Volcanic eruptions on our planet are not just fiery eruptions; they also contribute to the formation of otherworldly terrains over the millennia.
Over time, these volcanic landscapes have formed into bizarre, mesmerizing, and almost alien landscapes. These natural masterpieces truly explore the power of geological forces and the relentless patience of erosion.
Here are 15 volcanic landscapes worldwide that captivate with their strange beauty and fascinating formation stories.
1. Dallol Hydrothermal Field – Ethiopia
The Dallol Hydrothermal Field in Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression is one of Earth’s hottest and most acidic places. It is a kaleidoscope volcanic landscape that blends a surreal mix of neon green, yellow, and rusty orange pools created by the interaction of volcanic heat, salt deposits, and acidic water. This hydrothermal field was formed by a volcanic explosion in 1926, followed by ongoing geothermal activity. The landscape is a rare example of life in extreme conditions, drawing the interest of numerous scientists.
2. Mount Roraima – Venezuela/Brazil/Guyana
Mount Roraima, a prehistoric tabletop mountain, is the heart of many legends and scientific curiosity. This 2-billion-year-old tepui was formed by volcanic uplift and relentless erosion, creating sheer cliffs over 400 meters. The summit of this mountain is a weathered volcanic plateau isolated from the world. Dramatic rock formations, black water rivers, and carnivorous plants almost make the area feel like a lost world.
3. The Stone Tree (Árbol de Piedra) – Bolivia
Also known as the Stone Tree, Árbol de Piedra is located in Bolivia’s Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve. The structure was formed by relentless winds at nearly 4,000 meters. It is a petrified volcanic formation, formed from the desert like a delicate stone sculpture, resembling a tree frozen in time. The structure was further formed from solidified lava, which eroded over millions of years.
4. Landmannalaugar – Iceland
Landmannalaugar is one of the most beautiful sights to witness if you are mesmerized by beautiful colors and natural formations. It is located in Iceland’s Fjallabak Nature Reserve and is one of the world’s most colorful volcanic landscapes. The rhyolite lava flows formed the structure and were shaped by centuries of glacial erosion, contributing to different colors like red, yellow, green, and black. Beyond the beauty of the mountains, Landmannalaugar is a hiker’s paradise and a geological wonder, showcasing the blend of volcanic activity and erosion.
5. Mount Erebus Ice Fumaroles – Antarctica
Mount Erebus is Antarctica’s most active volcano, forming one of the world’s most bizarre ice formations called the furmole ice towers. One of the most unique features of this structure is its constant volcanic heat vents, which emit through the snow-covered slopes. It further freezes the emitted gases into hollow, chimney-like ice towers that can reach over 10 meters tall. The constant balance between sub-zero temperatures and volcanic heat consistently forms and collapses the structure. It is one of the few places on Earth where molten lava coexists with ice.
6. The Chocolate Hills – Philippines
Another one of the unique volcanic landscapes worth mentioning is the Chocolate Hills, located in the Philippines. These comprise a series of over 1200 perfectly conical hills, which turn chocolate brown during the dry season. Geologists believe these hills were formed by the uplift of coral deposits, shaped by rain and erosion over millions of years after volcanic activity. Thanks to their striking uniformity, this genuinely makes it a key tourist attraction. There are also numerous folklores associated with it.
7. Capadoccia’s Fairy Chimneys – Turkey
Cappadocia’s Fairy Chimneys are iconic volcanic rock formations sculpted by wind, rain, and temperature extremes over thousands of years. These structures were reportedly formed by soft tuff or volcanic ash layers, which are further topped with harder basalt caps. The fairy chimneys are cone-shaped pillars that resist erosion at the top. Some chimneys have also been hollowed out into ancient homes and churches. It creates one of the most surreal structures you will come across.
