Sunken Roman statue at Baiae, Italy As humans spread across continents and populations exploded, trade between civilizations became more frequent. Coastal settlements allowed larger ships to come and go, increasing trade and boosting the local economy, with many port towns being built as a way to access rare goods and wealth. have. But the riverbank is not always a safe place to settle down. Saeftinghe Swamp, Netherlands A swamp in the Netherlands known as the Sinking Lands of Saeftinghe, the area was once a prosperous village. In the 13th century, humans drained the swamp so that they could build on the fertile land; they also built dykes around the reclaimed land to protect it from flooding. Much of the land around Saeftinghe was lost in the flood of 1570. Dutch soldiers fighting in the war for independence from the Spaniards were forced to destroy the last dyke barrier. while defending Antwerp, allowing Scheldt’s waters to take over the town. However, a local legend tells a slightly different story, blaming the flood of 1570 on the rampage of a mermaid held captive by the townspeople. Today, the settlement is buried under layers of sand and clay, although bricks have been recovered that may have belonged to a monastery due to the floods. Caribbean Pirate Paradise The Caribbean pirate’s paradise of Port Royal, Jamaica was known as “the worst city on Earth”, before a devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami pushed two-thirds of the town under waves. The violent shaking liquefied the sand beneath about 2,000 brick buildings, which were displaced and appeared to flow into the sea. Of the town’s estimated 6,500 inhabitants at the time, 2,000 are believed to have perished in the earthquake and tsunami. More than 3,000 people died from injury and disease afterward, according to UNESCO. Salt beach in Germany This place was once a busy trading port. Rungholt’s exact location – long regarded as a legend – remains unclear, although artifacts and evidence of tillage found in the Wadden Sea suggest its existence. a trading port. The flood of Saint Marcellus, also known as the “Great Drowning of Men”, is believed to be the culprit behind the town’s disappearance. High tides caused by extratropical cyclones ravaged the coasts of northern Germany and Denmark, killing thousands. Atlit Yam, Israel The oldest settlement ever discovered in the Mediterranean with interesting rock structures such as Scotland’s Stonehenge. This Neolithic village lies 8 to 12 meters deep under the Mediterranean Sea, hidden for more than 8,000 years until marine archaeologist Ehud Galili discovered it while surveying sand for shipwrecks in 2014. 1984. It is now considered one of the oldest underwater settlements ever discovered. Careful excavations have uncovered rectangular houses with fireplaces and the remains of a dry rock well. One of the most interesting finds is a megalithic structure – similar to Scotland’s Stonehenge – built around a stream, made of seven giant stones weighing around 600 kg each. Burial sites and human remains have also been excavated. One study suggested that a tsunami may have caused the settlement to be abandoned. Baiae, Italy Baiae was once a spa town in Rome that was famous for its debauchery. Underground pressure in the area causes the land to rise and fall, and much of its ancient history is now below sea level. Notably, the underwater remains of the Pisonian Mansion and the statue of Nymphaeum decorated by Emperor Claudius were sunk deep into the water. In addition, several prominent Romans visited the resort town during its heyday, including Julius Caesar, emperors Hadrian and Septimius Severus, generals Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey the Great) and Gaius Marius and politician Lucius Licinius Lucullus. Underwater city for over 3,000 years in Greece Hy The city of Pavlopetri, Greece has been submerged for more than 3,000 years. The ruins of Pavlopetri were discovered in 1967, and analyzes of building materials and pottery shards show them to be about 5,000 years old. The town remained above ground for 2,000 years before it could be sunk by earthquakes. The layout of the town has been perfectly preserved 4 meters under the waves, with streets, buildings and tombs eroded over time but still visible. At least 15 buildings have been identified. Thonis-Heracleion, Egypt A statue of a Nile god found underwater is important evidence of the area’s existence. Located northwest of Alexandria on the Nile Delta, Thonis-Heracleion was a famous trading port before earthquakes weakened the land and dragged it under salt water. The area is full of artifacts, but the colossal 6-ton statue of the Nile god Hapi is one of the most important finds among the ruins.

