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Strangest Places in the World

February 17, 2023

As a blog that explores all things strange and curious, we would be remiss if we didn’t share some of the world’s leading destinations with a reputation for being a bit weird. These are the places that truly raise eyebrows, and some of the things here remain either unexplained or have been debated for quite a long time.

Curved forest — Poland

The curious bend to this grove of pines remains a mystery. Planted around 1930, some speculate the trees where purposely deformed for a later use in making furniture or boats. Others think it’s the result of nature, such as an intense snow storm.

mano del desierto / hand of the desert — chile

Built by Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal, this giant hand reaches 36 feet from its spot in the Atacama desert.

rock formation — carlsbad caverns national park, new mexico, usa

Inside the Big Room at Carlsbad Caverns, visitors walk among rock formations of all shapes and sizes. An 8.2-acre cavern with a 1.25-mile trail, it’s the largest single cave chamber by volume in North America.

Breckenridge Troll — colorado, usa

This 15-foot tall troll known as Isak Heartstone by Danish artist Thomas Dambo had to be relocated to a more secluded spot at the Trollstigen trailhead in Breckenridge, Colorado in 2019 due to its overwhelming popularity and frequent visitors.

wave rock — Hyden, Western Australia

Cresting from Hyden Rock, this 49-foot tall, 360-foot long natural rock formation is shaped like a breaking ocean wave.

ice sculptures — ukraine

Fence posts are transformed into strange sculptures frozen in ice at the top of a mountain in the Ukraine.

Trovantii – the ‘living stones’ — Romania

These odd sandstone formations known as trovants have the combined characteristics of a plant and a rock and actually grow and multiply as the result of a chemical reaction by waters rich in calcium carbonate.

the catacombs — france

An ancient tunnel network underneath Paris is the final resting place for 6 million of the city’s dead after cemeteries overflowed during the 17th Century. Today it’s a tourist attraction where about 1 mile of the chambers are open to the public.

The Pinnacles — western australia

Nicknamed “Rock Stars of the Outback,” these limestone pillars set on shifting yellow sand dunes within Nambung National Park are a strange sight, especially in comparison to the white sand beaches in the nearby fishing village of Cervantes.

cano’s castle —antonito, colorado, usa

This curious compound of recycled junk is hard to miss in the rural southern Colorado town where it sits. Built by Vietnam veteran Donald “Cano” Espinoza, the residence is made largely of aluminum scraps.

ruby falls — chattanooga, tennessee, usa

The largest and tallest underground waterfall in the United States that’s open to the public, this popular tourist attraction within Lookout Mountain is named after the wife of Leo Lambert, a local cave enthusiast, who discovered the falls during a new exploration of the then-sealed Lookout Mountain Cave in 1928.

socotra island dragon tree — yemen

Also known as dragon’s blood trees, this unique species is named for its red resin that may have medicinal qualities. Sadly, despite their long life cycle—they can live a thousand years—they’re also endangered.

Krafla Toilet and Shower — iceland

Located next to a geothermal station in Krafla, a shower and toilet set in the open wilderness has become a humorous and evolving tourist attraction. The toilet has since been switched out for a sink.

blue whale — catoosa, oklahoma, usa

This waterfront structure is an iconic spot along historic US Route 66. Swimming in the pond is now closed, but there’s a gift shop, and visitors can still climb inside the whale and fish alongside.

Chocolate hills — Philippines

These curious cone-shaped karst mounds have a grassy surface that browns during the region’s dry season, resembling rows of chocolate kisses and resulting in their famous nickname.

Queen’s head — Yehliu Geopark, Taiwan

Among the many natural rock formations within Yehlio Geopark, the most famous is one named after Queen Elizabeth I. Some speculate this “Queen’s Head” rock took over 4,000 years to form. Sadly, a crack in its long neck has made it vulnerable, and the head is expected to break off in the coming few years.

Cliffs burial site of the Toraja — Sulawesi, Indonesia

In a mountainous region of Sulawesi, Indonesia, a society of indigenous people known as the Toraja practice funeral and burial rituals that are elaborate, out in the open and perhaps slightly strange—coffins of children can be hung from a tree.

paint mines interpretive park — colorado, usa

Tucked away in rural El Paso County, Colorado is a strange landscape of pastel-hued rocks known as Paint Mines Interpretive Park. The colorful clays of these rocks, the result of oxidized iron compounds, were once collected by Native Americans to make pigments for ceramics.

Dead trees — Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Known as Dead Vlei, this ultra parched land in the Namib desert contains a forest of centuries-old trees that have become sun-scorched and blackened. Some speculate they died 600-700 years ago.

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