In this article, we’ll be considering 10 scary things about the world that exist by nature. The world is full of wonders; the world is full of scary, ugly, awful, and spooky things as well.
And it’s always worth having cool nature facts at your disposal, whether it’s for a conversation starter or trivia night in your local pub.
When it comes down to what someone would consider to be scary, it all depends on that person’s perception of fear, but there are some things out there that would make just about anyone run for the hills. Here are ten of the scariest things that exist in the world by nature.
Table of Contents
10 Scary Things about the World that exist in Nature
If you aren’t aware of them, listed and discussed below are some of the scariest things that exist in the world by nature.
- Brain-Eating Amoeba
- The Bermuda Triangle
- Bolton Strid
- Hoia Baciu Forest
- Gympie
- The Ocean is a Mystery
- Codex Gigas
- Jellyfish
- Giant Squid
- The Barreleye Fish (Macropinna microstoma)
- Slow Lorises
1. Brain-Eating Amoeba
The brain-eating amoeba is biologically known as Naegleria fowleri. This parasite can gain access to the human body through the nose when they take a plunge in contaminated water.
It does not stop here, sadly, the organism moves from the nose and travels to the brain, resulting in bouts of inflammation. This incident has already been detected in the tap water in some sections of Louisiana.
2. The Bermuda Triangle
We adore the sea, but there is one location in particular that makes us uneasy: the Devil’s Triangle, also called the Bermuda Triangle. More than fifty ships and airplanes have disappeared in the “Bermuda Triangle,” an area of the North Atlantic Ocean surrounded by Miami, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda.
Many mysterious disappearances have occurred in the Bermuda Triangle. There is ample speculation around mysterious forces accounting for these disappearances and we don’t know about you, but we’re not going to go there to find out.
3. Bolton Strid
Bolton Strid seat between Barden Tower and Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire, England. It is known as one of the most dangerous traps of nature. It may look like a small mountain stream, stretching about six feet.
The scary thing about the stream is that while it appears calm and quite ordinary, the current underneath is powerful enough to pull anyone beneath, which can lead to death. People that dwell around there believe that every single person who has ever stepped foot in this stream has been sucked under the current.
4. Hoia Baciu Forest
The Hoia-Baciu Forest is located in Cluj County, Transylvania, which is in the northwestern part of Romania. Many people travel to Transylvania for Dracula tourism. Although there are plenty of cool places to visit when chasing Dracula (namely, Bran Castle and Poenari Castle), the real fright in Transylvania can be found in this forest.
The forest covers over 250 hectares and is known as Romania’s Bermuda Triangle and as the “World’s Most Haunted Forest” because of all the freaky and unexplainable events that have happened in the forest.
This forest also has very odd vegetation, aside from strange events. The trees look straight from a sci-fi movie or some dystopian parallel universe.
The trees do not grow straight up but bend and spiral, almost as if they were twisting their limbs to reach out and touch you. Even weirder is the fact that all the trees turn in a clockwise direction. Scientists have been out to the forest to examine the tree growth patterns but have been unable to figure out why the trees grow in such an erratic fashion.
Besides the spiraling trees, the other weird thing about the vegetation of the forest is what is known as the “dead zone.” One section of the forest, almost a perfect circle, is an area where no vegetation can grow.
The soil has been sampled, and it is unknown why nothing grows in this area. Moreover, this dead zone is where quite a bit of paranormal activity has been spotted.
When you step into the dead zone, you are surrounded by forest, and you feel eerily removed from the rest of Transylvania.
One of the stories surrounding the forest is that a young girl entered the forest and was lost for many years. Then, supposedly, she reemerged from the forest five years later, appearing unaged and unable to remember where she had been.
Another story told by the locals is of a shepherd who entered the forest with his flock of 200 sheep and was never to be seen again; his sheep and their remains were never found either.
There are also stories of alien sightings in the Hoia-Baciu forest. The forest first became famous in 1968 when military technician Emil Barnea was out in the forest with his girlfriend and a few friends.
It was a sunny August afternoon, and his girlfriend told him that she saw something weird. He walked over to where she was standing, and he saw it too: a shining silver disk in the sky. Luckily, he had his camera with him, and before the object bolted away, he was able to capture four photos.
The four of them only saw the UFO for about two minutes, but Barnea then developed his film and his pictures live on.
Barnea’s photos were published in local papers, and many people were very skeptical. Some said it was probably a couple of weather balloons shot in odd circumstances or with odd lighting.
Still, other strange events have occurred in this forest. Many people who walk in just for a quick scare walk out with unexplainable symptoms. People claim that as soon as they walk in, they suffer from severe anxiety and feel like somebody is watching them. Others walk out with scratches or bruises, having no idea where they came from.
Some people think that peasants who were murdered in the forest a long time ago haunt the area. Since there is proof of a Neolithic-era settlement there, the forest is rich in historical significance.
Evidence suggests that people originally settled there in 6500 BC, making it the oldest settlement in all of Romania. Who knows how many people have lived and died in the area that is now the Hoia-Baciu Forest!
Ghosts and other paranormal activity have been spotted here too. Sometimes people hear voices in the forest, giggles of women, or screams of young girls.
People have also heard the sounds of deer or horse hooves, even when there were none to be seen. Some see orbs floating near the trees, or they will take photos and when they look at the photos, faces or orbs that were not seen in person are seen in the photos.
