Looking for a travel experience that’s out of the ordinary? You won’t be disappointed as there are a lot of places on Earth that are guaranteed to give you a rip-roaring adventure. If you are really plucky in particular, you may be looking for some element of danger in your travels to make them more fun, exciting, and absolutely unforgettable.
For those who are itching to get out of the rut and are ready to tap their “explorer” side, you’ve landed in the right place! Check out the following place suggestions to get some adrenalin rush, or even just to satisfy your curiosity:
1. Mount Thor, Canada – the steepest mountain on Earth
If you want an extreme mountain and rock climbing, you should include Mount Thor on your bucket list! Located in Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, Mount Thor rises 5,495 feet (1,675 meters) above sea level. It may not be the world’s tallest peak, but Mount Thor is otherwise the steepest, featuring a nerve-racking 4,101-foot (1,250-meter) vertical drop, with the cliff bulging at an average angle of 15 degrees! The formation of the mountain is a good challenge for extreme mountain climbers. In fact, Mount Thor is a popular climbing destination despite its remoteness.
2. Oymyakon, Russia – the coldest inhabited place on Earth
If the cold never bothered you anyway, you might test your own mettle by spending even just a day or two at a small village in Siberia, Russia named Oymyakon, whose population stands at 500 (as of 2011).
With an extreme subarctic climate and a permanently frozen ground, Oymyakon’s temperatures during the winter months average about −50 °C (−58 °F). However, what makes Oymyakon the coldest inhabited place on earth is its all-time-low temperature: −71.2°C (−96.2 °F), which was recorded on January 26, 1926 by a local weather station (not by a satellite).
Interestingly, Oymyakon’s temperature may sometimes even go above the freezing temperature during the summer months. In fact, its warmest temperature so far is 18.7°C (65.7 °F), recorded in July 2010.
3. Dallol, Ethiopia- the hottest inhabited place on Earth
From the coldest, let’s go the hottest. If Oymyakon leaves you literally cold, try stepping into the hot terrains in Dallol, a ghost town in Ethiopia. With its extremely hot desert climate, Dallol’s annual average temperature hovers about 34.4°C (94°F). Its hottest temperature yet was recorded during the period of 1960 to 1966, reaching to an unforgiving temperature of 41.1°C (106°F).
The region is also home to the Dallol volcano, which is one of the lowest subaerial volcanoes in the world, reaching 45 meters (157 feet) below sea level. Its last recorded eruption occurred in 1926.
Because of its unrelentingly blazing temperature, it has made Dallol one of the most remote areas in the world. For sun-loving people, see if you can soak up under Dallol’s extremely sizzling heat!
4. Mawsynram, India – the wettest place on Earth
From the parched lands and extremely arid climate of Dallol, Ethiopia, let’s go to Mawsynram, India to catch some rain. This little village is reportedly the wettest place on earth, receiving an average annual rainfall of 467 inches!
The Guinness Book of World Records recorded 1,000 inches of rain in a single year, in 1985. Mawsynram’s climate consists of subtropical climate and long and showery monsoon seasons, while its dry season is often extremely brief.
5. Krubera-Voronja Cave, Georgia – the deepest known cave on Earth
If you want extreme spelunking, you may want to explore the Krubera-Voronja Cave, located in the Arabika Massif in the Gagra district of Abkhazia, Georgia. It holds the title of the deepest-known cave on the planet, plunging down to its lowest point at 7,208 feet (2,197 meters). It has led the Krubera-Voronja Cave to be dubbed as the “Mount Everest of Caves,” and its abysmal depth is certainly a lure for fans of extreme sport.
In 2012, a group of cave explorers from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem made a record-breaking expedition to study the Krubera-Voronja Cave, its geological formation and its water system.
6. Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador – the farthest point from the Earth’s center
If you want to move the closest to the outer space as possible without the help of a space craft, scale the Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador. With its peak rising at 20,548 feet (6,263 meters), Mount Chimborazo is not certainly the tallest mountain on the planet above sea level. But because the Earth has a oblate spheroid shape, it bulges at the equator, making the summit of Mount Chimborazo the farthest point from the center of the Earth.
7. Dead Sea – the lowest point on Earth
Despite the name and its vast blue waters, the Dead Sea is actually an endorheic lake (a lake that doesn’t flow out to other bodies of water). It is located on the border of Israel, the West Bank and Jordan. It is the lowest point on Earth with 1,412 feet (430.5 meters) below sea level.
The waters of the Dead Sea is one of the saltiest lakes in the world. Because of its high salt content, it is denser then fresh water, which allows people to float on the surface effortlessly. The Dead Sea’s natural minerals are also reputed to have health benefits, that’s why the region is a popular tourist spot.
It is important you plan your extreme adventure carefully. Consider these items for ensuring your camping experience is more enjoyable and loading up with high protein bars and food for energy.