5 Most Alien Landscapes on Earth
Have you ever imagined yourself standing on another planet and marveling at its alien landscapes? Luckily, we don't need to travel to other planets to witness alien landscapes. Our own planet has plenty of places with surreal landscapes that seem to belong to another world. Here are the top 5 alien landscapes on Earth.
1. Socotra Island, Yemen
The most alien-looking place on Earth is Socotra Island located between the Guardafui Channel and the Arabian Sea in Yemen. This isolated island has the most otherwordly fauna and flora in the world. Most plant and animal species on the island can't be found anywhere else on our planet. The island is home to giant mushroom-like trees - dragon's blood trees. These peculiar trees look like being transported from another planet and planted on Earth.
How to get there?
The only way is to fly to the island from Abu Dhabi or Cairo. The easiest way to book the flight is to hire an agency or tour operator (you can't book the flight online).
2.. Salar de Uyuni - The World's Biggest Natural Mirror
Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flats in the world (10,000 square kilometers) that turns into the world's largest natural mirror every year. During the rainy season, a thin layer of water covers these flats creating a mesmerizing natural wonder - "Mirror of the sky".
Why "Mirror of the Sky"? A thin layer of calm water perfectly reflects the sky and clouds in it. Imagine that you are standing on the mirror that reflects the sky and stretches many kilometers. You will feel like in another universe, where you can walk between two skies.
Location: Daniel Campos Province of Bolivia
Best time to visit: April-November
Note: Salar de Uyuni is located 3656 meters above sea level. Many visitors experience altitude sickness. Before your trip take measures to prevent the negative effects of high altitude.
3. Deadvlei, Namibia
Have you ever dreamed of exploring Mars? Deadvlei in Namibia offers martian landscapes of indescribable beauty and you don't need a spaceship to get there. Deadvlei or Dead Marsh is a white clay pan with spooky yet beautiful skeletons of trees that have been dead for centuries. This surreal place is surrounded by high red dunes that make strange contrast to the white clay ground and black skeletons of trees. This utterly otherworldly landscape leaves visitors speechless.
Location: namib-Naukluft Park, Namibia
Best time to visit: Late afternoon or early morning
Opening time: 6 am - 6:15 pm
4. Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
The northern coastline of Northern Ireland is renowned for its unearthly beauty. This coastline is home to Giant's Causeway - an area with over 40,000 black basalt columns jutting out of the sea as if they were stairs leading to the bottom of the sea. These peculiar rocks were formed 50 to 60 million years ago due to the cooled lava from a volcanic eruption. Giant's Causeway is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site of Irlend.
Location: County Antrim, in Northern Ireland
Opening hours: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
5. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China
Did you know that you can travel to the science fiction world of Pandora? The real-life Pandora is located in Zhangjiajie National Park in the Hunan Province of China. This national park is home to more than 3000 giant sandstone pillars. Visitors feel like visiting an alien planet when they see a forest of gigantic stone pillars covered in lush and wrapped in a mysterious mist. The spectacular landscapes of the park can't be found anywhere else on Earth.
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