Surprisingly, but true: there are still places on our planet where no human has ever set foot! They are only photographed from airplanes or from space orbit.
According to scientists, about thirty percent of the Earth's surface remains to be “explored” by expeditions. Is it a lot or a little? I believe that it is a lot, since we are talking about land. The largest unexplored (or poorly explored) areas are in South America. First of all, it is worth immediately identifying the Amazon basin with its virgin forests. There, even now, in our time, there are tribes that have never had any contact with modern civilization. The forests and rivers of the Amazon keep many secrets. In the jungle you can easily end up as lunch for wild predatory animals. In the rivers, crocodiles and anacondas will happily snack on you.
Recognized as the second most important “white spot” in the world North-Eastern Siberia. There are very few roads there at all. The taiga, mountains, and very harsh climate do not allow for a good exploration of this vast territory. Other places can only be reached by helicopter. Severe cold (on average minus 45 degrees) in winter, dense hordes of mosquitoes, midges, and gadflies in summer... permafrost. To complete the picture, it must also be said that North-Eastern Siberia is the most sparsely populated territory of Eurasia.
Antarctica is considered the third little-studied place on the planet. Although it has been studied by scientists from several countries for decades, about half of the territory is still only approximately indicated on the map. And even then from the air, and not by other (more reliable in terms of accuracy) methods. The most poorly studied territory of Antarctica is its western part.
In fourth place is Greenland. It is 80 percent covered with ice. And this is really " white spot» on the maps. Global warming led to the fact that the ice of Greenland is retreating and opening unknown mountains, depressions, and plains. Even new rivers appeared.
However, there are places on Earth that are less famous in terms of their degree of exploration, but more exotic. For example, the northern mountains of Colombia. Not a single scientific expedition would dare to go to those places. Cause? This part of Colombia is under the complete control of armed militant groups of drug traffickers. Diplomacy is unknown to them.
Another exotic, but also extremely dangerous place on the planet for research is Papua New Guinea. More than half of its territory has never had any scientific expeditions. Cause? In the mountains and forests of this country there are tribes of cannibals. How many there are is unknown. But they are hostile to any contact with them and, at every opportunity, they capture those who dare to pass through their territory. The end of captivity is always the same - a bloody ritual of eating the aliens.
Getting to know Namibia can be no less dangerous. Its rich wild fauna constantly attracts poachers armed with the most modern small arms. More than 2,500 cheetahs live in Namibia - a quarter of all cheetahs on the planet. Although the constitution of this country has a special article on the protection of wild animals, poachers simply meet with machine-gun fire any attempts to detain them or even photograph them. It is clear that in such conditions there can be no talk of any scientific research.
The Tibetan Plateau is also poorly studied. But here the reason is completely different - an almost Martian landscape, complete desolation, absolute impassability. You will be very lucky if your local guide can guide you correctly. Otherwise, the entire expedition will face certain painful death due to hellish conditions. By the way, cartographers still cannot even create a general map of the Tibetan plateau. You can still travel along it in any direction and not know what will be ahead. Monotonous mountains and rocks create the feeling of being on an unknown planet.
On Earth there is not only a part of the land unknown to research. Scientists say that the Moon is much better studied than the sea depths of our planet. And as an example - the Mariana deep-sea trench. Only very recently (in 2011) its relief was obtained from a US military vessel using a multibeam echo sounder. What is there, in the depression itself, is unknown. But one of the last descents of the bathysphere almost ended in tragedy. The strongest titanium cable was “cut” by an unknown sea creature at great depths. Only by some miracle did it not break. What kind of monster tried to “gnaw” a metal cable at a depth of many kilometers?
Today the world seems much smaller than it used to be. Globalization, improved communications, and the Internet have led to the fact that almost every corner of the globe has become accessible to people. But in the farthest corners of our planet, there are still several godforsaken places where no human has set foot. Most of them are extremely dangerous, but this does not mean that they are deserted. By the way, every year from 17 to 18 thousand new species are discovered by scientists, starting from the end of the Second World War. By some estimates, humanity still has about 10 million new species to discover before it can claim to have explored absolutely everything on Earth. Below you will find a list of 12 places on our planet that still remain shrouded in mystery.
