We represent the most beautiful places in our country that not only every photographer and traveler should see, but also every inhabitant of our vast Russia. Read our material and you will see: we all have something to be proud of!
Natural parks, reserves
Lena Pillars, Yakutia
Lena Pillars is a natural park in Russia located on the banks of the Lena River in the Khangalassky ulus of Yakutia 104 km from the city of Pokrovsk. The complex of vertically elongated rocks stretching for many kilometers, fantastically piling along the banks of the Lena River, a deep valley cutting through the Prilensky Plateau, does not cease to attract photographers and travelers. Pillars reach the highest density between the villages of Petrovskoye and Tit-Ary.
The height of the rock formations reaches 100 meters. Scientists believe that the formation of rocks began 560-540 million years ago, and the formation of Lena pillars as a form of relief - about 400 thousand years ago.
The Lena Pillars Nature Park was organized on the basis of Decree of the President of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) dated August 16, 1994 No. 837 and Government Decree of February 10, 1995 and is subordinate to the regional Ministry of Nature Protection. The area of \u200b\u200bthe park is 485 thousand hectares, the park consists of two branches - Pillars and Sinsky.
Geyser Valley, Kamchatka
The Valley of Geysers, one of the largest geyser fields in the world and the only one in Eurasia, is located in Kamchatka in the Kronotsky State Biosphere Reserve, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Kamchatka Volcanoes natural complex.
The valley is a deep canyon of the Geysernaya River, on the sides of which over an area of \u200b\u200babout 6 square meters. km there are numerous exits of geysers, hot springs, mud boilers, thermal platforms, waterfalls and lakes. An abnormally high biodiversity and high contrast of natural conditions and microclimate are observed in this territory. The ecosystem of the Valley of Geysers is unique to the whole country. In the valley there is a protected regime.
Since 1992, here, under an agreement with the reserve, helicopter tours have been organized, there is a strict system of rules for organizing excursions in order to maintain the balance of the ecosystem. In 2008, according to the results of the vote, the Valley of Geysers was included in the list of seven wonders of Russia.
Weathering posts, Komi Republic
Weathering posts (Mansi blocks) - a geological monument located in the Trinity-Pechora region of the Komi Republic on the territory of the Pechoro-Ilychsky reserve on Mount Man-Pupu-ner ("Small Mountain of Idols" translated from the Mansi language), between the rivers Ichotlyaga and Pechora . With this extraordinary place, many legends are associated. Pillars are considered one of the seven wonders of Russia.
The pillars of weathering are located quite far from the inhabited places. Reaching them is already in a sense a feat. For this, by the way, you need to get a pass from the administration of the reserve. There is a walking route from the Sverdlovsk Region and Perm Territory; from the Komi Republic, there are road, water and foot routes.
About 200 million years ago, in the place of stone pillars were high mountains. Rain, snow, wind, frost and heat gradually destroyed the mountains, and especially weak rocks. Hard sericite-quartzite schists collapsed less and survived to the present day, and soft rocks were destroyed by weathering and carried by water and wind to lower reliefs.
One pillar, 34 m high, stands somewhat apart from the others. Six others lined up at the edge of the cliff. The pillars have bizarre outlines and, depending on the place of inspection, resemble either the figure of a huge man or the head of a horse or a ram. Indeed, this place is ideal for the imagination of a photographer! In past times, the Mansi deified the grandiose stone statues, worshiped them, but the climb to Manpupuner was considered the greatest sin.
Curonian Spit, Kaliningrad Region
The Curonian Spit is a sand spit located on the coast of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. It is a narrow and long strip of saber-shaped land that separates the Curonian lagoon from the Baltic Sea and extends from the city of Zelenogradsk of the Kaliningrad Region to the city of Klaipeda (Smiltyne) (Lithuania). The name of the spit comes from the name of the ancient Curonian tribes who lived here before the Germans colonized Prussia.
The length is 98 kilometers, the width varies from 400 meters (in the vicinity of the village of Lesnoy) to 3.8 kilometers (in the vicinity of Cape Bulvikyo, just north of Nida).
The Curonian Spit is a unique natural and anthropogenic landscape and territory of exceptional aesthetic significance: The Curonian Spit is the largest sand body, which, along with Khel and Vistula, is part of the Baltic sand spit complex, which has no analogues in the world. A high level of biological diversity, due to a combination of different landscapes - from desert (dunes) to tundra (high bog) - gives an idea of \u200b\u200bimportant and long-term ecological and biological processes in evolution.
The most significant element of the topography of the spit is a continuous strip of white sand dunes with a width of 0.3 - 1 km, partly approaching the highest in the world (up to 68 m). Due to its geographical position and orientation from north-east to south-west, it serves as a corridor for many migratory birds flying from the north-western regions of Russia, Finland and the Baltic countries to the countries of Central and Southern Europe. From 10 to 20 million birds fly over the spit every spring and autumn, a significant part of which stop here for rest and feeding.
Favorable climatic conditions allow you to relax on the Curonian Spit from May to November. In 2000, the Curonian Spit was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The nature reserve "Pillars". Krasnoyarsk region
The reserve is located on the northwestern spurs of the Eastern Sayan Mountains, bordering the Central Siberian Plateau. The natural boundaries of the protected area are the right tributaries of the river. Yenisei: in the northeast - the Bazaikha River, in the south and southwest - the Mana and Bolshaya Slizneva rivers. From the northeast, the territory borders on the city of Krasnoyarsk, you can reach the border of the reserve by bus. The reserve was founded in 1925 at the initiative of residents of the city to preserve natural complexes around the picturesque syenite remains - “pillars”. Currently, its area is 47,219 ha. Submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Fund List.
Lakes
Lake Baikal, Eastern Siberia
It is unlikely that Baikal needs any descriptions, but still ... Baikal is the deepest lake on the planet, the largest natural reservoir of fresh water. The lake and coastal areas are characterized by a unique variety of flora and fauna. Locals and many in Russia traditionally call Lake Baikal the sea.
The value of the maximum depth of the lake - 1642 m - was established in 1983 by L. G. Kolotilo and A. I. Sulimov during hydrographic work. The average depth of the lake is also very great - 744.4 m. In addition to Lake Baikal on Earth, only two lakes have a depth of more than 1000 meters: Tanganyika (1470 m) and the Caspian Sea (1025 m). One of the business cards of Russia, a place that you need to see with your own eyes at least once in your life!
