10 Places on Earth That Look Like Other Planets
Quick Insights:
- Where can you find “Dragon Blood Trees” that look like upside-down umbrellas?
- Which desert was used as the filming location for The Martian because it is identical to the Red Planet?
- Is there a lake in Tanzania that turns animals into stone statues?
Space travel is expensive. Elon Musk charges millions for a ticket to orbit. But you don’t need a rocket ship to see alien worlds. Earth is geologically diverse enough to mimic the moons of Jupiter, the deserts of Mars, and the acid clouds of Venus.
Whether created by volcanic activity, erosion, or extreme climate, here are 10 places on Earth that look like other planets.
1. Socotra Island, Yemen
Isolated from the mainland for 18 million years, Socotra is the “Galápagos of the Indian Ocean.” It is home to 700 species found nowhere else on Earth. The most famous is the Dragon Blood Tree, which looks like a flying saucer or an upside-down umbrella. The landscape is so bizarre that it is the closest experience to walking on an alien bioplanet. The UNESCO World Heritage Centre protects this fragile ecosystem.
2. Wadi Rum, Jordan (The Valley of the Moon)
If you want to go to Mars, go to Jordan. Wadi Rum features red sand, massive sandstone arches, and towering rock formations that look exactly like the Martian surface. It is the real-life set for movies like The Martian, Dune, and Star Wars. The Bedouin camps here even offer “Martian Domes” for tourists to sleep in.
3. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
This is the world’s largest salt flat. During the rainy season, a thin layer of water covers the white salt crust, transforming it into a perfect giant mirror. The sky is reflected so perfectly that the horizon disappears, making it look like you are walking among the clouds or in a void of pure light. It is a surreal, dreamlike expanse.
4. Dallol, Ethiopia
Located in the Danakil Depression, Dallol creates a landscape that looks like Io (Jupiter’s volcanic moon). It is a field of neon green, yellow, and orange acid pools created by hydrothermal vents. The air smells of sulfur and the ground is toxic. It is vibrant, beautiful, and completely hostile to life.
5. Zhangye Danxia, China (Rainbow Mountains)
These mountains look like they were painted by a child using every crayon in the box. Over millions of years, layers of sandstone and minerals were pressed together and then tilted by tectonic plates. The result is a technicolor range of stripes in red, yellow, and blue that defies logic.
6. Lake Natron, Tanzania
This lake is blood-red due to algae blooms. It is also extremely alkaline (pH 10.5). While flamingos thrive here, other animals that fall into the water die and are calcified, turning into “stone” statues preserved by the salt. It looks like a cursed lake from a dark fantasy novel.
7. Fly Geyser, USA (Nevada)
This alien structure was created by accident. In 1964, a drilling test for geothermal energy went wrong and was left uncapped. Hot mineral water spewed out, depositing calcium carbonate over decades. Today, it is a trio of multi-colored, algae-covered mounds spewing water into the desert air, looking like organic alien organs.
8. Vatnajökull Ice Caves, Iceland
Inside the glaciers of Iceland, you can walk through tunnels of pure, translucent blue ice. The light filtering through the dense ice creates an atmosphere that feels like being on the frozen moon of Europa or the ice planet Hoth. The shapes are fluid and constantly changing as the glacier moves.
9. The Chocolate Hills, Philippines
In Bohol, there are over 1,200 symmetrical conical hills that stretch as far as the eye can see. During the dry season, the grass turns brown, making them look like giant Hershey’s Kisses. Geologists still debate exactly how these limestone formations were sculpted so perfectly.
10. Goblin Valley, USA (Utah)
This state park is filled with thousands of mushroom-shaped rock pinnacles called “hoodoos.” They look like an army of small goblins or organic creatures frozen in stone. The Utah State Parks website compares the landscape to Mars, and it was famously used as the alien planet in the movie Galaxy Quest.
Explore More Shocktrail Mysteries
Earth is strange, but reality might be stranger. Check out what’s next:
| Extreme Travel | Weird Science | Dark History |
|---|---|---|
| You Are Here: Alien Landscapes | Coming Soon: Simulation Theory | The Bermuda Triangle |
| The Hottest Places | The Zombie Fungus | 5 Lost Civilizations |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Socotra safe for tourists?
Socotra is geographically distinct from mainland Yemen and has been relatively stable. However, due to the broader conflict in the region, flights are limited and travel advisories should be checked constantly.
Why is Wadi Rum red?
The sand and rock in Wadi Rum are rich in iron oxide (rust), the same chemical compound that gives Mars its distinctive red color.
Can you swim in Lake Natron?
It is not recommended. The water is highly caustic (pH 10.5) and can burn skin and eyes. Most tourists visit to see the scenery and the flamingos, not to swim.
