Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park (Photo: Krzysztof Wiktor/Shutterstock)
The
world's most famous tourist attractions are definitely cool, but that
cool also comes with crowds. Forgo the Eiffel Tower and the Blarney
Stone for these cool, secret tourist attractions that most travelers
haven't heard of.
Ditch
the tourist crowds at Old Faithful and head to Yellowstone's secret
star, the Grand Prismatic Spring. Approximately 370 feet wide and 121
feet deep, Grand Prismatic is the largest hot spring in the park and the
third largest in the world. The water may look tempting, but don't dive
in—it's around a scalding 160 degrees. The stunning colors are caused
by different species of pigmented bacteria, photosynthesis, and
refracted light.
Newgrange (Photo: Pecold/Shutterstock)
Despite
the name, Newgrange is actually older than Stonehenge. The passage tomb
(and ancient spiritual place) is most popular during the winter
solstice. Every year around December 19 to 23, the rising sun aligns
with a hole in Newgrange's roof, and as the rays shine through, the
whole chamber lights up. The sight is so amazing that thousands of
people enter a lottery to visit during this annual event, but only 20
people are allowed to attend each day of the solstice. Unfortunately for
lottery winners, the famous overcast Irish weather means there's no
guarantee the sun-dependent phenomenon will take place.
Ngorongoro Crater (Photo: Kitch Bain/Shutterstock)
Nicknamed
"Africa's Garden of Eden," this volcanic crater houses about 25,000
wild animals, as well as an incredibly diverse sub-Saharan
ecosystem—meaning visitors can see everything from open plains to
alkaline lakes in one spot. The crater serves as a natural zoo, holding
the "big five" (rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo) all in
one place. Visit in December or June during the annual migration of
wildebeest and zebra, when over 1 million of the creatures enter and
exit the area.
The Colosseum (Photo: Wikipedia Commons)
The Colosseum (Underground), Italy
Rome's
Colosseum, an ancient amphitheater and former gladiator battleground,
is one of the world's most famous attractions. But most people don't
know that there's a whole secret section that can now be explored—the
underground. In 2010 the Italian government decided to allow small
groups of visitors inside the Colosseum's subterranean level to see
where gladiators made their grand entrances from and their final exits
(at the Porta Libitina, the arch through which bodies were removed).
Visitors can also see where exotic animals like lions and tigers were
held below ground before being hauled up in elevators to appear suddenly
before the screaming crowds.
Pamukkale, Turkey (Photo: Verkhovynets Taras/Shutterstock)
The
bright blue pools of Pamukkale in Turkey look as if they're sitting
atop piles of snow or cotton (hence the name, which is Turkish for
Cotton Castle), but in reality the natural pools and terraces are formed
by calcite deposits. The thermal pools, with temperatures of around 95
degrees and a number of healing minerals, are thought to have
therapeutic qualities, so be sure to take a dip in the Sacred Pool if
you visit. Ancient emperors and kings used to vacation at the pools
here, so you’ll be bathing in history.
Racetrack, Death Valley (Photo: Bryan Brazil/Shutterstock)
It's
a mystery of the desert: In an isolated valley between the Cottonwood
and Last Chance mountain ranges, the Racetrack features rocks that
appear to be moved by a secret force. The rocks sit on a playa (dry
lakebed) and move across the flat surface, leaving trails in their wake.
According to the National Park Service, some of the large rocks have
traveled up to 1,500 feet, but no one has ever actually seen them move.
Gruner See (Photo: Wikipedia Commons)
Here's
a reason to return to a destination: If you visit Austria's Gruner See
(Green Lake) in the winter, you can hike around the park. Visit again in
the summer and the snow and ice on the nearby mountains have melted and
flooded the park with emerald-green water (up to 30 feet deep in some
spots). In other words, you can scuba dive along the same trails that
were hikeable just half a year ago. Fish and divers alike swim over park
benches, under bridges, and past road signs.
Ha Long Bay Floating Villages (Photo: PhotoRoman/Shutterstock)
Ha Long Bay Floating Villages, Vietnam
Rather
than living next to the water, the inhabitants of the Ha Long Bay
fishing villages live on the water in floating houses. They make a
living off the sea as well, with most people working as fishermen or
shrimp farmers. Tourism is also now an important part of the villages'
economy, and there is even the floating Cua Van Floating Cultural
Center, which showcases the villages' lifestyle and history.
'Mano Del Desierto' (Photo: Wikipedia Commons)
'Mano Del Desierto', Chile
Is
this massive hand rising out of Chile's Atacama Desert the start of a
monstrous zombie uprising? No—it's a sculpture by artist Mario
Irarrazabal. The 36-foot-tall hand was erected in 1992 out of iron and
cement; its massive size is meant to emphasize human vulnerability. The
hand stands in the middle of nowhere along the Pan-American Highway, so
wave hello to it as you drive past, or stop for photo ops.Moses Bridge,
Netherlands
Just
like the biblical story of Moses parting the Red Sea, the Moses Bridge
parts the waters of a moat in the Netherlands. The design was inspired
by the surrounding fortress (Fort de Roovere)—designers didn't want to
build a traditional bridge and defeat the point of a moat, so they opted
to build this intriguing pathway. Pedestrians can cross the bridge in
dry comfort: The top of the bridge is flush with the water, and two dams
control the water level so it doesn't spill into the bridge.
Moses Bridge (Photo: EHS News)
Just
like the biblical story of Moses parting the Red Sea, the Moses Bridge
parts the waters of a moat in the Netherlands. The design was inspired
by the surrounding fortress (Fort de Roovere)—designers didn't want to
build a traditional bridge and defeat the point of a moat, so they opted
to build this intriguing pathway. Pedestrians can cross the bridge in
dry comfort: The top of the bridge is flush with the water, and two dams
control the water level so it doesn't spill into the bridge.
KA rasa tak dapat nak menidakkan, memang tempat2 ini sangat2 menarik dan punya daya tarikan tersendiri. Cuma bengang sikit, bila takde satu pown tempat kat Malaysia ni yang tersenarai. Negara kita ni pown banyak tempat2 yang cantik2 dan menariklah !..... Mood : Bengang (hehehe). Neway, ada sesiapa nak belanja KA tiket ke mana2 tempat kat atas ni. Murah ler rezeki uols !
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