Alien Landscapes on Earth: Unbelievable Photos of Otherworldly Places

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Alien Landscapes on Earth: Unbelievable Photos of Otherworldly Places

By Monica Gray - September 8, 2023

Kawah Ijen Volcano, Indonesia

The country of Indonesia has some of the most spectacular, breathtaking natural beauty in the world. So it’s not surprising that the electric-blue water ejected from the Kawah Ijen Volcano made this list. Even though it looks like the starry sky of an alien planet, it’s found on Earth. The volcano emits sulfurous gases that ignite when they meet the Earth’s atmosphere, which is rich in oxygen. This creates a rich blue flame that illuminates the volcanic landscapes at night. During the daytime, it looks like any other volcano. If you’re a night owl, then this is the place for you (Geology).

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Painted Dunes of Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

These dunes weren’t painted by an alien but from oxidized layers of volcanic ash. This lies in the shadow of the Cinder Cone volcano, which formed during eruptions in the 1650s. It’s impossible to take a bad photograph in these parts. It’s the place to bask in picturesque meadows and otherworldly landscapes. The Cinder Cone volcano sits at 700 feet high, amid spots of orange and red (Travel Awaits).

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Dos Ojos, Tulum, Mexico

Every avid scuba diver needs to dive in this crystal clear cenote at least once in their life. Deep in the cavern, it feels like another world. Although anyone can snorkel in this cenote, the real adventure is saved for divers. A cenote is a vast network of underground rivers, once worshipped by the early Mayans. Based on this photograph, you could probably see why (The Barefoot Nomad).

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Pamukkale, Turkey

Also referred to as the Cotton Castle, this serene landscape looks like it belongs on Venus. Mineral pools surround white, “cotton-like” ridges and shelves. This is all thanks to the high concentration of calcium bicarbonate which spills over the edge of the cliff. You can relax in the myriad of natural spa pools in this otherworldly location. Ruins, temples, and Greek monuments can be found at the site (WHC).

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Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

As the largest salt flat in the world, the Salar de Uyuni spans over 3,800 square miles or 10,000 square kilometers. If you do happen to venture to outer space one day, you’ll be able to see this alien landscape from space. At its center, you’re looking at depths of 32 feet, or 10 meters, and over 10 billion tons of salt. This is where you’ll get natural, geometric patterns imprinted on earth, like an artist’s landscape (Thrifty Nomads).

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Lençois Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

These swathes of sweeping white dunes create an otherworldly landscape, and from May to September, rainwater fills the crystal-clear pools. These dunes span over 43 miles or 70 kilometers. In Portuguese, the name translates to rolling white dunes. Wandering across this heavenly landscape is an experience unlike any other. Why travel to another planet when you have these sprawling dunes in South America, right at your doorstep? (CNN).

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Vatnajokull Glacier, Iceland

As the second-largest glacier in all of Europe, it comes as no surprise that this landscape looks like it was pulled right from the moon. You might even expect an alien to jump out from the corner and scare anyone who walks by. The glacier is over 3,000 feet, or 900 meters deep. Several active volcanoes sit right beneath its surface. The most famous volcanoes are called Grímsvötn, Öræfajökull and Bárðarbunga. Unfortunately, thanks to global warming, the glacier shrinks about 3 feet or 0.9 meters per year. The glacier itself has over 30 outlet glaciers, which remain restrained in the valley (Guide to Iceland).

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Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam

Right in the heart of this Vietnamese national park is Han Son Doong, also known as the largest cave in the world. This is the place to visit if you love spelunking and alien landscapes that can house a block of New York City skyscrapers. It’s also home to the world’s largest stalagmites, measuring up to 260 feet, or 80 meters into the air. There’s a high level of biodiversity and endemic species, vital for the limestone landscapes (WHC).

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Wulingyuan Scenic Area, Zhangjiajie, China

If you’re an avid Avatar fan, then you might have seen this landscape before. But you don’t need to jump through the television screen to experience something as remarkable as this. In China, this 100-mile attraction contains thousands of pillars of sandstone. This is nature’s version of skyscrapers, some of which stretch higher than the Empire State Building. People refer to it as the “contractible fairyland,” with hidden valleys and limestone caves (Travel China Guide).

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