America’s famous Death Valley holds many unanswered mysteries. In 1849, California’s gold migrants strayed into a 200-kilometer basin, enduring a two-month trial of starvation. One of the last survivors who left here looked down from the nearby mountain and said, “Goodbye, Death Valley.” The name “Valley of Death” also came into being. Driving on a paved road into the valley is like riding a roller coaster, as there are many narrow and steep bends as the route cuts through the foothills. A standout place in Death Valley is Artist’s Palette, an unbelievable natural masterpiece chosen as the setting for the Star Wars movie. Incredibly surreal, multi-layered and colorful sediments created by the mixture of metal in the oxidized mountains. The Artist’s Palette is home to astonishing vistas with vibrant colors. Artist’s Palette also provides evidence for the most intense volcanic eruption in Death Valley. Volcanic ash and minerals are deposited over millions of years. Over time, rain and temperature changed the minerals into different tones, giving this area a unique appearance. The commonly seen shades are green, blue, pink, red, and purple … This is a wonderful blend that looks like adornment from an artist, so this place is named Artist’s Palette. doctor). The surreal landscape of the desert, the sharpness of the mountains, the geology, the multi-storey sediments … make Artist’s Palette the most spectacular and impressive landscape in the southwestern United States. Zabriskie Point is another fascinating area in Death Valley, with undulating ripples of yellow, orange and brown, best seen at sunset. This place offers panoramic views of sediments left over from the bottom of Lake Creek more than 5 million years ago. Layers of fine mud, clay, volcanic ash, and ancient lava flows deposited in prehistoric lakes create a majestic landscape. Zabriskie Point is a sunset viewing spot that many tourists are interested in for its surreal beauty. Under the golden color of the sunset sun’s rays, the brown ripples seem to be sculpted by nature and appear to be glowing. This is an area where phone reception is completely lost, so you must have a map with you. All are sitting quietly admiring the wonderful view. Death Valley has a million-year-old mystery that has puzzled scientists. Hundreds of rocks move on their own at the dry lake Racetrack Playa, leaving long trails under the sediment layer. Some rocks weigh nearly 400 kg, have moved a distance of nearly 1 km on their own. This phenomenon of self-moving rock is still ongoing and cannot be adequately explained. Even NASA experts have stayed here for half a month to research, but still cannot find the cause. There is still no adequate explanation for the self-moving rock phenomenon in Death Valley. So many experiences you can get in the so-called “alien land” full of mystery and attraction. Just like tourists from all over the world who come here every year, this surreal beautiful landscape will blow your mind away.

Photographs on Mars taken by a rover vehicle called Perseverance have stirred the Internet community since NASA’s latest robotic technology landed on the “Red Planet” in February 2018. Despite being two different planets, Earth and Mars still have similarities. Some pictures on Mars look quite similar to those of Earth’s Atacama Desert, Chile. NASA has spent time and money exploring this Mars-like land. NASA’s ARADS team is experimenting with the original rover on Mars in the Atacama Desert in Chile in 2018. Photo: NASA. “You can argue that the Dry Valleys Valley in Antarctica or the northern central Atacama is the hottest place on Earth. However, some places in Atacama only rain every 20 years, even 100 years later, “said Brian Glass, a researcher at Atacama Rover (ARADS). This research uses the Atacama Desert to test field tools and techniques for future missions to Mars. Because the Atacama Desert resembles a dead and deserted land, NASA investigated and found it almost a “copy” of Mars. They have been testing rovers since 1997. The newest rover uses original tools, they try to find and detect life here. “Because if you can’t find life in one of the bariest places on Earth, don’t think about going to Mars looking for it,” explained Glass. The Atacama Desert stretches for more than 1,600 km in the northern half of Chile between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes mountains. Glass says that to know how barren places like the Atacama Desert are, think about organic cues (such as life) to ambient noise. “The signal in the Mojave desert and remote parts of the US is still quite loud. You can still see shrubs, cacti, microorganisms, scorpions, insects; there is still an ecosystem there, ”said investigator Glass. Like Mars, the Atacama Desert has a harsh terrain with vast salt flats and towering volcanoes, including the most active mountain on Earth. Here, the night sky is very dark and has the largest astronomical observatories in the world. NASA investigated and found that this place is almost a “copy” of Mars. Photo: Mark Johanson. The driest place on Earth When scientists say Atacama is the driest place on Earth, they are referring to Yungay town. This town is about 88 km from the city of Antofagasta, NASA is doing research in this area. According to Mr. Glass, Yungay is a long valley with both sides of the hill being eroded by the wind. Land in Yungay is brown and quite barren, with no signs of life. In Yungay town there is a hand-carved statue of nearly 11 meters high. This statue, called Mano del Desierto, was placed near the town by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal in 1992. Although Yungay has long been considered the driest place in Atacama, recent research indicates that the title actually belongs to the Maria