12. Gangkhar-Puensum
Mount Gangkhar Puensum, 7570 meters high, is located on the border of Bhutan and China. She is considered the most high mountain in the world, which no one has yet climbed. However, Gangkhar Puensum is not the explorer's paradise you might think. The reason the mountain is unexplored is that it is illegal to practice any form of mountaineering on it. Moreover, any mountain higher than 6,000 meters in Bhutan is considered the home of holy spirits, and those injured or trapped there may have little hope of receiving help from the locals. The ban on climbing Mount Gangkhar Puensum has been in effect for twenty years, and there are no plans to lift it.
11. Mulu, Borneo
Gunung Mulu boasts the world's largest cave system, and only 10% of it has been explored. Compared to most of the places on our list, Mulu is fairly easy to get to via daily flights, river boats, or walking. Despite the relative ease of getting there, you will have to work hard not to get lost there, since most of the caves and jungle remain shrouded in mystery.
10. Namibia
Namibia is the most sparsely populated country in Africa. This the only place from our list, which includes the desert. The Kalahari Desert stretches across Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. Much of Namibia, especially the Kalahari, remains unexplored. Here every explorer will find something interesting for himself, from amazing animals to incredible landscapes. In addition, Namibia became the first country on Earth to take the protection of environment, introducing the corresponding clauses into the Constitution of the country. About 15% of the country's land is legally protected, which guarantees its purity and inviolability for the hands of those who are hungry for profit.
9. Greenland Ice Sheet
The Greenland Ice Sheet covers almost 80% of Greenland and is more than 3 kilometers thick. Only the Antarctic ice sheet is bigger than it. As you might guess, it follows that it hides a sea of uncharted lands. In June 2014, scientists discovered a completely new world hidden from human eyes under an ice cap. They were shocked to discover various irregularities and curves beneath the smooth icy surface. This once again proves that Greenland contains much more than we think.
8. Kamchatka, Russia
Siberia, located in northern Russia, is famous for its frosts. And although it makes up 77% of the country's territory, only 27% of the total population is concentrated in this region. And although this entire zone has been little explored, its most mysterious area is the Kamchatka Peninsula, located in northeastern Siberia. Only 300,000 people live here. The peninsula itself is replete with geological wonders, including volcanoes, geysers and amazing bays. The reasons for its lack of exploration are its remoteness and harsh winters.
7. Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon rainforest remains largely unexplored due to its enormous size: spanning nine countries and covering an area of 5,500,000 square kilometers, it is considered the largest forest in the world. 10% of our planet's species are concentrated in the Amazon forests, but scientists believe that most of them are yet to be discovered.
6. Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is not only one of the most unexplored places on the planet, but also one of the most at risk of being destroyed. It would be logical to study it while we still can. The reef faces a number of serious threats, such as the greenhouse effect and warming oceans, as well as human irresponsibility. More than 900 islands and 2,500 reefs lie within its boundaries, promising a wealth of exploration. New species of animals are discovered here every now and then, which proves how little we know about the ocean.
5. Papua New Guinea
Like much of the Barrier Reef, Papua New Guinea is also a great place for explorers. Although it is home to several tribes, it is largely unexplored territory. The dense vegetation here makes the jungle incredibly difficult to navigate, and the lack of paved roads and limited infrastructure mean tourist numbers are minimal. Roughly speaking, about 2/3 of all species in Papua New Guinea are endemic, which fuels the special desire of scientists to study this corner.
4. Myanmar
Myanmar, also known as Burma, has quite a lot of unexplored territory, despite the fact that a number of expeditions have been sent there over the past few years. The dangerous political situation in the country, which has persisted for the past 50 years, has served main reason lack of tourists and scientists here, but since 2011 its borders have again become open to the public. Myanmar boasts 135 ethnic groups inhabiting its territory, rich in history and culture, as well as rare animal species.
