The Earth is a home to a great diversity of landscapes, some of which are so unique that they look like they belong to another universe. From the salt flats in Bolivia to the red sands of Wadi Rum, these are the places on our planet that look like extraterrestrial lands.
1. Socotra Island, Yemen
Socotra Island is also known as the Alien Island. It is an isolated place located near the coast of Yemen and hosts a variety of weird and fantastic plants. For example, the umbrella-shaped tree Dragon’s Blood Trees with their red sap are only found on this island. The island’s shared, and strange natural habitat has been always a matter of discussion regarding the island’s other land-like setting.
2. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world, provides a unique natural setting that is difficult to imagine. Termed a ‘mirror of the sky’ by the locals, this is the biggest salt plain in the world. The layer of water on the salt during the rain season forms a vast mirror reflecting the sky. The result is a magical and never-ending surface where the skyline vanishes, and the walker feels as if stepping onto the clouds.
3. Wadi Rum, Jordan
The expanse of Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon, rises amid the vast desert with its high sandstone mountains and deep-red sands, which is akin to the barren topography of Mars. With its alien-like environment, the Wadi Rum has been a common location for science fiction movies set on Mars, like “The Martian.” The desert’s stunning and isolated character has made it a favorite haunt among tourists longing for an experience of the otherworldly.
4. Namib Desert, Namibia
The Namib Desert is one of the world’s ultra-ancient deserts where enormous sand dunes that go up to a thousand feet are a common sight. There is something almost unreal about the contrast of the reddish-orange colors of the sand and the deep blue sky. The desert’s gloomy, abandoned landscape is very much like what we believe faraway, arid planets may be like.
5. Pamukkale, Turkey
Pamukkale, meaning “Cotton Castle” in Turkish, is a natural site with tiers of white mineral-rich thermal waters that flow down a mountainside. The striking contrast of the white terraces and the blue pools makes the location look like a scene from a distant frozen planet, rather than one on Earth.
6. Lake Natron, Tanzania
Lake Natron has the title of one of the most alien places on our planet. The color of the blood-red lake is a result of the high salt and alkali levels, whereas the water there is so hot that it can reach a temperature of up to 140°F. The nightmarish conditions of the lake are very similar to the extraterrestrial landscapes of some other planets, thus making it one of the most bizarre-looking places on Earth.
By demonstrating just how varied and peculiar our planet can get, these fascinating spots give us an inkling of what life may be like on other planets.