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The Earth is a mysterious place full of ever-changing elements that leave us in awe of our planet’s majesty. It is through a combination of these ever-changing elements and the interference of humankind that we come across some of the most mysterious places on Earth.
What makes a location so mysterious? For some, it’s the presence of unexplainable elements. For others, it’s simply the astonishment that something came to be in the first place. Regardless of how these mysterious places came about, many people find each of the locations listed below puzzling in one way or another.
1. Amazon Rainforest, South America
Spanning 2.5 million square miles, the Amazon represents over half the Earth’s rainforests. While there are some explored areas of the Amazon, most of the region’s plants, animals, ancient cities, and isolated tribes remain a mystery to us.
According to a World Wifelife Fund (WWF) report, between 1999 and 2009, a new plant or animal species was discovered in the Amazon rainforest every three days on average. This report demonstrates the vast biodiversity of the rainforest.
Unfortunately, deforestation, development, and climate change constantly threaten the Amazon rainforest.
2. Area 51, Nevada, United States
In July 1955, the CIA began using Area 51 as a highly classified Air Force Facility. Cloistered in the Nevada desert, this legendary U.S. military base has long been associated with government cover-ups, aliens, and UFO sightings. A widespread conspiracy says that wreckage recovered in Roswell, New Mexico, in July 1947 was actually the remains from a crashed flying saucer that the U.S. government brought to Area 51 for experimentation in order to replicate the extraterrestrial spacecraft.
It wasn’t until August 2013 that the CIA published declassified documents that officially acknowledged that Area 51 is a secret U.S. military site. However, the documents claim the site’s secret status was implemented to protect information from the Soviets rather than to cover up extraterrestrial encounters. The mystique surrounding Area 51 still intrigues the public today.
3. Bermuda Triangle, Atlantic Ocean
The Bermuda Triangle is an area located in the Atlantic Ocean spanning from Bermuda to Puerto Rico to the coast of Florida. It is one of the most heavily traveled shipping lanes in the world; however, it’s known for being the site of an incredible number of ship and plane disappearances.
What causes such mysterious disappearances in the triangle area is unknown. Explanations for the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle include piracy, alien encounters and abductions, the flow of the Gulf Stream, methane hydrate presence on the continental shelves, and a possible connection to the lost island of Atlantis; however, the most likely theory is navigational errors based on human error or compass variations, leaving sailors and pilots disoriented as to their location within the vast ocean territory.
Our Personal Experience With The Bermuda Triangle
I first learned about the Bermuda Triangle legend as a child and was terrified when my parents informed me that we’d be flying to Bermuda for a vacation. Fast forward into adulthood — I’ve flown over and sailed through the Bermuda Triangle multiple times to vacation in the Caribbean (as have millions of travelers) without any incidents. However, I’m still fascinated by the intrigue of previous disappearance cases.
– Sally Jones, Travel Enthusiast & Editor For Safe Smart Living
4. Blood Falls, Antarctica
Visit the Taylor Glacier in Antarctica’s McMurdo Dry Valleys, and you’ll find an astonishing sight: a blood-red waterfall. British geologist Thomas Griffith Taylor discovered the phenomenon in 1911, noting that the water emerges from the glacier clear but quickly turns russet. It took over a century, but scientists finally discovered what was causing the crimson liquid that seeped onto the snow-covered landscape.
Using samples taken from the appropriately named “Blood Falls,” scientists discovered the presence of iron-rich non-crystalline nanospheres in the water that oxidize when coming in contact with oxygen and turn the water red. The minute particles come from ancient microbes in the subglacial water’s ecosystem that were previously undetected.
5. Bran Castle, Romania
Popularly known as “Dracula’s Castle,” Bran Castle is a popular attraction in Romania thanks to its supposed association with the 1897 novel “Dracula” by Irish author Bram Stroker. In the novel, Stoker describes a stone castle perched on a rocky mountain alongside a flowing river in Transylvania that was the fortress of the centuries-old vampire Count Dracula.
Many believe that this character was inspired by Vlad III, Prince of Wallachia, more commonly known as Vlad the Impaler, a ruler of Wallachia (now Romania) from 1448 to 1476. Because Bran Castle matched the book’s description of the vampire’s castle, it took on the Dracula moniker.
