(ORDO NEWS) — Our planet is so huge and little explored that it’s scary to imagine how many amazing and mysterious places it hides.
Let’s take a short tour of the mystical corners of the Earth and try to unravel the mystery of the Nazca Lines and the flooded continent in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
1/ Guell Er Richat, Mauritania
The all-seeing eye of the Earth looks into space from the Mauritanian part of the Sahara desert. Local tribes call it “the navel of the earth.”
These huge circles inscribed by an unknown force with a diameter of about fifty kilometers really resemble an eye, which serves as an excellent guide for astronauts in orbit.
Against the backdrop of the endless expanses of a monotonous desert, Richat plays the role of a kind of cosmic beacon. The origin of the eye is still unknown to modern scientists. Only hypotheses are put forward.
For a long time, people believed that this was an impact crater from a meteorite that fell 500-600 million years ago.
But the flat shape of the bottom and the complete absence of rocks with traces of impact forced scientists to think further.
Then they put forward another version that this structure appeared as a result of a volcanic eruption between the late Proterozoic and Ordovician.
However, this assumption was quickly dismissed due to the absence of a characteristic dome of igneous and volcanic rocks.
The most scientific is the hypothesis that it is the mouth of an extinct volcano or the result of erosion on the uplift of a section of the earth’s crust. This version is still followed to this day.
2/ Nan Madol, Micronesia
In the middle of the Pacific Ocean are the ruins of the ancient city of Nan Madol. Are these the remnants of a lost continent that has existed for thousands of years?
The history of these ruins is completely unknown. Its origin, its inhabitants are one big mystery and continuous questions.
How did people manage to transport such heavy slabs with a diameter of more than 14 meters from the northern coast of Ponape?
Obviously, there are no legends here. According to one version, a certain wizard came from afar, carrying huge slabs, from which the people built buildings.
Other stories mention large coconut tree rafts, which is completely impossible due to the geography of the island. And the main question: what else is hidden under water?
Divers saw colossal buildings, roads, monoliths covered with coral and algae. Irrefutable proof that Nan Madol is just the tip of the iceberg.
3/ Vatnajökull Glacier Caves, Iceland
Vatnajokull is a real kingdom of wild nature. Volcanic lakes and tongues of glaciers from 600 to 800 meters high, lava fields that create an alien landscape, steam and hot water emissions, stunningly beautiful caves that have been formed in the thickness of the glacier for hundreds of years, connected by numerous labyrinths – all this fascinates with its incredible view. No wonder this place is very popular when filming movies.
So, for example, several moments from the film about Lara Croft and about James Bond were filmed here. The very name of the glacier is translated as “giving water”. Indeed, Vatnajokull gave rise to many Icelandic lakes and rivers.
When melting, the water washes away the surface of the glacier – this gives the caves an amazing bluish glow, similar to the shine of precious stones. Unfortunately, these caves, like the entire glacier, are gradually melting.
4/ Nazca lines
Mysterious figures, strange shapes and symbols that attract many tourists and seekers of mysteries cover the surface of the desert with an area of approximately 500 square kilometers.
That is why you can see them and understand the scale of what you see only from the air. It is for this reason that they were discovered only in 1920 by the American explorer Paul Kosok.
At the moment, about 30 drawings are known (bird, monkey, spider, flowers), 13 thousand lines and stripes, and about 700 geometric shapes.
Many theories have been put forward about these lines, from being visited by aliens to being created by mysterious magical beings.
Other hypotheses are put forward, but so far none of them has a significant advantage.
5/ Red Beach, China
We are used to sinking our feet in the snow-white sands, well, at worst, knocking them down on hot pebbles and stones in order to get to the depths of the sea.
And the beach in the Panjin region of China is covered with a vault, which turns the beach into a wonderful bright red carpet. The local soil in these places is characterized by a high content of alkali.
Because of this, it is not suitable for many plants, but the swede likes it, the conditions allow it to grow in abundance. If you are going to this beach, then you can not take swimwear with you.
On the beach, you will not only not be allowed to sunbathe, it is forbidden to walk on it.
Since 1988, most of it has become a nature reserve, so tourists are only allowed to move along a specially designed wooden path.
6/ Laguna Colorada, Bolivia
This shallow lake, surrounded by Martian landscapes of shores rich in sulfur and sodium, contains all shades of red, from pink to crimson.
The combination of burgundy-terracotta water with snow-white islands of borax creates an amazing play of colors.
And the flocks of James’ flamingos that have chosen these lands give the lagoon a uniqueness and a special flavor.
This lake is one of the few places on the planet where they feel at home. Interestingly, the color of the lake changes depending on the weather and lighting.
The water of the lagoon can shimmer in various colors, from burgundy-black to greenish and yellowish.
This is due to the pigmentation of the algae and salt deposits present in it, as well as local sedimentary rocks.
7/ Abraham Lake, Canada
Although this is an artificial lake created during the construction of the Bighorn Dam on the North Saskatchewan River, this does not prevent it from being a favorite place for photographers.
Its ice sheet is dotted with patterns of bubbles of frozen methane, which is extremely flammable. Methane is produced throughout the winter by plants that grow on the bottom of the lake.
The surface of the lake is dotted with cracks, and the bubbles rising from the dark bottom to the surface of Abraham Lake create a very ominous picture.
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