The world is a fascinating place. There is so much to see and so much to experience. For the avid travelers, some places should definitely be on your bucket list. It would be impossible to cover all the marvels out there in the world but we will explore 6 world travel curiosities, both man-made and naturally occurring.
1. The petrifying Lake Natron
Located in Tanzania in East Africa, Lake Natron, which gets its name due to the mixture of minerals and salt called Natron, is a true natural curiosity.
Natron is composed of sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate making the lake very salty. So salty is the water, that when temperatures are high, it can poison the animals. What makes the lake a marvel it that animals that die in the lake calcify and turn into perfectly preserved statues.
Only one species of fish has survived in the lake, no other animal inhabits it.
2. Eternal flame falls
This travel curiosity is located in New York USA in the Shale Creek Preserve. A grotto at the base of the waterfall produces a natural gas, which has a high level of ethane and propane that can burn. The flame, which seems to peek from behind the waterfall, is visible all year round without needing to be constantly re-lit.
3. Christ of the Abyss
Christ of the Abyss is a bronze statue of Jesus Christ sculpted by the Italian Sculptor Guido Galleti. It is located in Italy where it found its home in the Mediterranean Sea in 1954. The sculptural wonder stands at a stunning 2.5 meters. It depicts Jesus with his hands and head raised skyward offering benediction.
Similar statues exist in Grenada and the USA.
4. Caño Cristales
The Caño Cristales is a Colombian river located in the province of Meta. Due to its striking colors, it has been dubbed “liquid rainbow” or “the river of five colors.”
The river is completely devoid of nutrients and particles making it extremely clear. The large presence of the Macarenia clavíger, an endemic plant species, gives it a blood red hue during summer.
Truly a marvel of nature.
5. Road to Heaven – Huashan Mountain
Another travel curiosity is the road to heaven, a trail on Mt. Huashan that only the very daring adrenaline junkies dare to climb. The road is composed of rickety stairs and planks nailed to the rocks. Your only support is a chain that helps you keep your balance as you navigate the planks or the cutouts on the rock where your feet go. Unsubstantiated reports say that up to 100 lives are lost on the trail each year.
What, you may ask, awaits you at the end of this dangerous path? A tea-house awaits you. What a crazy climb for a cup of tea.
6. Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain
Located in Peru this mountain is a true curiosity. The mountain is covered in wide lines of different colors; red, blue, green, pink and yellow. Even the scientists are baffled as none has truly been able to explain what causes this to happen, although some say it could be due to the minerals found on the mountain including iron oxide, iron sulfide, and chlorite.
Conclusion
If you can, make sure you visit one of these world travel curiosities, I imagine it would be an amazing experience.
Travel enthusiast, always looking forward to the next adventure. Flying around the world, enjoying mostly sunny places, learning about new captivating cultures are some the main reasons driving me to travel.
