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The world has undergone significant changes in 2021, yet the allure of Earth’s most mystical destinations persists. These places are steeped in rich history and folklore, providing incredible opportunities for captivating photographs. While some are easily accessible and have become popular tourist spots, others remain hidden gems, only revealed through daring explorers who share their photos online. This list showcases some of the most awe-inspiring mysterious locations around the globe, with some images so breathtaking, it’s almost unbelievable they’re real.
10. Rakotzbrücke
The enchanting Rakotzbrücke is a dream come true for photographers and Instagrammers alike. This man-made semi-circular bridge can be found in Kromlau Park, Saxony, Germany, and is often called ‘Devil’s Bridge’ due to the many myths that surround it. The bridge’s popularity has soared in recent years, especially because of the illusion it creates—a near-perfect circle reflected in the water below, which gives it an ethereal and otherworldly appearance.
Legend has it that devil’s bridges like Rakotzbrücke were built with the devil’s help in exchange for the soul of the first person to cross it. In the case of the Saxony Devil’s Bridge, many believe the delicate arch could not have been constructed by humans alone, suggesting the devil must have played a role in its creation. These bridges are typically made of stone and feature masonic arches. Some believe that Rakotzbrücke becomes a portal to another realm when the reflection forms a perfect circle, illuminated by the full moon. It’s said that if you cross the ‘perfect circle’ while glancing sideways, the devil will appear in the water, waiting to claim the next soul to drag into hell.
9. Mount Roraima
Mount Roraima, known as the ‘floating island of Venezuela,’ is a flat-topped mountain (tepui) located where Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana converge. Long before modern hikers set foot here, the Pemón Indians regarded it as an important part of the world’s history. According to their legend, a mighty tree, which provided fruits and crops for the Earth, was felled by an ancient ancestor of the tribe. This caused a massive flood, and the trunk that remained after the disaster became the mountain itself. The legend claims that Mount Roraima is the trunk of that tree, and the rivers flowing into it are the lands of the Pemón people.
Since the rise of tourism and hiking in the area, there have been numerous reports of UFO sightings, with visitors claiming to have seen unusual lights hovering above Mount Roraima. Some have even reported altered mental states during their visit, or experiencing strange dreams involving extraterrestrials.
8. Sedona Vortices
Sacred sites are scattered across the globe, and many of them are associated with vortexes or vortices—unique locations believed to channel energy either into or out of the Earth. Some of the most famous vortex sites include Glastonbury in southwestern England, Stonehenge in Wiltshire, The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, and the Mayan Ruins in Tulum, Mexico.
America is home to several powerful energy vortices, especially in Sedona, Arizona. People who believe in the mystical power of these vortices travel to Sedona in large numbers, seeking spiritual healing. The most famous of these sites is the Airport Mesa Vortex, where visitors are encouraged to hike up the challenging trail to the summit and take in breathtaking views while searching for colored orbs. It is said that the Airport Mesa Vortex is an Upflow area, allowing one’s spirit to rise to new heights of peace and tranquility.
Other well-known vortices in Sedona include Cathedral Rock Vortex, Bell Rock Vortex, and Boynton Canyon Vortex.
7. Tianmen Mountain
Tianmen Mountain, located in China, holds a sacred status in Chinese culture. This reverence is enhanced by the famous ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ which consists of 999 steps that lead to Tianmen Cave, the world’s highest natural arch. According to Chinese legend, Tianmen Cave is the meeting place between the gods and the mortal world, drawing millions of visitors each year. The cave is thought to have been formed through erosion from water and soil.
There are six mysteries surrounding Tianmen Mountain: the true origin of Tianmen Cave, a ghostly photograph of the ancient religious figure Guigu, the tumultuous waters on the left cliff of Tianmen Cave, a rumored treasure hidden somewhere in the mountain, the enigmatic turning of Tianmen Cave, and sightings of the Auspicious Unicorn in the ancient forests that surround the mountain.
6. Devil’s Pool
Devil’s Pool, located in Queensland, Australia, is as perilous as it is beautiful. The creek bed is filled with massive rocks known as the Babinda Boulders. According to local legend, a young woman named Oolana from the Yindinji Tribe broke her vow to marry a tribal elder and instead ran off with Dyga, a warrior from a different tribe. The couple was captured, and Dyga was taken by the elders. In her grief, Oolana leaped into Devil’s Pool, her cries becoming the raging waters that flow through it. To this day, locals believe Oolana's spirit haunts the pool, pulling unsuspecting men to their doom.
