If you’re a traveler, you’ll know just how beautiful the world is. There are so many jaw-dropping places to visit on this planet that it might seem like an impossible feat to choose just a handful of places. You might even want to travel to outer space one day, even though it feels like an impossible dream. We’re here to tell you that you can travel to otherworldly places just by staying on planet Earth. If you’re an outdoorsy lover who’s looking for a unique adventure to an alien-esque landscape, then we have the spots for you. You won’t believe this list of photos that were taken on Earth. They look foreign and unreachable, even though they might be located right next to your backyard.
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The Danakil Depression, Ethiopia
This photo looks like it belongs on Mars, as an incredibly inhospitable place. This alien landscape is the closest you’ll get to standing on Venus, without the bone-crushing atmospheric pressure, that is. The Danakil Depression is also known as the “gateway to hell” thanks to the intense sulphuric acid and chlorine gases that fill the air from the geysers. Temperatures here can reach up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, or 45 degrees Celsius, and it lies over 330 feet or 100 meters below sea level. Volcanic activity pulls apart the landscape. National Geographic even once described it as the cruelest place on Earth. Because the earth’s crust is particularly thin at this location, you’ll find geysers, lava, salt pans, and cones (Journeys by Design).
View Apart
Rainbow Mountain, Peru
Located in the Andes Mountains of Peru is a landscape that belongs on a technicolor planet. It sits at 17,000 feet or 5,200 meters. Its impressive streaks are caused by 14 different mineral sediments, which were only recently discovered. It was hidden under a blanket of snow, and as the snow melted, the gem was shown to the world. Many people decide to visit this location on their way to or from Machu Picchu. Its distinct green, purple, red, and yellow layers are indistinguishable from anything else in the world, which makes it look like it was taken from an alien planet. But just because it’s beautiful doesn’t mean it’s easy to see. You need to hike several hours to see the mountains, and as one hiker put it, “Altitude was no joke! Had to stop every half kilometer to catch our breath even though it was relatively flat. The last kilometer to the peak is very steep and brutal.” Be prepared for some effort, but you’ll be rewarded with incredible views (Travel and Leisure).
CN Traveler
The Spotted Lake (Kliluk), Osoyoos, Canada
You might take one look at this picture and want to spot it yourself. But this collection of spots isn’t an alien paint palette. This lake, located in the desert of British Colombia, contains a large number of minerals. Thanks to evaporation, the water evaporates and reveals 300 pools during the summer months. It looks like a bunch of polka dots covering the earth, and even though they’re visible, you can’t swim in them. Luckily, there is a lake nearby you can splash around in (Happy to Wander).
Peter Adams
The Grand Prismatic Spring, USA
No, you’re not looking at the eyeball of an alien, though it seems closely related. This is a photograph of a thermal feature located in Yellowstone National Park in the USA. It’s a vivid ring of colors that measure 200 to 300 feet, or 60 to 90 meters. It’s also 121 feet, or 36 meters, deep. Even though humans can’t go near it, microscopic organisms called thermophiles can. This is where the springs get their colors. The thermophiles that love the hottest part of the spring hang out in the middle and are either colorless or yellow. Thermophiles that love cooler temperatures thrive on the outside of the spring and are brown and green, hence the reason for the ring (Yellowstone Park).
James Scrachan
Sossusvlei, Namibia
This isn’t a scene from a desolate, alien planet. This is a photograph from the towering red dunes of Soussusvlei, Namibia, which reach nearly 1,300 feet, or 400 meters high into the sky. It’s a Martian-like environment, and its name translates to “dead-end.” It’s all because these dunes create a dead-end-like wall for the Tsauchab River, preventing it from flowing any further. Over millions of years, the wind has sculpted these dunes as dust from the Orange River, the longest river in South Africa. It’s one of the oldest landscapes on earth and is home to different insects and animals like spiders and beetles (And Beyond).
Matteo Colombo
Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
Travel to New Zealand for a different kind of light show, one that’s not in the sky. Even though these caves belong on an alien planet, we’re happy that they’re here on Earth. This is where you find the best glowworm sights in the world, which you can explore by kayak or boat. It’s come straight out of a sci-fi movie. All it’s missing are the aliens, though the glowworms seem to do the trick. Local guide Logan Doull said, “The local Māori people knew these caves existed but were wary of them because they were considered to be portals to the underworld. It was better to keep away than go beyond the reach of daylight and meddle with the spirits.” It seems like there’s no better way to describe them than as gateways to the underworld (National Geographic).
Ratnakorn Piyasirisorost
Wadi Rum, South Jordan
This desert covers 277 square miles, or 717 square kilometers, and looks like the surface of Saturn. This dramatic wilderness encompasses much of South Jordan, and its wide sandy valleys scratch over a mile, or 1600 meters, high. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with natural arches, narrow gorges, landslides, and caverns. It’s here you’ll find 25,000 rock carvings and 20,000 inscriptions that trace human evolution back millions of years (WHC).
CN Traveler
Torri del Vajolet (Vajolet Towers), Dolomites, Italy
Aside from being breathtaking, the Dolomites in Italy look like pillars from the moon. This alien landscape attracts thousands of trekkers and rock climbers every single year. These gorgeous pillars aren’t only good in the spring and summer months, either. If you’re an avid skier, you’ll have your fair share of adrenaline rush activities during wintertime (The Common Wanderer).
Jeremy Woodhouse
Fly Geyser, USA
Pictured here is not an alien family. It’s located here on planet Earth. In the middle of the Nevada desert, this technicolor geyser spews out hot water which creates shallow pools. Thermophilic algae flourish in this hot environment. Believe it or not, this manmade geyser was created when a geothermal company drilled the site to tap into the hot water beneath the earth. The improperly plugged hot water pierced through the surface to create this three-mound geyser. The space is not currently open to the public, so we’ll just have to appreciate it with this photograph, from afar (Visit Reno Tahoe).
CN Traveler
Socotra, Yemen
These trees closely resemble UFO’s here on planet Earth. If these trees aren’t from an alien planet, we’re not sure what is. It contains a thriving flora and fauna that’s biodiverse and home to thousands of different species. This place has been a part of traveler’s tales for centuries, with the earliest explorers mesmerized by the island’s strangely shaped trees. It’s one of the most isolated landforms on Earth, and is a part of the ancient southern supercontinent of Gondwana (Welcome to Socotra).
EAchat
Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
On this extraterrestrial landscape, lava spews into the Pacific Ocean. This creates striking scenes along the rugged coastline that look like it’s from a fireball. It’s located in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, about 45 miles, or 72 kilometers southwest of Hilo. Since 1983, this volcano has constantly erupted and has destroyed nearly 200 homes (NPS).
Lindsay_imagery
Lake Hillier, Western Australia
If you never thought a pink lake could exist, think again. This bright pink lake belongs in the backyard of an alien home. But lucky for us, it’s also in Western Australia and is located on Middle Island. The contrast between the dark blue waters, green forest, and pink lake is striking and makes a stunning natural palette of colors. Scientists still aren’t 100% sure how the lake gets its rosy hue, but they suspect it’s the Dunaliella salina microalgae found in the lake. You’ll get stunning views whether you’re flying above it on a plane, or walking next to it. It’s shaped like a footprint and measures 600 meters wide. It’s very possible it could be the footprint of an alien, but we’ll never really know (Western Australia).
Mazzzur
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).
CN Traveler
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).
David C Tomlinson
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).
Street Flash
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).
Ignacio Palacios
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).
Andrea Comi
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).
GenXu
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).
CN Traveler
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).