If you're thirsty for an adventure to another world, then you might not need to gaze up but rather explore the untouched lost worlds of our own planet.
HIDDEN AWAY FROM HUMANS ARE THE TOP 10 MOST MYSTIFYING LOST WORLDS
Number 10 - Mount Mabu
This is a mountain located in the northern part of Mozambique and is home to an old-growth rainforest. Mount Mabu is approximately 1,700 meters (5,600 feet) high and it's forest covers around 7,000 hectares (27 square miles).
It's forest houses extremely diverse wildlife which was well known among the locals but were unknown to scientists up until 2005 when it was discovered by scientist at the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens by simply browsing Google Earth and stumbling upon the forest.
Since its discovery, the Forest of Mount Mabu has been found to hold many creatures and plants that were previously unknown to the world. These big discoveries include a Atheris Mabuensis (a bush Viper) and Nadzikambia Baylissi (pygmy chameleon). Other discoveries include four butterflies, two species of a snake, a species of crab and five plants. The isolated location of this forest means that there are probably hundreds more species hiding and just waiting to be discovered.
Number 9 - Sima Humboldt
Named after its discoverer, Alexander von Humboldt, it's no wonder why this enormous sinkhole in Venezuela has been cut off from the rest of the world. That's because it's located on a plateau at the summit of a flat-top mountain. It was to send it for the first time in 1974 when it was explored thoroughly. It's volume is 18 million meters cubed or 640 million cubic feet and it lies 700 meters from another sinkhole of a similar size.
The bottom of the sinkhole has over the years developed its own ecosystem with a large and lush forest growing there. It's rare for expedition crews to descend into the sinkhole because a special permit from the government is required which is why not much is known about what lies at the bottom of the sinkhole. With equipment getting better, more and more descents will be made and who knows what we might find down there.
Number 8 - Palawan Highlands
Some consider this the Philippines last ecological frontier harboring vast tracts of tropical rainforests and an expanse of marine wilderness.
The province of Palawan locked away from the mainland has many flora and fauna that is unlike anything found on the Philippines. In fact, a large number of these plants cannot be found anywhere else in the world. It has a number of cave systems that are yet to be fully explored. The riches that hang high above the Tehran give this place a truly alien look.
A lot of species have been discovered here including the Scruffy Palawan, bearded pig which could do with the shave and the Palawan mouse deer which takes the phrase so cute I want to eat it to a whole new level because well its considered a delicacy by the locals. Its also home to the Nepenthes Attenboroughii, a pitcher shaped plant that is endemic to the island and has fascinated scientists since it can grow to the size of a child.
Number 7 - Mount Bosavi Crater
Located in Papua New Guinea, the Bosavi crater lies on top of Mount Bosavi and is approximately 4 kilometer wide and over 1 kilometer deep.
The crater belongs to an extinct volcano and is so inaccessible that even the locals rarely entered. The crater has over the years developed its own ecosystem of sorts and the explorers to the crater have reported in sudden change in both the atmosphere and environment upon descending into the crater.
A number of new species have been discovered in the crater including 2 new species of insects and arachnids, 16 species of frogs, a new bat species and a species of giant rats. The crater is also home to the recently discovered Striped Polecat which has a defense mechanism like a skunk by releasing a foul odor when threatened. Its thought that up to 40 more unknown species lie hidden somewhere in the crater. It is so large that the number can be much more. So much that the locals living near the area say that if you go there alone and you happen to fall, you will never be found again.
Number 6 - Socotra Island
If you ever feel like visiting a completely different planet then look no further. Located in Yemen, this island has been isolated from mainland Africa for the last 6 or 7 million years.
Because of this long period of isolation, the island is home to about 700 extremely rare species, one-third of which are endemic meaning that they can only be found there. The island is also home to the dragon tree whose bark’s resin called the dragon's blood is prized around the Mediterranean for its medicinal properties. The island’s climate is extremely harsh but even in such high heats and dry air the most amazing plants thrive. Apart from the all inspiring flora and fauna which will remind you more of a video game world like Morrowind.
