Mysterious regions of the world are areas that humans have not yet been able to fully uncover or gain sufficient knowledge about. In this article, we introduce some of the most mysterious places around the globe—some of which are so astonishing that it's hard to believe they are real.
It’s 2023 and the world has undergone many changes, but the beauty of the most mysterious places on Earth still remains.
These places have roots in history and legends, and sometimes stunning images are captured of them. Some of these sites—those that are easier to access—have turned into tourist attractions, while those that are harder to reach have remained hidden from view. Sometimes these areas are concealed deep in the ocean or underground, making it impossible for humans to uncover their details. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the unknown and mysterious places around the world.
The Bermuda Triangle tops the list of mysterious regions of the world. It is one of the most inaccessible and enigmatic places on Earth and is also known as the "Devil’s Triangle." It is located in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Numerous planes and ships have mysteriously disappeared in this area. Whatever enters the Bermuda Triangle doesn’t return. The exact number of aircraft and ships lost here is unclear. The most common estimate is around 50 ships and 20 airplanes. The remains of many of them have never been found. It’s uncertain whether these disappearances are due to human error or weather phenomena. Legends around the area began when Christopher Columbus reported seeing a meteor strike the ocean and strange lights in this region. Since then, no one dares to approach the place—not even government officials. It has been officially declared off-limits and is under strict legal protection.
Now abandoned, this small Italian island has a dark history that has led the government to restrict access. Poveglia is located between Venice and Lido in northern Italy and was used in the 14th century as a quarantine zone for victims of the Black Plague. Later, in the 19th century, it was turned into an asylum for the mentally ill. Legend has it that a cruel doctor once performed torturous experiments on patients there.
Though it is now empty, it is believed that the souls of those tortured there haunt the island. Considered the most haunted place in Italy, access to the island is banned for tourists and locals alike. However, if you're truly willing to take the risk, you can apply for a special permit after a lengthy approval process.
The tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang is located in Lintong District, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. This mysterious site was built over 38 years, from 246 to 208 BC, and lies beneath a man-made, pyramid-shaped hill about 76 meters high. The layout of the tomb mirrors the design of the capital city of the Qin dynasty and includes inner and outer sections.
If you’ve heard of the Terracotta Warriors, they are located here. Though the site is one of China’s top tourist destinations, the actual tomb remains sealed. Visitors can view around 2,000 terracotta soldiers, but it is estimated that over 6,000 more remain buried in complex underground chambers. It’s rumored that booby traps were installed to protect the tomb from intruders. What we do know for sure is that the site has dangerously high levels of mercury, posing a lethal threat to anyone entering without proper protection. For now, Qin Shi Huang’s treasures remain untouched.
Costa Rica, in Central America, is home to one of the world’s most fascinating attractions. On Isla del Caño, you’ll find over 300 mysterious stone spheres of unknown origin. These perfectly round stones range in diameter from a few centimeters to two meters.
Archaeological studies in the 1950s revealed that these stones were associated with pottery and other typical artifacts of pre-Columbian cultures in southern Costa Rica. However, much information about their origins has been lost due to damage and destruction. Many spheres have been destroyed, stolen by treasure hunters, or broken during agricultural activities. While 50 spheres were once found in the area, only a handful remain in their original locations today.
Among the world’s most mysterious geoglyphs are the Nazca Lines in southern Peru, located about 400 km southeast of Lima between the towns of Nazca and Palpa. Spread over 500 square kilometers of desert, these lines form shapes of animals, insects, humans, and geometric patterns.
One of the most controversial theories comes from Erich von Däniken, who proposed that the lines served as landing strips for alien spacecraft. Others believe the drawings had religious purposes and were intended to be visible only to the gods from above.
Ilha da Queimada Grande, better known as Snake Island, is a small island off the coast of Brazil in the Atlantic Ocean and another of the world's most mysterious places. Administered by the municipality of Itanhaém in São Paulo state, the island spans just 43 hectares and features diverse terrain, from rocky shores to rainforest.
In the early 20th century, a lighthouse keeper forgot to shut the window one night, allowing snakes to enter and fatally bite him. Since then, the island has been completely closed off, and only scientists are allowed to visit. Ordinary visitors are strictly prohibited.
Located in Xieng Khouang Province, Laos, the Plain of Jars is one of the strangest attractions on Earth. Thousands of ancient stone jars are scattered across the plain. Theories about their origin vary—some suggest they were used to contain human remains; others believe they served as food storage or burial containers.
Local legends claim an ancient king named Khun Cheung created the jars to store his war spoils. Some researchers think they were used to collect rainwater during monsoon seasons. Regardless, the mystery remains, and archaeologists are still actively studying the site.
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire, England. Made of massive stones weighing over 50 tons, it’s still unknown who built it or how they managed to move the stones. The monument dates back to the Bronze and Neolithic Ages, and it's a mystery how such a structure was created in that era.
Today, Stonehenge is one of England’s cultural symbols and a major tourist attraction. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. Some researchers believe it was once a cemetery, as many ancient bones have been found nearby, but this theory remains unconfirmed.
The Lascaux Caves in southwestern France are another one of the world’s mysterious places, home to stunning prehistoric cave paintings dating back around 17,000 years. The artwork features animals such as bulls, rhinoceroses, deer, and sheep, covering the walls of the caves. The most famous section is the "Hall of the Bulls," where one bull painting measures 5.5 meters long.
Unfortunately, human presence has damaged these irreplaceable artworks. The caves have also suffered from mold and fungal outbreaks. As a result, they have been closed to the public since the 1960s. However, a museum nearby offers a replica experience for visitors.
Located in Shale Creek Preserve, part of Chestnut Ridge Park in western New York, Eternal Flame Falls hides a tiny cave at the base of the waterfall where natural gas escapes and fuels a small, constantly burning flame. You can see the flame for most of the year—it occasionally extinguishes but reignites on its own.
Though naturally occurring gas flames exist in other parts of the world, what makes this one unique is that it continues to burn under a rushing waterfall. Scientists still don’t fully understand the source of the gas, making this waterfall one of the world’s most intriguing and mysterious sites.