While the connection to the infamous vampire may be tentative, the imposing walls, hidden passageways, and reports of paranormal activity certainly make Bran Castle a mysterious place to explore.
6. Catacombs Of Paris, France
It sounds like the stuff of legends—a vast network of underground tunnels in one of the world’s largest cities—but it’s all too real. The catacombs of Paris were originally limestone quarries, later repurposed to house the remains of approximately six million people. Today, visitors can buy tickets to explore a small section of the Paris Catacombs, where they can view tunnels lined with skulls and bones.
It’s illegal to explore most of the 200 miles of tunnels, but locals—called cataphiles—explore the passages and even host underground parties illegally.
Our Personal Experience In The Paris Catacombs
I was lucky enough to visit Paris, France, many years ago. Seeing the Catacombs was a unique experience, unlike a regular museum tour. It’s not something you will forget. It is truly remarkable to see, but not for the faint of heart. If you love history and have a taste for things that are a bit eerie, it’s well worth the trip.
–Danielle DeGroot, Adventurer & Writer For Safe Smart Living
7. Chichén Itzá, Mexico
The ancient Mayan city of Chichén Itzá is located in the northern portion of Yucatán state in Mexico. As one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the world, Chichén Itzá gives us insight into Mayan culture and civilization, but it also provokes questions about daily life, rituals, and beliefs of the ancient Mayans.
The site is home to many structures, including the Temple of Kukulcan, which dominates the site’s center. Also called El Castillo or the Pyramid of Kukulcan, this structure is a testament to Mayan astronomical skills. It is suggested that the Mayans used the temple to chart the seasons.
In 2007, Chichén Itzá was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Our Personal Experience In Chichén Itzá
Mexico has many ancient Mayan sites that are mysterious in their own way, and I’ve been lucky to see the two top-rated sites, Chichén Itzá and Tulum. Both are certainly worth visiting, but Chichén Itzá is amazing. Photos of Chichén Itzá usually only show its main attraction, the Temple of Kukulcan. I’ll warn you, if you’re afraid of heights like I am, the climb up is challenging, but the way down is downright scary.
Beyond the main attraction — when I visited Chichén Itzá, I discovered that this massive archeological site is comprised of more than 10 different minor monuments and other visible evidence of how ancient Mayans used this site, including games they played there.
– Sally Jones, Travel Enthusiast & Editor For Safe Smart Living
8. Crooked Forest, Poland
In the small village of New Czamowo in north-western Poland is a grove of oddly shaped pine trees. Each of the 400 pine trees bends sharply to the north, just above ground level, but then curves backward to the sky to form a shape resembling the letter “J.” Despite their hook-shaped bend, all the trees of the Crooked Forest are healthy and show no signs of any force that distorted them.
Theories range about this anomoly from a unique gravitational pull to heavy snowfall weighing down the trees, but it is generally believed that some form of human tool was used to make the trees bend.
9. Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan
The Darvaza Gas Crater, known as the “Door to Hell,” is a perpetually burning blaze in remote Turkmenistan. The fire has been burning the Karakum Desert for more than five decades, and many attempts to put out the flame have been unsuccessful.
While the origin of the fiery crater remains disputed, many believe that the Darvaza Crater was made during a 1971 Soviet drilling accident. Drilling hit a gas cavern, causing the rig to fall, causing the earth to collapse underneath it and release poisonous gas. To prevent methane fumes from spreading, the crew decided to burn off the methane by setting it ablaze. Unfortunately, the fire’s longevity suggests a large volume of gas below the earth.
10. Devil’s Kettle Falls, Minnesota, United States
While the mystery was solved back in February 2017, the disappearing water at Devil’s Kettle Falls stumped visitors at Judge C.R. Magney State Park for decades. Also called the “Waterfall to Nowhere,” the Devil’s Kettle gained interest because it split into two. The river forks, with one half of the river tumbling over the falls, while the other vanishes into a hole and the top of the fall and disappears.
There were many theories about where the water went, with many proposing an underground river; however, Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) put all the theories to rest when it determined that water likely empties back into the stream below the waterfall.
