BIZARRE EARTH

Meet The Real World Doors To Hell And 9 Other Geographical Oddities

Image: Gaël Gaborel - OrbisTerrae

Our planet is truly an extraordinary place. Not only is it capable of hosting an incredibly vast array of life, but it is also full of all kinds of mysteries that even today defy explanation. From curious geographical oddities to spooky natural phenomena, there’s surely something for everyone.

So, if you are one of those people who loves to look at a map of the world and wonder what’s hiding in each of its corners, this article is for you!

Image: Joshua Case

Ever wonder where Arthur Conan Doyle got the inspiration for his sci-fi novel "The Lost World"? Apparently, there really is such a place after all!

Mount Roraima, towering over the borders of Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana, is a massive flat-topped mountain surrounded by sheer cliffs. Its unique shape has inspired various myths and stories, and the summit is home to unique plant species found nowhere else on Earth, just like in the adventures of the daring Professor Challenger and his friends.

Image: Moulaye Sidi Aly

The Richat Structure, also known as the Eye of the Sahara, is a massive circular formation in Mauritania that resembles a bull's-eye from space. Originally thought to be an impact crater, it is now believed to be a geological dome eroded over millions of years, revealing concentric layers of rock.

Even more intriguing is the fact that the structure hosts exceptional accumulations of Acheulean archaeological artifacts, suggesting that our ancestors might have deemed it a very special place.

Image: Mandy Beerley

The visible part of Kilauea, located on the Big Island of Hawaii, is just the tip of a massive submarine volcano. Its underwater portion holds great geological significance, as it reveals the history of the volcano's gradual growth through underwater eruptions over the past 100,000 years.

Native Hawaiians recognize the importance of this geological phenomenon, considering it a sacred place and the home of the volcanic deity Pelehonuamea.

Image: Michael Clarke

Do you suddenly feel like Mount Everest is taking up too much space? Well, here’s an easy fix for you: stuff it within the Mariana Trench. It fits!

If you have never heard of it before, The Mariana Trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean, is the deepest part of our world's oceans. Its incredible depth is such that Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth when measured from sea level, could fit inside it with more than a mile to spare.

Image: Robert Haverly

A true battle of ice and fire, Mount Erebus, an active volcano in Antarctica, is one of the few places on Earth where a persistent lava lake exists. Located on Ross Island, this volcano emits gases rich in sulfur dioxide, creating an otherworldly environment reminiscent of volcanic landscapes found on distant moons like Io.

Even more astonishing, scientists have recently discovered that the volcano expels pockets of gas containing roughly 80 grams of crystallized gold daily, amounting to around $6,000!

Image: Thomas Bormans

There is a place in the world where determining which country you're in can be exceptionally difficult. The border between the Netherlands and Belgium is one of the most complex in the world, particularly in the town of Baarle. The town is split into Baarle-Nassau (Netherlands) and Baarle-Hertog (Belgium) with over 20 separate enclaves and exclaves.

This intricate border arrangement leads to houses and even rooms split between two countries. The bizarre border divisions originated from medieval treaties and land swaps between feudal lords, resulting in an irregular and tangled boundary that remains today.

Image: Sergey Pesterev

Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania holds the title of the highest free-standing mountain in the world, rising 19,341 feet above sea level. Unlike most mountains, which usually are part of a range, Kilimanjaro stands alone, a stunning and solitary peak that dominates the Tanzanian landscape.

Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it's not just an ordinary mountain but a massive stratovolcano. It consists of three cones—Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. Fortunately, it's currently dormant, although there were eruptions reported in the 19th century.

Image: Sharissa Johnson

Victoria Island in Canada is a fascinating example of a recursive island—an island within a lake on an island in a lake on an island. Feeling dizzy already?

This unique geographical feature can be found within the larger Victoria Island in the Arctic Archipelago, which itself contains several lakes and islands. It’s even possible that this curious island has never been visited before, as the nearest inhabited area is almost 90 miles away and there are no nearby roads.

Image: Robs

The Stone Forest in Yunnan, China, is a labyrinth of limestone formations resembling petrified trees. Over 270 million years old, rain and erosion sculpted these tall, thin pillars, creating a surreal landscape that stretches over 150 square miles.

If you plan on visiting, be aware that the area is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a highly popular tourist destination, so it's advisable to book tickets in advance.

Image: Ybrayym Esenov

Fancy a walk through the closest Hell’s customs checkpoint? Well, if you book a flight to Turkmenistan, you can!

The Door to Hell, or Darvaza Gas Crater, is a natural gas field in Turkmenistan that collapsed into a cavern in 1971. To prevent the spread of methane gas, geologists set it on fire expecting it to burn out in a few weeks. Over four decades later, the crater still burns, emitting a glow that can be seen from miles away.

10 bizarre rules and prohibitions you won't believe still exist

Image: Serge S

The world moves forward and modernizes faster than ever, yet the law doesn’t always keep up. Some of the most absurd rules still linger in the laws of certain countries. If you think it’s ridiculous to ban chewing gum, to sing "My Way" at karaoke, or to get drunk in a pub, then this article is for you. Join us as we discover 10 crazy laws that, believe it or not, are still in effect.

Image: Quinten de Graaf

In 1992, Singapore implemented one of the strictest bans in the world: it became illegal to import, produce, or sell chewing gum. In the 1980s and 1990s, the government of this Southeast Asian nation noticed gum stuck everywhere—on sidewalks, in elevators, even on subway door sensors.

