Top 10 Creepiest Places on Earth That Can't Be Explained
#10: Catatumbo Lightning Storm
Venezuela At the mouth of the Catatumbo River, where it spills into Lake Maracaibo, the weather gets a little intense. The Catatumbo Lightning Storm is a phenomenon that occurs between 140 and 160 days of the year, usually at night. While its exact frequency varies from year to year, the strange occurrence has been happening with surprising regularity dating back to at least 1826. Scientists have had some success with predictive models, but theories on its exact cause remain inconclusive. Ideas have ranged from localized uranium, to methane, to a convergence of atmospheric variables. Whatever the cause, the effect is stunning and terrifying!
#9: The Hessdalen Lights
Top 20 Creepiest Places on Earth That Can't Be Explained
Norway Since at least the 1930s, strange lights have been observed in the sky above the Hessdalen Valley in Norway. Sometimes resembling spheres, and other times streaks, these strange lights are not an aurora, nor are they any known craft—although aircraft have been mistaken for them. Their duration, speed, time of appearance, and behavior vary wildly, to the point that making observations or hypotheses has proven difficult. Aside from the inevitable claims of alien activity, a number of ideas have been put forth, such as plasma created from radon decay, or electric charges generated from quartz grains in the valley below. Until a conclusive theory is reached, we’ll just have to keep looking to the sky.
#8: The Richat Structure
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Mauritania Located in the Sahara Desert, the Richat Structure, a.k.a. the Eye of the Sahara, is a strange series of concentric geological rings. Due to its remote location, it’s not easily observed. Curiously, archaeological evidence points to early human activity in the area. The Richat Structure’s origins have long puzzled the scientific community, with theories ranging from it being an impact crater to the lost city of Atlantis. The current theory is that it was originally a naturally formed volcanic dome which collapsed long ago. Still, the fact that its rings are equidistant and that it’s so circular is a little unnerving.
#7: Devil’s Kettle
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Minnesota, U.S.A. In Judge C. R. Magney State Park in Minnesota, there’s a waterfall named “Devil’s Kettle.” The falls split into two, with one side going further downstream, and the other flowing into a hole in the rock. Attempts at throwing objects into the hole and looking for them further on have proven unsuccessful, and the surrounding rock is not of the type that usually forms underground passages. A recent theory holds that the objects thrown into the Kettle are pulverized by the water pressure before they can reappear downstream, since there’s little loss in water volume. There are those who find fault with the theory, however, inviting us to wonder: what’s really happening at the Devil’s Kettle?
#6: Shanay-Timpishka
Peru Deep in the Peruvian Amazon, there lies a very unusual river. The Shanay-Timpishka, also called “La Bomba,” is unlike any river in the world for one simple reason – it boils! The temperature of the water there ranges from 120 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Although there are other bodies of water that experience higher temperatures, most of these others are located near volcanoes or substantial geothermal vents—which the Shanay-Timpishka is not. Some of the leading theories involve a fault-led hydrothermal feature, or even an oil-field accident, but for now, the cause of the river’s heat remains open to debate.
#5: Crooked Forest
Poland The Krzywy Las, or Crooked Forest, lies just outside of Gryfino, a town in Poland. A grove of pine trees, the Crooked Forest, true to its name, consists of trees whose trunks are unusually bent towards the north shortly after they emerge from the ground. Although planted fairly recently (if you can call 1930 recent), there’s no record or conclusive proof for why the trees are shaped like something out of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Theories abound, with some believing a snowstorm could have bent them, while others suggest human involvement to shape them like boat hulls. The equipment and method used in the latter case is anyone’s guess.
#4: Moguicheng
China Moguicheng roughly translates to “City of the Devil”, and that’s a hauntingly apt name for this desolate desert region. A huge stone formation resides here, with shapes that resemble castles and demons. As creepy and mysterious as these stones are, what’s even more spine-tingling is the ambience. Visitors report hearing a variety of eerie noises on the wind. During sunny days, it’s said that music can be heard, while cloudy days bring on the disturbing sounds of people in pain and wild beasts. Ghost enthusiasts are sure to get a kick out of the place, but until science can explain this chilling phenomenon, other tourists may want to steer clear.
#3: Kokomo Hum
Indiana, U.S.A. “The City of Firsts,” Kokomo, Indiana may seem like any other city in the United States, but there’s an invisible force terrorizing the locals: sound. Some residents have reported a persistent, low-pitched humming noise in the town since 1999. The noise has been blamed for everything from headaches to nausea to joint pains. One possible culprit is the nearby DaimlerChrysler plant and its huge large cooling towers. You might not have to travel to Kokomo to experience the hum, however, as reports from across the world have people experience similar symptoms. Is it a case of mass hysteria, or is there something connecting these accounts? It remains a disconcerting mystery.
#2: Fairy Circles
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Namibia The crop circles of the natural world, fairy circles are bare, circular patches of grass found in the desolate grasslands of Namibia, as well as in western Australia. The local people have ascribed the circles’ creation to gods or spirits, much like the similar phenomena of fairy rings—which are found worldwide. More scientific explanations, however, include sand termites, which have been found in and around most of them, or else as a result of underground moisture competition among grasses. Even a combination of plant and animal interactions has been considered. But these uncanny circles have yet to be conclusively explained.
#1: Movile Cave
Romania Discovered in 1986 off the coast of the Black Sea, Movile Cave is one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. Isolated from the rest of the world for five and a half million years, Movile Cave has air with high levels of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. This has led to the evolution of at least 33 animals found nowhere else on Earth. Scientists are particularly interested in studying the life found there, as it could give clues as to what life on other planets could look like! Given the inherent danger of the environment, access to the Movile Cave is strictly controlled by the Romanian government.
