15 tourist destinations only for people with nerves of steel

Vietnam's Son Doong Cave is listed as a place not for the faint-hearted, alongside Hell's Gate, Devil's Pool or Road of Death.

1. The Gates of Hell, Derweze, Turkmenistan:The Darvaza Crater, nicknamed the Door to Hell, has been burning ever since Soviet engineers began drilling for gas in 1971. Geologists were drilling in the area and discovered a cave below filled with natural gas. One day, the ground at the drilling rig collapsed, creating a 70-meter-diameter hole. Fearing that the hole might release toxic gas, the geological team decided to set it on fire, hoping it would burn for several weeks, but the gas was so abundant that the hole is still burning today, more than four decades later.

2. “The Troll's Tongue”, Hordaland, Norway:Trolltunga is located 701 meters above the surface of Lake Ringedalsvatnet. The rock's shape resembles a giant tongue, created during the ice age about 10,000 years ago.

3. “Stairway to Heaven”, Oahu, Hawaii:Haiku Stairs was built in the early 1940s as a US communications base during World War II. The stairs follow the slopes of Haiku Valley to the cloud-capped Koolaus Peak. Once at the top, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the island of Oahu below. A recent hurricane caused significant damage to the stairs.

4. “Devil's Pool,” border between Zimbabwe and Zambia in Africa:When the water from Victoria Falls falls between the two countries' borders and rises to a certain level, adventurous tourists are allowed to swim here, although this place is prone to fatal accidents if they slip from a height of 108 m.

5. Cliffs of Moher, Ireland:Located in County Clare, Ireland at an altitude of 214 m above the Atlantic Ocean, this is one of the famous tourist attractions. Many adventurous tourists even bet their lives by cycling on the narrow cliff at the edge of the cliff.

6. Mendenhall Ice Cave, Juneau, Alaska:These stunning ice caves are located in the 12-mile-long Mendenhall Glacier in the Mendenhall Valley and are only accessible by boat. However, a recent study found that the glacier has retreated by more than 2 miles since 1958 due to global warming.

7. Kjeragbolten Rock, Rogaland, Norway:Located in Kjerag Mountain, Rogaland, the unique Kjeragbolten rock stuck between two cliffs is a famous tourist destination at an altitude of 984 m above the ground. To set foot on this precarious rock, visitors have to queue for hours because so many people come here to try the thrill.

8. “Swing at the End of the World”, Baños, Ecuador:The tall hut here is actually a geophysical station to observe the nearby volcano Mount Tungurahua. A swing is hung right next to it, giving visitors the thrill of swinging over the deep ravine.

9. Neptune Islands, Australia:Since 2002, Neptune Island has been the only place in Australia where diving with great white sharks is allowed. Visitors must strictly follow safety regulations and not put their hands or feet outside the cage if they do not want to become shark food.

10. Tuz Blood Lake, Aksaray, Türkiye:The blood-red color of the world's second largest lake is due to algae. It is also home to many beautiful flamingos.

11. “Road of Death”, Yungas, Bolivia:The North Yungas Road is responsible for 200-300 deaths a year. According to the BCC, in just one year, about 25 cars have tipped over and fallen into the ravine below. That’s an average of one car falling every two weeks.

12. Mount Huayin, Huayin, China:This is one of the most dangerous roads in the world, made of a few rickety planks attached to the cliff face. The famous mountain road was built in the 3rd-4th century AD during the Tang Dynasty.

13. Son Doong Cave, Quang Binh, Vietnam:First discovered in 1991, this is the largest and most magnificent cave in the world. Conquering Son Doong Cave is not for the majority of tourists due to strict health requirements. Son Doong is a level 6 adventure tour, with a very high level of difficulty.

14. Ellison Cave, Georgia, USA:The cave is nearly 20 meters long and 324 meters high vertically. Visitors must use ropes and flashlights to get down into this dark cave.

15. “The King's Little Way”, Ardales, Spain:The El Caminito del Rey trail, which winds its way along a narrow canyon, was first used by hydroelectric workers for transportation. It took on a noble name and became popular with tourists when King Alfonso XIII visited to open the Conde del Guadalhorce dam in 1921. It is one of the world's most dangerous trails.

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