Since 1959, there have been 19 fatalities at Devil’s Pool, with 17 of the victims being men who drowned. One particularly chilling story involves a young man who vanished beneath the waters after he kicked at a plaque commemorating the lives lost at the pool. In another tragic tale, a couple stood on the rock platform above the pool when a rogue wave swept them both into the water. The woman survived, but tragically, her male companion did not.
5. Castlerigg Stone Circle
Located near Keswick in Cumbria, North West England, the Castlerigg Stone Circle consists of 38 Neolithic stones. The circle is believed to have been constructed during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Ages as part of a megalithic tradition. Despite being an iconic historical site, the area has not been extensively excavated, and the mysteries of what may lie buried beneath the surface, or possibly between the stones, remain unknown.
Much like other stone circles in the UK, the purpose of the Castlerigg Stone Circle remains uncertain. While experts are not convinced it was a burial site, some suggest it may have been constructed to align with lunar cycles.
In 1799, the English poet and philosopher Samuel Coleridge referenced the Castlerigg Stone Circle in his writings, describing it as: “The Mountains stand one behind the other, in orderly array, as if evoked by and attentive to the assembly of white-vested Wizards.”
4. Underwater Waterfall
Mauritius, a relatively young island in the grand history of the world, rests on an ocean shelf raised above the seabed. Off the coast, near Le Morne Peninsula, varying shades of blue can be seen as they descend into a 4000-meter deep abyss. This optical illusion of an underwater waterfall is caused by the continuous movement of sand and silt along the sloping seabed.
The site of this illusion is also tied to a tragic local legend. In 1835, when slavery was abolished in Mauritius, authorities arrived at a community of runaway slaves to deliver the news. Misunderstanding the intentions of the police, the slaves believed they were being captured and, in their despair, leapt from the cliffs into the ocean in a mass suicide. This dark chapter is often connected to the optical illusion, with some believing the spirits of the deceased slaves are responsible for the breathtaking phenomenon.
3. Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael, an island off the coast of Kerry, Ireland, gained fame as a filming location for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The exposure brought a surge in tourist visits, and by November 2015, the island had recorded its highest number of overseas visitors ever.
Skellig Michael, or 'Michael's Rock,' is home to a well-preserved 1400-year-old monastery. The island contains two oratories, a cemetery, and a monolithic cross. Evidence suggests the island suffered multiple Viking attacks, potentially driving the monks to seek refuge on the mainland. In an effort to protect this fragile site, there are now limits on the number of tourists allowed to visit.
2. The Tree on the Lake
Fairy Lake in Canada is renowned not only for its sparkling waters and serene ambiance but also for a remarkable sight: a dead Douglas fir tree log protrudes from the calm lake, upon which a young Douglas fir tree grows. The log serves as the sole source of nutrients for the tiny tree, which struggles to survive in a delicate balance of life, inspiring many photographers to capture this striking scene.
Every so often, the lake's waters rise, submerging the tree stump and creating the illusion that the tiny tree is floating just above the surface. This unusual sight has earned the tree the nickname 'Fairy Bonsai,' and tourists often line up along the logging road next to the lake to catch a glimpse of it.
1. Skyscraper City
Madagascar, the world’s fourth-largest island, remained undiscovered by humans for 300,000 years. As depicted in the animated film Madagascar, it is home to various lemur species and over half of the world’s chameleons. Among its natural wonders are the Avenue of the Baobabs and Skyscraper City, also known as the world’s largest stone forest. This ‘forest’ is formed from spiky limestone rocks called Tsingy, which translates to ‘walk on tiptoes.’ The Tsingy originated around 200 million years ago when tectonic forces lifted a limestone bed from beneath a lagoon. As sea levels fell, the exposed stone plateau evolved into the unique rock formations we see today.
Several walkways and bridges provide tourists with the chance to explore this rocky marvel without risking injury from the sharp stones. Despite its seemingly inhospitable nature, Skyscraper City is home to 11 different lemur species.