Seliger Lake, Tver and Novgorod Regions
Another place that needs no introduction. By the way, Seliger has another name - Lake Ostashkov, according to the name standing on the lake shore of the city of Ostashkov. The area of \u200b\u200bthe lake is 260 sq. Km, including about 38 sq. Km. km falls on the islands (there are more than 160 of them on Seliger). The largest among them is the island of Khachin. The area of \u200b\u200bthe entire pool is 2275 square meters. km
Seliger accepts 110 tributaries. The largest are the rivers Krapivenka, Soroga and Seremukha. Only one Selizharovka river flows from it. The lake lies at an altitude of 205 meters above sea level and has a glacial origin. This explains its peculiar shape - it is not a lake in the usual sense, but rather a chain of lakes stretching from north to south for 100 km and connected by short narrow channels. The coastline with a length of more than 500 km is distinguished by its indentation - capes overgrown with forests, picturesque bays deep into the land, diverse in shape of the island.
The water in Seliger is clear, transparency reaches 5 meters. On the shore of the southern part of Lake Seliger are located the city of Ostashkov and the estate "New Yeltsy".
Kezenoi-am Lake, Chechen Republic
Kezenoi-am - a lake on the border of the Vedeno district of the Chechen Republic and the Botlikh region of Dagestan. This is the largest and deepest lake in the North Caucasus, located at an altitude of more than 1800 meters above sea level. The surface of the lake is 2.4 sq. Km.
The depth of the lake reaches 74 m. The length of the lake from north to south is 2 kilometers, and from west to east - 2.7 kilometers. The maximum width is 735 meters. The coastline is 10 kilometers long.
Baskunchak Lake
Akhtubinsky district, Astrakhan region
Baskunchak is a salt lake with an area of \u200b\u200babout 115 square meters. km in the Akhtuba region of the Astrakhan region, about 270 km north of the Caspian Sea, and 53 km east of the Volga. Baskunchak Lake is part of a unique natural complex, which includes Mount Big Bogdo. In 1997, the Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky natural complex was declared a reserve (Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky reserve), where a special nature conservation regime was established on an area of \u200b\u200b53.7 thousand hectares.
On the coast of the lake there are deposits of healing clay. In June-August, tourists come to the lake who bathe in brine and take mud baths. The beauty of these places is not worth talking about. There are no fewer photographers than those who want to improve their health.
Jack London Lake, Magadan Region
Located in the upper reaches of the Kolyma River in the Yagodninsky District of the Magadan Region, it lies among the mountains at an altitude of 803 meters, the length of the lake in the north-western direction is 10 kilometers, and the depth is 50 meters.
There are many small lakes around Lake London. The most distinguished in size - Lake Mechta, Anemone, Gray Chaika, Invisible, Neighboring, Kudinovskie Lake. One of the most beautiful and exotic lakes of the Far East. Old-timers say that the lake got its name thanks to an unusual find made by the "discoverers." When the lake was discovered, researchers found Jack London's book Martin Eden on the shore.
Elton Lake, Volgograd Region
Elton is a salt-free drainage lake in the Pallasovsky district of the Volgograd region, located near the border with Kazakhstan. It is considered the largest mineral lake in Europe and one of the most mineralized in the world. They say that the name of the lake comes from the Mongolian word “Altyn-Nor” - “golden bottom”.
The area of \u200b\u200bthe lake is 152 square meters. km Until 1882, salt was mined at Elton; in 1910, the Elton medical sanatorium was founded on its shore (moved to a new location in 1945). In 2001, the lake and the adjacent territories of virgin steppes (106 thousand hectares) became part of the State Institution "Elton Natural Park".
Blue Lakes. Cherek-Balkaria Gorge, Kabardino-Balkaria
A group of five karst lakes in the Cherek region of Kabardino-Balkaria is located at the foot of a rocky ridge, from where the Cherek-Balkaria gorge begins. Located at the entrance to the gorge, Blue Lake is a unique natural phenomenon, interesting not only for Kabardino-Balkaria, but also throughout the country. Lower Blue Lake has several names: Chirik-kel (balcony) - a rotten (smelly) lake; Seredzh-ana (office) - mother of Cherek; Psykhurey (room) - round water (lake), a natural artesian well.
The uniqueness of the Lower Blue Lake lies in the fact that with a relatively small surface (only 235 × 130 m), its depth reaches 258 meters. The water temperature on the surface in winter and summer is about +9 degrees. Not a single stream or stream flows into the lake, but about 70 million liters flow daily. The lake level is unchanged, which is explained by powerful underwater sources. The blue color of the water is due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide and the refraction of light rays in a deep pool.
The nature here is quite picturesque: green hills, dense beech forests on steep slopes, and in the distance, in a blue haze - peaks glistening in the sun. Closer to Babugent, the greens become brighter, juicier. Near the village of Babugent there is a fork in the road. At the beginning of the road to the lake there is a cave in the rock, in which traces of the ancient site of the 5th-10th centuries AD were discovered. Now many bats live there, and sometimes, in bad weather, shepherds with flocks of sheep take refuge.
Seydozero, Kola Peninsula, Murmansk Region
Lake in the Lovozersky tundra on the Kola Peninsula. "Seyd" in translation from the Sami language means "sacred". The lake is located at an altitude of 189 m above sea level. The length of the Seydozer is 8 km, the width is from 1.5 to 2.5 km.
According to a number of science fiction writers and ufologists, one of the alleged places of existence of the Hyperborean civilization. Seekers of the unknown have been exploring these places since 1922.
Lake (reservoir) Zyuratkul. Chelyabinsk region
Zyuratkul is located in the Satka district of the Chelyabinsk region in the territory of the national park of the same name. One of the highest mountains (724 m above sea level) in the southern Urals. The reservoir is surrounded by mountain ranges covered with dark coniferous forests. To the southwest is the Nurgush ridge - the highest ridge of the Chelyabinsk region. The main river that feeds the reservoir is the Big Kyl. Near the source of the Satka River and the dam is a small village Zyuratkul, connected by bus to the city of Satka.
Previously, Zyuratkul was a natural lake. Now - a reservoir formed by the dam built on the Great Satka. A giant geoglyph was found in the area of \u200b\u200bthe lake. About forty stone tools made of quartzite were also found. The stone chipping technique makes it possible to date instruments with Neolithic and Eneolithic (VI-III millennium BC). Researchers are still inclined towards the Copper-Stone Age (IV-III millennium BC). It is noted that at that time in the southern Urals there were practically no forests (they appeared only 2,500 years ago), therefore it was easy to build a figure and then look at it from a neighboring ridge until it was covered with a layer of soil.
Until the winter of 2012, another popular attraction was located on the shore of Lake Zyuratkul - Kitova Marina, which was also called the “Ural Disneyland”. But in the fall of 2012, by court order, it was demolished.
Mountains and volcanoes
Elbrus, Kabardino-Balkaria
Elbrus is a stratovolcano located on the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. Elbrus is located north of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and is the highest peak in Russia. Given that the border between Europe and Asia is ambiguous, Elbrus is often also called the highest European mountain peak, thereby referring it to the list of “Seven Peaks”.