3. Rainforests of the Congo
And while the Amazon jungle is much larger, the Congo rainforest is much less explored. The Congo River Basin, which covers as much as 15% of all of Africa, is an attractive destination for both locals and foreigners. Local tribes tell legends about dinosaur-like creatures sneaking through the thickets of the Congo, and visiting tourists are interested in the tribes themselves, most of whom are Bantu people. The first explorations of this region date back to 1876, when Henry Morton Stanley spent three years in the local forests, traveling more than 9,000 kilometers, but even despite his travels, this area still remains a mystery.
2. Lake Vostok, Antarctica
Antarctica remains a mystery even in the 21st century. Most expeditions heading here depart from Tierra del Fuego in Argentina (one of the southernmost points of the country). One of the most intriguing places in Antarctica is Lake Vostok. Located in the east of the continent, this lake was covered with ice some 15-25 million years ago, making it an excellent source of fossils from that era. And although the lake itself was discovered in 1993, it has not yet been fully explored.
1. Mariana Trench
While we know almost nothing about the oceans, the Mariana Trench is an even more mysterious place. Her most deep place is the Challenger Deep, whose depth reaches 11 thousand meters. Strange and unique creatures live here, accustomed to enormous water pressure and extreme temperatures, such as monkfish. This place is the most unexplored on our planet.
Intellectual power helps humanity to uncover many of the Earth's secrets. Humans have reached the surface of the Moon and explored other planets solar system. But still, there are a number of mysterious and unknown places in the world. Inhospitable conditions and the destructive forces of nature deter people from exploring some areas of our planet. At the same time, these same natural forces help preserve the original appearance and beauty of such places untouched by civilization.
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7Ice caps of Greenland
Greenland is the largest island in the world. In fact, most of the island is covered by ice caps - sheet glaciers that are smaller in area than ice sheets. Therefore, this place is considered the least populated on the planet and is practically unexplored. Ice layers in Greenland are 3,200 meters thick and are about 100 thousand years old.
Greenland also features glaciers, glacial rivers, hot springs, white nights and the northern lights. But erratic weather conditions make Greenland one of the least explored places on Earth.
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6Mariana Trench, Western Pacific Ocean
The Mariana Trench is the deepest place on Earth, located in the western part Pacific Ocean. It was formed millions of years ago. The most deep point The Mariana Trench is known as the "Challenger Deep", the maximum known depth of which is just over 11 kilometers. So much depth and high blood pressure made the Mariana Trench a very difficult place to study, so it still remains unexplored.
The Mariana Trench is home to deep-sea ocean creatures and is also home to rare minerals. The floor of the Mariana Trench contains fossils dating back millions of years and many other minerals that would help unlock the mysteries of the Earth. But unstable conditions make it difficult for people to explore the place.
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5Kankar Punsum, Bhutan
Kankar Punsum is the highest unclimbed mountain peak in the world. It is located in Bhutan. This mountain has a height of 7570 meters and is the 40th highest mountain in the world. There are only four known expeditions to Kankar Punsum - in 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1994 respectively. But all of them were unsuccessful due to heavy snowfall and unstable weather conditions.
Out of respect for local beliefs, the Bhutanese government banned mountaineering on Kankar Poonsum in 2004. So this mountain peak remained unconquered and unexplored.
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4Deserts
Deserts are notoriously difficult to explore due to unsuitable weather conditions. Antarctica is the largest desert in the world and has unsuitable conditions for growing plants. The hottest desert in the world, the Sahara, is located in Africa. Quantity annual precipitation there are very few in deserts. These areas are also characterized by extreme temperature changes - very hot during the day and very cold at night. This creates very harsh living conditions for plants, animals and people.
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3Deep caves
There are a large number of caves in the world. They have become too difficult for scientists to study due to unbearable weather conditions, sharp rocks, heat and slipperiness. Some of the underwater caves are not inhabited by living creatures due to the deadly hazardous conditions for survival. The flooded caves of Yucatan in Mexico - sacred Mayan caves - are best example this. Crystal Caves and Snow Caves are also too dangerous for expeditions due to the potential for unprecedented sudden changes in conditions within the caves and their topography.
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2Amazon jungle, South America
The Amazon rainforest is half the rainforest on Earth, covering 6.47 million square kilometers. The rich biodiversity of this area and the presence of rare animal species make the Amazon jungle priority direction for study. But the mystery of this place makes it still a completely unexplored place on Earth.