8. Mount Yasur’s Constant Eruption – Vanuatu
Mount Yasur is located on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu and is the world’s most active and accessible volcano, reportedly erupting for over 800 years. The ongoing eruption is why the surrounding terrain has turned into a black ash plain, along with rugged lava flows and the surrounding crater walls. While you can’t necessarily get extremely close to the structure, visitors can stand at the rim and witness the eruption in real-time. It is due to the ongoing volcanic eruption that the landscape is reshaped in real time.
9. Mount Etna’s Valle del Bove – Italy
Valle del Bove is a horseshoe-shaped depression on the volcano’s eastern flank, which has been formed in Mount Etna due to ancient collapses and centuries of lava flows. The valley stretches over 5 km and provides a real-time look into the layers of volcanic history and the blackened lava fields, steam vents, and newly sprouting vegetation. The ongoing and repeated eruption and erosion have contributed to the rugged terrain, which offers spectacular hiking routes now.
Throughout history, extreme geological events like volcanic eruptions—and even unusual weather changes—have dramatically reshaped our planet’s surface and atmosphere.
10. Craters of the Moon – United States
The Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho is a sprawling volcanic field formed by fissure eruptions between 15,000 and 2,000 years ago. If you are fascinated by volcanic landscapes, nothing beats this. There are jagged black lava, cinder cones, and lava tubes on the surface of this field, almost resembling the moon’s surface, hence the name. This place’s desolation and raw texture are truly out of a sci-fi movie.
11. Mount Bromo Sea of Sand – Indonesia
Mount Bromo is part of Indonesia’s Tengger massif, which is further encircled by a unique structure, called the “Sea of Sand.” It is a volcanic desert made of fine gray ash. The structure was reportedly formed by ancient eruptions, which ground the rock into fine volcanic dust now spread across the caldera. It is due to the wind that contributes to shifting dunes, creating the evolving surface. The area also hosts the annual Yadnya Kasada festival.
12. Lassen Volcanic’s Painted Dunes – United States
The Painted Dunes in California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park are a mesmerizing structure formed by lava activity. These brilliantly colored pumice fields were stained by oxidizing volcanic ash as lava cooled, creating red, orange, and ochre swirls across the ground. These structures were formed during the eruption of Cinder Cone in the mid-1600s, and to this day, these structures and their beauty remain untouched.
13. Mount Tongariro’s Red Crater – New Zealand
If you are fascinated by geothermal marvels, Mount Tongariro’s Red Crater in New Zealand is a structure worth knowing. The structure has been formed by a mix of ancient and recent volcanic activity, which led to the crater’s striking crimson walls. The fumaroles still emit steam to this day, highlighting the volcano’s active status. Also, the surrounding Emerald Lakes add to the beauty of the structure.
14. Mount Kelimutu’s Tri-Colored Lakes – Indonesia
The three uniquely colored volcanic crater lakes in Mount Kelimutu are worth visiting. Each of these lakes has dramatically different colors, which keep changing due to the mineral reactions and volcanic gas activity. The lakes—Tiwu Ata Mbupu (blue), Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai (green), and Tiwu Ata Polo (red or black)—are shaped by both past eruptions and ongoing erosion. Also, there have been reports of oxidation and chemical processes contributing to the color changes.
15. The Tent Rocks – United States
The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks in New Mexico are cone-shaped formations created by volcanic eruptions 6 to 7 million years ago. Due to the volcanic activity, layers of pumice, ash, and tuff were deposited and further sculpted by the wind. These natural tents, some reaching 30 meters in height, showcase perfectly layered geological history. Their precise “conical” and tent-like shapes have truly left people fascinated.
Just as volcanic activity has sculpted unique terrains over time, modern challenges like climate change threaten cities around the world with equally transformative impacts.
Final Words
Volcanoes often sound terrifying because of their destructive nature. Still, there’s another side to this natural calamity, one that has contributed to bizarre landscapes that are beautiful and fascinating, all at once. These 15 bizarre volcanic formations are living examples of our planet’s dynamic processes, which should be discussed.