The height of the western peak is 5642 m, the eastern one - 5621 m. Adylsu, Shkheldy, Adyrsu gorges, Donguz-Orun and Ushba massifs are very popular among climbers and mountain tourists. Prielbrusye is the most popular ski resort in Russia. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe Elbrus glaciers is 134.5 square meters. km The most famous of them: Big and Small Azau, Terskol.
Altai mountains
Altai mountains represent a complex system of the highest ridges in Siberia, separated by deep river valleys and vast intramountain and intermountain basins. Mountain system at the junction of the borders of Russia, Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan. It is divided into South Altai (South-Western), Southeast Altai and Eastern Altai, Central Altai, Northern and North-Eastern Altai, and North-Western Altai.
Altai, Katunsky reserves and Ukok plateau together form the UNESCO World Heritage Site Altai - Golden Mountains. Thousands of tourists come to Altai. This is a favorite place for photo tours and independent trips.
Plateau Divnogorye, Liskinsky district, Voronezh region
"Divnogorye" - a hill and a museum-reserve in the Liskinsky district of the Voronezh region of Russia. It is located 10 km west of the district center on the right bank of the Don River and 80 km south of Voronezh. The museum was founded here in 1988, and in 1991 it received the status of a museum reserve. Currently, the museum-reserve is one of the most popular and most recognizable sights of the Voronezh region. Each season, from May to October, more than 60 thousand tourists visit it.
The area of \u200b\u200bthe museum-reserve is more than 11 sq. Km. The maximum height of the plateau above sea level reaches 181 meters, relative - 103 meters (the mouth of the Tikhaya Sosna River at the confluence with the Don, which flows at the foot of the plateau, is located at an altitude of 78 m above sea level).
Dombay-Ulgen, Karachay-Cherkess Republic
Dombay-Ulgen - the peak of the western part of the Dividing Range of the Greater Caucasus (on the border of Abkhazia and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic). Dombay-Ulgen is the highest peak of Abkhazia, located east of the village of Dombay, has three peaks: western (4036 m), main (4046 m) and eastern (3950 m).
A steep ridge departs from the main peak to the north and ends in a lowering, the Dombay Saddle. From the Dombay saddle, there is a classic route (category 3B), accessible for climbing in one day with a descent to the camp.
Putorana Plateau, Krasnoyarsk Territory
The Putorana Plateau is a mountain range located in the northwest of the Central Siberian Plateau. In the north and west, the plateau ends with a steep ledge (800 or more meters), while the southern and eastern parts are characterized by gentle slopes. The maximum height of the plateau is 1701 m, among the highest peaks are Mount Kamen (1701 m), Holokit (1542 m), Kotuyskaya (1510 m). In the north, the Putorana plateau borders on the Taimyr Peninsula. The name Putorana translated from Evenki means "lakes with steep banks."
The plateau area is 250 thousand square kilometers, which is comparable with the territory of Great Britain. The Putoran State Nature Reserve, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, is located on the plateau.
Ruskeala Marble Canyon, Republic of Karelia, Ruskeala Village
The Ruskeala Mountain Park is a tourist complex located in the Sortavala region of the Republic of Karelia, next to the village of Ruskeala. The main object of the complex is a former marble quarry filled with groundwater.
The quarries discovered by Pastor Alopeus began to be developed at the beginning of the reign of Catherine II. The first developments were led by Captain Kozhin, who was advised by Italian experts. Today, the length of the quarry from north to south is 460 meters, width - up to 100 meters. The distance from the highest point of the side of the quarry to its bottom is over 50 meters. The transparency of the water reaches 15-18 meters.
Ruskeala marble is used in the construction of the most beautiful and significant buildings of St. Petersburg, its palace suburbs. They faced St. Isaac's Cathedral, laid the floors of the Kazan Cathedral, made the windowsills of the Hermitage, framed the windows of the Marble Palace and the facade of the Mikhailovsky Castle, as well as the underground halls of the Primorskaya and Ladoga metro stations in St. Petersburg. In 2010, a significant part of the filming of the film “The Dark World” was held in Ruskeale.
Eastern and Western Sayans. Eastern Siberia
Eastern and Western Sayans are the common name for two mountain systems in the south of Siberia. Distinguish the Western Sayan Mountains (length 650 km, altitude up to 3971 m - Mount Mongun-Taiga, which is the top of the ridge of the same name - the highest peak in Eastern Siberia, however, more often this ridge is not attributed to the Sayans, but is separated into a separate mountain system - the mountains of Tuva), consisting of the aligned and peaked ridges, on which there is no glaciation, separated by intermountain basins, and East Sayan (length of about 1000 km, height up to 3491 m - Mount Munku-Sardyk) with typical mid-mountain ridges carrying glaciers. The rivers belong to the Yenisei basin. On the slopes, mountain taiga prevails, turning into mountain tundra.
Western Sayan in the southwestern part borders with Altai. Its main ridge is the Dividing Sayan Range with the highest point - Mount Kyzyl-Taiga (3121 m). The ridges of the Western Sayan are characterized by steep slopes, rugged terrain, and vast areas of stone placers. The height of the ridges in the west does not exceed 2500-3000 m, in the east it decreases to 2000 m.
The East Sayan extends almost at a right angle to the West. Its ridges form a system of “white mountains” (Manskoye, Kanskoe) and “proteins”, which got their name because of the snow that does not melt year round on the peaks. In the central part, in the upper reaches of the Kazyr and Kizir rivers, several ridges form a “knot” with the highest point - the Grandiose peak (2982 m). In the southeast are the highest and most inaccessible ranges - Bolshaya Sayan, Tunkinsky Goltsy, Kitoyskiy Goltsy, Kropotkina. The highest point of the East Sayan - Munku-Sardyk (3491 m) is located in the ridge of the same name. Between the Sayan ranges there are more than a dozen depressions of various sizes and depths, the most famous of which is the Abakan-Minusinsk depression, known for its archaeological sites. It is worth noting a large number of waterfalls.
Dark coniferous taiga spruce-cedar-fir forests prevail almost everywhere in the Sayans, rising in the western and central parts to heights of 1500–1800 m and more; light deciduous cedar forests form the upper border of the forest at heights of 2000–2500 m. The animal world is as rich as the plant one. The largest city located in the Sayan Mountains is Krasnoyarsk.
Shihan mountains. Republic of Bashkortostan
Shihan - isolated hills in the Bashkir Cis-Urals, consisting of four single mountains: Tratau, Shakhtau, Yuraktau and Kushtau, which form a narrow chain, elongated along the Belaya River for 20 km. Shihan are located near the cities of Sterlitamak and Ishimbay. They are unique natural monuments - the remains of a barrier reef formed in the warm sea of \u200b\u200bthe early era of the Permian period. In the stones from which these sheehans are composed, imprints of ancient plants and animals are preserved.