IN tropical forests The Amazon has no dry season, it's raining all year. Heavy rains between February and May cause sharp increase water level in the Amazon River. This leads to severe flooding in its basin. In this condition, transportation across the river becomes too dangerous due to the extreme river currents. It is also home to many dangerous animals, such as jaguars, rattlesnakes, Brazilian wandering spiders, mosquitoes, dart frogs, piranhas, black caiman and anacondas, which can cause harm to humans. Lack of access to healthy food and clean water can cause many diseases.
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1Antarctica
It is the coldest place on the Earth's surface, with temperatures fluctuating sharply between -10C and -30C most of the time. The most low temperature, ever recorded in Antarctica, was -89 degrees Celsius. It is the driest, coldest and windiest continent on Earth. Such a harsh climate makes Antarctica the most mysterious and unexplored place on our planet. Antarctica holds many secrets and is therefore of great interest to the scientific community. The average thickness of the ice crust on the continent is about 2.5 km, which means that the surface beneath the ice contains many archaeological artifacts from the period when the continent was free of ice.
The maximum wind speed recorded in Antarctica in 1972 is 321 km per hour. Antarctica's ice sheets, which are more than 3.2 km thick, reflect the intolerable state of the continent's climate. Heavy snowfall, glaciers, and ice cracks are other potential hazards in Antarctica.
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Conclusion
These were the most mysterious and unexplored places on Earth. Thank you for your attention.
The nature of our planet delightful, and it would seem that all its green and not so green corners have been studied and known to everyone, but that was not the case! We present to you 12 unimaginable and little-known wonders of the world and 14 incredible interesting places where you need to visit.
Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines
The Banaue Rice Terraces are 2,000-year-old terraces that were carved into Mount Ifugao in the Philippines by the ancestors of the indigenous people. The terraces are commonly referred to by Filipinos as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. It is believed that the terraces were built with minimal equipment, mostly by hand. They are located approximately 1,500 meters above sea level and cover 10,360 square kilometers of mountainside. Feed on ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It is estimated that if they were placed closely, they would surround half the globe. Locals Rice and vegetables are still grown on terraces to this day. The result is a gradual erosion of this wonder of the world, which needs constant reconstruction and care.
Ice towers and caves of Mount Erebus
Mount Erebus is the second largest volcano in Antarctica, active since 1972. Erebus has many ice towers formed as a result of steam emissions due to volcanic activity. Many ice towers constantly emit steam. In addition to these chimney-like pillars, the volcanic mountain is home to a number of naturally formed ice caves, with blue, eerily cavernous underground chambers.
Tent rocks Kasha-Katuwe
The Kasha-Catuwe tent rocks in New Mexico were formed approximately seven million years ago as a result of ash deposited by a pyroclastic flow from a volcanic explosion. As with most rock formations, weathering and erosion can be credited with creating the area's remarkable geography. Noticeably pointed tent-like rocks get their due interesting name from native language region, and means "white cliffs". The rocks vary in height, sometimes reaching 30 meters in height.
Lion Rock Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Sigiriya (Lion Rock) is the remains of an ancient mountain fortress and palace, located in the central Matale region of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, tanks and other structures. A popular tourist destination, Sigiriya is also famous for its ancient paintings (frescoes) that are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves in India. Sigiriya was built during the reign of King Kassapa I (477 AD - 495), and it is one of the seven sites World Heritage Sri Lanka. During prehistoric times, Sigiriya was inhabited. Used as a mountain monastery from around the 5th century BC.
Lechuguia Cave
One of the most popular little known wonders of the world, Lechuguia Cave is another location found in New Mexico. The cave is the seventh explored chain in the world, with a known length of 134.6 miles. The cave is the most famous spectacular crystal formation of gypsum and aragonite. Before its discovery in 1986, Lechuguia had been untouched for hundreds of millions of years, being one of the most ancient ecosystems.
Krubera Cave
Krubera Cave, located within the Arabica Mountains in Abkhazia, is the deepest known cave on Earth, with a depth of 2,191 meters. The cave is also known as Crow Cave due to the large number of nesting crows.