Occasionally, people see faces right in front of them, with their naked eye. Sometimes people see glowing green eyes, staring at them from a distance. This is a horrific and scary region to be found
However, as much as the forest is unpleasant, it is quite a beautiful place to visit. Again, those winding trees are plentiful in the forest, and this is the only place in the world where you can see such trees. Cluj-Napoca is a big city that is right next to the forest, so the forest offers refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The forest also has plenty of bike and hiking paths, making it easy to explore on your own. Just avoid the nighttime in the forest if you don’t want a fright!
5. Gympie
The earth has many beautiful features to behold. Massive water bodies, beautiful landscapes, and gorgeous plants are all part of nature’s glory, and we are oftentimes drawn to capturing these magical pieces. And the Gympie is among the gorgeous plants that make up the earth’s glory.
The Gympie is an Australian plant that has a sting so strong that it may last for months. At first glance, this flower looks attractive, but when it comes into contact with any part of the body, it stings so much that the pain may be felt for days.
The scariest part of this plant is the poison that takes effect. This plant has stinging hairs that lead to immense painful sensations throughout the body. It could trigger allergies too, and may create further complications.
You may spot this dangerous plant throughout the rainforest areas. Physically, they look gorgeous to the extent that you might want to capture them with your camera. But beware; their poison may harm beyond measure.
6. The Ocean is a Mystery
More than 80 percent of Earth’s oceans remain a mystery and have not been explored yet. We know more about the dark side of the moon than we do about our oceans.
The ocean is full of black holes, hydrothermal vents, violent currents, bacteria, shipwrecks, lost souls, and sea creatures (that we cannot confirm are not monsters).
The black holes in the ocean are not the same as the black holes in space, but these vortexes share similarities with black holes. Known as ocean eddies, these huge holes are powerful enough to pull in anything that comes their way.
Some of the biggest can be up to 150 kilometers wide! Hence, if you’re afraid of the unknown, the depths of the ocean aren’t for you.
6. Codex Gigas
The Codex Gigas also known as the Devil’s Bible is another bone-chilling incident that may take away your good night’s sleep. This book is a legendary Latin manuscript, believed to be a product of a monk’s bargain with Satan himself.
In the 13th century, a monk is said to have made a deal with the devil; offering up his soul in exchange for the ability to come up with an impressive manuscript overnight.
The monk was about to get executed for his crimes unless he could compose an impressive work in one night. To attain this impossible task, he offered his soul to Satan and created this 3-foot-long book that weighed 170 pounds.
Historians believe the offer was a hoax and was made just to taunt him. However, the monk sought a lifeline from the Devil himself in a deal that would produce the ‘Codex Gigas’. The Devil’s Bible is still existing as a real text.
7. Jellyfish
Jellyfish are animals found in water bodies. It is one of the deadliest animals the world has today. According to several reports, cases, studies, and sources, it is ranked as one of the earliest animals.
This fish can cause a range of things when it comes in contact with human skin, such as redness, rash, deep sores, etc. Some breeds can even cause various syndromes and deadly paralytic effects. Jellyfish are known to be the most poisonous marine animal.
Furthermore, if you get stung by an Irukandji jellyfish, you may develop the Irukandji syndrome. Many scientists have described it as a feeling of impending doom or a consistent perception of approaching ruin. This may lead to a serious case of hysteria and mental instability.
Jellyfish are often the ruiner of a nice dip in the ocean, but some can grow so big that they’re able to capsize boats weighing 10 tons. The jellyfish themselves can weigh over 200kg and have a diameter of over two meters.
8. Giant Squid
A sea monster, the giant squid, is one sea creature that we know very little about. They live very deep in the black areas of the ocean that are too deep for any light to reach and prey off anything big enough to provide them with a good meal.
The size of the giant squid is probably exaggerated but the most agreed on biggest size is thought to not exceed 12 meters in length.
9. The Barreleye Fish (Macropinna microstoma)
This is an absolute nightmare beast that comes from the deep sea. This fish can see through its head
The barreleye has freaky tube- or cylinder-shaped eyes that can pivot around at unsettling angles. Most creepily, their skulls are fully transparent domes. This means that they can look through their skulls to spot predators and prey alike.
These relatives of jellyfish are colonial, stinging organisms that can get up to lengths of 130 feet (40m). Biologists think that barreleyes are kleptoparasites to these monsters, stealing the fish that they snare in their many stinging tentacles. The barreleye’s skull protects their eyes from damage.
10. Slow Lorises
Slow lorises may be cute, but they pack a nasty weapon, they can rot flesh.
The creatures have glands under their armpits that ooze a noxious oil, which they then lick and combine with their saliva to become venom. When they bite a bite that can pierce through bone the venom can rot flesh away. Slow lorises have been seen with their faces half melted off from bites.
Conclusion
Finally, this article is only focused on the 10 scariest things that exist in the world by nature. However, the list is not exhaustive; there are so many other things out there that scare people so much, that they struggle with the resulting trauma for long periods.
And I do hope you enjoyed these macabre and horrific natural history facts.
Recommendations
- 10 Most Polluted Lakes in the World
. - 10 Largest Lakes in the World & What they are known for
. - Top 10 Rarest Gems in The World and Their Worth
. - Biodiversity Hotspots in the World
. - 4 Smallest Spaniel Breeds in the World
Ahamefula Ascension is a Real Estate Consultant, Data Analyst, and Content writer. He is the founder of Hope Ablaze Foundation and a Graduate of Environmental Management in one of the prestigious colleges in the country. He is obsessed with Reading, Research and Writing.