11. Easter Island, Chile
On the isolated Easter Island stand hundreds of monolithic stone sculptures, called moai, averaging 3 feet tall and weighing 14 tons. Nearly 1,000 towering volcanic rock statues reside on the island, with new statues found as recently as February 2023. Archaeologists believe the statues were created by indigenous Polynesian people known as the Rapa Nui to represent important ancestors.
Though numerous theories exist, the question of how a Stone Age tribe transported 50+ ton moai statues across hilly terrain remains unanswered. The latest theory is that the statues “walked” upright via a rocking motion with the use of ropes and manpower.
12. Eternal Flame Falls, Chestnut Ridge Park, New York
Following the path to the Shale Creek Preserve in Chestnut Ridge Park, you’ll find the Eternal Flame Falls. This aptly named waterfall is home to a fire that burns just behind the waterfall. The flame is fueled by methane gas that escapes through cracks in the rock. There are several other gas seepages around the falls, but locating and lighting them can be tricky.
While not entirely mysterious, or eternal for that matter (the water sometimes extinguishes the flame but can be reignited with a lighter), the Eternal Flame Falls is still a mystical, unique place to visit.
13. Fairy Circles, Namibia
Mysterious spots of barren soil in the remote grasslands of southwestern Africa’s Namibia have puzzled scientists for years. Dubbed “fairy circles” due to their shape and unexplained appearance, scientists have offered various theories on the cause of the cookie-cutter-like patches in the landscape, including competing colonies of underground sand termites and a self-organized vegetation phenomenon caused by plant water stress.
While there is still no consensus on the cause of the unique pockmarks, new research suggests 263 additional sites where fairy circles may also exist. Findings indicate that these fairy-like patterns often appear in areas with very low soil moisture.
14. Göbekli Tepe, Turkey
Predating Stonehenge by over 6,000 years, Turkey’s Göbekli Tepe is a Neolithic archeological site that is said to be the world’s oldest-known site created by humans. The complex predates both pottery and metal tools.
While many questions about Göbekli Tepe remain unanswered, archaeologists believe it functioned as a religious site, which would make it the world’s oldest temple.
15. Great Sphinx of Giza, Egypt
The Great Sphinx of Giza remains one of the Earth’s most mysterious features. This gigantic statue is the most enormous monolith in the world and is some 241 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 66 feet high. It is believed that the ancient Egyptians built the Great Sphinx during the reign of Khafra, a pharaoh during the old kingdom. This gigantic statue remains one of the world’s most mysterious places on Earth due to the many unknowns surrounding it. Who built the Sphinx, who modeled for the Sphinx, why was the Sphinx built—these all remain valid questions that center on this giant historical figure, and none can be answered.
Many people believe that the Sphinx was built as a tribute to Khafra, whose pyramid sits directly behind it; however, some believe that the Sphinx existed before the building of the pyramid and had been buried in the sand. Others believe that the Great Sphinx was built by Khafra’s father, Khufu, and still others believe that the Sphinx began with the head of Anubis, which was later remodeled to resemble Pharaoh Amenemhet II. Despite all of these theories, there is not one single piece of evidence that can say without a doubt why or how the Sphinx was built.
16. Hoia Bacui Forest, Romania
The Hoia Bacui Forest in Romania has been the location of various strange phenomena, including disappearances, unexplained lights, UFO sightings, and ghostly apparitions. Named after a shepherd who—legend says—disappeared in the forest with his flock of 200 sheep, Hoia Baciu gained international attention in 1968 when a hovering object was photographed in the forest’s clearing.
Known today as the “Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania,” the Hoia Bacui Forest continues to be a popular tourist attraction thanks to reports of paranormal sightings and electromagnetic disturbances.
17. Lake Hillier, Australia
The bubblegum-pink water of Australia’s Lake Hillier starkly contrasts the blue waters and green forest surrounding it. Discovered by British explorer Mathew Flinders in 1802, it wasn’t until recently that the mystery of Lake Hillier’s color was solved.