The highest shihan is Tratau (or Toratau). Its height is 402 meters above sea level, and relative - 280 meters. At its foot are the ruins of a women's prison - one of the islands of the Gulag archipelago. Shihan Tratau flaunts on the coat of arms of the city of Ishimbay, is a symbol of the Ishimbay district of Bashkiria. In the past, this mountain was considered sacred.
Volcano Krenitsyna. Sakhalin Oblast, Onekotan Island
An active volcano on the island of Onekotan of the Greater Kuril Ridge. The largest two-tier “volcano in the volcano” in the world is located in the southern part of Onekotan Island. The height of the volcano is 1324 m.
The volcanic cone rises in the form of an island inside Lake Koltsevoe lying at an altitude of 400 m (diameter about 7 km). The lake is surrounded by somma - the walls of the more ancient Tao-Rusyr caldera (altitude 540–920 m with a base diameter of 16–17 km).
Only one historical eruption is known, which happened in 1952.
Volcano Tyatya, Kuril Islands
An active volcano on the island of Kunashir of the Great Kuril Ridge, on the territory of the Kuril Reserve. In geographic terms, Tyatya is a somma-vesuvius-type stratovolcano (“volcano in a volcano”). The height reaches 1819 m (the highest point of Kunashir; in 1977 and subsequent years, the southeastern part of the summit crater collapsed and most of the material collapsed inside the northeastern crater. As a result, the total height of the volcano decreased by about 30-50 meters and amounts to currently probably less than 1800 meters above sea level) ..
The height of the somma is 1485 m, it has a regular truncated cone with a diameter of 15–18 km at the base and up to 2.5 km at the ring ridge. The foot of the volcano's slopes is decorated with coniferous-deciduous forests with bamboo and thickets of stone birch and dwarf pine. In the forests at the foot you can often meet a bear. The path to the volcano is difficult, but most tourists get to the volcano from Yuzhno-Kurilsk.
Caves
Orda Cave, Perm Territory
Orda cave is located on the southwestern outskirts of the village of Orda, Perm Territory, on the left bank of the Kungur River. Consists of "dry" and underwater parts. The length of the dry part is 300 meters, the underwater is 4600 meters. Today, the Orda cave is the longest flooded cave in Russia. In addition, part of the cave is the longest siphon in the CIS - 935 meters.
The cave ranks 21st among the longest gypsum caves in the world. Famous photographer Victor Lyagushkin dedicated an entire photoproject to the Orda cave.
Kungur cave, Perm region
This is one of the most popular attractions of Siberia and the Urals, a natural monument of all-Russian significance. The cave is located in the Perm Territory, on the right bank of the Sylva River on the outskirts of the city of Kungur in the village of Filippovka, 100 km from Perm.
The unique geological monument is one of the largest karst caves in the European part of Russia, the seventh largest gypsum cave in the world. The length of the cave is about 5700 m, of which 1.5 km are equipped for tourists. The average air temperature in the center of the cave is +5 ° C, relative humidity in the center of the cave is 100%. Kungur cave contains 58 grottoes, 70 lakes, 146 tons "Organ pipes" (the highest - in the Etherenky Grotto, 22 m) - high mines reaching almost to the surface.
Architecture
Nevyansk leaning tower. Sverdlovsk region, the city of Nevyansk
Not everyone knows that in Russia we have our own likeness of the Leaning Tower of Pisa - an inclined tower in the center of Nevyansk, built in the first half of the 18th century on the orders of Akinfiy Demidov.
The height of the tower is 57.5 meters, the base is a square with a side of 9.5 m. The deviation of the tower from the vertical is about 1.85 m, and the greatest slope is observed at the lower tier (3 ° 16 "). The exact date of construction of the tower is unknown, different sources name dates in the range from 1721 to 1745.
The tower is a massive quadrangle, on top of which 3 octagonal tiers are built. Inside the tower is divided into several levels - floors.
The purpose of the first floor is not exactly established. On the second floor was the office of Demidov, and during the Soviet era there was a prison in it. On the third floor there was a laboratory: traces of silver and gold were found in soot taken from the chimneys of furnaces. According to one version, Demidov minted fake money here. According to another, here Demidov secretly from the state treasury smelted silver and gold, which was mined in his mines in Altai.
Even higher is the so-called “auditory room”. Its feature is that standing in one corner of the room, you can clearly hear what they say in the opposite corner. The effect observed in the room is associated with a special form of the ceiling - it is vaulted and slightly flattened.
On the seventh and eighth floors there are chimes with a musical battle, created by the English watchmaker Richard Phelps in 1730. The tower is completed by a roof and a metal spire with a weather vane mounted on it, made of glazed iron, in which the noble coat of arms of the Demidovs are knocked out.
There is a legend that the tower tilted due to the flooding of the basements with all the workers minting fake money. By Decree of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR No. 1327 dated August 30, 1960, the tower was included in the list of historical monuments to be protected as monuments of national importance.
Ivolginsky datsan. Republic of Buryatia, the village of Verhnaya Ivolga
Ivolginsky datsan is a large Buddhist monastery complex, the center of the Buddhist traditional Sangha of Russia, which is the largest Buddhist community in Buryatia. One of the most striking monuments of the history and architecture of Russia. Located in the village of Upper Oriole, 36 km from the center of Ulan-Ude.
Swallow's Nest. Republic of Crimea
Among all the attractions of Crimea it is not easy to choose one thing. But we decided to stay at one of the most inspiring places. The Swallow's Nest is a monument of architecture and history located on the steep 40-meter-high Aurorina rock of Cape Ai-Todor in the village of Gaspra (Yalta City Council).
The structure resembles a medieval knight's castle like the Belem tower or the Miramare villa near Trieste. The first wooden structure on this site was erected for a retired Russian general after the Russian-Turkish war of 1877–1878, it can be seen on the canvases of famous painters-marinists: I.K. Aivazovsky, L.F. Lagorio, A.P. Bogolyubov, and also in photographs of that time.
The second owner of this amazing summer house was the court doctor A.K. Tobin. Very little information was left about him. After his death, the widow owned the house for some time and sold the land to the Moscow merchant merchant Rachmanina. She demolished the old building, and soon a wooden castle appeared, which she called "Swallow's Nest."
“Swallow's Nest” got its present look thanks to the oil industrialist Baron Steingel, who liked to rest in Crimea. Steingel acquired a summer cottage on Aurora Rock and decided to build a romantic castle there, which resembles medieval buildings on the banks of the Rhine. The project of the new house was commissioned by the engineer and sculptor Leonid Sherwood, the son of the architect Vladimir Sherwood, the author of the Historical Museum on Red Square in Moscow.
