5 anomalous places on Earth better than Bermuda Triangle
Thor's Well (photo: Wikipedia)
Mysterious anomalies of nature always fascinate and attract people's attention. Each of these places has its own history and legends, which only increase their attractiveness.
RBC-Ukraine tells about places that remind us that nature is always able to surprise us with its wonders.
Crooked forest
Location: the village of Nowe Czarnowo, Poland
No matter how many scientists have studied this place over the decades, no one has been able to name the real reason why many trees have grown in such a strange and unnatural way.
The Crooked Forest, located 20 kilometers from the provincial capital of Szczecin, consists of pine trees with trunks that have a strange J-shape pointing strictly north. According to various sources, the number of trees in the forest ranges from 80 to 400.
They were planted between 1930 and 1945 and, except for their appearance, are no different from the direct relatives that surround them.
There are many versions of this phenomenon. Proponents of rational theories claim that the trees were bent intentionally for further use in the furniture industry or for boat building, but this was prevented by World War II.
There is a version about the weather conditions - ice and snow that deformed the trunks of the pines in the initial stage of their growth. Others believe that there are geopathologies in this place that hurt all living things, forcing the trees to bend.
Crooked Forest (photo: Wikipedia)
Bhangarh Fort
Location: Rajasthan, India
Another strange place is the Bhangarh Fort, built in the 16th century as a residence for the second son of Raja Bhagwant Das, Man Singh I. Its powerful walls and strong gates protected palaces known for their majestic architecture, as well as temples and residential buildings. But, for some unknown reason, in 1783, all the inhabitants quickly left the fort, and it remained empty.
Locals believe that the fort serves as a refuge for evil spirits that kill anyone who stays here overnight. There are even witnesses who claim to have heard women crying, jingling bracelets, and strange music.
The reason for all this is believed to be a curse. According to one version, it was put on by a sorcerer who was in love with Princess Ratnavati. He tried to bewitch the girl, but she found out about it and broke the bottle with the spell.
As he was dying, the sorcerer wished evil on the princess and the inhabitants of the fort. Another version says that Bhangarh Fort was cursed by the saintly Baba Balu Nath and has since become a ruin.
Bhangarh Fort (photo: Wikipedia)
Eye of the Sahara
Where is it located: Mauritania, West Africa
The Eye of the Sahara, or Richatt, is a huge natural structure that resembles a large eye and is located in the center of the Sahara Desert. It has a diameter of about 50 kilometers and from a bird's eye view looks like a huge circle with concentric rings surrounding the central part.
The Eye of the Sahara was discovered from space and has been the subject of numerous studies. Initially, scientists believed that these were traces of a meteorite impact, but later discovered that the shape was the result of erosion, which caused changes in the geological structure of the region. In particular, rivers, winds, and natural processes contributed to the formation of this strange formation.
This natural anomaly is also an important place for studying the geology and climate of the Sahara and also serves as a refuge for many species of flora and fauna that have adapted to the harsh desert conditions. The Eye of the Sahara, due to its spectacular beauty, has become popular among photographers and travelers seeking to explore this mysterious part of the world.
The Eye of the Sahara, or Richatt (photo: Wikipedia)
Thor's Well
Location: Cape Perpetua, Oregon, USA
Mysterious places associated with the raging elements always attract attention. Thor's Well, often called the drainpipe of the Pacific Ocean and even the gateway to hell, is no exception.
Hundreds of tourists flock to this sinkhole on the rocky coast every day to watch it absorb tons of water for hours. At high tide, a geyser, reaching 9 meters in height, erupts from the depths of the well.
In fact, Thor's Well is a natural fountain that was formed as a result of rock erosion and landslides, and in the case of strong waves, it seems that it absorbs water.
While the weather conditions on the coast are calm, the well at the bottom of the ocean is never quiet. Water pours out of it so fast that sometimes it reaches the edge with gusts that can be felt at a distance of tens of meters.
Thor's Well (photo: Wikipedia)
Caño Cristales
Location: Colombia
This river, located in Serranía de la Macarena, is famous for its unique colors that change depending on the season.
Often called the River of Five Colors, Caño Cristales impresses with its shades of red, yellow, green, black, and blue. But this unusual color can only be seen between June and November when rains fill the riverbed.
The reason for this unusual color of the river has its explanation. A combination of various factors, such as climate, soil composition, and hydrological changes, lead to the formation of plants in the river that create this amazing color.
The algae Macarenia clavigera, which grows at the bottom of the river, gives it a hue similar to fiery red blood when there is an optimal amount of light in the water. And in August, when the river is replenished by rains, its flows make the algae bright, attracting nature lovers.
Caño Cristales River (photo: Wikipedia)
Read also what 5 unusual natural phenomena can be seen only in Ukraine.
Sources: Rough Guides, Time Out, Wikipedia.