In March 2022, DNA sequencing revealed that the vivid pink lake gets its color from a mix of salt-loving algae, bacteria, and other microorganisms that thrive there. Even though science has answered the questions regarding Lake Hillier’s fantastic hue, it’s still a unique visual not often seen in nature.
18. Loch Ness, Scotland
Loch Ness is a deep freshwater lake in the Scottish Highlands. According to Scottish folklore, it’s also the home of a mythical serpent-like creature. Reports of the Loch Ness monster, affectionately nicknamed “Nessie,” date back to ancient times.
Over the years, many researchers conducted sonar explorations to locate the creature with no success. In 2018, scientists conducted a DNA survey of the lake to determine what organisms live there. The survey detected more than 3,000 species living in or beside Loch Ness, but there was no evidence of giant reptiles.
Despite no evidence proving Nessie’s existence, the lake is a popular tourist location, and the mystery of the Loch Ness monster lives on.
19. Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is the ancient Incan ruin site in the Andes Mountains. Built in the 15th century and later abandoned, the estate was discovered by American explorer Hiram Bingam in 1911 while exploring the jungles of Peru. At the time of its discovery, this archaeological marvel sat undisturbed for hundreds of years.
The site stretches a five-mile distance and is made up of more than 150 buildings. It is widely theorized that Machu Picchu was a royal estate or religious site for Inca leaders; however, its exact former use remains a mystery.
20. Marfa Lights, Texas, United States
For more than 140 years, onlookers have tried to explain the twinkling lights that appear outside the tiny town of Marfa. Known as the Marfa Lights, the first sighting of the pulsating, colorful orbs was in 1883 when a cowhand named Robert Reed Ellison spotted the dancing lights on the horizon. Since that time, countless people have reported seeing the lights.
Many theories have been proposed to explain Marfa’s mystery lights, from ghosts to vehicle headlights to ball lightning. But 140 years later, nobody really knows.
Our Personal Experience At The Marfa Lights
No trip to Marfa in West Texas is complete without an attempt to see the Marfa lights. There is a little lookout spot off the side of the highway where you can attempt to spot the mysterious lights along the desert-like horizon. There’s also a plaque next to the viewing binoculars (pictured above) with the explanation of the unsolved mystery.
We attempted to see the lights at night but didn’t see anything. However, that’s not to say they weren’t there. We heard stories from locals and tourists alike that they’ve spotted some twinkly lights before, but we didn’t witness it personally while we were there. However, the idea of what causes them and why was intriguing.
– Sadie Cornelius, Planet Explorer & Creative Guru For Safe Smart Living
21. Mariana Trench, Pacific Ocean
The Mariana Trench holds the title of the deepest oceanic trench on Earth. Its deepest spot, dubbed the Challenger Deep, is at an estimated depth of 35,876 feet—almost six times deeper than the Grand Canyon.
Due to its incredible depths, the Marina Trench remains an incredibly mysterious place. To date, nobody has walked on the bottom of the Mariana Trench, and only 27 people have descended to Challenger Deep.
22. Moeraki Boulders, Koekohe Beach, New Zealand
The Moekari Boulders are a collection of spherical boulders scattered along the shoreline of Koekohe Beach in New Zealand. These massive rock boulders are estimated to be approximately 65 million years old.
There are many myths surrounding the Moeraki Boulders, from the work of extraterrestrials to fossilized dinosaur eggs; however, scientists say the boulders are formed from fine-grained sedimentary rock, specifically mudstone, that accumulated over time to form solid rock.
23. Nazca Lines, Peru
The Nazca Lines are a series of giant geoglyphs in southern Peru’s Nazca Desert. Most of the markings date back to between 200 B.C. and 500 A.D. by people who inhabited the Nazca region. The depictions themselves portray several figures, including the monkey, pelican, condor, giant, dog, spider, hands, and hummingbird. There are over 800 straight lines, 300 geometric designs, and about 70 depictions of plants and animals.
The lines of the Nazca geoglyphs have been preserved well because the planes of the desert area are relatively well shielded from the elements. The exact reason behind these well-preserved depictions in the desert is unknown; however, the latest research suggests that the lines were used to communicate between settlements.
