Scary, but interesting: the most eerie places on the planet

For travel, we try to choose beautiful, interesting, or memorable cities and resorts. But they also have direct opposites – places that are eerie, frightening, and scary. And there's something strangely appealing about getting your nerves thrilled. After all, some people love thrillers and horror movies. For this list, we've chosen 10 locations that will make your blood run cold. Well, almost.

Nagoro Village, Japan

Of course, you expected to see Aokigahara forest, also known as the "suicide forest," on this list. But it seems a village where the ratio of people to life-sized dolls is 1 to 10 is no less frightening. The toy inhabitants are the handiwork of local resident Tsukimi Ayano, who began making doll replicas of her neighbors after their death or relocation, which only adds to the "creepiness" of this place. Eerie doppelgangers can be seen in various parts of the town: fishermen sitting by the river, students filling entire classrooms, elderly couples resting on benches near houses. Nagoro has about 350 dolls and 27 living people (the youngest of whom is over 50 years old). The village is located on Shikoku Island, and if you suddenly want to visit it during your trip to Japan, it's best to buy tickets to Osaka on Kupi.com.

Island of the Dolls, Mexico

Continuing with the "doll" theme. Despite its history and UNESCO World Heritage status, the Xochimilco district is primarily known for Isla de las Muñecas, or the "Island of the Dolls." Hidden among numerous canals, it is notable for the thousands of dolls hanging from trees and lying in the grass. Although the area resembles a horror movie set, the meaning of such "decorations" is quite the opposite: Julian Santana Barrera, who once lived here, according to local legend, once found the body of a dead girl in a nearby canal, after which he hung dolls everywhere, hoping to appease her spirit. But the island makes a completely different impression on tourists. It's no surprise that it eventually became a location for Lady Gaga's “Dead Dance” music video – her fans don't call her "mother monster" for nothing. To visit this place, simply take tickets to Mexico City: the eerie island is located right in the country's capital.

Death Road, Bolivia

The route from La Paz to North Yungas Province is very dangerous: the road to La Cumbre pass winds at an altitude of over 4,500 meters. Considering these frightening figures, not to mention the 3.2-meter width of the single-lane road, the lack of guardrails, and limited visibility due to rain and fog, it's easy to understand why this 56-kilometer stretch of highway earned the nickname "Death Road." While 200 to 300 people used to die annually on Camino Los Yungas, it has now become more of a destination for mountain biking enthusiasts than a highway. Phew, we can breathe now, let's move on!

Gomantong Caves, Malaysia

At first glance, it's a true geographical marvel: limestone walls reaching up to 90 meters in height in places, with rays of light breaking through natural "windows." But tourists don't mince words when describing these caves, calling them one of the most disgusting places in the world. What's the problem? Bats. And no, it's not just that there are so many of them that Batman could settle in the caves. Two million individuals are not particularly clean, so the ground is covered with a thick layer of guano. We advise wearing the most non-slip shoes and not touching the handrails! This "floor covering" comes with swarms of Malaysian cockroaches that are just waiting to crawl into your sneakers. Plus snakes, scorpions, and venomous centipedes. And the smell, you can imagine.

Christ of the Abyss, Italy

Although there are several versions of the same Jesus statue scattered across the ocean floor, the original is located in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of San Fruttuoso, Italy. The 2.5-meter-tall statue was commissioned by Italian diver Duilio Marcante in 1954: he wanted to create a memorial at the spot where diver Dario Gonzatti had died a few years earlier. Thus, the "Christ of the Abyss" came into being. The result is somewhat eerie, especially considering the raised arms and upward gaze. Algae and corrosion only enhance the effect, although in 2003, the statue was removed from its watery home for restoration (plus, its arm, torn off by an anchor, was reattached – and for that, we are grateful). If you are an experienced diver and want to see Jesus yourself, it's best to buy tickets to Genoa. While you're there, check out Portofino.

Hanging Coffins, Philippines

In the municipality of Sagada on Luzon Island, cemeteries are not underground, but above it. So here, it's like an asteroid movie – don't look up! Well, or do look up, if you don't want to miss one of the most eerie sights – numerous coffins attached to cliffs. The tradition of such burials dates back thousands of years, and by the way, it's more widespread than you might think: similar hanging coffins can be found in China, Indonesia, and Tibet.

Door to Hell, Turkmenistan

Also known as "Darvaza" and "Shining of Karakum." This is what locals call a 70-meter-wide crater that just won't stop burning. When Soviet scientists began searching for oil in 1971, they accidentally stumbled upon a methane deposit. The upper layers of soil, along with the drilling rig, collapsed. A crater formed, and gas began to escape into the air. Naturally, such proximity was dangerous for people and livestock, so it was decided to set it on fire. Scientists expected the fire to die out in a couple of days, but more than 50 years have passed, and that moment has yet to come.

Snake Island, Brazil

Queimada Grande Island is only 35 km from São Paulo, but it's a blessing that they are separated not by land, but by water. This is because thousands of years ago, the Golden Lancehead viper became trapped on this small piece of land. More precisely, vipers – in very large numbers: according to some studies, there are an average of one to five snakes per square meter. About 11,000 years ago, when sea levels rose and separated Queimada Grande from mainland Brazil, the isolated snakes diligently adapted. And they did it well, perhaps too well. Since there was no prey on the ground, they had to learn to hunt in the treetops, where migratory birds carelessly stopped. And since these snakes didn't have the luxury of waiting for their prey to die, their venom became even more dangerous. The Brazilian government prohibits citizens from even stepping foot on the island. As if anyone would want to.

Sedlec Ossuary, Czech Republic

A Gothic cemetery chapel, known worldwide for its macabre decorations. In 1278, the abbot of the Cistercian monastery in Sedlec brought holy soil from Jerusalem and scattered it over the church cemetery, which led many Central Europeans to wish to be buried there. Wars, plague, and other "joys" of the Middle Ages only contributed to the cemetery being actively filled. But the territory was limited, and word of mouth knew no bounds. So, a hundred years later, a Gothic cathedral with a crypt was built in the center, where bones exhumed from graves were transferred.

Another 400 years later, it was decided to bring order to all this disarray. New owners (as the land acquired them) hired woodcarver František Rint and tasked him with "somehow arranging a collection of over 40,000 human remains." And he succeeded: among the bone structures are four candelabras, a family coat of arms, and several garlands of bones hanging from the ceiling. Perhaps the most stunning exhibit is a massive chandelier, which incorporates almost every bone found in the human body (plus a few eerie cherubs for added effect).

Doll Hospital, Portugal

Yes, dolls again. Well, what can you do, some of them look very eerie. And anyway, have you seen "Annabelle"? Exactly. This doll hospital (that is, a place where they are repaired and restored) is one of the oldest in the world. And such a unique place is hidden between the storefronts of one of Lisbon's busiest shopping streets. The "hospital" has been operating in the same location since 1830, and people can sign up for a four-month waiting list to have their dolls repaired. Nevertheless, there's something unsettling about the very idea of a doll hospital. Maybe it's the cabinets filled with plastic heads, or the drawers full of glass eyes. Or maybe it's the dolls themselves, deprived of these heads and eyes during repairs. It's worth visiting if you're looking for what to see in Lisbon, but the standard list of attractions doesn't inspire you. However, tickets to Lisbon handle this much better.