Valley of Flowers in India
Valley of Flowers National Park in India is one of the most beautiful wonders of the world on this list. There's something incredible about high peaks rising into the clouds and steep slopes, completely covered with lush vegetation and unique flora. The Valley of Flowers is home to many rare, endangered animals such as the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, brown bear and blue sheep.
Glencoe Valley in Scotland
Situated at the northern tip of Scotland, Glencoe is a narrow river valley that is often considered one of the most spectacular places in the country. The Glencoe Valley is home to a stunning variety of flora, as well as high peaks on both sides and a crystal clear river running through its heart.
Quinta da Regaleira in Portugal
Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, Portugal includes a descending spiral staircase, which leads to multiple outputs. The name came from the belief that this place was the birthplace of Masonic rituals. At the base lies a compass rose on a Templar cross. The symbolism directly concerns life and death, a common theme for initiation rituals.
Plitvice lakes in Croatia
Plitvice Lakes National Park is home to spectacular views of beautiful open lakes and waterfalls. Contrast of deep blue with bright green creates incredible landscapes that excite the imagination. The park is no less exciting even in winter, when some of the waterfalls and lakes freeze. While in Croatia, be sure to visit Plitvice Lakes, one of the natural wonders of the world.
Wulingyuan in China
Head to more than three thousand huge sandstone pillars, many of which are towers more than two hundred meters high - this is Wulingyuan in China. It is one of the most stunning natural sites in the world. The tall pillars are composed of quartzite and sandstone and are karst formations. The incredible area is located one hundred and seventy miles northeast of Changsha and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, however it still remains relatively unknown to most of the world's population.
Kay Gompa Monastery
Ki Monastery or Kay Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery that stands spectacularly on a hill overlooking the small Indian village of Kibar. The monastery stands at an altitude of 13,668 feet above sea level and the village below is said to be the highest in India. Founded in the 11th century, the Kay Gompa monastery has experienced many turbulent events. It was repeatedly attacked, ravaged by Mongol armies, and devastated by fires and earthquakes. Constant destruction and reconstruction has resulted in the building being shaped like a box, providing maximum protection.
Incredible places worth a visit
Thanks to the talent of designers, architects and landscapers, amazing inspiring places appear on earth that are worth visiting for a person who is partial to beauty and thirsty for new experiences.
The world is amazingly huge and beautiful. It seems that a lifetime is not enough to see all its beauty in person. It wouldn't hurt to sketch rough plan inspiring trips and excursions, which will make your head boil with new ideas and thoughts. Start with most beautiful places on our planet. And watch a review of unusual hotels, shocking attractions, historical wonders and other works of creative human hands and minds.
Underwater hotel
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island offers underwater apartments and a restaurant.
Igloo Hotel
The transparent roofs of the rooms at Hotel Kakslauttanen in Finland allow you to admire the Northern Lights from your bed.
Flower Park
Wisteria tunnel Japanese garden flowers Kawachi Fuji, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Ice aquarium
In the Japanese city of Kesennuma, 80 species of sea creatures are frozen in ice blocks.
Restaurant in a cave
Located in the Italian city of Polignano a Mare on the grounds of the Grotta Palazzese hotel.
Markizyak Castle Garden
Located in the French city of Vezac and was created over 3 centuries.
Hotel underground
The Sala Silvermine Hotel in Sweden is located in a former mine at a depth of 155 meters.
Restaurant by the waterfall
Located at the Villa Escudero Resort in Quezon Province, Philippines.
Lost City of Machu Picchu
Located in the territory of modern Peru at the top of a mountain range 2450 meters above sea level. Awarded the title of New Wonder of the World.
Skyscraper in Huaxi village
Residents of a Chinese village pooled their money to build a hotel 328 meters high and costing $470 million.
Snow hotel
Every winter in Finland, the Alps and Pyrenees, a winter resort is built from snow for lovers of extreme recreation.
Pool-waterfall
The natural basin of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is located at an altitude of 128 meters.
Observation deck
Glass balconies of the 103-story Willis Tower skyscraper in Chicago.
Attractions at the site of the nuclear power plant
Wunderland Kalkar Park is located on the territory of an unfinished nuclear power plant in the German city of Kalkar. The main attraction is located in the central tube.