24. North Sentinel Island, Andaman Islands, India
The Andaman Islands are an Indian archipelago comprising 200 islands in the Bay of Bengal. The islands have all the makings of a popular getaway for travelers: clear, blue water, white sand beaches, and lush greenery. However, many of these islands are closed to tourists in an attempt by the government to protect tribal communities in the area.
Among this group of islands is North Sentinel, an island home to a tribe considered the most isolated in the world—they have absolutely no contact with outsiders. Little is known about the Sentinelese tribe, who have made it clear that they are not interested in visitors. This is likely a wise choice for the Sentinelese, as previous contact with Andamanese tribes has led to devastating effects. The few people in modern times who have tried to venture onto North Sentinel’s shores, including a young American missionary in 2018, have been killed.
25. Plain Of Jars, Laos
Across a plateau in the Xiengkhouang province of central Loas lay 2,000+ large stone jars. The jars are huge, reaching up to nine feet high and weighing as much as 14 tons. Most are carved from sandstone, while others are made from granite, calcified coral, and other materials.
Lao legends tell a fantastical tale of a race of giants who used the jars to brew and store wine. After discovering jars filled with cremated human remains in the 1930s, French archaeologist Madeleine Colani theorized that the jars were linked to burial practices. While archaeologists today estimate the jars to be around 2,000 years old, their purpose is inconclusive.
26. Pyramids Of Giza, Egypt
Built around 2,600 B.C., these ancient Egyptian pyramids functioned as massive tombs for Egyptian pharaohs. The oldest and tallest of the pyramids, the Great Pyramid of Giza, stood at 481 feet tall when it was first built. The pyramid is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one still standing today.
Archaeologists generally believe builders used a ramp system to move the giant stone blocks up the pyramids. But, the specifics of how these pyramids were built remain a mystery.
27. Richat Structure, Mauritania
In Mauritania lies a 30-mile-wide structure that looks like a bullseye in the middle of the desert. Dubbed the Eye of the Sahara, the Richat Structure was once believed to be a meteorite crash site; however, geological studies revealed that it’s actually a volcanic dome that gradually eroded to display layers of flat rock underneath.
28. Roanoke Island, North Carolina, United States
In the 1580s, an entire colony of people disappeared from Roanoke Island. Only a single clue to their whereabouts was left behind: the word “Croatoan” carved into a tree. The cryptic message led to wild speculations of what happened to the settlers of Roanoke. It remains one of the most notorious mysteries of American history.
The most popular theory is that colonists left Roanoke and sought shelter with the Croatoan tribe, located 50 miles south on Hatteras Island.
Our Personal Experience Learning About Roanoke Island In The Area
Obviously, there’s not much to see in terms of an archeological site here (hence, its mystery). But if you’re in the area and fascinated with this lost colony of 16th-century American history, I recommend seeing The Lost Colony theater experience – a production that dates back to 1937. I found it entertaining and informative. This area is mysterious enough that it sparked the theme of season 6 of American Horror Story, one of my favorite series.
– Sally Jones, Travel Enthusiast & Editor For Safe Smart Living
29. Sahara Desert, North Africa
As one of the most inhospitable places today, the Sahara Desert is also one of the least-studied places on Earth. But 10,000 years ago, the world’s largest hot desert looked incredibly different. The Sahara desert was once a green oasis. Which raises the question: What’s hidden under the Sahara’s sandy surface?
30. Stone Spheres, Costa Rica
Also called the Diquís Spheres, the Stone Spheres of Costa Rica are a collection of more than 300 round spheres unearthed in the 1930s. The balls are almost perfectly round and weigh up to 16 tons.
While some believe that an ancient indigenous culture made these stone spheres, little else is known about these mysterious artifacts.
31. Stonehenge, England
No discussion of the mysterious locations on Earth would be complete without the mention of Stonehenge. Located in Wiltshire, England, Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument from more than 5,000 years ago composed of large stones. The exact purpose of these stones has never been discovered, but many speculate that they were used for several purposes, including burial grounds or sacred temples.
What makes the existence of Stonehenge so mysterious is that there are no written records left by the civilizations that created the monument. So we are left only to guess its purpose based on the cremated remains found in the area and other similar but much more diminutive burial mound structures.
