Earth is a beautiful place that’s filled with lots of wonderful things. At the same time, there are a bunch of strange things on this planet that often leave people with more questions than answers. Journey with us today as we explore some of the oddest things found on Mother Earth.
1. The Cave of Crystals in Mexico
Also known as the Cueva de los Cristales, a group of miners stumbled across this cave of crystals in 2000. Inside, there are crystals, some of which measure up to 33 feet long. Located in Chihuahua in Mexico, these crystals are so old that archaeologists could not carbon date them. However, they were able to carbon date a bacteria sample, which appeared to be 50,000 years old. No one knows how and why these crystals formed.
2. Water Bears That Can Survive in Space
Even with the most advanced space suits, humankind still struggles to explore space. However, that’s not the case for Water Bears or Tardigrades, as scientists call them. These creatures that resemble piglets can withstand temperatures of -328 degrees Fahrenheit to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, they can thrive exceptionally well in space. As if that’s not interesting enough, water bears can even survive radiation.
3. Sailing Stones of the Death Valley Racetrack
The sailing stones are one of the strangest mysteries of the Death Valley Racetrack. These stones move across the desert without animal or human intervention, leaving trails behind. For years, there has been a lot of speculation regarding what moves these stones, with some blaming extraterrestrial activities. They were recently filmed while in action for the world to see.
4. Underwater Lakes and Waterfalls
Deeper into the ocean bed, there are underwater lakes. These are pools of water whose salinity is higher than the ocean. Therefore, their waters are denser and appear separated from the rest of the sea. Underwater lakes have waves and even shorelines. Because of the high salinity, underwater lakes are toxic to swim inside. They are also rich in hydrogen sulfide and toxic methane.
No matter how fascinating underwater lakes may seem, divers are advised to avoid them. This is the same concept that applies to undersea waterfalls. The silt falling to the seafloor creates the illusion of an undersea waterfall.
5. The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, there is a place where Earth looks like an alien planet. The Danakil Depression is home to acid-filled pools, hydrothermal fields, gas swirls, salt flats, lava pools, and neon-colored hot springs. It looks like something that came straight out of a sci-fi movie.
6. Point Nemo
Did you know that astronauts at the Space Station orbiting the Earth are much closer to land than someone stuck at Point Nemo? The Space Station is 258 miles from land, whereas Point Nemo is 1,670 miles away from land. Point Nemo is located within the South Pacific Gyre.
7. Blood Falls in Antarctica
In the Antarctica, there is a blood-red waterfall that cascades down the white, icy glaciers. Researchers discovered that the red color is caused by the iron oxide found inside the water.
8. The Voynich Manuscript
No matter how old a script is, scholars have been able to at least identify the language. Unfortunately, that has been impossible with the Voynich Manuscript. This book, believed to have been written in the 15th century, is yet to be deciphered.
The text is in an unknown language, with pictures of women swimming in pools and strange plants. Scholars have even tried using AI to translate this text, but all these efforts have proven futile.
9. Waitomo Glowworm Caves
In New Zealand, there is a cave that glows in the dark thanks to the presence of tiny glow worms. The Waitomo glowworms are bioluminescent creatures that use this mechanism to attract food, such as insects. Hiding in these caves are unique rock formations and limestone chambers that wow tourists every year.
10. The Blue Lava from Kawah Ijen
Lava is known to be a red-brownish substance. But in the Kawah Ijeh crater in Indonesia, the lava is blue. This has turned Mount Kawah Ijen into a popular tourist destination. Fortunately, scientists have discovered the cause of the blue lava to be the presence of sulfuric gas. It’s what causes the lava to burn in a blue hue.
11. The Salt Cathedral in Colombia
While most cathedrals are made of stone, timber and iron, the cathedral of Zipaquira is made purely out of salt, including the giant cross. Miners discovered it in 1954, and it has an estimated capacity of around 10,000 people.
12. Candy-Colored Eucalyptus Tree Backs
The first time people see the back of the Eucalyptus Deglupta tree, they assume that an artist has painted its back. However, this tree species has a naturally existing candy-colored back. What happens is that when this tree sheds off its back, it reveals a new color, which can be maroon, green, purple, orange, or blue. It grows natively in the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia.
13. The Largest Mammal Migration
Most people assume that the wildebeest migration is the biggest mammal migration in the world. On the contrary, this record belongs to bats. Every year, from October to December, 10 million bats converge at the evergreen swamp in Kasanka National Park in Zambia.