At the beginning of World War I, the estate was bought by the Moscow merchant P. Shelaputin, who opened a restaurant in the castle. In the 1930s, there was a reading room of the local Rest House, but the building was declared emergency and closed.
In 1927, the Swallow's Nest was damaged during a major earthquake. Only in the years 1967-1968 was the repair completed. In addition to the monolithic slab, the entire structure was surrounded by antiseismic belts. The tower increased in height acquired greater decorativeness thanks to four spiers. In 2013, cracks were found in the foundation slab, and in the autumn the visit was suspended for design work on reconstruction - rock strengthening.
And 6 more amazing places:
Charsky Sands, Trans-Baikal Territory
Charsky Sands is a tract in the Kalarsky district of the Trans-Baikal Territory, which is a sand massif measuring approximately 10 km by 5 km. Charsky Sands are located in the basin of the same name, in the foothills of the Kodar Range, 9 kilometers from the village of Chara, between the valleys of the Chara, Middle Sakukan and Upper Sakukan rivers. The massif is a geological monument of nature of a geomorphological type of federal rank.
At 10 kilometers is the BAM Novaya Chara station. The massif is stretched from southwest to northeast and covers an area of \u200b\u200babout 50 sq. Km. Not a single basin of Transbaikalia has such large massifs of loose moving sands. Char sands look like the deserts of Central Asia. The vegetation is slightly different from the taiga: there are areas with larch, dwarfish and hygrophilous cedar elfin. In the north-eastern part of the tract there are two small lakes - Alyonushka and Tayozhnoe.
Avacha Bay, Kamchatka Territory
Avacha Bay - a large non-freezing bay of the Pacific Ocean off the southeast-och-o - coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, is the main transport "gate" of the Kamchatka Territory. The main advantage of the bay is that it is one of the largest bays in the world: it can take any ship in the world!
The length of the bay is 24 kilometers, the width at the entrance is 3 kilometers, the total area of \u200b\u200bthe water mirror is 215 sq. Km. Depth up to 26 meters. The Avacha and Paratunka rivers flow into the bay. The cities of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Vilyuchinsk are located on the shores of the bay. The bay is the main base of the Pacific Fleet of Russia in Kamchatka.
A distinctive symbol of the bay and its attraction are the Three Brothers cliffs, located at the exit to the open Avacha Bay.
Commander Islands. Aleutsky District, Kamchatka Territory
The Commander Islands is an archipelago of four islands in the southwestern part of the Bering Sea of \u200b\u200bthe Pacific Ocean, administratively part of the Aleutian region of the Kamchatka Territory of Russia. The islands are named after the explorer Commander Vitus Bering who discovered them in 1741. On the largest of them - Bering Island is the seafarer's grave. The Commander Islands is a place of mixing Russian and Aleutian cultures. They have great potential for the development of northern tourism.
Patom crater. Irkutsk region
Patomsky crater - a cone of crushed limestone blocks on the slopes of the Patomsk Highlands in the Irkutsk Region. Discovered in 1949 by geologist Vadim Viktorovich Kolpakov. Among the local population, it is called the “Fiery Eagle's Nest”, also known under the names “Kolpakova Cone”, “Dzhebuldinsky Crater”, “Yavalda Crater”.
This is a geological object unique in its characteristics, which is a ring structure of the central type with a bulk cone composed of limestones and other rocks. The Patom crater was formed for a long time about 500 years ago.
The diameter of the crater along the ridge is 76 m. The cone is crowned with a flat top, which is an annular shaft. In the center of the funnel there is a slide up to 12 m high. The total volume of the cone is estimated at 230–250 thousand cubic meters, and its mass is about a million tons.
Agur waterfalls. City Sochi, Krasnodar Territory
A cascade of waterfalls located on the Agura River in the Khostinsky district of Sochi. Distance from the Black Sea coast - 4 km. Further upstream - Middle Falls, then Upper.
Lower Agursky waterfall - the first and most interesting of all three large waterfalls on the Agura River. It consists of two cascades: the lower one is 18 m high and the upper one is 12 m. Under it is a wide and deep pool of blue water. Approximately 1.5 km from the Devil's Canyon to the Lower Waterfall. Behind the first waterfall, a series of stairs and ascents leading up through 500 m to the Middle Agursky waterfall - 23-meter, and then to the Upper - 21-meter waterfall go up. Near the Upper Falls to the left of the trail there are cliffs called the Eagles.
Vasyugan marshes. Tomsk, Novosibirsk and Omsk regions
Some of the largest marshes in the world are located in Western Siberia, between the Ob and Irtysh rivers, on the territory of the Vasyugan Plain, which is located mostly within the Tomsk Region, and in small parts - the Novosibirsk and Omsk Regions and the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.
The area of \u200b\u200bswamps is 53 thousand square meters. km (for comparison: the area of \u200b\u200bSwitzerland is 41 thousand sq. km), the length from west to east is 573 km, from north to south - 320 km.
Vasyugan marshes arose about 10 thousand years ago and have since been steadily increasing - 75% of their modern area was swamped less than 500 years ago. Marshes are the main source of fresh water in the region (water reserves are 400 cubic km), about 800 thousand small lakes are located here, many rivers originate from marshes, in particular: Ava, Bakchar, Bolshoy Yugan, Vasyugan, Demyanka, etc. d.
Vasyugan marshes - home to numerous local fauna, including rare. Of the rare species of animals in the swamps, in particular, reindeer, golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, osprey, gray shrike, peregrine falcon live. Significant amounts of proteins, moose, sable, capercaillie, partridge, hazel grouse, black grouse, in smaller quantities mink, otter, wolverine. Flora also includes rare and endangered plant species and plant communities. Of wild plants, cranberries, blueberries, cloudberries are widespread.
Now the fauna and flora of the swamps are threatened in connection with the development of the territory during the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas fields.
In preparing the article, Wikipedia materials were used.
Happy travels!
My personal rating of unusual places on our planet. This is not about beauty, although many of the places examined are not without such a quality, namely, unusual and even strange. This list includes places that stumbled upon when searching the Internet it was difficult to resist the exclamation: “Wow! And there is such a thing on our planet! ”
Places are sorted in ascending order of the “Wow factor,” that is, starting from simply interesting, continuing to unusual, and ending with very strange, even fantastic, unearthly landscapes (although such a gradation is very arbitrary).
Unusual places of our planet.
Let's start with the journey to the End of the World ..
