Strange Places

I wanted to look into our own backyard for this post, to reveal some of the natural (and maybe even unnatural) wonders and spectacles that the average person doesn't know about. These are places which have sometimes taken millions of years to form, and I don't think we appreciate how truly wonderful the world can be, because we don't have a birds eye perspective of everything around us.

The first natural wonder I have for you today is called "The Eye of Africa" and it's breathtaking to say the least. This natural wonder is called a guelb ri-chat structure, and it is almost entirely unique in it's physical appearance.

The Eye of Africa is visible from space, and while no one has figured out for certain how it's formed, there's speculation that volcanic activity combined with the successive heating and cooling of the crust near the surface has something to do with it. Further research is needed to figure out just how exactly this monumental wonder is formed.

Next up we have "The Nine Hells of Beppu" which is a collection of steamy hot mineral pools in Japan. These pools are all inherently different and each has it's own unique colour (thanks to various minerals in the different flows of water). Some of the pools are so hot, you can cook eggs in them!

The 9 pools and their description are:
Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell) - Turqoise
Shiraike Jigoku (White Pond Hell) - White pool, created by large amounts of calcium on the pond floor.
Oniyama Jigoku (Devil's Mountain Hell) - Clear, home to 100 crocodiles and produces steam hot enough to pull a short train.
Yama Jigoku (Mountain Hell) - Small ponds surround this steamy mud "mountain"
Kinryu Jigoku (Golden Dragon Hell) - Green, lush vegetation.
Kamada Jigoku (Cooking Pot Hell) - Several boiling hot pools
Katsumaki Jigoku (Spout Hell) - A geyser which sprays boiling water every 30 minutes.
Oniishibozu Jigoku (Shaven Head Hell) - Pools of boiling grey mud, produces bubbles which resemble a shaven monks head.
Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell) - Red coloured water, thanks to iron minerals oxidized in the pond.

(Pictured, Blood Pond Hell).

The last place I wanted to show you guys is called Socotra Island, located just off of the coast of Yemen. It's a place where many of the plants and animals were isolated for millions of years.

There's roughly 40,000 inhabitants to this beautiful island, and some of the unique trees and birds bring in visitors from all over the world. So many visitors in fact, that the island got it's first two roads in the past few years.

If you're interested in the full extent that the island of Socotra has to offer, check out this youtube video detailing some of the beautiful "things" that live there.