Buzz
Our planet is an endlessly fascinating and peculiar place, filled with mysteries hidden behind seemingly ordinary facades. From towns buried in waste to settlements inhabited by retired circus performers, here are some of the most extraordinary places you’ll find around the world.
10. Manshiyat Naser, Egypt – The Garbage City
In many suburban areas, people often scour neighborhoods on trash collection days, searching for discarded items like furniture to refurbish and sell. Sanitation workers, who become experts at spotting valuable items, refer to these treasures as 'mongo.' However, no place on Earth relies on garbage as heavily as Manshiyat Naser, a district in Cairo.
The residents of Manshiyat Naser eke out a living by sorting through the waste generated by Cairo’s 10 million inhabitants. Life here is incredibly challenging: the area lacks basic amenities like running water, sewage systems, and electricity, and every available space is crammed with towering piles of refuse. Pigs, spared during the 2009 swine flu outbreak, roam freely, scavenging through the debris.
Families in 'Garbage City' endure extreme poverty, often specializing in specific types of waste. Some focus on collecting recyclable bottles, others on metals, and some resort to burning materials for warmth.
9. Thames Town, China – A Deserted Slice of England
It’s surprising that the world’s most populous nation has so many ghost towns, but China’s construction boom has far exceeded demand. Entire cities remain largely uninhabited, with vacancy rates for new homes nationwide nearing 20 percent.
Thames Town is one such deserted city. Situated approximately 32 kilometers (20 miles) from Shanghai, it was meticulously designed to replicate a charming English village, featuring rowhouses, cobblestone pathways, a traditional pub, and even a fish and chips shop.
Finished in 2006, Thames Town remains largely uninhabited, giving it an eerie Twilight Zone atmosphere. Its primary use today is as a unique setting for wedding photos, attracting newlyweds seeking an unconventional backdrop.
China is home to several other abandoned towns modeled after European cities, such as Tianducheng, which mimics Paris and includes a small-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower.
8. Gibsonton, Florida – The Winter Haven for Carnival Performers
Circuses and carnivals have always operated seasonally, forcing workers to head south during the winter. One of their most famous retreats was Gibsonton, Florida, a quiet town near Tampa. Known as 'Gibtown,' it welcomed its seasonal residents by modifying zoning laws to permit exotic animals and carnival equipment on private properties. The local post office even lowered its counters to accommodate performers of shorter stature.
Among the town’s notable residents were the unusual couple Al and Jeanie Tomaini. Al, a pituitary giant, towered over Jeanie, who was born without legs and stood at just a quarter of his height. He often carried her like a child. The pair retired to Gibtown, where they managed a lodge and fishing camp while actively participating in community life.
Another well-known figure was Grady Stiles, who had ectrodactyly, a condition that gave his hands and feet the appearance of lobster claws. Known as “Lobster Boy,” Stiles was reportedly a violent and abusive individual, even killing his daughter’s fiancé the day before their wedding. In November 1992, Stiles was murdered by a hitman hired by his wife.
Today, most of the performers who once called Gibtown home have passed away, leaving the town to resemble any ordinary place, save for its lingering, peculiar history.
7. Zarechny, Russia – The Secretive Closed City
Following World War II, the USSR intensified its efforts to compete with America. Numerous cities housing research facilities and munitions factories, which fueled the Soviet war effort, were declared 'closed'—erased from maps and subjected to strict restrictions on their residents' lives.
While modern Russia is less intimidating than its Soviet predecessor, many closed cities have been opened. However, some, like Zarechny, remain off-limits. Located in western Russia with a population of just over 60,000, Zarechny is described on its official website as a 'closed administrative-territorial formation,' playing a strategic role as nuclear weapon components are manufactured within its confines. The city’s primary employer is Rosatom, the state-owned nuclear technology corporation.
Movement in and out of Zarechny is heavily restricted, and the city is officially closed to outsiders, encircled by walls and barbed wire. However, residents enjoy certain perks, including higher wages.
6. Rennes-le-Chateau, France – The Enigmatic Church Conspiracy
Nestled in the French Pyrenees, Rennes-le-Chateau is a small Catholic village. Once a modest settlement of around 300 residents, it gained notoriety in 1885 when a priest named Francois Berenger Sauniere arrived. Despite his initial poverty, Sauniere soon displayed immense wealth, renovating the local 11th-century church dedicated to Mary Magdalene. Among the strange additions he commissioned was a statue of the devil holding a holy water basin. Above the church entrance, he inscribed the phrase Terribilis Est Locus Iste (“This Place Is Terrible”). He also constructed an extravagant villa for himself nearby.
The origin of Sauniere’s wealth sparked widespread speculation, with many convinced he was at the heart of a major conspiracy. Some theorized he had uncovered ancient treasure from the Crusades, while others suspected secret dealings with the Vatican. There were even claims he had discovered a hidden truth about the life of Jesus.
The mystery surrounding Sauniere later inspired Dan Brown’s global bestseller The Da Vinci Code. The book’s success brought a surge of tourists to the village, many of whom dug up graves in search of treasure. The situation became so dire that Sauniere’s remains were exhumed in 2004 and reburied in a concrete tomb.
