Having enjoyed a long and varied career in the maritime industry – serving in roles as diverse as naval officer and superyacht captain – Jako Hall has travelled the world with his work, visiting some of the most remote destinations on the planet. This article will provide an overview of a handpicked selection of unusual tourist destinations and the extraordinary sights found there.
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Lake Hillier, Western Australia
Situated on the largest island of the Recherche Archipelago in Western Australia, Lake Hillier’s amazing hue is what amazes visitors from near and far. A vivid Pepto-Bismol pink year-round, the lake owes its color to its high salt levels, creating optimum conditions for pink halo bacteria and the salt-loving Dunaliella salina algae to thrive. Spanning approximately 600 meters, the lake is surrounded by a rim of white sand backed by dense eucalyptus forest. The only living organisms found in Lake Hillier are algae and bacteria due to the water’s high salt content, which is comparable to that of the Dead Sea.
Eternal Flame Falls, Western New York, United States
Located in Shale Creek Preserve, which forms part of New York’s Chestnut Ridge Park, Eternal Flame Falls is an ethereal combination of a waterfall and a never-ending flame. Traditionally a symbol of immortality and gratitude, the never-ending flame is caused by natural gas leaking from deep in the Earth at the waterfall’s base. According to legend, the flame was created by Native Americans lighting the natural gases eons ago. The 75cm high flame flickers behind a nine-meter waterfall, a phenomenon arising as the result of a “macro seep,” with flammable methane, ethane, and propane escaping through cracks in the rock.
Silfra Fissure, Iceland
Iceland is a country overflowing with fascinating natural spectacles, chief among them the Silfra Fissure in Thingvellir National Park. One of the country’s most unique geological features, the gorge marks the convergence of the North American and Eurasian plate boundaries. Standing in the gorge, visitors are technically on two continents at once. Although fish seldom venture very far into the fissure itself, Silfra ranks highly on the bucket list of adventurous scuba divers, renowned for its famous vivid green “troll hair” marine algae, crystal-clear waters, and breathtaking dive sites.
The Tianzi Mountains, China
Situated in northwest Hunan Province, the gargantuan limestone pillars of Tianzi are swathed in lush greenery, rising up to the clouds. The range is named after a local warrior called Xiang Wang Tianzi, meaning “son of heaven.” The Tianzi Mountains inspired the floating mountains featured in the movie Avatar. Visitors can reach Huangshi village by cable car. Here, several superb hiking trails await, offering stunning views of Kunlun Peak, the range’s highest mountain, which stands 1,265 meters tall.