To reverse this trend, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who had a vision of order and extreme cleanliness, decreed that chewing gum could not be imported, produced, or sold anywhere in the country. This measure was part of a new model of social discipline that turned Singapore into a beacon of neatness and efficiency envied even by the most developed nations.

Image: Zach Camp

In Kentucky, it is technically illegal to carry ice cream in your back pocket. Yes, you heard right. This ban dates back to the 19th century, when horse thieves were in vogue. The story goes that crooks would slip ice cream into their pockets to tempt horses to follow them—avoiding charges of outright theft.

This law was never repealed, so technically, if a Kentucky police officer caught you with ice cream melting in your back pocket, they could cite you. Unlikely? Absolutely. But still on the books!

Image: Leo_Visions

In Burundi, as in many other countries, group jogging was once a very popular activity. But when the opposition Movement for Solidarity and Democracy organized a mass jogging event in 2014, things quickly took a turn.

That year, the government of President Pierre Nkurunziza, himself a former PE teacher, banned group jogging, viewing it as a veiled act of subversion. Some participants were even arrested. Despite this heavy-handed measure, the small East African nation has still managed to produce several Olympic athletes. How? Determination seems to outpace the ban.

Image: Victor Rodvang

Watching a favorite artist lip-sync is always disappointing. Turkmenistan took the issue very seriously and decided to do something about it. In 2005, President Saparmurat Niyazov banned lip-syncing throughout the country. The ban applied not only at concerts, but also on television and even at weddings. According to him, lip-syncing harmed the development of musical art.

But this wasn’t the only absurd measure imposed by Niyazov. He also banned opera and ballet, the use of gold teeth, makeup on TV presenters, and pet dogs in the capital. In addition, he renamed the months of the year in honor of his family members and even built a golden statue of himself. A bit egocentric, don’t you think?

Image: Rodrigo Rodrigues | WOLF Λ R T

Since the 1990s, blue jeans have been banned in North Korea because they are seen as a symbol of Western capitalist culture. Tight pants, T-shirts with foreign brand logos, and certain types of haircuts are also prohibited.

Don't believe us? In 2024, North Korean state television broadcast an episode of the BBC series Garden Secrets in which presenter Alan Titchmarsh was wearing jeans. To get around the ban, the network simply blurred out his pants—creating a bizarre image that quickly sparked memes on social media.

Image: MART PRODUCTION

Keeping fish in round bowls is illegal in Rome. Experts argue that they are cruel because they limit oxygenation, distort the fish’s vision, and force constant circular swimming, making them dizzy and stressed.

In 2005, Rome introduced an animal welfare law that banned round fishbowls, along with other measures to protect pets. Over time, other regions of Italy adopted similar rules.

Image: NOAA

This absurd rule seems like something out of a Monty Python comedy sketch, but we assure you, it’s completely real. You may be wondering, what exactly "under suspicious circumstances" means? So are we, and it has nothing to do with running away with a salmon under your arm.

The UK’s Salmon Act of 1986 was originally meant to combat illegal salmon fishing. However, as you can imagine, it has caused all kinds of misunderstandings due to its ambiguous language. In 2013, the British Ministry of Justice even reviewed it in a report called Obsolete or Unnecessary Laws. Yet, despite the laughs it inspires, the rule technically remains in force.

Image: Ksenia Yakovleva

Due to a series of incidents, the city of Chesapeake, Virginia, passed an ordinance in the 1970s banning anyone over the age of 12 from trick-or-treating on Halloween. Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $250.

In 2019, the law went viral and sparked a wave of backlash. In response, city officials relaxed the ordinance and raised the maximum age to 14.

Image: Nikola Đuza

What’s your go-to karaoke song? If your answer is "My Way" and you’re planning a trip to the Philippines, you might want to change your mind. This unusual rule isn’t written into law, but it’s taken very seriously. In this Southeast Asian country, performing Frank Sinatra’s iconic hit in public is highly discouraged.

Doing so could literally cost you your life. According to lore, there have been several homicides linked to performances of this song in karaoke bars. The phenomenon even has its own chilling nickname: "The My Way Killings." Why this song in particular? Some suggest that the boldness—and even arrogance—of its lyrics has sparked violent confrontations.

Image: Kamil Feczko

Did you know there’s a rumor that you can be fined for farting in public in Florida? The "catch"? It supposedly only applies if it’s a Thursday and after 6 p.m. We can’t confirm whether it’s true—or how anyone could enforce it—but either way, it’s definitely poor etiquette, so avoid doing it anyway.

Even if this law is just an urban legend, Florida has plenty of other equally absurd ordinances. For instance, it’s illegal to sing in public while wearing a swimsuit; if you tie your pet to a parking meter, you must pay as if it were a car; using a skateboard requires a driver’s license; and falling asleep while getting a haircut is prohibited.

Image: The Now Time

Technically, it is illegal to get drunk in a pub in the United Kingdom. We know—it sounds ridiculous, especially given the Brits’ well-known love of beer. This rule comes from the Licensing Act of 1872, which states that anyone found drunk in a public place is guilty of a misdemeanor.

This law is as absurd as prohibiting crying at a wake or getting wet in a swimming pool, yet it’s still in force. A more modern version clarifies that it is also illegal to sell alcohol to someone who is visibly drunk—which, frankly, makes a lot more sense!