Valley of Love, Turkey
Far away in the arid and dusty plains of Asia Minor is one of the most important attractions of Turkey. Cappadocia is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, because here you can find ancient cave settlements, underground monasteries and examples of Byzantine art. It is probably one of the most historically important areas in the Middle East. It may seem rather strange that this area is also home to a whole forest of giant stone phalluses. You heard right! Due to the long history of geological changes, the rocks in the vicinity have acquired bizarre shapes.
The most unusual forms were formed in the Valley of Love. High rocks, crowned at the tops with slightly conical thickenings, look like a penis. The whole valley is full of them: huge stone phalluses stretch as far as the eye can see. It is not surprising that this area is now a favorite place for funny people from different countries who take funny photos.
Jatinga Valley, Assam, India
This village with a population of 2,500 people is known all over the world for an inexplicable phenomenon — the suicide of birds. Most of the migratory birds that find themselves here will never leave the city, because they will drop dead for no reason. The case seems even more incomprehensible, since birds always fall between 6:00 and 9:30 pm on moonless nights in September and October. These mass suicides occur only on a strip of land measuring 1.6 km by 183 meters.
It is said that this phenomenon has been repeated year after year without interruption for more than a century. Locals explain it this way: evil spirits in the sky make birds lose their lives. But scientists have their own version. They believe that thick fog at high altitude makes birds dizzy, as a result of which they hit trees and buildings, and eventually crash to death. Another version proposed by scientists is that birds are attracted by the lights of the village, and subsequently because of these lights they cannot navigate. None of the theories, however, has evidence and does not reveal the mystery of this mysterious place in India. So the phenomenon continues to intrigue the minds of both residents and tourists.
Cape Slope Point, New Zealand
Cape Slope Point is the southernmost point of the South Island of New Zealand. This region is constantly being blown by fierce and cold south-westerly winds from Antarctica. The wind here is so powerful and gusty that the trees are bent in the direction of the wind. Sheep are mostly bred here, and apart from a small number of these artiodactyls, there are no people or other animals in this part of the island. There are a few abandoned shacks built under the protection of trees, but even they are abandoned.
Impressive sheer cliffs descend to the ocean. The views of the rocky coast and the surrounding cliffs are truly amazing. A small pointer shows the distance to the equator and the South Pole. There is also a small lighthouse in the middle of agricultural land. There are no roads leading to Slope Point, but it can be reached on foot in 20 minutes, following the dilapidated yellow signs.
The Al-Nasla Stone
There are many natural phenomena that can overwhelm the traveler. This is one of them. Perfection itself. Do you see a smooth cut between the faces of these two standing stones? Al-Naslaa is one of the most photogenic petroglyphs (petroglyphs are images carved in stone) in this area. Its natural form is a big mystery that no one has solved yet. Be sure to visit Saudi Arabia during your vacation to admire this natural phenomenon.
Multicolored dunes, USA
The colorful dunes in the Lassen National Volcanic Park look like a landscape from a watercolor painting. Red and orange spots cover the hilly terrain with green trees scattered throughout the territory. The blackness of the volcanic earth contrasts with their bright hues. Colorful swirls and spots seem to be the work of landscape designers, but they are one of the masterpieces of nature. The artists responsible for the unusual appearance of the dunes are local volcanoes. Multicolored dunes are pumice fields formed from layers of oxidized volcanic ash. They became so colorful thanks to the ash that settled directly on the incandescent lava flows.
Disappearing Beach, Odisha
The “hide and seek” beach is located in the state of Odisha (old name Orissa), India. Here the sea disappears and miraculously reappears. His hide-and-seek game will bring unforgettable impressions that will leave you in awe of the wonders of nature. It is truly amazing how the sea retreats five kilometers during low tide, and then returns again in a rapid stream.
The low tide gives a unique opportunity to view the seabed. In addition, when you walk on the beach, your feet sink into shallow water and wet sand, and if you take a picture from afar, it will seem as if you are walking on water.
Tianji Mountains, China
The flying mountains, unusual in beauty, located on the planet Pandora in the movie Avatar, are not an invention of the directors. Soaring mountains are located in China, being a. The rocks fascinate and amaze at first sight, so going to the Celestial Empire, it’s worth going to Hunan Province for a few days, where the park is located. Excellent conditions for accommodation, food and pastime are created for visitors here. In addition to the mountains, there is an opportunity to see many other natural attractions. The park is located in the northwestern part of the country, not far from the city of the same name. The area is full of wonders and natural attractions. Zhangjiajie Park is adjacent to the equally famous geological parks Yangjiajie, Tangjishan and Xiuxiu. Zhangjiajie is the oldest park in China, established in 1982. Its territory is huge and amounts to almost 13 thousand square kilometers, on which mountains, forests, other vegetation are located, there are a huge number of animals.
In 1992, Wulingyuan was taken under UNESCO protection as an integral part. Nine years later, the park received the status of the National Forest Geopark of Sandstone Peaks (by decision of the relevant Chinese ministry). It is also part of the Global Network of Geological Parks protected by UNESCO. In fact, the Wulingyuan Mountains are rocky peaks-pillars created from quartz and sandstone, and turned into a real miracle of nature under the influence of erosion processes and weathering. The total number of unusual rocks is more than 3 thousand, and about one thousand have a height of 200 meters. The highest peak is Mount Dupeng, which reaches 1,890 meters into the sky.
Blue City of Chaven, Morocco
The heavenly tones of the streets in the Moroccan city of Chaven seem like fabulous scenery. The color palette of the buildings rising uphill is replete with piercing shades of blue, light blue and azure colors. The city, where the walls of buildings, window frames, wooden doors of houses, steps and even flower pots are filled with blue, is one of the largest tourist centers of northern Morocco. Saturated shades of azure blue, turning into blue and purple tones, are updated several times a year. Residents of Shaven paint the buildings anew before major holidays and festivals that take place in the city several times a year.
Shaven, founded in 1471 as a fortress for protection from Portuguese invaders, owes such a color monotony to the local Jewish community. The city became one of the largest shelters for Jews expelled from Spain during the Reconquista. According to the biblical covenants, the blue and blue shades of houses should symbolize the prayer veil of tallit and remind of God. The number of the Jewish population of Shaven has decreased significantly since the 15th century, but the locals have preserved the tradition of painting buildings in heavenly tones.