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The United States is home to a stunning diversity of landscapes, some so surreal they seem to have been plucked from a science fiction movie. Whether it’s vibrant deserts or strange geological formations, these spots give visitors a taste of what life might be like on another planet. Here are eleven incredible places in the USA that truly look like they’re from another world:
Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Antelope Canyon, situated near Page, Arizona, is a sight that seems straight out of a dream. This enchanting place is famed for its narrow, wave-like slot canyons and the mesmerizing beams of light that pierce through the openings. Formed over thousands of years by the relentless force of flood waters carving through the Navajo sandstone, the canyon is divided into two main areas: Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon. As you wander through its winding passages, the smooth, flowing walls create a play of light and shadow that feels almost magical. Here, visitors can capture photographs that look like abstract paintings, as each turn reveals a new perspective that’s both grounded on Earth and entirely otherworldly.
Fly Geyser, Nevada
In the stark and forbidding expanse of the Black Rock Desert in Nevada lies a phenomenon that grabs attention with its vibrant palette. Known as the Fly Geyser, this geothermal geyser wasn’t a natural occurrence but rather an unexpected result of well drilling in 1964. Over the years, mineral deposits have slowly accumulated to form a mesmerizing structure of terraced cones, from which water shoots up to five feet high. This display of nature’s vibrancy is further enhanced by the thermophilic algae that thrive in the warm, moist environment, painting the geyser in hues of red, green, and brown. Although visiting it requires participating in guided tours, the Fly Geyser continues to captivate those lucky enough to see it with its wonderfully alien appearance.
The Wave, Arizona
Nestled in the Coyote Buttes North area within the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, The Wave is a sandstone rock formation that stands out due to its unique undulating patterns and vibrant colors. It’s as if a giant artist has sculpted the rock into a symphony of red and orange waves. Formed by millions of years of wind and water erosion, The Wave presents a natural marvel that feels entirely extraterrestrial. To preserve its fragile beauty, access is limited; daily permits are required and only a handful are granted. For those who manage to secure the opportunity to hike The Wave, the experience is akin to stepping into a surreal artwork – where nature proves to be the ultimate artist.
Mono Lake, California
Mono Lake, situated near the Sierra Nevada, is a fascinating saline soda lake known for its unique limestone formations known as tufa towers. These structures were crafted beneath the water’s surface through the interaction of freshwater springs and the lake’s alkaline waters, and have risen above due to water diversion throughout the decades. The landscape created by these exposed tufas presents an eerie yet captivating scene, reminiscent of alien surfaces in science fiction. The lake’s extremely high salinity and alkaline nature also support peculiar ecosystems, including brine shrimp and alkali flies. It’s this stark, atypical beauty that continues to draw bird enthusiasts, making Mono Lake a hotspot for observing numerous bird species in the wild.
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Bryce Canyon National Park boasts a unique landscape filled with hoodoos—those tall, thin spires of rock that reach towards the sky like natural skyscrapers. These formations were created through frost weathering and the unraveling forces of stream erosion, resulting in a fantastic array of shapes and colors. The allure of the canyon is heightened during sunrise and sunset when the play of light creates an almost magical glow on the structures. The funnel-like amphitheaters brimming with hoodoos give visitors the sense of stepping onto another world, alien, yet profoundly awe-inspiring. With every twist and turn, Bryce Canyon provides a snapshot of nature’s architectural brilliance.
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Idaho
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve offers a mind-bending landscape with its vast ocean of lava flows. A result of volcanic eruptions that occurred over the past 15,000 years, the terrain is scattered with cinder cones, spatter cones, and sagebrush, bearing a resemblance to lunar expanses. Visitors can explore various lava tubes and rugged paths that speak to the explosive geological history that shaped this extraordinary site. The blackened lava fields, mixed with sparse vegetation, create a vista that feels both ancient and gloriously alien, making it a staple for adventurers yearning for a taste of a moon-like voyage on earth.
Painted Hills, Oregon
The Painted Hills, part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, are a brilliant masterpiece of color, drawing everyone towards its vibrant tapestry. The hills’ striking layers—red, gold, black, and tan—tell the tale of different geological eras, with each hue corresponding to distinct historical climates. Imagine witnessing a time capsule that presents slices of Earth’s manifold past right in front of your eyes. This surreal and colorful array creates an almost dreamlike panorama that beckons to photographers and nature lovers alike. Walking among these layers feels like navigating through an abstract painting, where each step taken is a journey through time.
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Badlands National Park serves as a haven for those in search of rugged beauty and rich historical tales. Characterized by sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires, it is an extraordinary triumph of nature’s artistry. The park’s rock formations, built layer by layer, act as a storyteller’s dream with fossils embedded within its ridges. With the mesmerizing colors intensified during sunrise and sunset, the scene often evokes a parallel to Martian landscapes. Visitors find themselves embraced by a sense of eerie desolation coupled with striking beauty, as if wandering on the surface of an unknown planet.
Devils Tower, Wyoming
Devils Tower is an iconic monolithic igneous formation towering 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River, and its grandeur is unmatched. As the first U.S. National Monument established, its columnar structure is a testament to the Earth’s geological prowess. Formed through the mysterious cooling and contraction of molten rock, the tower stands out dramatically against the surrounding terrain. Over the years, it has become a symbol deeply interwoven within Native American legends and has also captured the imagination of popular culture, notably in the movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” This one-of-a-kind formation continues to captivate and inspire awe in all those who catch sight of it.
White Sands National Park, New Mexico
White Sands National Park is a breathtakingly vast expanse of white gypsum sand dunes covering 275 square miles. These dazzling white dunes are the largest of their kind in the world, and the way the sandy ripples shift and reshape due to the whims of the wind creates a scene of endless mystery and beauty. Within this vast terrain, visitors can hike, sled, and explore the shifting sands, feeling as though they are walking through a landscape that speaks to the grand scale of earthly wonders. The starkness and purity of the landscape transport you into a world that feels untouched by time, always offering a new vista as the sun’s angle changes.
Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
Situated in Northern California, Lassen Volcanic National Park is the only park that contains all four types of volcanoes: shield, plug dome, cinder cone, and stratovolcano. The landscape is a dynamic unfinished masterpiece that continues to evolve, presenting boiling springs, fumaroles, and bubbling mud pots. These geothermal wonders provide glimpses into the Earth’s lively interior processes. The surrounding pristine mountain lakes and sprawling meadows further enrich visitors’ experience, offering serene visuals amidst the planet’s tumultuous activity. Amidst this extraordinary setting, tourists become witness to the raw, ancient power that underscores our planet’s constant transformation, making the park a vivid reminder of Earth’s untamed and alien-like aspects.
Ethan loves to travel and explore new cultures. He is also the COO of TBL.