In this article, we will look at the top 8 places you never knew existed.
Places You Never Knew Existed
#1. Door To Hell
Darvaza gas crater also known as the Door to Hell or Gates of Hell, is a natural gas field that collapsed into a cavern in Darvaza, Turkmenistan.
Soviet geologists may have intentionally set it on fire to prevent the spread of methane gas, and it is thought to have been burning continuously since 1971. The gas crater has an area of 5,350 m2[citation needed]. Its diameter is 69 m (226 ft), and its depth is 30 m (98 ft).
The Turkmen government hopes that the crater will become a popular tourist attraction. The surrounding area is also popular for wild desert camping.
#2. The Stairway to Heaven
These majestic stairs had a top-secret purpose when they were built in 1942. Constructed by the Haiku Radio Station to transmit radio signals to Navy ships across the Pacific. Even though some people risk it, it’s close to the public.
#3. Lake Natron in Northern Tanzania
Ever heard of a lake that can turn animals/humans to stone? Well, that’s the ghastly Lake Natron in Northern Tanzania. The ghastly Lake Natron, in northern Tanzania, is a salt lake—meaning that water flows in, but doesn’t flow out, so it can only escape by evaporation.
Over time, as water evaporates, it leaves behind high concentrations of salt and other minerals, like at the Dead Sea and Utah’s Great Salt Lake.
Unlike those other lakes, though, Lake Natron is extremely alkaline, due to high amounts of the chemical natron (a mix of sodium carbonate and baking soda) in the water. The water’s pH has been measured as high as 10.5—nearly as high as ammonia so it would burn the skin of any animal who dares venture into it. Well, except flamingos of course.
About 2.5 million lesser flamingoes (a species of flamingoes) use the lake as their regular breeding ground. They thrive on the cyanobacteria which grow in numbers when the salinity of the lake increases. They’ve got tough skins & scales on them which prevents burning.
#4. The Psychedelic Salt Mines in Yekaterinburg, Russia
The Psychedelic Salt Mines in Yekaterinburg, Russia, The psychedelic (mind boggling) pattern you see is as a result of the abundant deposit of carnallite on the walls of the cave.The farther you go into the cave, the more you lose all track of time and you always feel thirsty.
The surreal swirls are caused by layers of the mineral carnallite, which can be yellow and white or even red and blue. They paint rivers of color across the walls of this abandoned salt mine, dating back millions of years to when a salty sea dried up, leaving behind the mineral deposits.
#5. Grand Prismatic Spring
As beautiful as it looks, I won’t advise you to go swim in it though. Located in the US, this spring warm water is surrounded by rainbow colors and it’s said to be deeper than a 10 storey building, 121 feet of hot water!!
The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world, after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand and Boiling Lake in Dominica. It is located in the Midway Geyser Basin.
Grand Prismatic Spring was noted by geologists working in the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871, and named by them for its striking coloration. Its colors match most of those seen in the rainbow dispersion of white light by an optical prism: red, orange, yellow, green, and blue.
#6. Zhangye Danxia Landform, China
This is a natural land designated in rainbow colors, it’s also called “Mountain of Rainbow”. China is a country brimming with natural beauty and Danxia Landforms are the best example of what happens when God gets creative.
When you first look at it, it will be hard for you to believe that an insane mountain formation like this exists in reality, because it looks like someone painted the hills in rainbow colours. These mountains look absolutely gorgeous and are a treat for sore eyes. Let’s know more about these beautiful and colourful mountains of China.
These unique mountains are a type of petrographic geomorphology found in China and are a part of the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park. These are formed from red-coloured sandstones and conglomerates belonging largely from Cretaceous age.
In simple words, a layer of several colourful sandstone and minerals remained pressed together for more than 24 million years and turned into these mountains.
#7. Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Located near Lake Powell, this “slot” canyon is considered sacred by the Navajo. Few geological formations are as picturesque and awe-inspiring as Antelope Canyon, a magnificent slot canyon just east of Page in Northern Arizona.
With tall winding walls, it’s a monumental sandstone sculpture. A photographer’s dream, the canyon is known for its wave-like structure and the light beams that shine directly down into the openings of the canyon, creating a supernatural appearance.
Antelope Canyon is the product of millions of years of water erosion. The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is “Tse’ bighanilini,” which means “the place where water runs through rocks.” Once home to herds of pronghorn antelope, the canyon now lies within the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation and draws nature-lovers near and far for its remarkable, mysterious beauty.
The canyon walls climb 120 feet above the stream bed, making it a cathedral of red-hued, swirling sandstone.
Exploring this natural wonder is encouraged, but guided tours are required. There are several authorized tour operators to choose from who will not only bring you to the canyon, but also give you a breadth of information about the history, geology, and culture of the Antelope Canyon area.
Photographers will enjoy snapping photos, but the famous light beams are not always visible. Beams occur most often during the summer, with the best views between late March and early October.
#8. Grotta Palazzese Hotel Restaurant
Looking for another reason to visit Italy, then check out the Grotta Palazzese hotel restaurant, an exotic restaurant situated inside a cave in. A magical and enchanted place, a restaurant with a terrace created inside a natural cave.
The Grotta Palazzese restaurant takes its name from the homonymous cave and from the place that was once also called “Grotta di Palazzo”. It is an exclusive and atmospheric place, used for parties and banquets since 1700, as evidenced by a watercolor of 1783 by Jean Louis Desprez. The blue of the sea and the sky contrasts with the mysterious atmospheres of the natural cavities.
The colors of the day make the beauty of the coastal landscape shine, while those of the evening, at sunset, create unforgettable nuances, in the charm and elegance of the restaurant lights.
Grotta Palazzese has always been an unmissable destination for those who love discovering enchanting places and looking for refined cuisine. Since 1700, travelers coming from Europe to Southern Italy stopped at this fascinating place whose beauty was reported in their chronicles.
Since then, the charm has remained the same, with a touch of modernity that has made the Grotta Palazzese restaurant even more welcoming and exclusive.
The Grotta Palazzese Restaurant is not only known for the beauty and the uniqueness of the rock in which it is set. The kitchen is perfect for all those who are looking for exclusivity and refinement.
The dishes are always taken care of in every aspect, with the maximum attention to the quality of the ingredients and the harmony of the ‘Visual Food’. They are based largely on foods belonging to the Apulian culinary tradition, with the addition of aromas, spices, and fragrances for a greater refinement of the dishes.
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