Rather than our own planet, the island also holds a large number of cave systems that have yet to be explored with some stretching up to 7 kilometers in length. Even though it is geographically isolated from the world, it is populated by humans though they themselves are very isolated from the rest of Yemen.
Number 5 – Movile Cave
Located in Romania, Movile Cave is notable for having an unique groundwater ecosystem. Life within the cave has been separated from the outside world for almost 5.5 million years leading to an almost alien looking environment.
The cave has been sealed by authorities since its discovery in 1986 which is why less than a 100 people have ventured inside of it for all these years. With a very low amount of oxygen, it is almost as if it refuses to be explored upon reaching its lower levels. You may only explore for 5 to 6 hours before your organs start to give away but who needs organs anyway because the caves depths hide many secrets.
To this day, 48 new species have been discovered, 33 being endemic to the cave. The cave’s isolation from the outside world has led to a bizarre looking environment and even more bizarre looking creatures. Due to the absence of light, animals have no need for pigments which is why they've truly arrived from another world. Very few have been granted access to this cave system and those that have tell of an unbelievable experience.
Number 4 - Mount Roraima
Lying on top of the Guiana Shield in the southeastern corner of Venezuela's Canaima National Park, this mountain is all inspiring due to its steep sides that make it stand out from the surrounding area and it looks like a giant block that has been placed by God himself.
The altitude of the plateau leads to rainfall almost every day of the year and the plateau has many plants that cannot be located anywhere else. For example, Roraima Bush Toad. Just because it constantly rains at the summit of the mountain and all the nutrients needed for plant growth are washed away, it is almost impossible for plants to survive.
It has a unique landscape which almost looks like a barren wasteland to the lush greenery of the rest of the plateau. Mount Roraima is also home to the Drosera Roraimae, a carnivorous plant that is indigenous to the mountain.
Number 3 - Challenger Deep
This is the deepest known point in the Earth's sea-bed located in the Pacific Ocean. Only 3 people have ever been there with one of them being the famous Canadian film director, James Cameron who descended for 2 hours and 34 minutes reaching a depth of almost 11,000 meters.
The extreme conditions of this environment means that some pretty fascinating creatures lived down here. Not many have been recorded but those seen by the descents are reported to be mostly microbial due to the high pressure that is experienced at such depth.
Much like most of the Earth's ocean, it remains largely unexplored. But as a legendary landmark for would-be explorers, there are more descents planned with one even planning to bring 3 passengers down into the murky depths who knows what we might find there in a few years.
Number 2 - Hang Son Doong Cave
I know, I know, its another cave but trust me this one is definitely the most amazing one. Located in Vietnam and currently the largest cave in the world by volume, the Son Doong Cave is an amazing creation of nature. Its main entrance is a modest 5 kilometers long, 200 meters high and 150 meters wide.
The sheer size of the cave has caused it to develop its own ecosystem with an inner force and a large flowing river within it. The height of the cave has also led to a weather system separate from the outside world forming which gives the impression of entering a whole new world. Unsurprisingly, its become somewhat of a tourist attraction with tour groups requesting permission to tour the cave weekly.
It is so old and isolated that over the years, it has formed some of the largest stalagmites in the world which are up to 70 meters tall and it also holds the largest cave pearls ever found inside a cave which are the size of baseballs. It is truly a treasure trove of geological discoveries and a dream for the adventure seekers.
Number 1 - Lake Vostok
Located at the southern pole of cold and hidden beneath almost 4 kilometers of ice lies the Lake Vostok, Antarctica's largest subglacial lake. The lake water has been sealed off under the ice sheet 15 million years ago and remained untouched until 2013 when scientists drilled into the ice sheet exposing the water hidden below.
There have been many scientific expeditions attempting to reach the underground river and retrieve DNA samples but many of the ones that were retrieved were unrecognizable. Among the DNA samples retrieved. Scientists have also found genetic fragments that suggests the lake holds creatures such as fish and custodians that we have never encountered before also due to it be an under ice for all these years, the lake has a very high chance of having preserved creatures we thought were long gone in the early years of Earth.
For now, it is very hard for scientists to reach but in the years to come, we might find a way to get down there and explore a world humans have never seen before.