Discover : travel to the best

Top 10 Smallest Countries in the World You Never Knew Existed

There are more than 200 countries in the world, and we’re sure you’ve heard of each of them at least once. But there are states and territories on our planet we never knew existed. They occupy a super small area, and some of them are inhabited by just a couple of families.

Bright Side has decided to make a list of the top ten tiniest countries with a population smaller than that of a medium-sized city or even a small village.

Palau

The Republic of Palau is an island country which consists of more than 300 islands of different sizes. Palau is one of the most amazing places on Earth: its rain forests are full of unique plants and birds, and its territorial waters are inhabited by 130 threatened species of shark. But the most remarkable sight in the country is the lake, with over 2 million jellyfish in it. But don’t worry: over time they’ve completely lost their ability to sting.

Niue

Niue is a tiny island state in Oceania. Despite the truly amazing views, tourism is not popular there. Therefore, the country depends greatly on foreign aid, especially from New Zealand. The capital city is just a small village with a population of fewer than 600 people. But the island has its own airport and a real supermarket — the one and only in the whole state.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

The state consists of two islands: Saint Kitts and Nevis. One of the main sources of income is the economic citizenship program that allows anyone who has at least $250,000 to invest in the local sugar industry and thus obtain the status of a citizen of St. Kitts. Another way of obtaining citizenship is to purchase a property worth no less than $400,000 on either of the two islands.

The Principality of Hutt River

The Principality of Hutt River is a micronation located in the province of the same name in Australia. It was founded by Leonard Casley, who declared his farm to be a new and independent state. Although the country isn’t recognized by any state, it still has its own currency, stamps, and passports. In different parts of the principality, tourists can see the busts of His Royal Highness Prince Leonard I of Hutt.

Tuvalu

Tuvalu is one of the smallest and poorest countries in the world. The economic situation of the tiny state could be even more disastrous if Tuvalu hadn’t been given the Internet domain .tv, which annually brings millions of dollars to the country’s budget.

Nauru

Nauru is the smallest independent republic and the smallest island state on our planet. Nauru has neither an official capital nor public transportation system, and 25 miles of its roads are used by locals driving their private vehicles. Environmental problems make the republic very unpopular among tourists. Another "record" of Nauru is the number of obese people: the obesity rate in the country is more than 70%.

The Principality of Seborga

This micronation on the territory of Italy is ruled by His Tremendousness Marcello I. The Principality of Seborga is actually a village of the same name near the French border. The unrecognized state has an army that consists of 3 people: the Minister of Defense and two border guards.

The Republic of Molossia

The self-proclaimed Republic of Molossia is a micronation founded by Kevin Baugh, located in Nevada, USA. Its population consists of Mr. Baugh himself, his family, 3 dogs, 1 cat, and 1 rabbit. Molossia has its own national anthem, national emblem, and national flag. They even have the death penalty for particularly serious crimes. It issues its own passports and even has a space program. In May 2017, the Republic turned 40.

Sovereign Military Order of Malta

Apart from Vatican City, there is another tiny state on the territory of Rome, which is called the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Its area is 0.012 sq. km., and it occupies three buildings, two of which are located in Rome and the third one on the island of Malta. The country has its own currency, stamps, website, car numbers, and passports. Its citizens have the right to visa-free entry to several countries around the world. The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is the only country in the world where Latin is the official language.

The Principality of Sealand

The unrecognized state of Sealand is a sea platform located 6 miles away from the coast of Great Britain. Sealand is governed by a self-proclaimed Prince Regent, and anyone can become a count, baron, or even a duke: one can buy a noble title for a few hundred British pounds on the state’s website.

Preview photo credit Ryan Lackey/flickr

14 Tourist Spots That Send Chills Down the Spine

If mysterious places, unusual buildings, and ancient legends allure you, then you’ll surely like this list prepared by Bright Side!

The Island of the Dolls (Isla de las Muñecas), Mexico

According to legend, a small girl drowned in a canal near the island, and her soul never found peace. Julian Santana Barrera found a doll near the place of the girl’s death and began to compile this eerie collection to appease the child’s spirit. Despite the superstitions surrounding the Island, it’s readily visited by tourists.

Garden of Bomarzo (Sacro Bosco), Italy

The Garden of Bomarzo was built between 1548 and the 1580s for Duke Pier Francesco Orsini. It contains 30 sculptures including Hercules, Aphrodite, and Cerberus as well as the leaning house and gate of the Underworld. After several centuries of oblivion, the park was restored and reopened for visitors in 1954, receiving another name: "Park of the Monsters."

