more for viewing rather than bathing. The “ blood pond hell ” features a pond of hot, red water, colored as such by iron in the waters.
SALAR DE UYUNI ( BOLIVIA )
Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni is perhaps one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world.
A magnificent area with an impressive salt desert ( the world's largest ), active volcanoes, tall cacti islands and geyser flats.
It exists like an alien mirage, something completely out - of - this - world