Property values surged, and a thriving industry emerged around the novel’s impact and the enigmatic tale of Francois Berenger Sauniere. However, some dismiss these theories, attributing Sauniere’s riches not to hidden treasures or the Holy Grail, but to simple fraud, as he allegedly accepted payments for prayers and masses he never conducted.
5. Chess City, Elista, Kalmykia – A Visionary’s Dream
In the Russian republic of Kalmykia, amidst the vast, empty steppes, lies an unusual spectacle—a massive glass dome surrounded by a neighborhood reminiscent of California. This is Chess City, a tribute to the royal game, conceived by the chess-enthusiast former president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.
The neighborhood is adorned with numerous chess-inspired sculptures. Over the years, the city hosted several major chess tournaments, but Ilyumzhinov’s grand vision proved to be more about ego than practicality. Today, the Chess Palace stands mostly deserted, and the surrounding area is slowly falling into disrepair.
The city’s creator is even more eccentric than his creation. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov claims to have encountered extraterrestrials and insists his fate was foretold by a blind Bulgarian psychic named Babuska Vanga. She predicted he would become the President of Kalmykia and the head of the World Chess Federation (FIDE). Ilyumzhinov assumed leadership of the republic in 1993 and took over FIDE two years later, devising an ambitious plan to transform his homeland into a chess paradise.
The source of the funds used to build the city (estimated at $30–50 million) remains a mystery, especially given Kalmykia’s extreme poverty. However, the residents might not need to worry much. According to Ilyumzhinov, the aliens will eventually return and “take us all aboard their spaceships to escape this place.”
4. Noiva Do Cordeiro, Brazil – The Town of Women
Many believe the world would improve if women were in control. In southeastern Brazil, this theory can be tested in Noiva Do Cordeiro (“Bride of the Lamb”), founded in 1891 by Senhorinha de Lima after she was exiled from her community for adultery. This rural settlement, home to around 600 people, is almost entirely female. Only a few women have husbands, most of whom work in Belo Horizonte, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) away, visiting their wives only on weekends.
This female-dominated community is nestled in rainforests and lush farmland cultivated by the women. They manage nearly every aspect of town life, from religious affairs to organizing events. However, many long for romance. Introducing men into Noiva Do Cordeiro could disrupt the harmony they’ve built. As 23-year-old Nelma Fernandes explains, “I haven’t kissed a man in ages. We all dream of love and marriage . . . But men must agree to follow our rules and live by our terms.”
3. Auroville, India – The Dawn City
Most attempts to create utopias fail. Auroville, India, established in 1968 by Mirra “The Mother” Alfassa, is one such endeavor. Today, it houses over 2,000 residents from across the globe. Property ownership is nonexistent, and money is rarely exchanged. The community operates without a leader or formal rules.
As stated on their website, “Auroville aims to be a universal town where people from all nations can live in peace and harmony, transcending creeds, politics, and nationalities. Its purpose is to achieve human unity.” At the heart of Auroville lies “The Matrimandir,” a grand temple symbolizing Alfassa’s vision. This geodesic dome, reminiscent of Epcot Center, is covered in golden discs. The Matrimandir promotes no specific religion and welcomes visitors by appointment.
Auroville warmly welcomes tourists, offering numerous guest houses and restaurants for those seeking to explore and discover their spiritual essence.
2. Najaf, Iraq – The City of the Dead
For those unbothered by superstitions, living near a cemetery can be quite peaceful. The neighbors are quiet and unlikely to ask for favors. However, for the faint-hearted, residing in Najaf, Iraq, would be unsettling. The city is home to Wadi Al-Salam, the largest cemetery in the world. Spanning nearly twice the size of New York City’s Central Park, it serves as the resting place for around five million individuals. Burials have taken place here daily for more than 1,400 years.
As ISIS continues its violent rampage across Iraq, Wadi Al-Salam’s resources are strained. Approximately 200 bodies arrive at this ancient burial ground each day. Families, desperate for space, have resorted to stealing plots and even burying their loved ones under sidewalks, as the cost of a proper burial can exceed $10,000.
1. Neft Daslari, Azerbaijan – The Oily Island
In the late 1940s, after oil was discovered in the Caspian Sea, the USSR constructed the world’s first offshore oil platform. With no existing blueprint to follow, the structure evolved over time, expanding into a vast network of rigs, roads, bridges, piers, apartment blocks, and even a movie theater.
This intricate complex is anchored to the seabed using sunken ships and industrial waste. Once a key oil supplier for the USSR, its significance has diminished with the discovery of more accessible oil reserves.
Today, Neft Daslari (“oily rock”) looks like a post-apocalyptic attempt at reconstruction. Large sections are inaccessible, with crumbling bridges collapsing into the sea, and some residential buildings now submerged underwater.
The workforce has drastically shrunk, yet an aura of mystery surrounds the facility. For example, attempting to view it on Google Maps reveals that it cannot be zoomed in. Its enigmatic nature has even earned it a feature in the 1999 James Bond film The World Is Not Enough.