With the help of the power of his intellect, man was able to discover many of the secrets of the Earth. In addition, man visited the surface of the Moon and recognized other planets of the solar system. However, there are still some left on planet Earth mysterious places. Harsh weather conditions and destructive forces of nature are what prevent people from exploring some areas. At the same time, these same forces of nature help protect places unique in their pristine beauty from human intervention. So, the rating the most mysterious unexplored places on earth.
7. Greenland Ice Sheet
Greenland is the most big island planets. Most of this island is covered with an ice sheet, which makes the island so uninhabitable and poorly explored. Greenland's ice sheets are 3,200 meters thick and 100,000 years old. Also in Greenland there are glaciers, rivers formed from melting ice, and hot springs. In addition, you can see beautiful white nights and the northern lights there, but due to unstable weather conditions, Greenland remains one of the least explored places in the world.
6. Mariana Trench
The Mariana Trench is located in the deepest part of the planet, in the western Pacific Ocean. The depression was formed millions of years ago due to the occurrence of tectonic plate faults in the ocean. The deepest point of the Mariana Trench, known as the Challenger Deep, is located at a depth of 11 kilometers. Such depth and high pressure in the depression make it dangerous place for people who explore it. At the same time, the Mariana Trench is home to deep-sea organisms and rare minerals. The bottom of the depression contains fossils dating back millions of years and other rocks, the study of which can help reveal many of the Earth's secrets. However, exploring the Mariana Trench turns out to be very difficult due to dangerous conditions.
5. Kankar-Punsum
Kankar Punsum is the highest unclimbed peak in the world, located in Bhutan. The height of this mountain is 7570 meters, which ensures its place among 40 highest mountains planets. There are only four known attempts to climb Kankar Punsum, in 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1994. But all these attempts failed due to heavy snowfall and harsh weather conditions. Out of respect for local beliefs, the Bhutanese government banned climbing Kankar Poonsum in 2004. Thus, this peak remained completely unexplored.
4. Deserts
Everyone knows that deserts are one of the least explored areas due to unbearable weather conditions. The Antarctic desert is the largest area devoid of vegetation. The Sahara in Africa is recognized as the hottest desert in the world. Deserts receive very little rainfall and also experience large temperature variations - days are extremely hot, while nights are very cold. Such weather conditions are almost unbearable for most animals, plants and people. Fourth place among mysterious places.
3. Deep caves
There are many caves scattered across the Earth. Their exploration is a great challenge due to difficult weather conditions, rocky terrain, acidic environment and the difficulty of descent. Some underwater caves have conditions so unsuitable for life that even marine inhabitants do not live in them. The flooded Cenotes of Yucatan in Mexico are good for that example. Ice and crystal caves are also too dangerous to explore due to their unpredictability.
2. Amazonian jungle
The Amazon jungle makes up half of all tropical forests on the planet and covers an area of 5.5 million square kilometers. The wide diversity of species and the presence of rare animals in the forests make the Amazon jungle an interesting field for research. Despite this, the Amazon jungle remains one of the most unexplored corners of the planet. It rains in this area all year round, and heavy rains that continue from February to May contribute to a strong rise in water levels in the Amazon and flooding of nearby areas. Thus, crossing the turbulent current of the Amazon River also turns out to be a serious obstacle in the path of researchers. In addition, the Amazon jungle is inhabited by extremely dangerous representatives of the animal world: jaguars, rattlesnakes, poisonous spiders and frogs, mosquitoes, piranhas, alligators and huge anacondas. In addition to all of the above barriers to exploration, the Amazon Jungle has limited access to safe food and clean water.
1. Antarctica
The most mysterious unexplored place on the planet. In addition to being the coldest place on the surface of the Earth, Antarctica experiences huge temperature changes: from -10C° to -30C° in one day. The minimum temperature recorded in Antarctica is -89C°. The harsh climate makes Antarctica the most unexplored area in the world. The maximum wind speed of 200 mph in Antarctica was recorded in 1972. Sheets of ice 2 miles thick, heavy snowfalls, glaciers and deep crevasses pose a serious danger to explorers.