It is located near the town of Skagen in Denmark, as the locals called the junction of the North and Baltic Seas: 
This is the place where two streams of different composition and density merge, which for some reason do not mix, but form a clear boundary. It turns out beautifully and mysteriously, but in my opinion it’s more like not “The End of the World”, but a kind of “Border between the worlds”.
Entrance to the underwater kingdom.
This is the "Great Blue Hole", which is located in the Caribbean Sea near the Yucatan Peninsula. Its diameter is 305 meters, the depth is about 120-140 m: 
Once this hole in the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean was an ordinary "land" cave, in which the "roof" collapsed, and then it was flooded by the waters of the oceans rising after the end of the Ice Age. This is the largest hole of this kind on our planet. After Jacques Cousteau showed her in his film, she became the world's most popular place for diving.
Inverted sky.
Natural mirror with an area of \u200b\u200b10 thousand square meters. m 
This is a dried-up lake in Bolivia, it is called the “Uyuni Solonchak”. Such a fantastic effect of a giant mirror occurs during the rainy season, when a thin layer of water covers the surface of the salt marsh. The rest of the time, the lake looks like this: 
Crooked forest.
Forest with crooked trees in Poland. 
This forest was planted in the 30s of the last century. Almost all of its 400 trees have synchronous bending in one direction. There is no exact scientific explanation for this phenomenon, but the most plausible version is:
.. As you know, in ancient times, furniture with smooth bends and crooked legs was in fashion. In general, curved wooden parts were used everywhere, for example, sleigh rails, boat, ship parts, etc. .. Usually, the wood was bent already in the production process, but here, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Polish village of Gryfino, we see the result of an experiment for the production of pre-curved wood.
But, the Second World War prevented this ambitious commercial project from being realized — the village was destroyed, the young “slender” pines were abandoned. But now, in Poland, which is quite poor in sights, there is such a strange forest, protected by the state as a nature reserve.
Valley of love.
These rocks definitely remind me of something .. hence the name of the valley, which is located in Cappadocia (Turkey). But not only the Valley of Love, but the rest of Cappadocia is a place with a very unusual “mushroom-shaped relief”. 
Such a relief is the result of powerful eruptions that occurred here in prehistoric times, after which the wind and water took over, which for millions of years together created these pillars with hats.
Then, several thousand years ago, people began to work, and created cave dwellings and entire cave-underground cities here, extending to a depth of 80 meters. 
In total, there are about 40 cave cities in Cappadocia, in which up to 30,000 people once lived.
Scuba diving in the park.
Agree, a very unusual place for diving is to swim among the alleys, benches and trees: 
There is such a park in Austria. It is located near a clean mountain lake, and most of the year it is an ordinary park. But in the summer, when the snow melts in the mountains, the water level in the lake rises by several meters, turning the surrounding area into an attraction for divers.
I think that scuba divers swimming in this lake experience very strange sensations, probably it looks like flying in zero gravity or in a dream, because instead of the usual deep landscape they see an ordinary park underwater.
Another proof of the wisdom of nature. Look at what beauty she turned an ordinary garbage bin: 
50 years ago, on this spot on the shores of the Gulf of California, there was a large landfill. But somewhere in the 60s it was forbidden to throw garbage here, the main rubbish was taken out, but the broken glass remained .. And nature, as usual, created a miracle!
Welcome to California Glass Beach!
Island of Happiness.
So the name of the island is translated , more precisely, an archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean, a few hundred kilometers from the coast of Somalia and Yemen. The peculiarity of this island is that for several million years it has been isolated from the rest of the earth, due to which many ancient plants and animals have been preserved in their original form.
Once here, you will be transported into the past of the Earth for about 10-20 million years. Everything is as it was then, only the dinosaurs are missing: 
Continuing the review ..
It turns out there is such a miracle on our Earth! This country is located, or rather a city in China. 
This place was created to attract tourists. "Little people" live here, arrange shows for tourists, and in general, make money on tourists as they can. Therefore, many Chinese dwarfs have a chance to find a job and a haven in "The country of the Liliputov."
Arizona, 240 km from the famous Grand Canyon. Fantastic, surreal beauty, especially when the sun's rays fall in the afternoon: 
or the moon at night: 
The place where the Antelope Canyon is located belongs to the Navajo Indians, so to get here, you need to agree with them ($)
and hire a guide.
If you suddenly plan to go there, be careful in rainy weather - even if it rains somewhere nearby, the canyon can fill up very quickly and almost silently with water. Thus, in 1997, 11 tourists died here.
Wave.
The Arizona Wave (The Wave) - another miracle of nature: 
They say nature is the best artist, in this case we see her works in the style of "surrealism".
This place, as well as Antelope Canyon, is located near the Grand Canyon Park. The surface of the Wave, despite being formed under the influence of rain and wind for millions of years, is quite fragile in places, so large crowds of tourists are not allowed here. A maximum of 20 people a day, and tickets are played out like a lottery, so it’s very difficult to see this beauty with your own eyes.
But you can see a photo or video:
These colorful rocks are located in the geological park of the Chinese province of Gansu, and there are no other hills of the same type anywhere else in the world. 
Hundreds of millions of years ago, this territory was the bottom of the sea. But, as often happened in those geologically active times, the sea became land, and silt deposits dried and oxidized. Naturally, it was not without the participation of water and wind, which washed and blew out various layers of sedimentary rocks of different colors and shades.
Now - this is a unique place that attracts tourists from all over the world. Convenient walkways and viewing platforms have been built for them here. Another curious fact is that once the famous Silk Road ran through this area.
The strangest place in the world.
Perhaps this is a very loud heading, but if not this strange place, then what!?!
Of course, these toys were never alive, but according to the terrible impression made by the thrown dolls hanging on the trees, such a definition is quite suitable for this place: 
Puppet Island is located in Mexico, near Mexico City, among the canal of Sochimilco overgrown with reeds and shrubs. Of course, there is a legend that explains what happened here:
In the middle of the last century, a man named Don Julian Santana Barrara lived in these places. He was moody, he liked to drink pretty much, and was not quite friends with his head, which is why people around him did not like him. At some point, the roof went completely to him, and this happened on religious grounds. With his delusional sermons, he got so neighbors that they began to beat him periodically.
Because of all this, Don Julian decided to get away from worldly fuss, he took a fancy to the wild islet among the channels of Sochimilco, began to grow vegetables there and fish for lunch. He was alone on a desert island, just like Robinson Crusoe. Rejected by society, he felt all-consuming loneliness and hatred of the whole world.
Once, Don Julian found a doll on the island. He knew that not so long ago a girl drowned somewhere nearby - most likely it was her doll! As a religious person, Don Julian believed that the girl’s soul still wanders here, not finding peace, and for his personal safety he needs to somehow arrange her for himself. Since then, occasionally visiting the city, he collected discarded dolls in the garbage dumps and brought them to the island as a gift to the spirit of the deceased girl.