Ghost Town Centralia, USA

In 1962, an accident occurred that turned this town into a kind of Silent Hill (scenes were actually filmed there). Firefighters were burning garbage at a landfill set up in an abandoned coal mine. Flames spread to the coal seams, and an underground fire began which is still burning. This doesn’t stop extreme tourism lovers, photographers, and journalists.

The Hill of Crosses (Kryžių kalnas), Lithuania

The Hill of Crosses reminds one of an old cemetery, but it’s a place of Catholic pilgrimage. People believe that if they leave a cross here, their wishes will be fulfilled. According to a legend, the first to establish a cross on the hill was a peasant whose daughter was seriously ill. The girl soon recovered, and new crosses appeared.

"Hand of the Desert" (Mano del desierto), Chile

The 11-meter sculpture is installed not far from Antofagasta. Author Mario Irarrázabal says this imposing monument symbolizes loneliness, injustice, and helplessness. The sad place is popular and regularly visited by tourists. Unfortunately, some visitors cannot resist vandalism, so the hand is periodically cleaned from graffiti.

Aokigahara Forest, Japan

“Aokigahara“ is translated as ”Plain of blue trees," but it’s also known as “Suicide Forest” — it’s a favorite place for suicides. The authorities do everything possible to prevent it: the forest is regularly patrolled, cameras and helpline signboards are installed along the paths, and local residents report all suspicious people to the police.

Ghost City Ordos Kangbashi, China

Ordos Kangbashi is called a ghost town. The new city was never settled because of high property prices and financial problems. It still has about 20,000 people living there, but considering it was designed for 2 million inhabitants, this creates the illusion of an absolutely empty city. Tourists are found there more often than local residents.

Spotted Lake, Canada

The lake is located in British Columbia. The Okanagan people call it Kliluk and attribute to it mystical properties. The unusual appearance is explained by the high concentration of magnesium sulfate, silver, calcium, and titanium. Tourists can’t get close without permission from the elder of the local tribe, so they prefer to photograph the lake from a distance.

Darvaza gas crater (Derweze), Turkmenistan

Darvaza gas crater, the "Door to Hell," was formed in 1971 as a result of a ground collapse during explorations. The hole was formed, releasing gas which was set on fire so as not to poison people from the nearest settlements. According to geologists’ calculations, the gas should’ve been completely burned in a few days, but the fire has been burning for 46 years, attracting travelers, photographers, and researchers.

Sedlec Ossuary (Kostnice v Sedlci), Czech Republic

Sedlec Ossuary, The Church of All Saints, is located in the cemetery of the Czech city Kutná Hora. It’s famous for its interior which is decorated with human bones. The cemetery was unable to accommodate all the dead, so in 1400 the chapel with a vault was built and used to store human remains. The bones and skulls were later cleaned, bleached, and used for decoration.

Poveglia Island, Italy

Legends say that Poveglia was the place where people with the plague were sent to die, and that’s why restless souls are still wandering around there. A psychiatric hospital opened from 1922 until 1968. There were rumors that experiments were conducted on patients, and the chief doctor went mad and committed suicide by jumping off the tower. The island was abandoned and remains in this state to this day.

Hoia Forest (Pădurea Hoia), Romania

The forest earned the reputation of a paranormal place thanks to the regular appearance of UFOs and other strange phenomena. It’s believed that a prolonged presence in the forest can cause nausea, rashes, and dizziness. Of course, all this could be considered no more than urban legends...if not for photos of unidentified objects that were recognized as genuine.

Overtoun Bridge, Scotland

The bridge in the city of Dumbarton is notorious: dogs jump off it head down, always from the same place — on the right, between the last two spans. It was blamed on mysticism, until animal behavior expert David Sexton examined the place, finding huge amounts of mink and mouse urine. This substance strongly affects dogs, making them thoughtlessly jump down off the bridge.

Christ of the Abyss

Created as part of an art exhibit in 1965, three statues were sunk to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. Copies were made and one was sunk off the coasts of Florida. Being massive in scale they tower over any person scuba diving around them, and remain utterly surreal when surrounded by the whiteness of the ocean floor.

Preview photo credit AFP/EAST NEWS

Discover

ad

Tuesday, 27 June 2017

Smallest Countries in the World You Never Knew Existed

Thursday, 8 June 2017

Tourist Spots That Send Chills Down the Spine