These 18 Creepy Vacation Destinations Are Definitely Not For The Faint Of Heart
#1 Whale Bone Alley, Siberia
Hundreds of whale skeletons lie on the coast of Siberia's Yttygran Island in a nearly perfect row. Archaeologists believe they were placed there by ancient natives to mark a place of worship. Nothing says "romantic night on the beach" quite like a few meticulously arranged whale bones.
#2 The Nazca Lines, Peru
These huge geoglyphs in the Nazca desert have baffled archaeologists for centuries, because they are only visible by air, but were made somewhere between 400 and 650 A.D., well before humans discovered flight. A flight over these would certainly be memorable.
#3 Red Seabeach, China
No, this land is not covered in a sea of blood. This is Red Seabeach in Panjin, China, where they grow a radiant seaweed called sueda. It still looks pretty murderous, though, so if you like to punctuate your beach trips with a touch of artificial gore, this is the place for you.
#4 Bermuda Triangle, Atlantic Ocean
Also known as the "Devil's Triangle," this 500,000-mile area is a treasure trove of paranormal activity and mysterious disappearances. Some even link it to the mysterious lost city of Atlantis. If your boat or plane gets lost along the way, don't say we didn't warn you.
#5 Varosha, Cyprus
From a distance, this may look like a regular city, but it's actually been abandoned for decades. In 1974, Turks invaded the island and the people of Varosha fled. To this day, the town is occupied by the Turkish military. Entry is forbidden, so on second thought, maybe you shouldn't waste your vacation days trying to get in. There would be no one on the beach for miles, though!
#6 Tashirojima, Japan
Known to the world as "Cat Island," this island became infested with cats when fishermen brought them there to protect their silkworms from mice. The cats apparently liked it so much that they decided to make it their own. These felines now outnumber humans six to one. Although this is Japan's most famous cat island, there are actually 11 others that are similarly cat-centric. This is every cat lady's dream vacation.
#7 Lake Hillier, Australia
The reason this lake looks like Pepto-Bismol is because its high salt content attracts a species called Dunaliella salina, which is a microorganism that uses the salt to create a red dye. Can't you just picture yourself sunbathing on these creepy, magenta shores?
#8 Jacob's Well, Texas
A popular summer destination in Texas, this narrow underwater cavern has seen the deaths of eight inexperienced divers. Be careful not to become number nine.
#9 Akodessewa Fetish Market, Togo
If you're a handyman, you might shop at a Home Depot, but if you're a voodoo shaman, you pretty much have to visit Akodessewa. All the best items are there for purchase, like shrunken heads, animal bits, and anything you'd need for a voodoo ritual. Shamans have been known to cure the flu and rid homes of demonic spirits, among other things.
#10 Maunsell Forts, England
No, this is not a scene from Waterworld. We wouldn't betray you like that. These towers were built during WWII to protect the Thames from German invasion. They were decommissioned in the 1950s and used for pirate radio broadcasting. Maybe those stacks double as hotels. Go find out.
#11 The Catacombs, France
The underground ossuaries of Paris contain the bones of around six million people, and as a whole, it is considered the largest grave in the world. There are city-sanctioned tours of this attraction, so you won't be risking life and limb to get here as you would be to get to some of these other destinations. That's always a good thing.
#12 Socotra, Yemen
Because of its isolation in the Indian Ocean, about a third of Socotra's plant life doesn't exist anywhere else on the globe. This tree looks like something James Cameron spent a crap-ton of money to design for Avatar. Maybe you can bring something home, plant it in your front yard, and make all your neighbors jealous. Good luck getting through customs, though.
#13 Hoia Baciu Forest, Romania
Even the trees look scared of this forest. Sometimes known as "Romania's Bermuda Triangle," the Hoia forest is home to many oddities, like an abundance of ghostly orbs. It's even been associated with strange disappearances and terrifying alien encounters. Could these all be linked somehow? Take a trip and let us know what you find.
#14 Hill of Crosses, Lithuania
One hundred thousand crosses of every size lie on a hillside in Lithuania to commemorate those who fought in battle. The Soviets tried to destroy the crosses several times, but they kept appearing in even greater numbers.
#15 Door to Hell, Turkmenistan
We didn't start the fire, but the Soviets definitely did. For whatever reason, Russia decided to set this natural oil site ablaze in 1971, and it's been burning ever since. It looks like a place where someone would hold communion with Beelzebub, so if that's your thing, check it out.
#16 The Hand in the Desert, Chile
You could hit the sand in a totally unconventional way this summer if you head to Chile. Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázaba sculpted this massive hand reaching out of the Atacama desert. What would the rest of this goliath look like if he were to ditch his sandy hiding place? I'm not sure I want to know.
#17 The Tianzi Mountains, China
The eerie-yet-beautiful fog surrounding the Tianzi Mountains of China has inspired Chinese poets for centuries. It looks as though the rocks are floating by way of some magical spell. Just be careful if you go for a hike.
#18 The Island of Dolls, Mexico
Legend has it that a little girl washed up on the shores of Xochimilco, an island off the coast of Mexico, and died. The island's caretaker believed he was being haunted by her ghost, and felt that he needed to hang dolls in trees all over the island to calm her spirit. Later, he was found dead in the exact same spot where the girl died. Maybe avoid that specific location if you decide to visit.