Our Personal Experience At Stonehenge
One of the most easily recognized mysterious sites, Stonehenge is a must-see if you’re in the British Isles. I was fortunate to visit Stonehenge years ago, and the pictures of the Stone Circle don’t do it justice. When I was standing in the center of the Stone Circle, the size and placement of these huge stones made me even more curious about how (and why) our ancient ancestors spent so much time creating such an enormous monument.
– Sally Jones, Travel Enthusiast & Editor For Safe Smart Living
32. Taos Hum, New Mexico, United States
The low-frequency hum in Taos, New Mexico, has puzzled residents, visitors, and scientists. Described as a faint, continuous hum or buzz, the mysterious sound has plagued the residents of Taos since the early 1990s.
In 1993, a joint research project by the University of New Mexico, the Phillips Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories attempted to pinpoint the existence and cause of the hum. Based on a survey of residents, only 2% of respondents heard the hum. Equipment was used to measure sound and vibrations in Taos. Unfortunately, the results were inconclusive.
Our Personal Experience In Taos, NM
Taos, New Mexico, is one of those spots that is brimming with history and personality. From the painting-like sunsets to the spicy chile, it’s the kind of place that gets into your heart and makes you want to come back. The Taos Hum or low-frequency sound some hear, and all the theories about it are simply part of the charm of this exceptional place. Did I hear the hum when I was there? Maybe. I’ve been in the area many times and have certainly felt some tingling in my ears.
–Danielle DeGroot, Adventurer & Writer For Safe Smart Living
33. Teotihuacan, Mexico
The ancient Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan is unique in that archeologists do not know who created the meticulously planned city, who ruled the city, or why the city was abandoned. Due to the lack of written scripts, little is known about the city’s history.
The city was founded as early as 400 B.C. and has a population of as high as 200,000 people. The inhabitants of Teotihuacan are subject to debate, though it is suggested that it was a multi-ethnic city occupied by Maya, Mixtec, Nahua, Otomi, and Zapotec peoples. The original name of the city remains unknown. By the time the Aztecs discovered the city in the 1400s and called it Teotihuacan, meaning “the place where gods were created,” the city had already been abandoned for centuries.
34. Xiaozhai Tiankeng, China
The Xiaozhai Tiankeng, also referred to as the Xiaozhai Heavenly Pit, was discovered in 1994. Measuring 2,172 feet deep and spanning 2,000 feet across, it’s the most enormous sinkhole on Earth.
The depth of the sinkhole allowed the space to create its own rare ecosystem. It contains 1,285 registered plant species and is home to endangered plants and animals, including rare ginkgo, clouded leopard, and Chinese giant salamander. The sinkhole may also be home to organisms that are otherwise extinct or even unknown to humankind.
35. Yonaguni Monument, Japan
The Yonaguni Monument was discovered in 1987 when a shark diver discovered numerous structures lying on the seabed just off the coast of Yonaguni, in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. Primary investigations of the monument suggest that the formations are manmade from sand and mudstone deposited in the area some 20 million years ago. The structure features several architectural details, such as terraces, steps, pillars, a road, a totem, a dividing wall, a star-shaped platform, a triangle pool, and a stage.
Some of those who have researched the Yonaguni Monument have suggested that it is similar in appearance to the Okinawa Tomb, also made from rock, and suggest that this monument could also serve the purpose of a tomb. While disputes abound as to whether this monument is manmade or a natural geological formation, if this structure was manmade, the last time that it could have been modified was in the previous ice age when the monument would have been accessible by land.
Why Study the Mysterious Places on Earth?
There is much to be learned about historical cultures and other elements of the land by studying these various artifacts. While it can certainly be frustrating to be left without answers, there is something exciting in the mystery of not knowing. There is something almost freeing in the ability to speculate and create our own stories as to why these mysterious places are as they are today.
Perhaps one day some of the mysteries surrounding these worldwide locations will be revealed, but for now we must be content with vague theories and assumptions based on the facts that we do know about each of these awe-inspiring locations.
What are your speculations on these mysterious places? Let us know in the comments.
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