.. Years passed, the dolls became more and more, and Don Julian became more and more alive from the mind - the doll-collecting mania took possession of his consciousness completely and completely. He became obsessed with dolls, they completely replaced him with society and human communication. Now he was not alone - he lived a full life surrounded by friends, girlfriends, neighbors, acquaintances .. and enemies. He treated friends in a friendly manner - he looked after them, shared a shelter with them, and they kept him company with long dull evenings.
But Don Julian had few friends, for the most part he was surrounded by enemies. And with the enemies Don Julian Santana Barrara was cruel! He performed executions over them like a medieval inquisitor cracking down on heretics, and then hanging them from “corpses” on trees, mainly around the island, in order to frighten evil spirits and uninvited guests.
And so this strange and mysterious man, the 20th century Robinon Crusoe, lived on his island. But once, when his nephew, the only living person occasionally visiting him and bringing him groceries, once again sailed to the island - Don Julian was no longer here. It seems he drowned in the canal, as well as the girl whose doll became the first resident Islands of the Dead Dolls.
Here's a legend .. I apologize if I caught a horror at the end of the post. I fantasized a bit on the basis of what I found on the Internet about this strange island .. just to make it more interesting.
Netherlands
Opens a rating with the most beautiful places on the planet is an amazing place located in the western part of the Netherlands. We are talking about the picturesque tulip fields. These are not just gardens, we are talking about plantations, seas of flowers, personifying a real riot of colors. Being in this state from April to May, you just need to visit the blooming gardens of the western part of the country. However, in the summer there is something to see, because tulips are replaced by gladioli.
The Grand Canyon is one of the deepest and most beautiful places in the world. Located in Arizona, on the Colorado Plateau. We are talking about the amazing territory of the national park, the beauty of which can only be appreciated with the help of a helicopter. It is a reservation of the Indians. It is believed that representatives of the Navajo tribe and other tribes lived in this place for a long time. The Grand Canyon attracts not only with its beauty, size and history. He attracts many businessmen with his mystery. To understand what is at stake, you need to see this miracle of nature from above.
Do you know the name of the most beautiful national park in the world? Its name is Cinque Terre, and this amazing place is located in Italy. Namely in the east of the Riviera. We are not just talking about charms and history, everything here is saturated with the spirit of the Middle Ages of Italy. In total, there are five small but beautiful villages on the territory of this place. Their architecture is characterized by the presence of protected buildings, reminiscent of the days of freedom-loving pirates. A romantic place will be enjoyed by all lovers of classic Italian romance.
It would be unfair to create the Top 10 most beautiful places on Earth without mentioning at least one Chinese field. The rice field in the mountains of Yunnan is the most striking and beautiful. Just imagine ten-kilometer terraces that repeat the bends of the terrain exactly to centimeters. For thousands of years, the Chinese have developed a culture and have achieved incredible success in this craft. Seeing their rice plantations from a height is worth a lot. Their snow-white plantations reflect the sun's rays and personify all the power of China's agricultural artisans.
Croatia
We have already found out which lake is the most powerful in Russia. By no means in this rating we are talking exclusively about the beauty of different places in the world. For this reason, it is necessary to highlight the Plitvice Lakes of Croatia, attracting with its amazing color and mystery. Located in the national park. Covered with intangible and limitless thickets. They are extremely difficult to pass, so you can appreciate all the beauty only from a height. Locals call the thicket the devil's forest.
We will not consider all the attractions of the planet that are on the list of the so-called 7 wonders of the world. We consider only the most beautiful places, among which you must include the Valley of the Ten Peaks - Canada. This Canadian place personifies a harsh but attractive nature. Its icy beauty creates a unique world located at the foot of large mountains called Veccemn. Nearby is the pearl of the national park - a lake called Moraine.
In northern Arizona there is an amazingly beautiful place, a geological site that is justifiably called the pride of the American people. This is a place where the ancient Navajo Indians used to live. The unique park represents a huge complex of rocks, standing against a strictly and terrifying desert landscape. We are again talking about the Colorado Plateau. This area is not just one of the most favorite among tourists. By the way, the plateau is fraught with many amazing stories about cowboys.
Continuing the theme of beautiful and rocky places in the world, it is necessary to highlight the Colored Zhangye located in China. It is believed that the complex of rocks formed in the framework of the Cretaceous period. We are talking about beautiful rocks that are painted in very colorful shades. The wonderland is located in the famous province of China - Gansu. In the photo you see an abundance of colors. However, the red sandbox prevails in reality. You may not notice this in the images. Being close to the province, be sure to try to see the amazing mountain landscape.
We want to introduce you to a dozen places on our planet that are more like frames from a science fiction film. But no ... All these places really exist. See below for a list of the most unusual places on the planet!
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Plitvice Lakes National Park was founded in 1949. It is the largest national park in Croatia, as well as the oldest park in Southeast Europe. Over a million visitors flock here to enjoy the beauties of the park. There are many waterfalls, caves and lakes. The area is home to more than 100 species of birds. Most of the park consists of beech and fir. The park is incredibly beautiful in winter, when waterfalls freeze and everything is covered with white snow.
Fingal's Cave, Scotland
Named after the hero of an 18th-century epic poem, Fingalova Cave has numerous geometric columns resembling the Giants Road in Ireland. The cave is formed from hexagonal connected basalt columns created by solidified lava. This sea cave is located on the island of Staffa, which is part of Scotland. A high arched roof enhances the sound of the ocean. Although even small boats cannot enter the cave, many local companies offer excursions in the surrounding area.
Halong Bay, Vietnam
The bay is located in the Gulf of Tonkin of the South China Sea. It includes more than 3,000 islands, as well as cliffs, caves and cliffs, making it one of the most unusual places in the world. The bay is an extraordinary example of limestone erosion. The name Halong means "where the dragon descended into the sea." Due to the vertical nature, the archipelago is underpopulated. Most of the islands are negligible, however, the largest have their own inland lakes. Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Red Beach, Panjin, China
This place is perhaps far from the traditional understanding of the beach. Instead of endless sand open spaces, we see algae called sueda. Most of the year, these algae are green, however, with the onset of autumn, they acquire a dark, cherry-red color. In addition to its bizarre coloring, Red Beach is home to more than 260 species of birds and 399 species of animals. This makes it one of the most complex ecosystems in the world. It is also the largest swamp and wetland on Earth.
Giant Trail, Northern Ireland
Located next to the Atlantic Ocean, the Road of the Giants or the Path of the Giants, as it is also called, is one of the strangest natural wonders. It represents about 40,000 columns, most of which have six faces. These columns are remarkably similar to honeycombs. Making this place out of chilled magma took nearly 60 million years. Scientists believe that it took its final form some 15,000 years ago after the last ice age.
