Tourism is a booming industry, and people are always looking for new and exciting travel destinations to explore While many tourists flock to the usual hotspots like Paris, New York, and Tokyo, there are also some more unusual and off-the-beaten-path areas that are worth considering In this article, we will take a look at some of the strangest tourist areas in the world and what makes them so unique.
The Catacombs of Paris
Located beneath the streets of Paris, the Catacombs are a network of tunnels that contain the remains of over six million people The Catacombs were created in the late 18th century when the city’s cemeteries became overcrowded, and bodies were moved to the underground tunnels. Today, the Catacombs are open to the public, and visitors can explore the eerie maze of tunnels and view the macabre displays of skulls and bones.
The Door to Hell in Turkmenistan
The Door to Hell is a natural gas field located in the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan In 1971, Soviet geologists accidentally created a large crater in the ground when they drilled into a natural gas pocket. To prevent the spread of toxic gas, they set the gas on fire, expecting it to burn out in a few days However, the gas has been burning continuously for over 50 years, creating a fiery pit that is now a popular tourist attraction.
The Island of the Dolls in Mexico
Located in the canals of Xochimilco, Mexico, the Island of the Dolls is a creepy and macabre tourist attraction. The island is covered in dolls and doll parts, hung from trees and buildings by their limbs. Legend has it that the island’s former owner, Don Julian Santana, found a drowned girl in the canal and began hanging dolls in her memory Today, visitors can take a boat ride to the island and explore the eerie collection of dolls.
The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá in Colombia
The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is an underground church located in a salt mine near Bogota, Colombia. The church was built by miners in the 1950s as a place to pray and worship during their work breaks. Today, the cathedral is open to the public, and visitors can explore the underground tunnels and view the impressive salt sculptures and carvings.
The Crooked Forest in Poland
Located in western Poland, the Crooked Forest is a strange and eerie forest of bent and curved trees The trees are all shaped like question marks, with their trunks bent at a 90-degree angle just above the ground The reason for the trees’ unusual shape is unknown, but theories range from human intervention to natural phenomenon.
The Mutter Museum in Philadelphia, USA
The Mutter Museum is a medical museum inPhiladelphia that houses a collection of strange and unusual medical specimens The museum’s exhibits include preserved human organs, skeletons, and medical oddities such as the “Soap Lady,” a woman whose body was turned into soap due to a rare genetic condition.
While the museum’s displays may not be for the faint of heart, they offer a fascinating insight into the strange and often gruesome world of medical science.