Elena South region, located about 273 km north of the nitrate mining town. Neither site has any facilities or attractions, but they are key points to the Atacama’s “emptiness” and similarities with Mars. Furthermore, because the McMurdo Dry Valleys Valley in Antarctica is particularly hard to reach, many scientists believe the valley is even drier. A hand-shaped sculpture of nearly 11 meters high is called the Mano del Desierto. Volcanoes and geysers While Mars is the “home” of the tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, the Atacama Desert contains the most active volcano on Earth, the Ojos del Salado. This gray-brown mountain is about 7,000 meters above sea level and is the second highest peak in the western hemisphere after Aconcagua in Argentina. However, this mountain’s permanent crater lake is said to be the tallest lake in the world. “When you look at this impressive mountain range, surrounded by volcanoes over 6,000 meters high, you will find yourself very small,” said Ercio Mettifogo, the adventure tour manager Puna de Atacama. To climb the top of Ojos del Salado, climbers do not need a lot of climbing techniques, although the altitude of the mountain is not small, but strong winds on the mountain up to 119 km / h and -29 degrees Celsius is definitely a challenge for surname. Most trekking takes place between November and April, the climbing period lasts 8 days for the climbers and 12 days for the amateur climbers. According to Mr. Mettifogo, Atacama Altiplano is often compared to the Tibetan plateau. The area near Mount Ojos del Salado, home to about 17 mountains over 6,000 meters high, has become a hub for adventure tourism. Farther north, near the tourist town of San Pedro de Atacama, another geothermal wonder of Atacama is the El Tatio geyser, dubbed the Yellowstone mini national park with 80 geysers of geysers that boil and smoke. raised suspicion. In the panorama of snow-capped volcanoes, El Tatio is the widest geyser region in the southern hemisphere and the tallest on Earth at 4,300 m altitude. El Tatio geysers are known as Yellowstone mini national park with 80 geysers of geysers boiling and smoke rising. Photo: Shutterstock. Salt beach and flamingos Much of the Atacama desert is barren like on Mars, but this land stands out with its beautiful salt-shoals, known as salares , with saltwater currents nourishing the life of a number of animals, including flamingos. There are many species of flamingos, including the rare Andes with yellow feet and black point wings, the smaller James flamingo with brick red feet and a bright yellow beak. In addition, the pinkest flamingo of all species is the Chilean flamingo. Chilean flamingos live in popularity along South America, stretching from Argentina to Ecuador. Pink-colored birds are easily found in Andes parks such as Los Flamencos National Reserve, near San Pedro and Nevado Tres Cruces National Park, near the city of Copiapó. “The salt beaches are also famous for the colorful lagoons,” said Gabriel Rojas of Turismo Atacamensis, guide taking tourists swimming in the turquoise lagoon in Salar de Pedernales, north of Nevado Tres Cruces National Park . There are also blood red, navy and emerald green pools in Pedernales, all connected on a three kilometer walking trail. Some scientists believe that, if humans do find signs of life on Mars, it would be historic salt ponds that formed in places like the Gale Crater and are believed to resemble what is found in the Altiplano of South America. A flamingo wades in a lagoon in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. Photo: Shutterstock. The clearest sky in the world The Atacama Desert is not only NASA’s test site for future Mars missions, but also where some of the most advanced planetary observations have been made on Earth. Northern Chile is home to about 70% of the facilities for Astronomy worldwide. The biggest projects in the 2020s including the Giant Magellan Telescope and the Extremely Large Telescope will all be set on bare hills over the next few years. “When night falls, silence and darkness will take over, it is unaffected by the lights and noise of the city, the place will turn into a path to heaven that makes you feel like can touch the universe, ”said Cristóbal Vergara, founder of Turismo Tembeta, a company that manages stargazing tours from the city of La Serena. The Elqui Valley, located on the southern edge of the Atacama Desert, has become a major center not only for scientists but also for stargazing lovers. “Along the mountains there is still mist from the Pacific Ocean, forming a few small clouds and making the sky clear,” Vergara added. To cater to your stargazing needs, there are nearly a dozen observatories near the Vicunã tourist center that are open daily for tourists wishing to see the stars in the hope of being able to get a closer look at Jackson Pollock’s sky. Many research facilities such as the Gemini South, Cerro Tololo, La Silla and Las Campanas are also open on weekends for visitors to visit. In 2015, the Elqui valley was named the world’s first International Night Sky Mecca. Thanks to that, the inns have transparent comfort to watch the stars begin to sprout like mushrooms, visitors can comfortably sleep under a starry sky. Turquoise lagoon in Salar de Pedernales, north of Nevado Tres Cruces National Park. Photo: Mark Johanson. Mr. Vergara said that the best part about stargazing here is that visitors are staring at “a place with great discoveries, technological advances and new astronomical discoveries that can help the future. hybrid of humanity ”. Atacama may not be as cold, harsh, or “alien” as Mars, but this land shows a “clone” of Mars right on Earth. Coming here to visit helps visitors to experience the feeling of traveling on Mars.