Thermal springs, Pamukkale, Turkey
Take a trip to the Aegean Sea and near the Menderes River you will find wonderful thermal springs. For many centuries, people have bathed in these hot, mineral-rich waters. Pools and frozen waterfalls form layered cliffs. In spring, water is rich in calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate. The flow in Pamukkale occurs at a speed of 400 liters per second and this flow all the time forms new small round pools.
Hvitserkur, Iceland
Some are sure that this rock looks like a dinosaur, others say that it is a dragon, and others say that it is a monster. In any case, this natural formation causes human interest. Every year, thousands of people come to the north of the Vatnese peninsula to watch this “dinosaur at a watering place”. The rock has three holes and to prevent further erosion it was reinforced with concrete. Even in photographs, viewers can see spots from bird droppings, which gave the name to the rock. Translated from Icelandic, the word Hvitserkur means a white shirt.
Antelope Canyon, USA
This canyon is the most visited in the Southwest of the USA. One glance at the smooth, orange-red walls delight people. Antelope Canyon was formed by a flash flood. Due to heavy rains, he still changes its shape. While scientists are not sure when people discovered this cave, however, local Navajo tribes claim that this surreal canyon has always been a part of their history.
Jiuzhaigou Valley, China
The valley is located a little north of Chengdu. Covering an area of \u200b\u200bapproximately 720 square kilometers, it contains an impressive array of fantastic forests, breathtaking waterfalls and calm lakes. Over 2550 plant species grow on this territory.
Skaftafell, Iceland
Skaftafell is a national park in Iceland, however the photographs presented are the Skaftafetljokul glacier. Caves at the edge of the glacier were formed under high pressure ice, which contained air bubbles. The cave with a six-meter entrance, gradually narrows, to one meter. Since glaciers are highly active, you can hear how they crack and moan.
In today's selection, we will talk about the most unusual corners of our planet. They are unusual in their landscapes. When you see these photographs, you might think that these places are on some other planets, in other galaxies, but not on Earth. The most amazing thing is that the initial impression is wrong - our planet is able to surprise us, constantly presenting new surprises and puzzles.
So, let's move on to the story of the most unusual corners of our planet. We have already told you about places surrounded by many mysteries (The most mysterious places on the planet). In the same collection, we will focus on unusual landscapes that are admired only by their views - these are real wonders of nature. We always try to provide you with maximum information about the topic of interest, so in the ranking we will refer to articles already written earlier - there you can learn more about all the places that are on our list. 
Let's start with the most unearthly part of our planet - the Dry Valleys in Antarctica. This desert is unique in that it is the driest place on earth. There was no rainfall for several million years. This place in its climate is closest to Mars, so it is of particular interest to NASA. Mars rovers are tested here, large-scale research is being conducted in all directions. This is the only part of Antarctica that is not covered by ice. In the valleys there is a frozen lake with extremely salty water, mysterious bacteria and organisms were discovered under the ice - this finding served as a confirmation of the theory that life exists on Mars. Read more about Dry Valleys in the article 
In second place is the island of Socotra - the landscapes of this island are unique, and are more like aliens. The island is geographically isolated from Africa for 6 million years, replete with many extremely rare species of flora and fauna - a third of them are endemic and are found only here. Despite the hot and dry climate, many amazing and beautiful plants grow here, many of which are about 20 million years old. More detailed information about this place in the article - 
Next on the list of “Most Unusual Places on Earth” is the Rio Tinto quarry in Andalusia, Spain. Huge careers of Rio Tinto create surreal, similar to a lunar landscape. The quarries are named after the eponymous river flowing here and washing minerals from huge craters. Mining has been conducted for many centuries, so the river turned bright red-orange, its acidity and metal saturation just rolls over. At the moment, production in this region is stopped, and attracts crowds of tourists and photographers to Andalusia 
We move on, we still have something to surprise you :) I bet you have never heard of Spotted Lake, much less see such stunning landscapes. The lake is located in British Columbia, Canada. Depending on weather conditions and the time of year, the lake crystallizes and becomes colored in a certain color. A lot of “spots” are formed on the lake - circles of minerals. This is the world's largest concentration of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt), calcium and sodium, as well as silver and titanium. This place is sacred by the native Indians of Canada, and is famous for its medicinal properties - for this he was given the name Klluk. Read more in the topic “” 
Another unusual landscape is the world's largest salt lake, Solonchak Uyuni. This is a beautiful area with a huge salty desert, active volcanoes, large cactus islands and geysers. You can ride a jeep on the surface of the lake - admire the unusual, sometimes unearthly beauty of this place. clearly visible from space, and is one of the points for satellite calibration 
In Brazil, there is another unusual place - Valais da Lua, which means Moon Valley. This is a rock formation washed by water with natural swimming pools. Vale da Lua is located in the Brazilian forest of Chapada and is one of the oldest rock formations on the planet, consisting of quartz and crystals. 
There are unusual places in Japan. This is the Bloody Pond, one of the famous. There are nine unusual geyser springs in this city, but the most famous among them is the Bloody Pond with hot water of bright red color. This color is due to the high iron content in the water. This pond is also the most photogenic among all sources. 
In eighth place on our list, the Shilin Stone Forest in China is a stunning example of karst topography. Rocks are composed of limestone and are formed by water, destroying everything except these pillars, similar to trees. Since the dynasty, Ming is known as the “First Wonder of the World”
Another natural wonder is the Rishat Structure in Mauritania. It is also called the Eye of the Sahara. The rishat in diameter is about 30 miles, and is visible from space. The formation was originally thought to have formed as a result of a meteorite fall, but modern geologists believe that it is the result of erosion. The reason for its round shape is still a mystery that scientists around the world are fighting 
The famous gates to Hell Darvaz in Turkmenistan are also on our list. This place is frightening with its power, thousands of tons of lava and the heat emanating from the bowels of the Earth. There is a burning crater in the middle of the Karakum desert, its diameter is 60 meters and a depth of 20 meters. At its core, Darvaz is a gas well, and the history of its discovery is quite interesting. Researchers drilled a well here to produce gas, but as a result, this huge chasm opened up, the gas had to be set on fire so that no one was poisoned. Read more about the interesting story of this unusual place in the article “Darvaz, the gates to Hell” 
Closing the list of the most unusual places on earth is the Eisreisenvelt Ice Cave. These caves are distinguished from any other caves by their icy unusualness. Once here you feel in some other fairy world. There are many ice caves in the world, but the Eisraisenvelt caves are the largest among them. Their total length is 40 kilometers, and only a small part is open for visiting. But even this is enough for thousands of tourists every day to admire the greatness and unusualness of this place.
